Connemara, Co. Galway

With hedgerows bursting with pink fuchsia, rust-coloured bogs, inky lakes, epic looming mountains and white-sand beaches, wild and wonderful Connemara just begs to be explored. And what better way to do that than by trekking or strolling at a leisurely pace absorbing the stunning views?

For those who fancy a challenging hike, taking on one or several sections of the Western Way is a good option. Skirting the lovely Maamturk Mountains and the loftier Twelve Bens, this route winds through some of Ireland’s most remote countryside.

It is also possible to travel high into the mountains but you’ll need to be a good navigator. Or you could hire a guide. Not only can you then rely on his/her mountain skills but they are likely to be able to fill you in on lots of history, pointing out the ruins of famine villages and lazy beds, the ridges which the poor Irish peasant used to grow potatoes.

The Slí Chonnemara is another good trail option. Dotted with old stone walls and tiny cottages, this route is more coastal and brings you through Gaeltacht villages and towns like An Spideal (Spiddle), An Ceathru Rua (Carraroe), Ros Muc and Carna where you could stay with Irish-speaking families and get a great dose of Irish music and culture.

Or why not check out the walking on offer at Connemara National Park which covers some 2,957 hectares of bog, heath, grassland, woodlands and mountains like Benbaun, Bencullagh, Benbrack and Muckanaght. There are guided nature walks for all the family running each Wednesday and Friday during July and August or many people choose to head up the well-defined path that leads to the glittering quartzite peak of Diamond Hill (400m).

And there’s much more to explore besides. What about the stepping it out along the famine road which lines the southern shore of magnificent Killary Harbour, Ireland’s only fjord, or hiking the Ard Na Gaoithe forest trails near Cong, or even just strolling on one of the region’s many beautiful and remote beaches. The choices are endless – just like the views!