Solid and settled, Kildare is secure in the affluence it has won by horse-breeding and racing. The town’s Irish name, Cill Dara, means ‘the church 9 (or monastery) of the oak tree’. The monastery in question was founded in AD 490 by St Brigid, and...
The spectacular nave, dominated by Romanesque and early Gothic vaults and columns, contains the elaborate, white marble tombs of the 8th Duke of Argyll and his wife. A door on the left leads to the beautiful Gothic cloister, where medieval grave slabs sit alongside modern...
Ireland abounds with fortified tower houses, and Glenquin Castle is one of the best. Rising 70ft and seven storeys high, it is a remarkable mid-15th-century structure, with a spiral staircase linking three high-vaulted rooms, one above the other. Traces of wicker shuttering can be seen...
Just West of Glasgow is the timeless Paisley Abbey – one of the finest in Southern Scotland. Overlooking the river like a giant sentinel, Paisley Abbey is an awesome sight. Inside, the stonework gives a chilly embrace and you feel as though you’ve passed through...
West of Ballylongford is the stronghold that was once the seat of the O’Connors of Kerry, originally built in 1490 by the chieftain Conor O’Connor. The castle measures 60ft by 30ft, with walls 8ft thick and a little over 80ft high – but only 3...
The River Funshion flows through Glanworth where it is spanned by a low stone bridge dating from 1446, the oldest in the country. It has 12 arches and is 150 yards long. Above it are the massive ruins of an ancient castle of the Roches...
Orkney captures the imagination and the eye, its balding turf reflective of constantly changing shades of light as clouds scurry across windswept skies. In summer the days are lengthy and the sunniest moments are often long into the evening – a great time to be...
The Callanish Standing Stones, West of Stornoway, form one of the most complete stone circles in Britain and are one of the most atmospheric prehistoric sites anywhere. Its ageless mystery, impressive scale and undeniable beauty leave a lasting impression. Sited on a wild and secluded...
In the 6th century St Comghan founded a monastery here, which became not only a place of prayer but also a noted centre of culture and learning. The monastery was razed in the late 11th century and the present ruins date from the 12th century....
The ruins of Dunnottar Castle are spread out across a grassy promontory rising 50m above the sea. As dramatic a film set as any director could wish for, it provided the backdrop for Franco Zeffirelli’s Hamlet, starring Mel Gibson. The original fortress was built in...