Parks, Gardens and Garden Centres

Fota House Arboretum and Gardens

This place is just beautiful and I love going here.  Cafe open during the summer months.  The seasons are beautiful to witness here.  All that enjoyment and only 3 euro for the carpark.

Blarney Castle and Gardens

Donnerail Park

lovely playground, gorgeous park to walk around with Deer to see aswell

Regional Park Ballincollig 

Fitzgeralds Park

Just love a bit of Fitzgerald’s Park.  Parking is disc only and for 2 hours and the playground is huge and has amazing facilities but not enclosed so if you are going with more than 1 toddler beware.

Glenview Gardens

Carewswood Garden Centre

This place is fantastic.  The Cafe/Shop is lovely, great food.  Lovely little play gym for toddlers outside next to the chicken coop.  They also have a few toys and a bench inside the cafe for those rainy days when you can’t get outside!  The seating area outside is a sun trap and you can feel like you are on  your holidays sitting there, eating great food, drinking coffee while the kids play.  Great destination and it is a regular for us!  Obviously they have a great selection of plants and flowers as well!  They also do arts and crafts saturday morning for kids.  Check out the classes page.

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Ballyseedy Home and Garden

Great food,  Great coffee…. love Badger and Dodo coffee so this is a favourite of ours.  Little table and chairs for kids down the back with a few books.  There is a little toy shop inside here as well which is great for picking up a few bits.  Part of the outside area is covered so even when it is raining I find this place great for a wander.

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Ballymaloe Gardens at the Cookery School

I haven’t actually the walked through the Gardens with the girls yet, have a been couple of times  for Saturday Pizzas in the Garden Cafe.

 

Ballymaloe House

The famous Ballymaloe House and Grounds are lovely for a wander.  It has a cafe with lovely cakes and a nice shop to walk around.  Ballymaloe festivals during the year are a great source of excitement to East Cork and always a fun family day out.

 

Bishop Lucey Park

Bailick Park, Midleton

Tiny little park on Bailick Road near Midleton.  It has the Choctaw memorial which is a beautiful piece.  Park looks onto the water and is lovely for a small toddle but there is no parking really you have to park in the estates close by and walk down.

Skate Park