Gap of Dunloe

One of Europe's largest walled city parks, with a resident herd of fallow deer, long avenues and the presidential residence inside it.

A two-kilometre seafront walk along Galway Bay, ending at the diving boards locals jump from year-round.

Three limestone islands off Galway Bay with stone-walled fields, Irish spoken daily and the cliff-edge fort of Dún Aonghasa on Inis Mór.

The Cliffs of Moher run for 14 kilometres along the Clare coast, rising to 214 metres at their highest point near O'Brien's Tower. A paved path links the visitor centre to viewpoints, and a longer coastal trail continues to Doolin and Hag's Head with far fewer people on it. Seabird colonies, including puffins in early summer, nest on the ledges.

The Ring of Kerry is a 179-kilometre circuit of the Iveragh peninsula, taking in mountain passes, beaches, stone forts and views out to the Skellig islands. Coaches drive it anticlockwise, so going the other way or starting early avoids the convoys. Killarney National Park at the eastern end holds the lakes, waterfalls and old woodland.

Ireland's oldest national park, with three connected lakes, native oak woodland, the Torc waterfall and a resident red deer herd.