Kells Bay House & Gardens

Kells Bay House & Gardens

Kells Bay Gardens cover just over 17 hectares of varying terrain, in a short V-shaped valley on the northern slopes of the Iveragh Peninsula, overlooking Dingle Bay. Located in Kells, the gardens have been open to visitors since the autumn of 2008. They contain one of the finest collections of southern hemisphere plants in Europe, originally assembled from Australia, but more recently from New Zealand and South America. The location and the spectacular topography of the estate combine with the variety and acclimatisation of the plants to give the visitor an experience that well repays the journey. There are over 3 kilometres of walking routes which are designed to give access to the major features of the gardens. They are all graded easy, and a moderately healthy person can cover the trails in a short time. However, visitors are encouraged to slow their pace, pause often and listen to hear the garden’s heartbeat as they walk the primeval forest, River Ramble or Waterfall Way.

Review

After travelling the lengths and breadths of this great island, I thought I'd seen absolutely everything, until I discovered Kells Bay House & Gardens that is. Nestled perfectly on the shores of the Wild Atlantic, I can honestly say when it comes to gardens in Ireland, this place has to be one of the brightest jewels in Ireland's sparkling crown. Normally in a garden terms it's quite fashionable to talk about rooms within a garden, but here at Kells Bay, there are 6 gardens to chose from and each couldn't be more different from each other. Although I loved them all, my personal favourite is the Primeval Forest with its clever dinosaur carvings, there is nothing cheesy about this place and it's clear to see its owner Billy Alexander has huge taste and very high standards, and this can clearly be seen in the development of their breath taking rope bridge. Finally, with great accommodation and a wonderful Thai restaurant experience, Kells Bay House and Gardens is a true Irish hidden paradise.