Lutyens' sunken garden
The centrepiece is Lutyens' 1912 sunken garden: circular terraces descend to an elongated pool, where small turtle statues face a grand fountain, edged with peony, iris, hostas and geraniums.
Heywood Gardens (Designed by Lutyens)
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About
A rare surviving garden by Sir Edwin Lutyens, laid on a sweeping hillside where circular terraces drop to a sunken pool and grand fountain, ringed by an 18th-century romantic landscape of lakes, woodland and follies.
Things to Do
Loggia and framed views
On the top level a red-tiled loggia carries an inscription from the writings of Alexander Pope, and each circular window in the surrounding wall frames a view of the landscape.
Terraces, lime avenue and pergola
A pleached lime walk leads up to the formal terrace, planted with alliums, wild roses and Kniphofia; the nearby pergola has been planted with hydrangea, wisteria and fuchsia.
Lakes, follies and parkland
Frederick Trench's sweeping 18th-century parkland holds three lakes plus an obelisk, a Sham Castle, a bath house, Claude's Seat and a partly restored Orangery.
Woodland and lakeside walks
Waymarked paths thread ancient oaks and beech, with lake views and a good chance of spotting moorhens and kingfishers. Most visits last about an hour.
Plan Your Visit
- Hours: Open all year. May–August 08:30–21:00; April and September 08:30–19:00; October–March 08:30–17:00. Average visit about 1 hour.
- Admission: Free admission for everyone; no ticket needed.
- Parking: Free car park on site, with wheelchair-accessible parking spaces and a wheelchair-accessible entrance. Note the site has only limited access for visitors with disabilities, as many features sit above stone steps and steep slopes.
- Food: There is no café or on-site catering — bring your own refreshments. Ballinakill village is beside the entrance; Abbeyleix, about 7 km north-west, has cafés and restaurants.
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