When my family first moved to Ireland we started looking for nature hikes and waterfalls. Hiking and exploring nature is one of the family activities all of us enjoy. Ireland does not disappoint. We have seen some beautiful places. One of the first waterfalls that we visited was the Powerscourt Waterfall. Besides being the tallest in Ireland, the waterfall itself is gorgeous! My kids had a blast climbing rocks and walking the trails around the park. The nice thing about this waterfall is that you can park close if you aren’t up for a long or difficult hike. If you want to hike there are trails around the park that are lovely. It is also a great backdrop for pictures. Next to the car park, there is a small cafe and a playground for younger kids to enjoy. There is a fee for admission and more information on pricing can be found here. I felt like the waterfall was definitely worth the admission fee.

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Powerscourt Estate

The first time I went to the waterfall I didn’t know there was also an Estate and Gardens nearby. The Powerscourt Estate is just over 4 km away from the waterfall. It is beautiful and there is no entrance fee for the mansion itself. Inside there are shops such as Avoca with a cafe, food hall, clothing, and blankets. One of the things I like about the Avoca food hall is being able to find items that aren’t sold everywhere, such as canned pumpkin. There is also a beautiful furniture shop called Global Village and another shop called Design Loft with Irish art and jewelry among other lovely items. In all, it is a fun place to explore.

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The Gardens

My favorite part of the Estate are the gardens behind the Mansion. (The entrance fee information can be found here.) There is a short video that you can watch before setting off to explore. This way you can learn about the history of the Estate. There are trails through many beautifully landscaped gardens with amazing sculptures, water features and even a tower! The tower is fun to climb and provides a charming view of the property from a different vantage point. If you are anything like me you will have a lot of pictures when you’re done. Plan plenty of time to walk around all the different gardens and immerse yourself in the nature and beauty. There is a Japanese garden, an Italian garden and even a pet cemetery among many other spots. My family went in the fall but I have to imagine it is beautiful throughout the year with the changes in the seasons.

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Powerscourt Garden Pavilion

There is also a greenhouse/garden shop close to the car park. The Garden Pavilion is a great garden center with a large selection of plants and also some outdoor furnishings and gifts. It was a great way to end our trip for the day to the Estate. If you love gardens and art then you’ll want to make the trip to Powerscourt. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!