A 160-acre lakeside estate where a Palladian villa, Ireland's largest folly, Victorian walled gardens, and woodland trails tell a story of Georgian decadence and family drama — just outside Mullingar.
Explore the exquisite 1740 Palladian villa designed by Richard Cassels, featuring dramatic Diocletian windows, some of Ireland's finest surviving Rococo plasterwork by French stucco artist Barthelemij Cramilion, and original Irish oak floors. Audio guides (free, in four languages) bring the scandalous Rochfort family story to life.
Ireland's largest and most spectacular folly — a 20-metre-high sham Gothic ruin built in 1760 by 'The Wicked Earl' Robert Rochfort purely to block the view of his brother's bigger house. This stone wall with pointed windows and square wings is a striking testament to sibling rivalry.
A beautifully kept 19th-century pleasure garden with a rare narrow rectangular layout that reveals a panorama of colour on entry. Features a Thomas Messenger-style Victorian glasshouse with exotic plants, orchids, old roses, hydrangeas, and the unique Belvedere apple — a red-fleshed heritage variety from Central Asia.
Tucked at the bottom of the Walled Garden, this enchanting fantasy glen filled with fairy houses, sprites, and elves is a delight for young children — complete with flowing water and whispering trees.
10km of marked trails wind through mature beech woodlands, past an 800-year-old Yew tree, an 18th-century Icehouse, and along the shore of Lough Ennell. Look out for red squirrels, otters, buzzards, and spectacular starling murmurations in winter (up to half a million birds). Six short marked trails let you tailor your route.
Two more whimsical 18th-century follies by architect Thomas Wright. The roofless Octagonal Gazebo sits on a fortified terrace with commanding lake views — once used for lavish Georgian picnics. The Gothic Arch is a castellated two-storey tower that served as a mock entrance to the estate.
Four separate play areas are scattered across the estate, giving kids plenty of space to burn off energy. Combine with the Fairy Garden and lakeside picnic benches for an easy family day out.
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