The three Aran Islands - Inishmor, Inishmaan and Inisheer - are long, limestone moonscapes of bleak but rare beauty. They are home to some truly ancient Christian and pre-Christian remains in Ireland. Irish is still the native tongue, and until recently people still wore traditional Aran dress.

The massive Iron Age stone forts at Dun Aengus on Inishmor and Dun Conchuir on Inishmaan are intriguing, little is known about their builders. The islands are criss-crossed by intricate stone walls, built over thousands of years and creating tranquil avenues of much-needed shelter from the wind.

Superbly placed overlooking the River Shannon, Clonmacnoise was one of Ireland’s most important monastic cities. The site is enclosed in a walled field and contains numerous early churches, high crosses, round towers and graves in astonishingly good condition. The surrounding marshy area is known as the Shannon Callows, home to many wild plants and animals.

The wild and barren region northwest 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. The hills offer views of the sea from its rocky islands to its 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 misty beauty of this mountainous landscape.

In northern County Clare, the Burren region is an extraordinary place. Miles of polished limestone karst stretch in every direction, and settlements along the coast are few; they include the popular Irish music centre of Doolin and the attractive coastal village of Ballyvaughan.

The Burren Underground caverns, cracks, springs and chasms are the major features of the Burren, which is ringed by caves. Its Flora is a bizarre mix of Mediterranean, Arctic and Alpine plants, and the region is the last bastion of the rare pine marten. It also has a rich Stone and Iron Age history.