Powerscourt Estate Wicklow Ireland
Powerscourt Estate Wicklow Ireland
Ireland on a sunny day, first of all, are our eyes deceiving us? Is that really blue sky up there? Is that dazzling ball above really the sun? It is a welcome and rare sight over our little island, usually there is a thick blanket of cloud covering it and grey is the dominant colour when we open the curtains. So what do you do when we have a glorious summer’s day? Sit at home eating spuds watching TV? No way, it is time to get out and explore and it doesn’t have to cost the earth. On a particularly pleasant Saturday afternoon we decided to visit the nearby Powerscourt Estate in County Wicklow in The Garden of Ireland. We highly enjoyed our short time here and here is why we shall return.
Powerscourt Estate Wicklow Ireland. Viscounts, Views and Valleys.
Powerscourt is a place we had yet to visit despite numerous visits to the nearby area over the years. To be honest when I think of estates with manicured lawns, privately hired gardeners and hear the words “Viscount”, “Lord” and “Earl”, a shudder runs down my spine. I won’t pontificate too much but those with titles and vast amounts of wealth passed down from generations would not be the first on my dinner party invitation list, and besides the majority probably wouldn’t want to be in the company of a member of the “lower class”. The whole “class” thing really gets on my nerves because frankly I believe that nobody is above anyone on this earth irrespective of wealth, title, education or profession, the word “class” also irritates me no end. So rather reluctantly I decided to add to the Slazenger family’s vast reserves of wealth by paying a visit on this sunny afternoon to their impressive estate, maybe it was the sunshine that got to my brain!
We joined the tour buses and hordes of tourists and locals and entered the vast grounds of Powerscourt Estate, a stones throw from the picturesque village of Enniskerry, Co.Wicklow. Upon entry you come to a small cabin where a pleasant lady asked us whether we are here to visit the gardens? Entry was Euro 9.50 per person, which isn’t exactly a bargain to see some nature, but it is summer pricing as they say, in winter it is Euro 7.00 per adult. After driving up the welcoming access road you come to an ample car park and it is then a short walk to the gardens entrance. Of course you pass the obligatory gift shops which offers fashion, jewellery and local art with a café also on site serving traditional Irish food. After you pass through the entrance you come to the house which originally was a 13th-century castle, extensively altered during the 18th century by German architect Richard Cassels, starting in 1731 and finishing in 1741.
A fire in 1974 left the house lying as a shell until it was renovated in 1996. Today the estate is owned and run by the Slazenger family, founders and former owners of the Slazenger sporting goods business, so a profitable racket!! pardon the pun. It is a popular tourist attraction, and includes a golf course, an Avoca Handweavers restaurant, and an Autograph Collection Hotel. The real draw for us however were the impressive gardens which stretched out resplendent before the house. Many day-trippers were enjoying the grounds whether strolling around or picnicking with the eye-catching Sugarloaf Mountain providing a spectacular backdrop. We decided to follow the free visitors map and walk along the one hour route trail. We decided to walk anti-clockwise as we stared directly at the Sugarloaf.
We walked by Julia’s Memorial in the Walled Garden, which is a calm reflective pond built-in honour of the 7th Viscountess by her son. Her husband Mervyn, the 7th Viscount also named the bust of a lady at the front of the house “Empress Julia”. The walled gardens are one of the oldest parts of the gardens and feature fascinating plants along Ireland’s largest herbaceous border. Nearby is the Dolphin Pond which the 7th Viscount bought in Paris in the late 19th century.
It is surrounded by magnificent trees including a line of Japanese red cedars which were planted in 1864. We then made our way towards the Rhododendron Walk where we stumbled upon one of Ireland’s largest pet cemeteries. This is the final resting place for many of the family pets where the visitor’s map proclaims that you will get many great ideas for naming your own pet!
It was then onto Triton Lake in the heart of the grounds to view the beautiful lake and fountain. It was simply wonderful to sit by the lake with the suns rays glistening on the motionless surface and listen to the water cascading down the fountain which is based on the fountain in Piazza Barberini in Rome.
Adjacent to the fountain we spotted two silver winged horses, which form part of the family coat of arms, before making our way to our next stop which were the Japanese Gardens.
We have been spoiled and privileged to have visited the incredible nation of Japan this year and equally fortunate while there to get up close and personal to an authentic Japanese garden. We have been to the gardens in Kildare previously, which are attractive and well-maintained, but we hadn’t realised there was another close by in Co. Wicklow. We both love many aspects of Japanese culture and their gardens are an inspirational, tranquil and wonderful place to be if you are a nature lover. The gardens here in Powerscourt were created by the 8th Viscount and Viscountess Powerscourt in 1908 with Azaleas, Japanese Maples and Chinese fortune Palms just some of the attractions. After a delightful stroll which took us back to the far east for a few minutes it was time to go to Tower Valley.
Here you will find Pepperpot Tower which was modelled on a favourite pepperpot from Lord Powerscourt’s dining table. We walked up a few flights of stairs to the narrow viewing point which gave a sumptuous view out over the gardens and over to the alluring Sugarloaf in the distance. While here many visitors clearly take the opportunity to graffiti and tag the wooden facade with messages from Russia to New Zealand on display. After taking in the stunning views from the tower it was back to ground level to walk through the Italian Garden.
The Italian Gardens offer the best of garden landscaping and design. The terraces were designed in the 1840’s by architect Daniel Robertson and took 100 men over 12 years to build! There are sculptures of Gods and myths including statues of Apollo Belvedere and Diana, collected by the 6th and 7th Lord Powerscourt on their travels to Europe. It was here that our walk around the estate ended. There were many from home and abroad enjoying a sunny Saturday summer afternoon and it is hard to think of a more tranquil and calming place to be in the area.
Not only were the gardens simply stunning but where else on our island could you be transported to Italy, Japan and our beloved Australia where I had to do a double take upon setting eyes on a eucalyptus tree! I had become familiar with the trees while living down under but to see one in Ireland was a welcome surprise.
As the plaque beneath it proclaimed, it was planted to commemorate the visit of Australian PM Bob Hawke in 1987. He’ll be glad to know it’s still going strong in Irish soil! We decided upon exiting to give the terrace café a miss with Enniskerry and Dundrum situated nearby for more reasonably priced food. We also skipped Ireland’s highest waterfall at the estate which deplorably is priced at an extra Euro 6 per adult to see. The waterfall is apparently a haven for wildlife including the Sika Deer and the native Irish red squirrel. If you are fortunate enough to spend time in the area and money is no object, then you can stay in the nearby Powerscourt Hotel which is set amidst the granite walls and ancient trees of the estate. For golf lovers there is also Powerscourt Golf Club which features two championship golf courses in a beautiful setting which symbolises Ireland’s natural beauty.
Powerscourt Estate Wicklow Ireland remains a popular attraction for many from these shores and beyond and it is easy to see why. The gardens are open all year round closing only on December 25th and 26th with varying prices from Summer to Winter. Open daily from 9.30am to 5.30pm.
Powerscourt Estate is located in Enniskerry County Wicklow and approximately 30 minutes from Dublin City Centre. From Dublin City Centre take the N11 Southbound-Wexford, take exit 7 and follow signs for Powerscourt Gardens.
Powerscourt Estate Wicklow Ireland
