Transport yourself back to 1625 with a trip to Huntington Castle and Gardens in County Carlow. The historic garrison has stunning gardens filled with vibrant flora and calming water features, which you can appreciate on a peaceful stroll along the Yew Tree Walk or Lime Tree Avenue. After, venture inside for a guided tour of the castle – once the home of the Baron of Esmonde – and visit the Egyptian Temple of the Goddess Isis in the basement, which was added in the 1970s.

Explore the grounds of the castle and take some time to pet baby lambs or admire the peacocks at the castle's farm before enjoying a cuppa in the lovely tearooms. Pick up some local crafts and homemade jams from the gift shop or, even better, stay the night in their B&B or self-catering accommodation to really get the full Huntington Castle experience. 

Dating back to the 1860s, the privately-owned gardens of Mount Usher are a sight for sore eyes. Wander around 22 acres of ever-changing colour and discover thousands of different plants and trees, some of which are rare and exotic. Recognised as one of the earliest examples of a Robinsonian garden, the grounds' wild garden features an extensive collection of flora, including rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and magnolias. 

Take in the fresh air on one of the garden's walks along the River Vartry before perching at one of the many seating areas to soak up the surrounding views.  

Head to the Lafcadio Hearn Japanese Gardens in Tramore for a peak into another culture. Inspired by the life and extensive travels of writer Patrick Lafcadio Hearn, each garden represents a location or a time period that meant something to him. 

Start in the Victorian garden and follow the path through the American and Greek gardens, until you finally reach the Japanese garden – the star of the show. The landscaping takes inspiration from Japanese designs and includes traditional timber structures, peaceful lily ponds, a Soribashi arched bridge and a Japanese Tea Garden. Little ones can enjoy the children's discovery trail, bringing Lafcadio Hearn’s fairytales and folklore to life in the woodland.

When you’re taking a trip along the Waterford Greenway, make a pit stop at one of Ireland's best gardens, Mount Congreve Gardens. Crafted with passion by Ambrose Congreve and inspired by the stunning Exbury Gardens of Lionel de Rothschild in England, the gardens have treelined paths weaving through the 100-acre grounds.  

In springtime, they are alive with colour thanks to their abundance of flowers, including one of the largest collections of rhododendrons in the world – and throughout the year, you can admire the pretty Japanese pagodas and incredible views over the River Suir. Call into the Secret Garden Shop and get all you need to create your own garden, or dream up your own garden makeover over a hot drink in the Stables Café. 

Take the time to enjoy the views of the Wicklow Mountains and the Great Sugar Loaf from the upper stone terrace at the Powerscourt Estate. Designed by architect Daniel Robertson, the green terraces lead you down to lily-pad dotted Triton Lake, flanked by life-sized Roman statues of winged horses. The beautiful estate also includes a Japanese garden, a cemetery for dearly departed family pets and the incredible Powerscourt Waterfall.   

After the gardens, explore some of the grounds' newer additions. Climb the Pepperpot Tower built in the 20th century, soak up views of the Great Sugar Loaf Mountain with tea and cake in the house's Avoca Terrace Café, or pick up some gifts upstairs at The Design Loft. 

For the little ones, they also host a wide variety of kids' activities throughout the year.

Deep in Ireland’s equestrian country, the Irish National Stud and Japanese Gardens were made to stand out from their rural surroundings. These County Kildare gardens were devised by the stud's eccentric founder Colonel William Walker and laid out by Japanese master horticulturist Tassa Eida and his son, Minoru.  

Featuring bridges, a teahouse, water features, stone lanterns and bonsai trees, the gardens are custom-made for meditation and are known as some of the finest of their kind in Europe. Learn about the region’s important role in Irish horse racing at the Horse Museum before strolling around St Fiachra’s Garden, where the wonderful garden and plants are set around replica monastic cells. 

The vast neoclassical Emo Court in County Laois was designed by acclaimed architect James Gandon and is filled with fascinating history, not least of all the tale of its 70-year-long construction. The gardens surrounding the house were first laid out in the 18th century and are made up of formal lawns, a lake, giant sequoias and rare flora framed by woodland walks with the impressive peaks of the Slieve Bloom Mountains in the distance.  

While you wander, keep an eye out for the red squirrels hiding in the trees – though they're now rarely seen in Ireland, this area is a haven for these tufted-eared creatures. When you've worked up an appetite, refresh yourself with a drink or snack at CaToCa Fine Food and Giftware.