Tinnahinch Castle - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

Brandon Hill is Kilkenny’s highest point. It is 515 meters high and has an ascent of 300 meters. It is situated 4 kilometers South-SouthWest of Graiguenamanagh and 7 kilometers east of Inistioge. Its beautiful walk includes country roads, forest tracks and hillside paths as it winds its way to the top of Brandon Hill.

A beautiful example of a romantic era garden dating from the 1790s. Untouched for 200 years, it is a picturesque paradise with a waterfall tumbling its way to a rushing stream and woodland paths leading to a cottage orné. Tiny bridges sit among ancient trees, wild fox-gloves, ferns and other historically correct 18th century planting.The garden is listed as an Irish Heritage garden and was awarded assistance in 1993 by the European Union Cultural Commission.

The beautiful Woodstock Gardens and Arboretum are located overlooking the River Nore Valley and the picturesque village of Inistioge. The gardens date to the 1740's with the main development taking place in the 1800's. The gardens are home to a mix of formal and informal gardens with an arboretum, walled garden, terraced garden, yew walk and rose garden providing the main interest.

Blackstairs Mountain is a prominent hill on the main ridgeline separating Carlow from Wexford. The hill’s prominence means views are good in all directions, mostly over flatlands, but dominated by the mast-arrayed peak of Mount Leinster to the north. It is the second-highest mountain in the Blackstairs Mountains.The mountain stretches from Rathgeran to Gowlin at Cathaoirs Den

Grennan castle was built in the 13th century by the Anglo-Norman, Thomas FitzAnthony. The twenty metre long rectangular castle stands on the west bank of the River Nore. The ruin was in relatively good condition up until the early 19th century, since then the courtyard walls and outer buildings have been destroyed. The first floor of the castle contained the great hall, and the second floor reached by a flight of steps in the east wall contained the dormitory area.

This church is a wonderful building, which was built in the late thirteenth century as a collegiate church and was served by a college - clerics who lived in a community but did not submit to the rule of a monastery. This rectangular church has undergone many changes over the years. The original chancel was removed and replaced by a 19th century Parish Church, the superb central tower was vastly modified in the 14th or 15th century and the crenellations were added to the church.