Ireland
ARRIVE AS A VISITOR and leave as a friend. It may be a cliche, but Ireland has some of the most hospitable people on the planet. You won’t need to look far for a taste of the craic – good company and a pint of the black stuff.
With its gentler pace of life, rugged mountains and lakes, Ireland has just what it takes for an unforgettable romantic getaway. Stay in a luxury Dublin hotel, an intimate inn or a bijou B&B with all the trimmings.
County Carlow
The charms of tiny County Carlow include the Blackstairs mountains, not to mention the pretty town of Bagenalstown. Places to visit include Carlow Castle in Carlow Town, whose towers date back to the 18th century, and Altamont Gardens in Tullow, with its lake and yew trees.
County Clare
County Clare's dramatic Cliffs of Moher are second to none. You can also tour the rocky Burren region or hone your swing at the world class Lahinch and Doonbeg golf courses. There are miles of sandy beaches for surfing, and the Aran islands are close by for a day out.
County Cork
Gentle County Cork has rolling hills and miles of rocky coastline. Cork also has the Blackwater valley and some pretty coastal towns such as the gourmet capital Kinsale. The old seaport of Cobh – the Titanic’s last stop – is a must-see, just outside the city of Cork.
County Donegal
County Donegal's rugged beauty gives it a wild and untamed feel. You can gallop for hours along deserted beaches or hike through glens and Highlands evoking shades of Scotland. Come here to see Europe’s highest cliffs and 650 miles of frayed coastline, then let off steam in the lively pubs of Letterkenny.
County Galway
Head west to County Galway's fresh Atlantic shores. This is the home of Connemara, with its peat bogs, white-painted crofts and rocky mountains. Make your base at coastal Clifden, set against a mountain backdrop. Not far away, Roundstone is a fishing village with a pretty harbour and some good pubs.
County Kerry
County Kerry has all the visual melodrama you could want: dramatic mountains, brooding cliffs and miles of deserted coastline. The much-sung Ring of Kerry in South West Ireland is a 110-mile scenic drive around its finest peaks. Unmissable is the scenic Dingle Peninsula, where the Atlantic bowls in and dolphins frolic in the bay.
County Limerick
Limerick City has plenty of gems. Explore medieval King Johns’ Castle, take a look at the Georgian House at No 2 Pery Square or pop into the People’s Park to see some modern Irish art. There’s also fishing nearby on the River Shannon.
County Louth
North of Dublin, the heritage town of Carlingford makes a great base for exploring County Louth. This attractive lakeside resort has a ruined Norman castle, plenty of historic buildings and terrific waking country in the hills behind.
County Monaghan
Unspoilt County Monaghan has its own charms. Castle Leslie ranks as one of the finest Italianate houses in Ireland, sitting in a fabulous 1,000 acre estate. The surrounding rivers make Monaghan big fishing county, and there are plenty of village hostelries to repair to later.
County Wexford
Known as Ireland's sunshine coast, County Wexford in the South East is the place for blue skies. Wide open Curracloe Strand was the setting for the Normandy landings in Stephen Spielberg’s film Saving Private Ryan, and the county is fringed almost end to end with beaches.
County Wicklow
Dublin
Once lack-lustre Dublin is now one of the hottest cities in Europe. Affluent Dublin is now abuzz with trendy cafes, chic bars and nightlife. Streets are thronged with shoppers, the music scene is humming and the Guinness can't be beat. Happening? You can say that again.
Northern Ireland
There's no better place to start your discoveries of Northern Ireland than the rugged Antrim coast, curving north from Belfast to Portrush. Cliffs, coves, ancient fortresses and pretty villages make the coastal drive through the Glens of Antrim a stunner. You can even see the west of Scotland from here on a clear day.
Romantic hotels in ireland
County Carlow
County Clare
County Cork
County Donegal
County Galway
County Kerry
County Limerick
County Louth
County Monaghan
County Wexford
County Wicklow
Dublin
Northern Ireland
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