Altamont Garden

The Altamont Garden is considered one of the best gardens in Ireland and is also well known throughout Europe. It is often referred to as ‘the jewel in Ireland ’s gardening crown’, and is said to be the most romantic garden in Ireland.

Altamont House
ŠDepartment of The Environment, Community and Local Government

Located on the banks of the River Slaney near Tullow, the garden is a natural wonderland with intriguing walks through an Ice Age Glen, Bog Garden and Arboretum. From the Altamont Garden, there are spectacular views of the Blackstairs Mountains, Wicklow Mountains and Mount Leinster.

River Slaney, Tullow

The river Slaney's flowing water can make a difficult habitat for such wildlife such as small fish to stay alive, however the growth of plants in the water can help to show down the flow allowing them to survive.

Betsey Hickey

River Slaney, Tullow
Betsey Hickey

River Slaney, Tullow

Betsey Hickey

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Bluebells growing along a woodland path in the Altamont Garden

ŠDepartment of The Environment, Community and Local Government

Bluebells growing along a woodland path in the Altamont Garden
ŠDepartment of The Environment, Community and Local Government

Bluebells growing along a woodland path in the Altamont Garden

ŠDepartment of The Environment, Community and Local Government

Enlarge image

Some of the trees in the Altamont Garden date back to the 1750s. The Ice Age Glen is filled with ancient Sessile Oaks and natural granite boulders. These trees provide shade and shelter for an abundance of birds, while butterflies enjoy the bluebells and daffodils that carpet the woodland floor in the springtime.

The Altamont Garden also boasts a huge variety of herbaceous plants and shrubs. There are over forty different varieties of snowdrops and hundreds of varieties of daffodils. Rare azaleas and rhododendrons also fringe the garden’s lake.