Ireland

In focus: the Wild Atlantic Way

You could spend a lifetime exploring the soaring cliffs, buzzing towns and hidden beaches of The Wild Atlantic Way – but an eight-day adventure will do. This rugged stretch of coastline passes through nine counties and three provinces on Ireland’s dramatic west coast, and other than walkers and hardy surfers, it’s most regular guest are whales, porpoises, and dolphins. Here are some highlights:

Connemara: an imposing landscape of lakes, moorland and rugged mountains, there’s a rich variety of heaths and heathers here. The landscape is dominated by two mountain ranges, the Maamturks and the Twelve Bens, and there’s Kylemore Abbey, one of the great neo-Gothic castles of the country and now a Benedictine abbey run by the nuns.

The Aran Islands: the ferry to Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands, can be a rocky ride, but it’s well worth it, if only to visit the spectacular prehistoric forts, the most famous of which is the World Heritage site Dun Aonghasa on a dramatic cliff edge. 

The Cliffs of Moher: this is nature at it’s wildest. The rugged Cliffs of Moher rise 120m from the Atlantic Ocean at Hag’s Head, and 214m at O’Brien’s Tower, with the ocean crashing below. From here you can see stunning views across the sea to the Aran Islands out in Galway Bay.

Galway: the cobblestoned town town itself is charm personified. Visit Claddagh, an area by Galway Bay surrounded by cute colourful houses.