Contact Modify Booking
BOOK
Skip to main content
      • 800 years of hospitality
      • Reasons to love Ashford Castle
      • The Ashford Castle community
      • Our partners & suppliers
      • Live webcam
      • Image gallery
      • Sustainability
      • The Red Carnation Hotel Collection
      • Awards & accolades
      • Location & directions
      • Families
      • Pets
      • Meet our team
      • Covid-19 update
      • Accessibility
      • FAQs
      • Rooms
      • Suites
      • Hideaway Cottage
      • Offers
      • Gifts
      • Discover all activities
      • Falconry
      • Traditional boat trips
      • Lake cruising
      • Walking & hiking
      • Estate gardens
      • Family activities
      • Fishing
      • Equestrian
      • Tennis
      • Golf
      • Clay shooting & archery
      • Zip-lining & tree climbing
      • Cycling & kayaking
      • Stand up paddle boarding
      • Cultural experiences
      • The Cinema
      • Meet the makers
      • A taste of the West of Ireland
      • Ireland's ancient music & story
      • The real Connemara
      • Dining & drinks
      • What's on
      • Breakfast
      • Afternoon Tea
      • Private dining
      • Midleton Whiskey
      • Our partners & suppliers
      • George V Dining Room
      • The Dungeon
      • Cullen's at the Cottage
      • The Drawing Room
      • Stanley's
      • The Connaught Room
      • The Prince of Wales Bar
      • The Billiards Room & Cigar Terrace
      • Wine tasting
      • Wellness & Spa
      • Spa facilities
      • The Salon
      • Spa brands
      • Spa etiquette
      • FAQs
      • Spa enquiry
      • Weddings
      • Conferences & meetings
      • Shopping at Ashford Castle
      • Mrs Tea's Boutique and Bakery
      • The Boutique at Ashford Castle
      • The gift shop
      • Gift vouchers
  • Discover

A proud royal heritage

Historic roots brought to life with warm British hospitality & theatrical dining experiences.

Select Date

Carnation SVG

Creating a healthier environment

Illustration of an old hand gun

A floral history

The gardens at Ashford Castle were largely created by the Guinness family who owned Ashford Castle for around 100 years, more specifically, Lady Ardilaun who was responsible for laying out the existing structure of Terraces and Walks which so define the gardens at Ashford today.

This was in the 1890s and photographs from that period give a very interesting perspective on the original layout. The first proper restoration of the gardens was carried out in the 1990s, 100 years after their creation; based on the original plans laid out by Lady Ardilaun.

A loving restoration

Since Ashford Castle was lovingly restored by the Tollman family and the Red Carnation Team, a programme was set in motion to restore and develop the gardens. 

An extensive tree care operation was carried out as well as careful repair of the many garden monuments, and the Sunken Garden and adjacent section of the Terraced Walk were totally replanted. 

The great formal Main Parterre, the beautiful Walled Garden full of perennial borders, fruit and vegetables, and the long Terraced Walk and Broad Walk create vistas across the gardens. The great woods with some exceptional trees are perfect to wander through and enjoy the wildlife and natural environment.

The Fountain

The Tollman Garden, formerly known as the Sunken Garden, is one of several formal gardens arranged along the main terrace walk in the grounds of Ashford Castle. These gardens, laid out by the Guinness family in the nineteenth century, are amongst the finest of the many beautiful country house gardens to be found in Ireland. 

In 1996 a circular pond, measuring eleven metres in diameter, was constructed in the centre of the rectangular lawn that was then known as the Sunken Garden, so called because of the high planted banks that surrounded it. The garden was approached down steps from the Velvet Garden to the east, and from a tunnel leading from the Walled Garden on the west, and also down steps from the Terrace Walk on the north side. It consisted only of a rectangular walkway leading around the lawn with no paths leading to the central pond.

1/3
2/3
3/3

Stay in touch

Sign-up to our newsletter

Subscribe to receive the latest news, announcements, and special offers

We are proud to be part of a number of select and exclusive collections and memberships that share our values of outstanding service, exceptional guest experiences and generous hospitality.

  • Careers
  • Legal
  • Contact us
  • Covid-19 update
  • Media
  • Covid privacy notice

London

  • Hotel 41
  • The Milestone Hotel & Residences
  • The Rubens at the Palace
  • The Egerton House Hotel
  • The Chesterfield Mayfair
  • The Montague on the Gardens

Dorset

  • Summer Lodge Country House Hotel & Restaurant
  • The Acorn inn

Ireland

  • Ashford Castle
  • The Lodge at Ashford Castle
  • Hatch Hall

Edinburgh

  • 100 Princes Street

Guernsey

  • The Old Government House Hotel & Spa
  • The Duke of Richmond Hotel

South Africa

  • Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve & Wellness Retreat
  • The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa
  • The Oyster Box

Botswana

  • Xigera Safari Lodge

Geneva

  • Hotel d'Angleterre

Florida

  • The Chesterfield Palm Beach

By using this site you are accepting our use of cookies to help provide the best possible service & experience.
Please refer to our privacy and cookie policy to read more about the cookies we use and how to change your settings.