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When thinking of Ireland what springs to mind? The emerald isle? Guinness? The map of the country itself looks like the craggy profile of some old sage staring out into the Atlantic Ocean where nose is the counties of Galway and Mayo and the mouth is the River Shannon. However, for many people visiting Ireland they are attracted to the east side of the country and the capital, Dublin, like a moth flapping around your bedside lamp in the early hours. I mean, where else would you start? For those in the UK it's a convenient hop across the Irish Sea either by air or ferry from ports such as Holyhead on Anglessey in North Wales and Liverpool.

This is great and if this is your starting point for a weekend break, you'll have a fabulous time but beware the temptation to stick with what you know to get maximum out of your time. It's OK, but remember the real joy of travel is to search out those other places that are merely footnotes in the tourist guides. Far too many people dare not venture outside the city walls but if you do, you'll be amazed at what you'll find.

Just to the South of the capital you have the county of Wicklow, easily accessible from the Dun Laoghaire ferry port which is also navigable via Holyhead. From here you can catch a train that hugs the coast through Bray on the border, Greystones and down as far as Wicklow town. From her the track ventures inland through Rathdrum and Avoca and back to the county's final stopping place of Arklow before disappearing into Wexford.

The train is great way to let Wicklow come to you as the scenery unfolds through the a variety of terrains from coastal plains, cliffs and rugged hinterland but for the more adventurous amongst you, you will probably want to get down and dirty. Time to get out those walking boots!

County Wicklow may well be the Garden of Ireland but it has far more to offer than a view from the patio. There is fantastic walking opportunities here most notably on the Wicklow Way which starts at Marlay Park in the North, stretching down through the imaginatively titled Wicklow Mountains, finishing Clonegal in the South, confusingly in County Carlow. The trail is roughly 132 kilometres (82 miles) long and thoughtfully avoids the highest summits though I'm sure no-one would object if you went in search of the trig points of Djouce and Lugnaquilla for the best camera shots via side trails. For the record the largest mountain actually on the Wicklow Way itself is White Hill, at 630 m (2,067 ft).

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