The Blarney Castle is most famous for its storied Blarney Stone, the one that people from all over the world climb the steps to kiss, but the landmark has much more to offer than one piece of rock.
The grounds around Blarney Castle are a wonderful spectacle of carefully crafted courtyards, gardens and rolling hills that are a quite a sight to behold. There are tours offered, of course, but the castle is really best experienced by wandering around on your own accord, in my opinion. The nearby Badger’s Cave is a must-see while attempting to discover the various passages soldiers escaped through when the castle was under siege.
© Michael Walsh | Dreamstime
The gardens are beautifully laid out around the estate and the grounds make for the perfect place for a picnic in the middle of the day. One of the highlights of a trip to the castle is hearing all of the myths surrounding its history. You’ll hear tales of a witch still living among the rubbles as well as try your hand as performing the proper ceremony on the Wishing Steps.
Of course, you have to climb the battlements in order to kiss the Stone. Is it a little gross to think about putting your lips on something that’s been smooched by thousands of people? Yeah, a little. But it’s still a lot of fun.
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