Clare

The Cliffs of Moher, rising to around 214 metres at their highest point, are County Clare's best-known landmark and one of the most visited sites in Ireland. Inland, the Burren's exposed limestone plateau supports plant life found almost nowhere else in the country, alongside megalithic sites like the Poulnabrone dolmen.

Beyond the cliffs, Clare rewards a longer look. Doolin, a short drive up the coast, is the county's centre for traditional Irish music and the usual departure point for ferries to the Aran Islands. Inland, the Burren is a stretch of karst limestone unlike anywhere else in Ireland, home to the ancient Poulnabrone dolmen. At the other end of the county, near Shannon Airport, Bunratty Castle & Folk Park pairs a restored 15th-century tower house with a recreated 19th-century village.

For the full picture — including the county town of Ennis and the surfing beach at Lahinch — see our guide to things to do in Clare, or start with the Cliffs of Moher guide itself.