Join Monty in Ireland

Join us for an exclusive, four-night tour of some of Ireland’s most breathtaking gardens and meet special guest Monty Don on Thursday 31 May

Exclusive four-night break, from £2,265 per person

 "Visit some of Ireland's most breathtaking gardens on this exclusive 2018 tour, based in Dublin. Monty will join us for a day that includes visits to some of his favourite Irish gardens, plus an exclusive talk. You'll travel with like-minded gardeners and, after meeting great garden makers Helen Dillon and Jimi Blake, you'll come away inspired to try something new in your garden at home. Sign up now for an unforgettable trip and a great experience."

Lucy Hall

Editor, BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

What's included:

  • Four night's 4-star hotel accommodation, bed and breakfast, in Dublin's Hilton Hotel.
  • Two dinners and two lunches.
  • Visits to National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin; Talbot Botanical Gardens; Jimi Blake’s garden, Hunting Brook; June Blake’s Garden; Air eld Gardens; Powerscourt Gardens; Tyrrelstown House; and private gardens of Carmel Duignan and Helen Dillon.
  • Return flights from London Gatwick to Dublin – other airports on request.
  • Services of garden designer and expert guide Trevor Edwards as your tour manager.
  • Monty joins the tour on 31 May at Hunting Brook, and will give a talk that evening

The departure date is Tuesday 29 May, 2018

Prices for this exclusive gardeners' holiday start from £2,265 per person for four nights.

Read what others thought of our previous holidays on our feedback page

Find out more about exclusive holidays and cruises, masterclasses and reader events from BBC Gardeners' World Magazine, in our travel and events video.

Monty Don

Presenter of Gardeners' World, Monty Don will accompany you on a tour of Hunting Brook, home of Jimi Blake,  and June Blake's Garden and Nursery. Monty will also join us for lunch and will give an entertaining talk in the evening, before dining with the group.

Lucy Hall

Editor of BBC Gardeners' World Magazine, Lucy Hall, will join the tour from Wednesday 30 May to Friday 1 June.

Your itinerary

 Tuesday 29 May, 2018

Travel to Dublin, where our first visit is to Talbot Botanical Gardens at Malahide Castle. Largely created by an enthusiastic plant collector, this is a small jewel of a botanic garden.

After lunch (not included) we go to the National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin, where orchids have a special history and are still grown today in the restored Palm House.

Enjoy a welcome drink and talk with your tour manager at your central Dublin hotel. Your evening is free to dine in the hotel (not included) or a nearby restaurant.

Wednesday 30 May

We visit selected private gardens in Dublin, beginning at Tyrrelstown House. Its walled gardens are over 500 years old and include a rose garden and organic veg garden.

After lunch (not included), we will explore the private garden of Carmel Duignan, writer and self-confessed plantaholic who describes her plant collection as on the cutting edge of tenderness, rarity and fashion! We then travel to celebrated Dublin gardener Helen Dillon, to discover her exciting new private garden, not normally open to the public, which Monty visited for Gardeners’ World. We’ll enjoy a talk and tour by Helen, plus welcome refreshments.

Thursday 31 May

We are joined by Monty at Hunting Brook, home of Jimi Blake, one of Ireland’s most creative plantsmen, where Monty also  lmed last summer. Hidden in the foothills of the Wicklow Mountains, the garden is famous for its borders – a fusion of prairie and tropical planting in a natural, woodland setting.

As Jimi guides us through his creation, Monty will be there with the group to discuss the garden. We will then enjoy lunch before continuing to Jimi’s sister’s garden: June Blake’s Garden and Nursery. June is a passionate plantswoman who grows from seeds sourced all over the world, for a unique mix of tender and traditional. We return to our hotel, where Monty will give an entertaining talk about his gardening life, before dining with the group.

Friday 1 June

Monty leaves us on this day, as we head south to Powerscourt in its magnificent setting of the Wicklow Mountains. After lunch (included) we call at Airfield Gardens, for the romance of its walled garden and woodland. Later, enjoy free time in Dublin, before a  final group dinner.

Saturday 2 June

Check out and travel home afterwards.

Optional extra

Extend your stay to include tickets to Bloom garden show on Saturday 2 June: price on request.

National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin

Hunting Brook

Powerscourt

Carmel Duignan's private garden

June Blake's Garden and Nursery

Airfield Gardens

Last year's tour of the gardens of Rome, with Monty Don

Find out what some of our guests thought of last year's tour of Italian gardens, featuring special guest Monty Don at Ninfa, on our holiday feedback page.

How to book

The date of this holiday is 29 May - 2 June, 2018

Prices for this exclusive gardeners' holiday start from £2,265 per person for four nights.

Insurance is available from £50; single travellers are very welcome - the single room supplement is £495 per person.

Please note that places are limited, so call now to reserve your holiday or find out more:

  • Call 01334 657155 or book online via the Brightwater website.
  • Quote code GWIR when booking to ensure you are getting the correct holiday deal.
  • Read what others thought of some of our previous holidays on our feedback page

Exclusive travel and events

Find out more about exclusive holidays and cruises, masterclasses and reader events from BBC Gardeners' World Magazine, in our travel and events video.

Terms and conditions

Holiday organised by and subject to booking conditions of Brightwater Holidays Ltd. Please note all timings are approximate and may be changed. Confirmation will be sent with joining instructions 28 days prior to departure. In the case of unforeseen circumstances experts may be substituted.