TRAVELOGUE: From regal castles to picturesque gardens in Ireland

I've been to Ireland twice before but when the gracious Ireland Tourism invited me to experience a slice of royalty along with its amazing gardens, I didn't think twice. I just packed my bags in a jiffy and laced up my travelling boots all ready to experience another slice of Irish adventure.

Irish fantasy

I always believed that Dublin has a magical vibe like no other place in the world, and just stepping out of the airport, I could feel the excitement bubbling over. But of course, we weren't spotlighting Dublin city, instead we were heading off on our Ireland Ancient East tour to check out the gorgeous green countryside with its historically rich castles and amazingly vibrant gardens.

Power Packed

I have to start with the majestic Powerscourt Estate and Gardens in County Wicklow which sprawls across a surface area of 47 acres. It's green, stunningly beautiful and of course, meeting part owner and main gardener Alex Slazenger made it more special. The country house is extremely impressive but a walk through the bountiful gardens made the visit so much better. Alex took us through the green walled garden, formal gardens, to the Italian gardens and even to a garden with Japanese influences all surrounded by ornamental lakes, a unique pet cemetery, Dolphin pond and Pepperpot Towers. There is a special grotto, a man-made cave from the days of yore (1721) with an open top. It is carpeted with moss that comes from the local river and is definitely cooler than the air outside. I sit on the bench to soak in the divine ambience. Alex joins me and tells me why he loves coming here every day. "I spend two hours every morning at the gardens. It gives me a lot of peace." Indeed! Incidentally, Powerscourt estate and Garden has also been voted as No 3 in the World's Top Ten Gardens by National Geographic. No wonder… as it is definitely one of the most beautiful gardens in Ireland.

Family Special

The Burtown House & Gardens, our next stop, is also a treat for the eyes. It's amazingly green but I guess, that's why Ireland is called the emerald isle because there is an amazingly green natural carpet across the country. This house is still family owned and royal descendant James Fennell runs The Green Barn, a restaurant, shop and gallery. He takes us through his castle and shows us arts and artefacts, swords and weapons, beds used by the dukes and duchesses of yore, pinpoints ancient family history and even tells us about the family ghosts hovering around.

The castle is surrounded by greenery, and this is where he lives with his wife and three children. It's well-manicured and looked after and you can stroll through the 72 hectares of garden and farmland, which the family maintains themselves. James' hospitality is amazing too as he serves us delicious high tea comprising of sweets, savouries and drinks which we enjoy to the hilt.

Stories & More

But of course, our tour through the castles and gardens took us to the impressive Huntington Castle & Gardens. Now this castle has a colourful story to tell… of Irish history, the proverbial family ghosts of errant druids, and of course, about the family lineage. The weather is a bit gloomy with an occasional bout of drizzle but that doesn't deter us. After a yummy tea break, we take a tour through the private home of heir Alexander Durdin Robertson who revels us with witty one-liners, anecdotes and stories. And the 17th century gardens… like all Irish gardens, are well looked after even today. They have Italian and French influences and you will find a wide variety of species; from Japanese cypresses and palm trees to a rose garden and a collection of bluebells. Not to be missed: the yew walk through five hundred year old yews. Seriously stunning! This is open for tours during select months.

Natural Trails

One of the most picturesque gardens are the Woodstock Gardens & Arboretum. They have amazing hiking trails through the gardens of Woodstock Gardens & Arboretum. John Delaney, main gardener of the estate narrated, "In 1814, the landlady Louisa Lennox found gardens truly exciting. At that time, there were fifty, now there are four." The garden has many North and South American influences, including the monkey puzzle or monkey trees. Do visit these gardens especially in autumn because the trees are amazingly stunning in a medley of varied colours.

Irish Romance

But perhaps the most romantic of all the gardens is the one at Lismore Castle garden which is on the picturesque Blackwater River. The castle gardens are divided into many subdivisions but the best part of the gardens are the blooming roses of varies hues. Darren Topps, the main gardener says, "Roses grow sprawling against the walls here. You can spot roses called 'Kiftsgate', The Generous Gardener and Bonica 82 – all technical names for some beautiful varieties of roses, This, incidentally is the oldest and longest developed garden in Ireland, started in the 1620s. The second garden at a lower level is amazingly green too with trees that include magnolia, camellia and rhododendron. And the entire look is beautiful.

Blissful Finale

…My visit to Ireland's most historical castles and gardens was not only delightful but also an eye-opener. I got to know about the rich Irish history and experienced the amazing hospitality of the Irish who regaled us with stories – yes, the Irish are amazing storytellers – anecdotes and of course, thrilling ghost stories. All in all, it was an amazing visit to this scenic country. Definitely, a must visit!