Ireland

The Emerald Isle packs an almost unseemly amount of character, heritage and natural beauty into one compact island. It’s little wonder that so many poets and writers have been inspired here.

Landscapes vary dramatically from wild peninsulas and towering cliffs, to empty, golden beaches, unique limestone plateaux, monastic islands and mountains steeped in mythology.

Then, of course, there are the locals with their infectious charm, the cosy village pubs, castles, prehistoric monuments and venerable old distilleries.

What’s certain from the outset is that a trip to Ireland is about a great deal more than kissing the Blarney Stone and drinking Guinness.