Fota House, Arboretum & Gardens are easy to reach by road or rail, and a visit is simple to combine with a trip to Fota Wildlife Park, Fota Island Resort or indeed with a visit to the nearby town of Cobh.
Our postcode is T45 Y642
Directions from Cork City
Follow the N25 Eastbound towards Midleton. At Junction 3 take the R624 exit for Cobh and take the 4th exit at the roundabout. At the next roundabout take the 1st exit towards Cobh. You will pass Fota Island Resort on your right hand side continue on until you come to filter lane for the Fota House/Fota Wildlife Park entrance on the right (before Belvelly Bridge). Go in the entrance and go through the barriers, the Fota Wildlife Park car park is on your left hand side but you should continue straight down into the Lower Car Park which is the Fota House car park. The house is a 2-3 minute walk from the Car Park.
Walk From Fota Wildlife Park
Fota Wildlife Park is located on land that used to form part of the original Fota House Estate – in fact, it was once the pheasant run!
Fota Wildlife Park share a car park with us, which makes a visit to both attractions an easy option. You will realise how close we are when you hear the monkeys chatter while walking around the Arboretum & Gardens!
How Did Fota House, Arboretum & Gardens Get Its Own Railway Station?
The first train stopped in Fota on March 10th 1862 after the Smith – Barry family granted permission for the Cork to Queenstown train line to pass through their land but requested that a private stop at Fota was included for their own use.
Today many visitors use the train to come to Fota to visit and Fota House, Arboretum & Gardens are a 10 minute walk from the train station.
As Fota is on the Cork- Cobh communter line there is a very regular service and you can check the train times below
Parking
On site parking is available in Fota with a site parking fee of €3.00 for the day for customers of Fota House, Arboretum & Gardens & Fota Wildlife Park. Payment by card or exact change at the exit barrier.
The different car parks are signposted as you come in the main entrance barrier but the Fota Wildlife Park car park is the first car park on your left hand side and for the Fota House car park continue straight down into the Lower Car Park . The house is a 2-3 minute walk from this Car Park.
and Prices
Accessibility
Our Long Gallery Gift Shop is wheelchair accessible. The lower ground floor is fully wheelchair accessible for tours and the staff are more than happy to assist. Due to the nature of the building, we regret that access to four rooms on the first floor is restricted for wheelchair uses; however, one of our staff would be more than happy to give information on these rooms to you.
The paths around the Arboretum & Gardens are all surfaced with gravel and there is a wheelchair accessible entrance on the road just above the house that avoids all the steps and gives you access to paths.
Assistance dogs are welcome in the house, grounds, shop and Bakestone Café. Water is provided outside for visiting dogs. For the comfort and safety of other visitors, dogs should be kept on a short lead at all times.
Arriving by Cruise Ship
Travelling to Cobh by cruise ship? Fota House, Arboretum & Gardens is just a 15 minute train ride or a short taxi trip from Cobh Cruise Liner Terminal, which makes it a wonderful place to pause and explore on-shore. It’s also easy to combine with a day trip into Cork city! We regularly welcome cruise shore excursion groups, as well as cruise visitors who are travelling independently.
