Burton House and Garden

A beautiful country house and extensive gardens in Co. Kildare, in easy reach of the M9, close to Athy and Carlow. When you arrive at Burtown there is ample parking, and the house and garden are just a short walk up a tree-​lined avenue. You walk around to the side of the house to the Garden Café, which serves excellent food and has a small wine selection as well. The real gem of the restaurant is the dessert menu; hidden in the working of this house is an extremely talented pastry chef with a real eye for colour.
The house doesn’t really feature in your visit; it’s mostly a backdrop for the extensive gardens which are the real attraction here (actually, the house is still the family home). The gardens are laid out in a style that invites you to explore the herbaceous borders, the kitchen garden, the yew walk, the island… the whole pace is a real pleasure to explore.
The truly unique aspect to Burtown comes in the art of Wendy F. Walsh, one of Ireland’s most talented botanical illustrators. Burtown is her home, and her works adorn the walls of the house and the café; examine them up close and you will see her astonishing eye for detail; a true artist. We met her strolling around the grounds with her dog, smiling and saying hello to people; 97 years old and not a bother on her!
The gardens and café are only open some days of the week, so it is definitely advisable to check the website and plan your trip. Try and go on a day when the café is open — its a real treat.