Bantry House

Bantry House is located at Bantry Bay. In 1765, Bantry house (then called Blackrock house) was bought by councillor White.
They also bought a lot of land around the house and by the 1780's, they had purchased approix. 80000 acres.
in 1946, the house was opened for tourists. Since 1990's you can also stay in the house for B&B 

The gardens, which were developed by the second Earl of Bantry, are amazing. At the back of the house, there are different terraces. There are 100 steps leading to the different terraces, each of them giving amazing views towards the house and Bantry Bay.
The gardens are huge, and although i like gardening, I say it is a mammoth task to maintain these extensive gardens.

The house itself has been beautifully restored. The grandeur of the house is reflected in all the rooms. From the entrance hall where relics from Zanzibar,.... are displayed to the dining room with it's huge portraits and furniture, the rooms give you a view into the lives of Bantry house it's occupants.

After viewing the house, we decided to have lunch in Bantry House tearoom, but it was a bit to busy for our liking. So we decided to walk towards the walled garden. And in contrast to the busy tearoom, we were totally on our own in these gardens.
Back at the car, we decided to head into Bantry and have Lunch in the Bantry Bay Hotel.