Derreen Garden

By way of introduction, access to the garden by car is a little tricky if, like us, you come from the south. In which case, be careful, as you'll pass the exit. In any case, don't panic, a sign will show you the way. The entrance is actually a few dozen meters further along the same road.

By way of welcome, we crossed paths with a magnificent hare. No doubt about it, we'd come to the right place. You arrive at a gravel courtyard. At the time of our visit, this courtyard was full. By full, I mean that there were only a dozen cars, at most. So don't be afraid to head for the exit, either - there are plenty of other places to go if you find yourself in this situation.

Tickets bought, map handed in, we're in the garden. We're in a "small" 24-hectare playground, patiently landscaped for almost 150 years. Suffice to say, there's an awful lot to see! From the very first meters, we can't fail to notice that the garden is meticulously maintained. It's clean, welcoming and, above all, very quiet.

Here and there, like budding adventurers, we take great pleasure in finding the trees and plants listed on the map handed to us at reception. Now we know what an Eucalyptus Globulus or a Chamaecyparis Lawsoniana looks like. That's got to be worth a lot of points in Scrabble! In fact, in this garden we quickly realize just how precious nature is, that it was here long before man, and that we need to take good care of it.

Several viewpoints have been created, and benches can be found throughout the garden. Nestled in the heart of the forest or along the water's edge, each is an invitation to relax for a few minutes and admire Mother Nature's work.

The garden is a maze of almost 12 kilometers of paths that separate and join, allowing you to go wherever you please. The garden is home to many species of animal. We were lucky enough to cross paths with hares, herons and almost ran over a small frog. There's something magical about it, because you can feel that the visitors who pass by are very respectful, and that here it's the animals who are king. A little bird tells me (or is it the map?) that it's also possible to come across squirrels.

The trails take you through pine forests, ivy-covered areas, overlooking the bay, through meadows and along the water. A large part of the route runs alongside Kilmakilloge Harbour. We were lulled by the spray of the water and greatly tempted to get closer to the sea. There's a small patio where you can enjoy a relaxing moment if you wish.

After the effort, don't forget the comfort, right? Before I close this digression on the Derreen Garden, I couldn't leave you without telling you about the Derreen Garden Cafe. For our part, we took refuge in front of a superb homemade lemon cake and a good hot coffee. I mention this deliberately, because the pastries were very good and the welcome really stood out.

If you love nature, or even better if you're passionate about plants or ancient trees, this is the place to go.