Fota House is currently closed for house tours but open for wedding ceremonies permissible under the current Covid-19 guidelines
Bakestone Café at Fota House
Bakestone Café at Fota House is open daily from 10am - 5pm for takeaway coffees & sweet treats. Check here for further details.
Toilets
Outdoor toilets are available
Arboretum & Gardens
No booking is required to walk the Arboretum & Gardens
Dogs on a lead - at all times - are welcome
We are delighted to welcome visitors to continue to enjoy the magnificent grounds from 9.00 AM to 5:30 PM daily. Our grounds access plan is for safe, respectful visits to the House, Arboretum & Gardens with visitors asked to observe HSE guidelines at all times.
Victorian Working Gardens is now open from 10:30am - 2:45pm Monday to Friday & 12 noon to 4:45pm at weekends. Visit this area & see our beautifully restored glasshouses or purchase a wide range of plants grown in the garden by our Head Gardener & Volunteers
Arboretum open daily 9:00am - 5:30pm
Walled & Pleasure Gardens open during the week but closed at weekends during winter months
Please note that the Arboretum, Walled & Pleasure Gardens are managed by the Office of Public Works (OPW) so any suggestions or comments should be directed here
Further information about the Failte Ireland Covid-19 Safety Charter is available at their website here. Fota House, Arboretum and Gardens is listed as a compliant organisation under the Irish Heritage Trust.
Covid-19 Guidelines
Due to the current Covid-19 restrictions the house itself is currently closed inc House Tours
House tours are limited to 10 people per tour to facilitate social distancing based on the layout of this historic house
All visitors on house tours must wear a face mask (use own or available for a €1 charge) Likewise all tour guides will wear face visors. Visitors will be briefed on covid-19 considerations prior to tour commencement
Visitors are asked to refrain from touching exhibits or fixtures etc as much as possible
House tour visitors will be asked for a name & contact number for purposes of contact tracing which is compliant with GDPR regulations
Visitors will be asked to hand sanitise prior & post tour
All touch points are cleaned and sanitised regularly during the day
General Site
Visitors are asked to adhere to social distancing of 2m as advised by the HSE
We welcome our community of visitors to safely and respectfully enjoy the House, Arboretum and Gardens
On pathways around the Arboretum & Gardens and to / from the car park visitors are asked to adopt a ‘keep left / pass right’ walking pattern while observing relevant guidelines for social distancing and 'Cocooner'-reserved areas
At any pinch points, such as crossing pathways, visitors are encouraged to beckon through others to avoid undue contact
Visitors are asked to keep contact with others to a minimum and not congregate in any groups in thoroughfares or key points – please keep pathways free others as per guidelines
Access to the property is only via the main gate
Visitors are asked to be socially conscious and responsible for the maximum enjoyment of all.
There's always something to do at Fota! A range of cultural events for all ages and interests take place throughout the season including garden, craft, seasonal and family events, evening concerts and seminars.
