We travel west this morning, stopping for lunch in Sligo en-route to Galway and our hotel on the edge of the bay.

Galway was built at the point where the Corrib River enters the ocean, and it is from the river that we get our first view of the city, when we take a boat trip upstream as far as Lough Corrib. We disembark later at the Cathedral with the afternoon free to explore.

Connemara, to the north of the city, is a land of craggy, mist-covered mountains and a stunning, rugged Atlantic coast. We travel through Oughterard and Maam Cross, along the coast to our first stop in the charming little coastal town of Roundstone.

We spend some time, around the middle of the day, in nearby Clifden before turning back along the edge of Lough Inagh. Travelling between the “Twelve Bens” and the Maumturk Mountains we continue to Recess and Maan Cross, our final stop (if time permits) on the road back to Galway.

We follow the coast of Galway Bay this morning to Rossaveal, where we catch the fast ferry to Inishmore - at four miles long and two miles wide, the largest of the Aran Islands. We have the full day to explore the island. A mini-bus service can transfer you to Dun Aengus Fort, on the edge of the high cliffs to the west, but the final stretch of ground leading up to the fort is very rugged - for the nimble only.

After breakfast today, our last day in the west, we travel into Co. Clare, along the spectacular coast line until we reach the towering Cliffs of Moher - 750 feet above the Atlantic; on a clear day we can see the Aran Islands, still fresh in our mind from yesterday's visit.

Our return journey to Galway takes us through the strange limestone landscape known as the Burren.

We leave Galway this morning and drive north via Roscommon, Longford and Cavan, arriving at the Europa Buscentre around 6.00pm.