Glenveagh National Park & Gardens
Glenveagh Castle is a 19th century castellated mansion surrounded by the famous Glenveagh Gardens, with an interesting story
| Distance | 90 mins drive |
| Period Open | All Year |
| Opening Hours | Mon-Fri 0900-1730 (All Year) Sat 1000-1730 (Mar-Oct) Sun 1400-1730 (Mar-Oct) |
Glenveagh Castle is a 19th century castellated mansion and was built between 1867 and 1873. Its construction in a remote mountain setting was inspired by the Victorian idyll of a romantic highland retreat. John Townsend Trench, a cousin of its builder and first owner, John George Adair, with whom he had been raised in County Laois, designed it. Although not a professional architect, Trench had a hand in at least one other building: he designed the Gothic town hall in Arklow, built in 1878. Some 16,500 hectares of mountains, lakes, glens and woods with a large heard of red deer. The central feature is a 19th century castle surrounded by the famous Glenveagh Gardens. The visitor centre is accessible for visitors with disabilities. The ground floor of the Castle is partially accessible for people with disabilities. Access to the castle by guided tour only (max 20).
Telephone 00353 74 913 7090
Directions: 24km North-West of Letterkenny.Kilmacrennan/Termon to Dunlewey road or Churchill to Dunlewey Road.
Admission Prices: Castle: Adult: €3.00Group & Senior Citizen: €2.00Child/Student: €1.50Family Rate: €7.00Bus Prices: €2.00Concession: €1.00Admission to the Park and Visitor Centre is Free.
Guided Tours: Access to the Castle by guided tour only. (Videos/cameras not permitted on tour).Max. No: 20Duration: 45 mins.Audio Visual Presentation: "Glenveagh"Seating: 90Duration: 35 mins.Languages: English, Irish, French, German and Italian.
Exhibitions, toilets, toilet for visitors with disabilities, car/coach park, self-guiding trails, gardens, shuttle bus service to the castle (€2.00 return)
All year round, Daily 10:00-18:00Last admission at 17.00Average Length of Visit: 3-4 hours
Restaurant/Tearooms: Tearoom (Castle) - Open all year round. Reduced opening hours in Winter. Seating capacity: 50Restaurant (Visitor centre) Open Easter - end September. Seating capacity 90
Most of the Park is mountainous and is suitable for properly prepared hikers only. Guided Walks: Guided nature walks are held weekly in July and August and there is a 6-hour guided hill walk every month from May to October. There are two guided tours of the gardens each week in July and August.