Falling in Love with Fota House and Gardens
Fota House and Gardens are one of my favourite places in East Cork. If you haven’t done it yet or haven’t visited in awhile add it to your to do list! When I lived in London I lived close to Greenwich Park and loved going for a walk through this amazing park. If you are ever in London it is well worth a visit. It has a gorgeous view out over Canary Wharf and East London, some great museums and play areas for kids and also the Royal Observatory with the famous Meridian Line.
Since moving back to Cork I have fallen in love with Fota House and Gardens in the same way. I love it for a walk with the girls. I find it a great place to meet friends and family and go for a wander through the grounds. It is so peaceful….. as peaceful as any walk is with 2 toddlers!!! There is something about the place and watching the seasons change in their gardens is beautiful. The Gardens, The Frame-yard Courtyard, the Arboretum and the little nooks and crannies around the grounds make for a lovely little adventure for an afternoon out. There are steps to get up to the gardens so if you have a buggy you need a bit of muscle to pull them up. The pathways are a little rough for scooters if you are thinking of bringing them but I have seen some kids manage them there. You can make it into a big walk around the whole grounds so bring buggies if you don’t have kids that like walking. The beauty of this place you can enjoy the grounds whether you are going for a long or short walk as it is all quite compact. There is a lovely little coffee shop on the grounds in the main building. Check out their opening times before you go or bring a little picnic. There are so many places to set yourself down and enjoy the gardens.
Fota House also hosts different events throughout the year. I went to their Christmas experience a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it with the girls. There is also Halloween, Easter events and loads more. Check out their website for more details on opening times, tours and their events calendar. It has a separate car park to Fota Wildlife Park so keep going past the wildlife park on your left and there is car park closer to the house. You will need 3 Euro for the car park but that is it! You get to walk these fabulous grounds. They have different Maps, Activity Books that you can follow and purchase for Families.
“The Garden is a Love Song, A duet between a human being and Mother Nature” Enjoy the daily quotes as you enter the Frame Yard courtyard. I love the Frame Yard Courtyard and was just a wonder to walk around this summer. It is not open all the time and seems to have slightly different opening times to the main gardens. I need to pop in for my Autumn fix soon. The old restored Greenhouses are just so lush and I could have spent an hour here alone just looking at all the beautiful blooms. The Frameyard Courtyard has is own blog so if you are into plants and gardens check it out. Check out Fota’s Promotional Video
Hope you enjoy your day out here. Tag us on Instagram if you go #eatplaylovecork