OPEN all year round, The Carlow Garden Trail currently features 16 different gardening attractions with an additional two gardens in the surrounding counties of Kildare and Wexford. The trail includes great old gardens that have been lovingly restored and maintained throughout the years, and smaller gardens which are maturing beautifully with time. Award winning garden centres and forest parks complement the joy of a visit here. The Carlow Garden Trail ranges from small to very large gardens, garden centres and forest parks and from old to new, so there is something to stimulate both the novice and experienced gardener. Known for its mild and temperate climate, County Carlow in Ireland's sunny South East is the ideal destination for your gardening trip.

Identifiable road signs make the Carlow Garden Trail an easy-to-follow tour through one of the most beautiful inland counties of Ireland offering a unique insight into the plants and plants people that make each premises so individual. The trail can be driven in a day if so desired but naturally we encourage you to relax and enjoy the remarkable beauty of these gardens, garden centres and forest parks at a more leisurely pace.

Situated in the South East of Ireland, approximately 90kms from the ferry and airports of Dublin, Rosslare and Waterford, Carlow is the ideal location for a gardening break. Its central location also offers the perfect base to explore the bordering counties of Wexford, Kilkenny, Wicklow, Kildare and Laois.

Click to download the brochure here

Further details from Carlow Tourism: Tel:+353 (0)59-9130411 www.carlowtourism.com

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Carlow Events for 2013:

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Rose Week at Altamont Gardens - June 24th – Sunday June 28th 2013

With the promise of balmy, sunny days June is the perfect time to take to the garden and enjoy the many treats within. The third Rose Week at Altamont Gardens takes place from Monday, June 24th – Sunday June 28th 2013. This event has been organised by the Office of Public Works in association with Carlow Tourism to showcase the magnificent variety, colour patterns and scents of their significant rose collection. From the beautiful pinks of "Rosa Heritage" to the two tone apricot hues of "Rosa Just Joey", this is an opportunity not to be missed.

Guided tours will be conducted by head gardener Paul Cutler at 2 p.m. daily at a very reasonable fee of €2 per person. Valuable advice on rose maintenance will also be provided as part of the tour. The gardens are open as normal each day from 9 a.m. – 6.30 p.m. and viewing is free of charge. Other rose varieties on display include "Rosa Buffbeauty", "Rosa Blush Noisette" and "Rosa Blessings". All of the roses were tended to by Mrs. North, former owner of the gardens and are now carefully maintained by the team at Altamont Gardens.

For those seeking to transfer some of the knowledge learned to their own gardens, Altamont Plant Sales, located on the site of Altamont Gardens offers one of the largest collections of old shrub roses in the country with special Rose offers available during this very special event. For more information visit www.carlowgardentrail.com

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Carlow Garden Festival 2013 – Saturday 27th July – Sunday 4th August 2013.

For novice gardeners to garden connoisseurs, garden designs to GIY gourmets, grandparents to grandchildren, painters to photographers and family fun for all. 

Click here for Annual Carlow Garden Festival