Despite its relatively small size, Ireland has a big reputation. In its relative isolation in the North Atlantic, the country has developed a strong and distinct indigenous culture, which is expressed today through traditional music and dance, Gaelic sport and the Irish language. In the field of literature, Ireland’s contribution is extensive, and this writing tradition is clear to see in the many monuments, pubs and road names celebrating writers such as James Joyce, George Bernard Shaw and William Butler Yeats.

It’s Yeats who gives his name to the area comprising Sligo and parts of Leitrim and Galway. The romantic landscape of Yeats Country, largely untouched by human hands, is home to the serene Glencar Waterfall and Ben Bulben mountain, as well as the high caves where, according to tradition, the lovers Diarmuid and Gráinne took refuge from a vengeful warrior. The Gleniff Horseshoe Drive, a breath-taking 8km loop of single-lane road, lies to the east, deep in the heart of the Dartry Mountains.

Beginning north of Sligo, and running along the entire west coast of Ireland, is the 2,600km Wild Atlantic Way, one of the longest coastal driving routes on Earth. It is a matchless drive. From the Inishowen Peninsula in County Donegal, the route winds down past picturesque villages, rugged seascapes and lush countryside, ending in Kinsale, County Cork, in the south. The narrow roads snake through nine Irish counties where drivers can stop to visit castles, such as Ballynahinch in County Galway, hike in the hillsides or fish in rich waters like those of the Dingle Peninsula.

Equally rewarding experiences can be had on the other side of the country where, south of Dublin, County Wicklow is home to the arresting Glendalough glacial valley. Here, you’ll find an ancient monastic settlement and vast blue lakes hidden among hillsides and rocks. It’s a far cry from the hustle and bustle of the capital, and a fitting place to spend a few a days in tranquility.

Elsewhere in Ireland, the mighty Cliffs of Moher and Ring of Kerry remain popular with visitors, as do the jigsaw landscape of The Burren and the Skellig Islands. What’s certain is with its wild and striking landscapes, rich culture and a mild climate that makes it suitable to visit year-round, any time spent in Ireland is an enriching and satisfying experience.

Rent a car with Avis in Ireland to discover its soaring natural beauty, traverse its wild coasts and explore its lively towns and villages.