Irish Landmark Trust and the Irish Heritage Trust are delighted to announce a new partnership, bringing the historic Head Gardener’s House at Fota back into use as a self-catering heritage stay.
Located within the walled garden of Fota House, Arboretum & Gardens, this distinctive house offers a rare opportunity to stay at the heart of one of Ireland’s finest examples of Regency design and its associated historic garden landscapes.
The project marks a new partnership between ILT and IHT, uniting two organisations with a shared commitment to protecting and sustaining Ireland’s built and natural heritage.
We think the location, history, and charm of Head Gardener’s House at Fota will make it an instant classic – with so much to do for families, but also wonderful for couples, groups of friends, nature-lovers, and dog-owners. We’re excited for this new chapter and hope you’ll join us as one of the very first to stay.
About the property
The house sleeps 5 across 3 bedrooms – two double and one single – all located upstairs, along with the bathroom. There is one bathroom with a shower (no bath). It accepts up to 2 dogs, on lead at all times when in the front garden.
You enter via the property’s private courtyard – which we can confirm is a suntrap! – with doors leading directly into the kitchen and hallway. The dining room and sitting room lead off from there, both looking out onto your private garden and the orchard and kitchen garden. At the front there is a separate entrance hall and a boot room, both opening directly into the garden.
The stairs in the front hallway lead up to the 3 bedrooms and bathroom.
The entire house is being painted in sympathetic heritage colours courtesy of Graphenstone Ireland, and fitted out by Jessie Wilkinson – an interior consultant with an incredible curation of high-quality antiques and a keen eye for character and detail. You can see Jessie’s work on her Instagram, website, and in the Irish Landmark Trust portfolio, most recently Goggin Cottage.
The setting
The property is located inside the walled garden of Fota House & Arboretum, but you arrive via a private service road on the rear side of the walled garden.
The front garden is exclusive to the property but looks out onto the kitchen garden. Here, the gardeners from Irish Heritage Trust’s skilled team tend the orchards and plants grown for consumption – so if you are bringing a dog, you must supervise them at all times while in the garden. There is a picket fence around the boundary but this is not guaranteed escape-proof. Dogs must not cross the boundary under any circumstances. The courtyard on the other side is fully enclosed.
Getting here
There is dedicated parking for 2 cars on the private service road. Guests will be sent directions for arrival to the property.
You can also arrive by train! Fota island’s station is about a 15-minute walk away, making this one of our most accessible properties by public transport.
Book Your Stay
This property is now ready for bookings, come and experience the magic for yourself!