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Among the finest scenery in Ireland is the coast of County Antrim, where nine beautiful valleys (glens) cut deeply through high rolling hills to descend grandly into the sea. The effect, seen from the shore road, is spectacular. Follow the A2 through Carnlough, with its tiny harbour, through Waterfoot, with waterfalls and a Forest Park, all the way up to the Giant’s Causeway.

The extraordinary quartzite cone of Mount Errigal dominates the Derryveagh mountain range in this wild part of Donegal. It overlooks the Glenveagh National Park, which incorporates the beautiful Lough Veagh Valley, and Poisoned Glen. One theory behind the name is that British soldiers were fed Irish spurge, a poisonous plant indigenous to the area, to murder them.

The position of this clubhouse is worth a visit just for the view, but the food is excellent too. Fill up on delicious fresh seafood, then walk it off along the sandy beach.

A fun fast-food outlet serving burgers and fries for hungry little visitors.

Considered to be the premier shopping street on the south side of the Liffey, Grafton Street is also a pedestrianized venue for street musicians, performers and flower-sellers. There is the usual eclectic mix of high street shops, and ugly neon signs clash with the more classical features of such shop-fronts as Marks & Spencer. The street runs south from College Green, marked by the statue of Molly Malone (irreverently known as “the tart with the cart”), opening out onto St Stephen’s Green at the southern end. Brown Thomas is one of the street’s famous high-class department stores and Bewley’s Oriental Café, with a shop at the front selling traditional Irish foodstuffs, is another popular landmark (see Bewley’s Oriental Café).

This grand hotel (see The Gresham) offers a fine international menu, but head here for a particularly good afternoon tea.