Kilruddery Estate, Wicklow

Kilruddery Estate is in a lot of ways the opposite to Powerscourt: Whereas Powerscourt is worth a visit because of its gardens, not necessarily its mansion, Kilruddery is worth a visit more for its house rather than its gardens.

The Estate is still very much lived in and shows a quirky sense of style. In actual fact, the 13th Earl of Meath was delightfully eccentric in his ways and had patented some quite unique ideas, amongst them a Free Pendulum Water Clock, that moves via an elaborate set of water ways.

Oh yea, if any of the vicinity looks familiar: A certain FAR AND AWAY was shot on its grounds, too.

The gardens are open daily from April 1 – September 30, but the house is only available to the public in May, June and September.