Page 17 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Ireland

DISC OVERING IRELAND  15

Day 8: Limerick to Galway
Turning south, spend the
morning in Limerick (p195)
admiring the amazing collection
of antiquities in the Hunt
Museum, and the austere
St Mary’s Cathedral. In the
afternoon, visit the beautifully
restored Bunratty Castle & Folk
Park (pp196–7). The Folk Park
has meticulously recreated
19th­century rural life in Ireland
and is well worth a visit. Next,
move on to Galway city (pp214–
5), and spend the evening in
one of the restaurants or bars
lining Quay Street. A calm sea inlet on the Sky Road, near Clifden, County Galway
Day 9: Connemara The Rosses (p232), an area highlight of the day, however,
From Galway, follow the coast studded with lakes and inlets, is a trip to the magnificent
roads through Roundstone and and on to the Bloody Foreland Giant’s Causeway (pp266–7).
Clifden and the Sky Road (p228) named for the red hues Made up of basalt columns
(pp10–11), a circular route with of the rocks at sunset. For truly stretching out into the sea, the
spectacular ocean views. Visit stunning views, make for Horn causeway warrants a good
the organic farm of Dan O’Hara’s Head (p229), and if the weather hour’s exploration.
Homestead (p211), just east is fine, take a dip at the Killahoey
of Clifden, and the lovely lakeside Strand, the local beach. End the Day 13: Belfast and Down
castle of Kylemore Abbey day’s driving in Londonderry. Head east towards Belfast and
(p212). Walks in the beautiful the scenic Ards Peninsula
Connemara National Park Day 12: Derry to Antrim (p284). From Belfast follow the
(p212) are accessible through Spend the day on the North coast road through Bangor,
the visitor centre. End your Antrim coastline. From London­ stopping off at the Ulster Folk
day in the smart little town of derry, head north towards and Transport Museum (p284)
Westport (p208). Benone Strand (p264). Look out on the way. Further west is
for the Martello tower at the Mount Stewart House
Day 10: Mayo and Sligo western end of this beautiful, (pp286–7). Break here for lunch
Start the day with a visit to sandy stretch of beach. Continue and explore the lovely gardens.
the beautifully renovated 18th­ on to the atmospheric ruins of Continue on to Portaferry,
century Westport House (p208). Dunluce Castle (p265), perched where you can take the ferry
Next, move on to Achill Island on a crag on the Causeway across to Downpatrick (p285)
(p208), and enjoy the seascapes coastline. Next stop is the Old to visit Down Cathedral and
of the Atlantic Coast Drive. Bushmills Distillery (p270), the interesting county museum.
Head to Sligo (p238) for lunch where you can stop for a tour From here, drive back to Belfast
and check out the Model Arts & and a whiskey tasting. The for the evening.
Niland Gallery in the town
for wonderful paintings by Day 14: Boyne Valley and
Jack B Yeats. Look out for the the Midlands
statue of his brother, Ireland’s Travel south to Newgrange and
most famous poet, W B Yeats, the Boyne Valley (pp248–9),
on Stephen Street. The Sligo the spiritual heartland of
County Museum on the same Ireland. Visit the mysterious
street houses a collection of passage tombs at Newgrange
Yeats memorabilia. (pp250–51) and Knowth (p249) –
both sites are accessed via tours
Day 11: Donegal run by the visitor centre near
The coast of Donegal is one Newgrange. Be prepared for
of the least visited and most long queues. Next, head to
beautiful areas of Ireland. the Hill of Tara (p252) for a tour
Heading out from Sligo, journey of this important ancient site
towards the sleepy valley of that takes in tombs and Iron
Glencolmcille (pp232–3). Take Age hill forts. Drive back to
the narrow coastal roads –the Dublin for an evening meal
traffic will be thin and the scen­ Bronze statue of Sligo’s favourite son, and a drink in one of the city’s
ery is stunning. Drive through W B Yeats, Stephen Street, Sligo lively pubs.

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