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Mount Congreve Gardens is an internationally-renowned garden.

Located in the south-east of Ireland, in County Waterford, Mount Congreve Gardens a stunning place to explore, with rare and beautiful plants, flowers, and trees. The gardens are home to a wild meadow and woodlands, which offer a great chance to get away from it all while still staying within the city limits.

The gardens offer plenty of space for groups of all sizes to enjoy themselves. Whether you’re a gardening group, historical society, school active retirement group or tour operator or DMC organising group excursions —a visit to Mount Congreve Gardens will be a unique experience for everyone involved.

If your group love gardens or just want to escape from it all while remaining in the heart of Waterford City, Mount Congreve Gardens should definitely be on your list!

Mount Congreve offers a rich visitor experience from winter to summer, by day and sometimes, even by night. We offer year-round spectacles – from a forest of Asiatic Magnolias that transport visitors to the Himalayas every spring, to a sea of Astilbes blooming in summer through to the autumnal colours of our maple lawn. Early flowering camellias add colour and the wonderful scent of Daphnes fills the air for a fresh winter walk. Unlike gardens where gardeners are behind the scenes, where you can’t walk on the lawn, ‘scrump an apple’ or pocket an acorn, we share our knowledge generously, we’ll always stop for a chat, encouraging visitors to explore, play and to get hands-on as Ambrose Congreve would have. 

 

MOUNT CONGREVE GARDENS, Kilmeaden, Co. Waterford, IRELAND X91 PX05

HOW TO GET THERE

Located just 10 minutes from Waterford City Centre overlooking the majestic River Suir & with direct access from the 45 KM Waterford Greenway, Mount Congreve Gardens are easily accessible from the N25.

Sat nav co-ordinates: 52.2409N, 7.2 140W

EirCode: X91 PX05

LOCATIONDISTANCE
WATERFORD CITY10 MIN
DUBLIN AIRPORT1 HOUR 45 MINS
CORK AIRPORT1 HOUR 30 MINS
ROSSLARE FERRY PORT60 MINS

Facilities

~ The Stables café – 95 seats

~ Private Dining – 120 seats

~ Afternoon Tea

~ Gift shop

~ Ticket desk

~ Accessible toilets

~ Coach parking

~ Drop off facility at entrance

~ Guided Tours

~ House opens – 2023 season

~ Audiovisual

~ Audio Tours available – 2023 season

(English, French, German and Spanish)

Contact us

Contact
Request our
2023 Tour Operator Guide
Plan your visit

Request our 2023 Tour Operator Guide

To receive our 2023 Tour Operator Guide, please email [email protected]

FAQ

HOW DO I VISIT MOUNT CONGREVE GARDENS & CAN I BUY TICKETS WHEN I ARRIVE?

To avoid disappointment, we recommend that tickets for Mount Congreve Gardens be booked online in advance of your visit. This includes general garden visit tickets and event tickets. These can be purchased here or from the ticket desk in the Secret Garden shop. A discount applies to online General Admission tickets.


DO MEMBERS NEED TO PRE-BOOK?

If you are a member, you do not need to book in advance. You do however need to present your card upon arrival. You may be asked to show proof of identity.


WHAT ARE YOUR OPENING HOURS?

Please view most up-to-date information here.


CAN I BRING MY PET?

We are all big animal lovers at Mount Congreve and dog owners will love our new pet-friendly Wetlands Walk located at the entrance to Mount Congreve but unfortunately, due to the biodiversity of the estate, the only pets allowed into the main gardens are registered guide dogs.

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ARE THE PATHS WHEELCHAIR AND BUGGY FRIENDLY?

The main pathway through the gardens is wheelchair and buggy friendly, it is however on an incline with loose stone surfaces in many places.


DO YOU HAVE A CAFÉ?

Yes, the Stables Café offer a wide selection of seasonal salads, soups, warming dishes, tasty desserts and pastries.


CAN WE BRING A PICNIC?

We do not permit foods that have not been purchased on-site to be consumed within the grounds. The Stables Café offers a wide selection of light bites and snacks to suit all tastes and dietary requirements.


DO YOU SELL PLANTS?

Yes, we sell a variety of beautiful potted plants. We also sell an in-season variety of fruits and vegetables from our gardens. We do not sell cut flowers.



ARE YOUR TOILET FACILITIES OPEN?

Yes, the bathrooms are located in the main visitor, where we also have a wheelchair-accessible toilet.

Please note there are no public toilets in Mount Congreve House.


DO YOU HAVE BABY-CHANGING FACILITIES?

Yes, these are located in the Stables Café.


WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED?

Mount Congreve Gardens are located 10 minutes from Waterford City on the Old Kilmeaden Road. Our Eircode is X91 PX05.


CAN I USE MY OPW HERITAGE PASS TO VISIT MOUNT CONGREVE GARDENS?

Upon the death of Mr. Congreve, the house and gardens were bequeathed to the state and are held in Trust. Mount Congreve Gardens is not an OPW site and we do not accept OPW Heritage Cards.


I HAVE AN EXISTING ANNUAL PASS FROM 2021- CAN I STILL USE IT?

We will honour all valid 2021 Annual and Loyalty passes until 31.12.2022.


HOW DO I BOOK A GROUP?

Discounted rates are available for groups of 10 or more. All group visits or tours must be pre-booked through our office. Please email [email protected]


I WOULD LIKE TO BOOK AFTERNOON TEA?

Afternoon Tea at Mount Congreve Gardens is not to be missed. We offer different afternoon teas, including traditional, vegetarian and gluten-free menus. Cakes are freshly prepared on-site with locally sourced ingredients where possible.

Traditional /Festive Afternoon Tea: €35.00
Vegan / Gluten-free: €37.50 – min two people
Add a glass of Prosecco €7.50pp
For more information and to book follow this link


CAN I VISIT MOUNT CONGREVE HOUSE?

Mount Congreve House will open from 2nd March 2023. This will be the new entry point to visit the gardens. Pre-book online or become a Mount Congreve Member for the best value www.mountcongreve.com 

WHAT TO EXPECT?

You will enter Mount Congreve House by the main entrance as the Congreve family once did.

You will be welcomed at the reception desk and can scan your pre-booked ticket or membership card or purchase a ticket to visit the gardens.

You will be guided into the audio-visual room where you can watch a 5-minute short film which speaks to Mr Congreve and his inspiration to build one of the Great Gardens of the World.

Visitors can then continue to the interpretation room. This room holds a model of Mount Congreve Estate and two flipbooks. One flipbook documents the plant collection and the other the history of the Congreve family. At this point, guests can then exit to visit the gardens.

 


CAN I STAY AT MOUNT CONGREVE?

We are currently renovating one of the three Gate Lodges at Mount Congreve. It will be available for stays from July onwards. To book follow this link https://airbnb.com/h/thegatelodgeatmountcongreve


CAN I BOOK THE HOUSE TOUR?

Guests who wish to visit the gardens can now do so as the Congreve family once did, and enter through Mount Congreve House. Garden admission tickets can be purchased online or on the day.

Visitors will receive a warm welcome from the visitor experience team and be guided into the two new interpretative spaces and then exit to the gardens via the North Terrace. 

While guests can enjoy the new interpretative spaces, there is no designated house tour.


DO YOU HAVE A PLAYGROUND?

Our new eco-friendly playground is a natural haven for children to enjoy nature. It offers all of the ingredients for fun active play for children of all ages and abilities. With basket swings, hammock swings, a climbing tower with an adventure tunnel slide, a balance walk, a seesaw and a boat sitting amongst a sand area and more. Other play features in the new playground also offer opportunities for creative, sensory and imaginative play.
Prebook your garden admission online or for the best value we strongly recommend purchasing our family membership. Discover full details here https://www.mountcongrevebookings.com/Home


CAN I VISIT THE CAFÉ AND SHOP WITHOUT VISITING THE GARDENS?

Yes, visitors can visit the Stables Café and Secret Garden shop without visiting the gardens.


Tours

Thursday Tours

Experience Mount Congreve’s gardens through the eyes of an expert. Every Thursday, March - September at 2:00 pm(weather permitting) join us for a scheduled guided tour of the gardens. Meet at Mount Congreve House and you will be joined by one of our Expert Gardeners. Follow their passion for gardening as they share first-hand secrets and world-class, innovative techniques that have been passed down through generations. Learn how the walled gardens were laid out to create a natural airflow to protect against frost and disease, how the rotation of crops for the best care of the soil has been passed down since 1760, how integrated pest control systems enable plants to thrive organically! Discover the secrets of Mount Congreve's world-class garden on this rare opportunity to learn from one of its resident experts.

DURATION: Approx. 2 hours
FITNESS LEVEL: Moderate
PRICE: €14 per person
MIN/MAX NUMBERS: Max 30
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Guided tour with the Garden Curator - Curators Edible Woodland Tour

A must for nature & garden enthusiasts, this tour offers a rare opportunity to explore the 70-acre, Mount Congreve formal & woodland gardens with the estate's resident curator, Michael White. Known here as“a living encyclopedia of the garden". Michael's passion for the gardens & lively personality brings visitors right into the heart of the stories & origins of rare species & plants that are both native to Ireland & present in these gardens due to the worldwide travels of Mr Ambrose Congreve. As visitors move through the gardens with Michael, they will also learn innovative techniques & methods from this world-class gardener; along with some surprises about plants, trees & shrubs that have been used throughout history for dietary and medicinal purposes! TO BOOK email our Estate Team at [email protected] or telephone +353 (0)51 384 115

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE VISIT INCLUDE
  • The Dinosaur Tree (Wollemia Tree): an incredibly rare plant, native to Australia
  • The story of the first woman to circumnavigate the world and the plants associated with her
  • Medicinal trees and shrubs and their particular place in history
  • Planting philosophy of Mr Congreve, who was the winner of 13 gold medals at the prestigious Chelsea flower show in the United Kingdom
DURATION: Approx. 2 hours
FITNESS LEVEL: Moderate
PRICE: €25 per person
MIN/MAX NUMBERS: 10-30
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General Guided Tours - Garden Highlight Walk (formal gardens)

Following a grand arrival past the sweeping, main entrance of Mount Congreve house, visitors enjoy a gentle stroll through Mount Congreve's formal gardens. This guided visit includes the Walled Gardens, where fruit and vegetables have been grown to support the estate over centuries. See the Peach House and the multiple, heritage variety apples including Beauty of Bath, Discovery and James Grieve. From there, visitors pass onto the Bellgate Lawn, surrounded by almost 200 Rose “Scarlet Abundance” and overlooked by ancient Oak trees. Following the terrace walk, past the rolling rose lawn, highlights include the delicately leafed Acer Tamukeyama and vibrant pink-green tinged Pseudowintera, “Marjorie Congreve” named after Mr Ambrose Congreve's wife. TO BOOK email our Estate Team at [email protected] or telephone +353 (0)51 384 115

DURATION: Approx. 1 hour
FITNESS LEVEL: Low - Moderate
PRICE: €14 per person
MIN/MAX NUMBERS: 10-30
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Guided tour with Expert Gardener

In addition to a guided visit of Mount Congreve's 70-acre formal and woodland gardens, this tour offers visitors a rare opportunity to learn from one of the estate's resident gardening experts and gain a deeper insight into the workings and management required throughout diverse seasons. Learn first-hand secrets and world-class, innovative gardening techniques that have been shared over centuries. These include how the walled gardens have been laid out to create a natural airflow to protect against frost and disease, the rotation of crops for the best care of soil. The integrated pest control system that enables plants to thrive and survive organically. The centuries-old technique of self-irrigating conservatories, the methods that encourage the growth of grapes and peaches, even in Ireland's temperate climate! TO BOOK email our Estate Team at [email protected] or telephone +353 (0)51 384 115

DURATION: Approx. 2 hours
FITNESS LEVEL: Moderate
PRICE: €20 per person
MIN/MAX NUMBERS: 10-30
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General Guided Tours- Garden Walk-Hike (formal and woodland gardens)

Following a visit of the formal gardens as outlined above, visitors enjoy an extended walk-hike through the rougher terrain that winds through the stunning surroundings of Mount Congreve's woodland gardens. Highlights of this visit include the Rock Waterfall, surrounded by a magnificent 1km long Magnolia walk and even longer Hydrangea walk; the Ice House, built in the 1750s to preserve the estate's food; the unexpected presence of a Chinese Pagoda, nestled within an impressive 17 metre drop; and the Temple (finally resting place of Mr Ambrose Congreve and his wife Marjorie Congreve), overlooking the River Suir. TO BOOK email our Estate Team at [email protected] or telephone +353 (0)51 384 115

DURATION: Approx. 2 hours
FITNESS LEVEL: Moderate
PRICE: €14 per person
MIN/MAX NUMBERS: 10-30
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General Guided Tours - Worldwide walking tour (formal & woodland gardens)

Following an impressive arrival at the main entrance of the Mount Congreve estate, this visit includes both the formal and woodland gardens. Throughout a two-hour exploration, an expert gardener guides emphasise plants from around the world; including rare species from the foothills of Nepal, to the mountains of South Africa and from the Swamps of Georgia U.S.A, all the way to Siberia. TO BOOK email our Estate Team at [email protected] or telephone +353 (0)51 384 115

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE VISIT INCLUDE
  • Japanese Azeleas
  • Majestic Californian Redwood
  • Spiky (but beautiful) fragrant Mahonia, from Eastern Asia
  • Twisted trunk of the Mediterranean Castanea
  • "Handkerchief" tree from China
  • "Dinosaur" tree from Australia o Wollemia Nobolis: thought be extinct, until rediscovered in 1994. This tree was gifted to Mr Ambrose by the Mount Congreve resident gardeners to mark his 100th birthday
DURATION: Approx. 2 hours
FITNESS LEVEL: Moderate
PRICE: €16 per person
MIN/MAX NUMBERS: 10-30
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Group Gallery

They visited Mount Congreve

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