Ireland (Lonely Planet, 9th Edition) - Fionn Davenport [7]
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Start your loop just north of Dublin at the Casino at Marino Click here – not a place to cash in your chips but a 19th-century Italianate trompe l’oeil mansion. Continue north to the mind-blowing Neolithic necropolis at Brú Na Bóinne Click here, built before the Great Pyramids were even a twinkle in a Pharaoh’s eye. Continue north to Mellifont Abbey Click here, Ireland’s first Cistercian abbey, and on to the pretty village of Carlingford Click here on the lough, with its 16th-century buildings. Work your way through the Mourne Mountains – hiking to the top of Slieve Donard Click here – to the Ards Peninsula Click here and Strangford Lough Click here. Take a Black Taxi tour in Belfast Click here before moving northwest to the Unesco World Heritage site of Giant’s Causeway Click here, best enjoyed at sunset. Continue around the stunning coastline of north Donegal, stopping at gorgeous Killyhoey Beach Click here, then on to beautiful Glenveagh National Park Click here. Head south through the monastic ruins of Glencolumbcille Click here and into lively Sligo Click here, where you can climb the Stone Age passage grave Carrowkeel Click here for panoramic views of Lough Arrow. For the west coast as far as Cork, follow the Go West! route (opposite). From Cork, head east to Fota Wildlife Park Click here for a picnic and then on to Dungarvan Castle Click here, with its unusual 12th-century shell. Drive around the picturesque Hook Peninsula Click here, stopping for ice cream in the seaside town of Dunmore East Click here. Spot the unusual varieties of geese in the famous Wexford Wildfowl Reserve Click here before moving on to County Wicklow and Wicklow Mountains National Park Click here. Head back to Dublin and settle into a well-deserved pint of Guinness at the Long Hall Click here.
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TIP TO TOE Two Weeks/Derry to Wexford
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This 400km north–south route covers it all: from Ulster’s fine architecture and heritage, through the midlands and its abundance of lakes, to the beautiful countryside of the sunny southeast. You will enjoy this selection of different tastes.
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Begin by walking the city walls of Derry (Londonderry;) and exploring its fascinating history. Delve deeper at one of Ireland’s best museums, the Ulster American Folk Park Click here, which reproduces a typical 19th-century Ulster village at the time of mass emigration to America. Just south of here, the town of Omagh Click here, site of one of the worst single atrocities in the North’s history (a car bomb), acts as a stark reminder of the region’s tragic political history. From here, head south to Castle Coole Click here, a National Trust–restored 18th-century mansion, before spending an afternoon boating or fishing on Lough Erne Click here. For more watery pastimes you can’t beat County Cavan Click here, which has a lake for every day of the year. Hire a boat in Mountnugent and fish on Lough Sheelin Click here before moving on to Tullynally Castle’s Click here Chinese and Tibetan gardens in Westmeath. The Seven Wonders of Fore Click here, Westmeath’s answer to the Seven Wonders of the World, are less awe-inspiring but will keep you entertained for an hour or two before a wander around the splendid Belvedere House Click here, which overlooks Lough Ennell, with its fascinating (if somewhat chequered) history. Place a bet at Kilbeggan Races Click here while emboldened by a tipple of fine whiskey from Locke’s Distillery Click here. Hike up the beautiful Slieve Bloom Mountains Click here for the best view of the midlands before moving south to the delightful village of Inistioge Click here in County Kilkenny, with its quaint village square and rambling estate, Woodstock Park. In County Wexford have a picnic in the John F Kennedy Arboretum Click here before a visit to the tranquil Cistercian Tintern Abbey Click here.
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