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Mount Usher Gardens

Ashford, Co. Wicklow
Bed & Breakfast
+353 (0)861 548 010

Per night
£90 - £150

2 rooms

Rooms sleep 2

Gardeners will be very happy staying in this generous, comfortable B&B surrounded by stunning gardens with year-round interest

Per night
£90 - £150

Contact the owner directly to check date availability and secure your booking.

The Experience

This is very much a family home and Katherine throws open her doors to guests with much generosity of spirit. You’re surrounded by what is considered amongst the greatest surviving wild romantic Robinsonian gardens, described by Monty Don as one of his favourites anywhere in the world. 22 acres are yours to explore with the river Vartry running through, bridges to cross, plenty of places to sit and contemplate, a rare collection of over 4,000 species of mature trees, flowers and shrubs including rhododendrons and azaleas blazing with colour in early summer, and a glorious maple walk for autumn. Wildlife abounds and there are herons, dippers and kingfishers to spot.

Katherine gives you mostly organic ingredients at breakfast including homemade muesli, granola and jams, home-baked bread, scrambled eggs with mushrooms and the full Irish, or a veggie version. Sit in the big sunroom after breakfast – you’ll find books to read and comfy sofas with large glass doors so you can watch the wildlife even if the weather isn’t playing. Stroll 10 minutes to The Chester Beatty Inn or the Avoca cafe, deli and bakery in the grounds.

Hire bikes for wonderful cycling in the mountains, visit other good gardens, walk through glorious countryside. Return to traditional bedrooms with lovely views over the gardens and river. You’ll feel very peaceful here.

We think you'll love

Exploring the gardens and finding out about their fascinating history
Hiking and biking in the nearby mountains
Eating organic breakfasts in the sunroom or on the terrace

You should know

No shoes indoors – pack your slippers
It's a sociable sort of place – not for shrinking violets

Essentials

EV charger
Swimming pool
Hot tub
Garden
Open fire / woodburner
Breakfast included
Breakfast available
Meals available
Vegetarian meals
Oven
Parking on premises
Free parking nearby
Accessible by public transport
WiFi
Television
Spa
Central heating
Limited mobility
Wheelchair access
Mobile reception
Hob
Bar
Barbecue
Licensed premises
Paid parking nearby
Air conditioning
Relaxation areas
Washing machine
Tennis court
Microwave oven
No smoking
Credit cards
Working farm
Owner has pets
Dishwasher
Pets welcome

Family friendly

Baby monitor
Books and toys
Children welcome
Babies welcome
Stair gates
High chair
Fire guard
Cot available

Nearby

Pub/bar within 3 miles
Restaurant within 3 miles
Shop within 3 miles

Activities

Bikes available
Food courses
Kayaking
Other courses
Sailing
Surfing
Wild swimming

Pricing

Nightly price: from £90
Surcharges: Singles £120.

2 Doubles: From £90

Information

Booking information

Check in: 4.30pm
Check out: 11am
Other details: Minimum stay: 2 nights.
Closed: Christmas & New Year.
No smoking: Smoking not permitted anywhere in the property.
Owner has pets: Animals living on the property
Meals: Pub 10-minute walk.

Reviews

The highlight here is exploring the 22 acres of wonderful gardens and then retiring to the summer room or terrace to watch the river flow past and smell the flowers in bloom. Katherine and her husband are warm and generous hosts and the breakfasts sound delicious - the perfect start to a day exploring the mountains or the coast.

Zoe Sawday's Inspector

Catherine, London Jan 2021

I was lucky enough to stay here in January 2021 whilst working nearby and couldn't have wished to stay in a more luxurious or lovely house. Katherine and Konrad were so kind and hospitable and so very thoughtful with lovely touches such as my electric blanket put on each night before I arrived back, cold and exhausted from a long and busy day! Katherine's breakfasts were incredible and a huge treat. I cannot recommend staying here enough, on the last morning we managed to walk around the beautiful and fascinating Robinsonian gardens which was a highlight of the trip.

Elizabeth, Donaghadee Sep 2020

Have just returned from a fantastic stay at Mount Usher. Catherine is a wonderful host. The house is beautiful. Our room spacious with a lovely view over the garden. It is a place to relax and recharge. Breakfast truly delightful. We so enjoyed our walks in the gardens. So peaceful. Can't wait to return in the Springtime.

Claire, Ballynahinch Aug 2020

Such a great stay, we have booked again in the spring! Katherine is the perfect host. She made us most welcome in her gorgeous home, cooks scrumptious breakfasts, all in the setting of an enchanting garden. We were able to walk around Mount Usher at our leisure. Our room was typical of the rest of the house elegant, stylish and spacious. The fresh cut roses were a real treat. The whole family made us most welcome & helped guide us to beautiful walks and great places to eat nearby. Many thanks.

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Location

The neighbourhood

The house is down a small B-road half a mile from Mount Ashford village. As well as the gardens to explore there is the Wicklow Mountains National Park (20-minute drive), where you can join the Wicklow Way and walk through Glendalough valley, a 6th-century monastic settlement flanked by pretty lakes to the north and south. Wicklow town is a 12-minute drive and there is a good swimming beach at Brittas Bay, 20 minutes away. You're an hour from Dublin and the airport.

Local points of interest from Katherine Jay

There are other fabulous gardens within an hours drive from Mount Usher. They include Kilmacurragh Botanical Gardens, Powerscourt, Altamont, and Jimi Blake's garden 'Hunting Brook (shown on Gardner's World).
20 minutes away is Brittas Bay, a 5km stretch of sandy beach, wonderful for swimming and walking, surrounded by 100 hectares of dunes, ferns and grassland. It has been awarded a blue flag for its pristine environment and water quality.
There are many great golf courses within an hours drive. Druids Glen, which hosted the Irish Open for 4 years in a row. Wicklow Golf course, Tulfarris golf club, Arklow Golf Links, Delgany and Powerscourt to name but a few.
The Wicklow Mountains National Park covers 20,000 hectares perfect for hiking and hill walking. Here you can access the Wicklow Way, visit the 6th Century Monastic site of Glendalough, or just take a picnic and explore the area.
Dublin City attractions include Trinity College, holding the 9th C manuscript the Book of Kells, the National Museum of Ireland, the National Gallery, the James Joyce Centre, Dublin Castle and the Chester Beatty Library.
There is a very good pub in the village called The Chester Beatty, a good fish restaurant in Wicklow called the Lighthouse, and many others in Greystones 15 mins from Mount Usher.

Introducing

Katherine Jay

Konrad's mother owned and developed the garden for many years and was passionate about keeping it wild and organic. Konrad and Katherine very much enjoy introducing the garden to their guests and will happily tell you about its history. They are also good people to point you in the right direction for other gardens to visit.