On day 8 we drive from Kinsale to Kilkenny through County Cork. The route has many beautiful winding parts, but County Cork is mainly hilly and you will not encounter rough landscapes and mountains.

Just before Cork lies Blarney Castle, this is the oldest and one of the most famous castles in Ireland. Visit the ruins of Blarney Castle with the famous Blarney Stone, which when kissed gives the gift of great eloquence. Blarney Castle is a tower house, a type of fortress that was built between the 15th and 17th centuries by Gaelic lords and the Anglo-Irish. The castle is surrounded by beautiful gardens.

Visit Cork, Ireland's second largest city. Situated on an island in the River Lee, Cork is a collection of cool cafes, vibrant galleries, unusual museums and insanely good pubs. Take your time and wander around the city and enjoy a good lunch in one of the many pubs or restaurants.

Located in Midleton, the Jameson Experience is well worth a visit. Enjoy a fully guided tour, premium whiskey tasting, barrel opening, cocktail classes or an extended tour, taking you behind the scenes of the historic 15-acre site. Come face to face with the world’s largest pot still, visit the micro-distillery, walk through a living maturation warehouse and sample some of the world’s most award-winning Irish whiskeys. Browse distillery exclusives, special releases and giftware in the Distillery Shop and Whiskey Vault. Enjoy pastries, lunch or snacks in The Malthouse Café. Alternatively, stop for lunch at one of the fine dining establishments in Midleton.

You drive on beautiful narrow country roads through the hilly landscape of Cork, from Westpark you follow the R672, this is a beautiful dual carriageway that winds through the hills. On the way you pass several small villages where you can stop for a break in one of the many pubs.

In Cahir you can visit Cahir Castle, one of the largest and best preserved castles in Ireland. It stands proudly on a rocky island in the River Suir. The castle was built in the thirteenth century and served as a stronghold for the powerful Butler family. Its design was so effective that it was thought to be impregnable, but it eventually fell to the Earl of Essex in 1599 when heavy artillery was first used against it. It was besieged twice more during the Irish Confederation Wars. At the time of its construction, Cahir Castle was a leader in defensive castle design and much of the original structure remains.

From Cahir we follow the R639 to Cashel where we visit the Rock of Cashel. The Rock of Cashel, set on a dramatic limestone outcrop in the Golden Vale, is iconic in its historical significance and contains the most impressive cluster of medieval buildings in Ireland. It includes a round tower, a high cross, a Romanesque chapel, a Gothic cathedral, an abbey, the Hall of the Vicars Choral and a fifteenth century Tower House.
Originally the seat of the Kings of Munster, legend has it that St Patrick himself came here to convert King Aenghus to Christianity. Brian Boru was crowned High King at Cashel in 978 and made it his capital. In 1101 the site was granted to the church and Cashel soon became one of the most important centres of ecclesiastical power in the country. The surviving buildings are remarkable. Cormac's Chapel, for example, contains the only surviving Romanesque frescoes in Ireland. The Rock of Cashel is one of Ireland's most spectacular and (rightly) most visited tourist attractions.

From Cashel we drive via the R689 and R691 to our final destination Kilkenny. The city of Kilkenny is famous for the many medieval buildings in the center. The most important buildings are Killkenny Castle and Saint Canice's Cathedraleen. A very beautiful city with a lot of history and Kilkenny Castle is really beautiful and open to the public.

Few buildings in Ireland can boast a longer history of uninterrupted habitation than Kilkenny Castle. Founded shortly after the Norman conquest of Ireland, the castle has been modified, extended and adapted to changing circumstances and uses over the last 800 years. Today, Kilkenny Castle is open to visitors all year round and is largely a Victorian conversion of the 13th-century defensive castle.

Every year hundreds of thousands of visitors come to this grand country house and stroll through its fifty acres of rolling parkland with mature trees and an abundance of wildlife. Other features include a formal terraced rose garden, woodland and a man-made lake, which were added in the nineteenth century. There is also a tearoom, a children's play area and several orienteering trails for visitors to enjoy.

In the centre of Kilkenny you will find many good restaurants and cosy pubs, some of which offer live music.