Clonmel

Clonmel is a thriving little town offering good shopping, some interesting sights and good food and accommodation - this together with an energetic promotion of the arts makes it a good place to stopover.

Cashel plays host to one of Irelands best preserved ecclesiastical remains – the Rock of Cashel is dominant but the town itself plays an important part in understanding how the church operated and where and how the services it required in order to function were supplied.

Cahir was a key strategic location during the 13th century. The Normans built a huge castle to defend their interests and this is of course the focal point of the town’s offering, together with the remarkable Swiss Cottage which is absolutely lovely.

The best bits of this area are not man-made: find your way to the car park about 2 miles out of Cahir and follow the track to Lake Muskry – this is a hard walk with a sting in the tail – the last 400 metres are the steepest – this glacial lake has an awe inspiring setting and if you like mountains you will be close to heaven.

A less active but just as beautiful option is to drive to Rossadrehid in the glen of Aherlow – the whole of the Galtee mountains are laid out before you and a more spiritual place would be hard to imagine.