Doolin, County Clare

Doolin sits just northwest of the Cliffs of Moher on Ireland’s west coast. It’s known as a gateway to the ancient sites on the Aran Islands, which are just offshore. The colourful village is a great place to stop off for an ice cream (or a creamy pint) on a sunny afternoon. You’re not far from the spa town of Lisdoonvarna which has a Victorian pump house or picturesque Ennistymon and the seaside resort of Lahinch to the south. Aside from the dramatic cliffs, the big draw in this part of the world is the extraordinary moonscape of the Burren, as you head north towards Galway.