Blarney Hotels

Blarney Travel Guide

The village of Blarney is a short-drive from Cork City and has become a popular travel destination for many looking to explore the beauty that lies outside of Ireland’s second largest city. The area is best known for the iconic Blarney Castle, home to the world-famous Blarney Stone, a stone that is said to give anyone who kisses it, the gift of the gab. The stone and castle are the undoubted highlight for anyone visiting Blarney, with the surrounding gardens another bonus for anyone planning to visit the area. If you’re planning a trip to Blarney, or indeed Cork City, be sure to set aside some time to explore the wonderful Blarney Castle.

Things to do in Blarney

The stunning Blarney House and Gardens is also located a short walk from the castle, and another must see when visiting the village. Aside from the iconic Blarney Castle, the village of Blarney offers plenty to see and do, while its location makes it a perfect base to explore Cork City, and also the south and east of this vast county. Blarney is also popular with golfing enthusiasts and is home to one of the finest inland golf course in Ireland, with the John Daly designed Blarney Golf Resort a must-see for anyone visiting Blarney or Cork City. The Waterloo Round Tower is a 19th-century round tower located just outside Blarney, while the 100 acre wetland area of Clogheenmilcon has a picturesque looped walk just waiting to be explored.

Things to do in Cork City

At less than 10km from Cork City, Blarney is a great destination for visitors seeking a weekend break that offers a mix of city and country living. With buses departing for the city regularly across the day, be sure to have a day trip to the Rebel City on your Blarney travel itinerary. There are many great tourist locations to visit in Cork, while the cobbled streets of the city centre have many hidden gems just waiting to be explored. Set off on foot and see where the streets take you! Take time to visit the iconic Butter Museum, while foodie fans visiting Cork simply must visit the famous English Market. Climb the steps to the top of the tower at the Church of St Anne, and ring the Shandon Bell. From here you can enjoy wonderful panoramic views over this famous city.

The city has several tours including bus and walking tours, while quirkier tours like the Cork Ghost Tour and the Cork Rebel Pub Crawl also prove a hit with visitors to the city. Take a stroll through Fitzgerald’s Park and visit the Cork Public Museum along the banks of the River Lee, while Cork City Gaol and St Fin Barre’s Cathedral are other famous attractions to see when visiting Cork.

Exploring Cork

Blarney leaves you well placed to head further south towards Blackrock Castle and Cork Heritage Park, while Fota Island Golf Resort and Fota Island Wildlife Resort is a short-drive from the city centre. Take time to visit the town of Cobh, the final departing spot of the Titanic, while the popular coastal towns of Kinsale and Clonakilty are less than one hour from Blarney.