Kylemore Abbey & Victorian Walled Garden, Western Ireland, Ireland

4.5 (3.578 reviews) Tuesday: Spent More than 3 hours Ranking #1 in Western Ireland Historic Sites • Castles • Gardens

Stunning and worth the visit!

Set in a dramatic landscape, Kylemore is an ideal destination for a day out. From its beginnings as a romantic gift in the 1860s to becoming home to the Benedictine Nuns in 1920, Kylemore is steeped in history and tales of tragedy, romance, engineering initiatives, model farms, royal visits, spirituality, and education. Experience the Victorian atmosphere of the restored rooms of the Abbey and neo-Gothic church. Explore the magical Victorian Walled Garden, the new Kylemore Woodland's Trails & Tales. History talks on the abbey terrace throughout the summer. Dine in the Kylemore Kitchen Cafe or the Garden Tea House or treat yourself to homemade luxury icecream. Explore our magical Fairy Village and say hello to our Connemara Ponies and pet rare breed pigs. Shop for unique handcrafted gifts including chocolate, pottery, and beauty products handmade on site. So much to see, do, and discover!

Address

Connemara On the N59 between Clifden and Westport, Kylemore, Ireland.

Mobile

+353 95 52001

Website

http://www.kylemoreabbey.com

Email

[email protected]

Working hours

Monday :
Tuesday :
Wednesday :
Thursday :
Friday : 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday : 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Sunday : 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Current local date and time now

Tuesday, May 07, 2024, 0:35

User Ratings

4.5 based on (3.578 reviews)

Excellent

60%

Good

27%

Satisfactory

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Reviews

5Andre H 5:00 PM May 5, 2022
What a setting on the Lake
This was probably one of the best attractions we visited during our 2 week holiday in Ireland during April. It was a long 4 hr drive for us from Castlemartyr but it was worth it. The road to get to the Abbey was beautiful , full of lakes & mountains. Something that looked like somewhere in the USA/Canada that we have seen on TV/Vlogs. The parking area is quite big & we quickly saw why as it got very busy very quickly even though it was a Sunday. Opening time is 10am & cost 15 euro pp which gives you access to everything. We choose to do the Victorian Garden 1st & jumped on the waiting bus which runs every 10-15mins , its free. One could walk through very scenic woods but will take 20-30 mins depending on your fitness levels. The bus takes a few minutes. The gardens are wonderful & a number of flowers were starting to bloom as it was the beginning of spring. There are a couple of pigs in a pen nearby , can't remember their names now. After the gardens we headed into the Abbey where you able to engage a guide should you have any questions. The inside is immaculate & loved the diningroom area. We then headed for the Gothic church which is about a 5min walk from the Abbey . A small but intimate church. The views along the lake are amazing & with the Abbey in the background it makes for fantastic photos. The best spot is close to the parking lot heading to the Abbey. A Gift Shop & Cafe are also on site & a few restrooms across the property. The grounds are very neat & well maintained.
4nick w 5:00 PM Jun 14, 2022
Great Location
The Abbey is situated in a lovely, romantic lakeside setting. We visited on a wet day and the rain and mist just added to the atmosphere. You can go inside the Abbey although not all of it is open and what was, though very well displayed, was soon over. On a nicer day you could happily amble around the grounds and gardens but it wasn't that kind of day so it was the gift shop (extensive) and cafe that received the rest of our attention. The Abbey and grounds cost 15 euros to enter and, on a wet day I would almost be tempted to suggest you just admire the free (and best) view from the car park, then have a stop in the cafe and shop and head off and hold onto your money for another time.