The Gardens were designed from 1731 onwards with the intention of creating a cultivated area that remained connected to the wider landscape and includes amongst other features, the Walled Gardens, the Italian Garden, the Dolphin Pond, the Japanese Gardens, Pets Cemetery and Pepperpot Tower.

The Avoca Terrace Café in Powerscourt House offers a beautiful setting to relax and enjoy lunch or a homemade sweet treat over coffee. Take in the stunning views across the expansive gardens, framed against the famous Sugarloaf Mountain.

The Sally Gap road was built by British Army forces to attempt to flush rebels from the hills during the Irish rebellion of 1798 and, to this day, is known as the Military Road. There are incredible views from this elevated road including some of Ireland’s most filmed scenery.

Lough Tay is also known as, ‘Guinness Lake’. The bright white sand of the beach on the northern side of Lough Tay was imported by the Guinness family whose estate runs through part of the area. The shape of the lake with the white sand at the top actually makes it look like a pint of Guinness!

Fans of the television series, Vikings will recognize Lough Tay as the location of Kattegat village, home to Ragnar and his family.

Although Lough Tay itself is on private property and cannot be visited, the best viewing point to see it is along the Military Road above, at the junction with the Wicklow Way.

The gardens were developed extensively during the 19th century by National Botanic Garden curators, David Moore and his son, Sir Frederick Moore in partnership with Thomas Acton who inherited Kilmacurragh Estate in 1854. Acton was one of the most remarkable plantsmen to have gardened in Ireland during the nineteenth century.

It was a period of great botanical and geographical exploration with numerous plant species from around the world being introduced to Ireland for the first time. Kilmacurragh is particularly famous for its conifer and rhododendron collections.

After perusing the delights of the National Botanic Gardens, relax in Acton Café, situated in a restored courtyard building. There are a variety of delicious dishes on the menu using fresh, local ingredients.

The winding road hugs the coast to Dalkey and then onwards to Killiney, often described as Dublin’s Bay of Naples. You will be treated to magnificent sweeping views of the sea and Wicklow’s spectacular Sugarloaf mountain resembling a volcano on the horizon.