Lismore Castle Gardens - www.lismorecastle.com
Set on 7 acres of land with the castle's 17-century outer defensive walls. The gardens are open to the public from mid-April to early October between 1.45pm and 4.45 pm. The gardens are believed to be the oldest in Ireland retaining much of their original Jacobean form.

A recently re-planted herbaceous border aligned on the Cathedral's spire gives an impressive show of colour throughout the summer months. There is also a fine selection of magnolias, camellias and rhododendrons and a remarkable yew walk where Edmund Spenser is said to have written the Faerie Queen.

In 1999, several pieces of contemporary sculpture were installed in the garden including one by Anthony Gormley, best known for the massive Angel of the North which overlooks the motorway at Gateshead in the north of England. Throughout the open season there is always plenty of interest in this fascinating and beautiful garden.

Cappoquin House & Gardens
Set on 3 acres of land with a south-facing slope. Cappoquin House is an 18th century Georgian mansion built on the site of an old Fitzgerald castle.

Tourin Gardens
Set on 3 acres of land with mature trees, rhododendrons, camellias over looking the river Blackwater, the gardens shelter an Italianate House.

The Glenshelane River Walk
10km long and now covered with Norway Spruce. Red Squirrel and mink have also been noted and upstream from the picnic site is a noted salmon spawning area.

Cappoquin House
Cappoquin House, in the centre of town, is an 18th Century Georgian mansion built on the site of an old Fitzgerald castle. The house and gardens enjoy magnificent views over the Blackwater. The Keane Family has lived in Cappoquin House for over 200 years.

Cappoquin House and Gardens are opened to the public from April to July each year, Monday to Saturday from 9.00 a.m. to 1 p.m. Open all year for tours by appointment. For further enquires contact Sir Richard Keane.

Tourin House and Gardens
Tourin House and Gardens are situated 3 miles South of Cappoquin. They are open to the public from February to June and in September to November, daily from 9.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. For further enquiries contact Andrea Jameson.

The estate was owned by the Roch family in the early 17th century. It then passed to the Nettles and was sold to Richard Musgrave in 1780. The original tower house still stands, attached to which are the remains of an early Georgian E-shaped house. Tourin House was completed in 1840 using stone from the original early Georgian structure. Tourin Gardens are a joy to behold and were originally laid out on the advice of Richard Beamish, a great friend of Sir Richard Musgrave and part, owner of the Beamish and Crawford Brewery in Cork. Glorious displays of bare azalea, magnolia and rhododendron varieties delight the eye. Every turn through the wooded paths presents an exciting display of colour against which the mature cedars, evergreens, oaks and woody branches of the tree rhododendrons provide a lovely contrast. This is a spring garden and is at its best from March to May.

The Glenshelane River Walk
The Glenshelane River walk is a beautiful 10km walk signposted from Cappoquin. Along the way you will encounter pockets of the original oak and later stands of Norway spruce. The walk is particularly stunning in the spring when a carpet of bluebells is to be seen. A small wooden bridge crosses the Glenshelane River all collectively making for a truly delightful ramble.