Altamont is another Robinsonian style, natural garden. Areas of lawn, wooded walks, a lovely lake with a little island that was occupied by a pair of swans nesting, surrounded by farmland...its a bucolic paradise!
Our next destination was another garden, near Abbeyleix in Ballinakill, County Laois. This garden was a bit of a surprise in that you enter it from a school parking lot. Although the source I had stated it was open all year, another states it is only open in July and August. Having arrived during recess with a schoolyard full of kids, I think the second version might have been correct! http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/ParksandGardens/East/HeywoodGardensLaois/
At any rate, no one chased us off, so we enjoyed the gardens! The most prominent area is a large circular fountain planted with herbs.
There's also a lovely terrace that looks like some restoration and replanting might be forthcoming. It has lovely views over the river.
Our last destination for the day was the Rock of Cashel. I really love this town - the Rock is a prominent focal point! We had a nice part of the day to look around and take a tour of the ruins.
I haven't mentioned the weather that much but this entire trip has been the kind of Irish soft weather that accounts for the fields of green - almost every day we had some rainy periods, some blue sky, and a lot of overcast sky!
Leaving Cashel we headed toward Caher - our b&b (College View) was half-way between the two towns.
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