Woodstock Gardens are located on a hill top overlooking the picturesque village
of Inistioge in South Kilkenny with views out to Mount Brandon in the distance
and the River Nore winding through the wooded valley below.
The
gardens are currently being restored by Kilkenny County Council with the assistance
of an ERDF grant through Bord Failte under the Great Gardens of Ireland Restoration
Programme. Over 50 acres of formal gardens, arboretum and woodland are to be brought
back to their original condition when the gardens were in the ownership of the
Tighe Family in the 1800's.
The garden is laid out with a series
of walks through formal avenues and gardens and secluded woodland walks. Destroyed
by fire in 1922, the ruins of Woodstock House can be seen on the approach road
to the gardens.
The garden also includes a terreaced flower garden,
a winter garden, a yew walk, a rose garden and a walled garden (all currently
under restoration). On your return from the gardens, stop at Mount Sandford Castle
for wonderfull viewsof the wooded valley of the River Nore overlooking Inistioge
and it's 13 arch bridge.