Highbank 'Red Gate' Self-Guided Orchard Walk

Steeped in history, there is so much to learn from the Calder-Potts not only about their organic apple orchard and their products but also about how they came to be in Kilkenny, on the site of Rod’s ancestral home which was built in the 19th century.

So, scan the QR codes and virtually follow Rod along the self-guided tour through the grounds of Highbank Orchards. Visit the natural canopy of the great oak tree, wander through rows of apple trees and take a look at the panoramic views of the mountains and the remains of Burnchurch castle through the heart at Lovers’ Gate. 

There are 12 QR checkpoints in total to discover across the orchard. The posts sit atop stones from Mitchelstown Castle, another unique find from Rod. Tours are €15pp with €5 redeemable in their farm shop to bring home some of their award-winning goodies such as Highbank Organic Apple Syrup and Highbank Apple Cider Vinegar!

How to do our self-guided tour:

1. Register at our farm shop
2. Open the camera app on your phone and scan the QR code 
3. Take in your surroundings while a virtual Rod tells you interesting facts about our farm and orchard
4. Take a stroll through nature to find your next checkpoint- you won’t miss them!

Keep everything. Everything will have a purpose sooner or later and Rod Calder-Potts has an eye for detail and an interest in Kilkenny’s history with forged wrought iron gates. This interest inspired the creation of Highbank Orchards’ self-guided tours with the red vernacular iron gates being the focal point.

Many of the gates were forged in Highbank in what is now Julie’s office. Once upon a time, it was full of iron ore, tools for smithing and master craftsmen creating heavy-duty wrought iron gates that would last for hundreds of years. They now adorn the pathways of the self-guided tour trail, hundreds of years later with a fresh coat of vibrant red paint.

Vernacular wrought iron gates are often overlooked in our society but they are an important cultural tie to the past...