Connemara

The wild and barren region north-west of Galway City is known as Connemara. It's a stunning patchwork of bogs, lonely valleys, mountains and lakes, with only the odd remote cottage or castle hideaway for company. There's tremendous hill walking over the peaks of the Twelve Bens, which offer views over to the sea and its maze of rocky islands, tortuous inlets and sparkling white beaches. The coast road from the settlement of Spiddal meanders through the maze, but more unforgettable still is the journey through the Lough Inagh Valley and around Kylemore Lake - it would be hard to surpass the beauty of this landscape. Spiddal is only 17km (10.5mi) from Galway City, and is the gateway to these open landscapes and wild coastlines.