I have photographed many cows throughout Ireland over the years but rarely somewhere as scenic as this.

On top of a grassy hill in County Wexford, the south-eastiest part of Ireland's sunny south-east we came across a herd of grazing cattle enjoying the bright summer weather.

And here it was as we were photographing the bright pastoral scene that my clients, a Swiss couple, told me of EdelAlp - a scheme where you can sponsor a cow for the summer. 

The mountain pastures above Verbier in Switzerland, a good bit higher than the hill pictured here, are home to Herens cows which are a small breed perfectly suited to the slopes.

For the summer, you can go and visit your cow in her pasture and at the end of the season you get a 5kg wheel of cheese.

A smart idea and one that might also work in parts of Ireland, with Irish breeds of cow.

Now, which of these lovelies would you sponsor?

On we went to find more scenes to photograph.

To join me, Panoramic Ireland, to photograph in Ireland use the contact page to enquire about places and availability.

There's something about the smell of the coast - a fresh Atlantic Ocean breeze, sunshine and recently passed rain.

And it's the smell of nature after rain that will be very familiar to anyone who spends much time outdoors, even in the urban environment, indeed a typical Irish town will have that particular post-pluvial odour caused by a mix of geosmin from gardens, parks and hedges and ozone from concrete and tarmac.

Of course the smell of the countryside, fields and forests the same.

And that smell has a name, Petrichor which comes from the Greek petros for stone and ichor which was the blood of the gods.

Situated in the corner of County Tyrone, Northern Ireland's largest county, the remains of Harry Avery's castle sit atop a hill on the edge of a valley.

The twin structures projecting up here were actually an unusual tower house rather than an outer defensive gatehouse.

Belonging to a 14th century Irish chieftain it was destroyed in the early 17th century by English forces who took stone from the site.

This scene reminded me of another castle, more famous, from my own County Antrim which I also photographed with a cow in front: https://panoramicireland.com/photo-tours-blog/cow-in-front-of-dunluce-castle-causeway-coast-antrim-northern-ireland

This week's photographic adventures took us through much of the Irish countryside, including here green fields full of cows relaxing.

Behind sits woodland and forest stretching out of the valley towards the higher slopes on the mountains.

The landscapes are looking particularly lush at the moment and the cows agree.