Ireland (New ed)

Author Christopher Somerville is the perfect guide to this picturesque country.

He begins with Dublin, Ireland's cosmopolitan capital city, where reminders of the country's stirring history and rich culture adorn nearly every street corner.

From there we head south, with highlights including County Kildare, capital of Irish horse racing; the enchanting Wicklow Hills; and the unforgettable Rock of Cashel in Tipperary.

Farther west await charming Cork, a foodie's paradise; and the fabled Ring of Kerry, along with plenty of evocative mountain moorlands and barren, windswept isles.

The limestone terraces of eerie Burren, north along the coast, provide a stark contrast, while Yeats Country, surrounding Sligo Town, offers insight into just one of Ireland's great poets.

Inland, a land of cattle farms and drumlins, you touch on some of Ireland's most ancient history at several abbeys, as well as prehistory at its many bogs.

The latter part of the guide is devoted to Northern Ireland, beginning with vibrant Belfast and moving on to Ulster, Derry, and other historic spots of note. On every page, the guide provides in-depth information on Ireland's rich history and culture, along with helpful hints on how to get around and how best to visit each site.

Illusrated with 170 beautiful colour photographs and more then 25 maps, the guide also showcases several three-dimensional drawings that detail the intricate architectural features of Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin and the myriad plants found in the Burren heath.

Author Somerville is a veteran walker, and he brings you the best of the Irish walks in several walking tours, including one along the Dingle Way and another up Mount Errigel.

Several self-guided drives include an unusually beautiful spin along the coast from Dublin to Wexford; and another in the Sperrin Hills of Northern Ireland.

A detailed Travelwise, containing invaluable travel tips and hotel and restaurant suggestions, rounds out the guide. The book is chock full of the Traveler series' attractive new features, such as insider tips from National Geographic and local experts to favourite or little known sites and events, as well as dozens of sidebars highlighting experiences that allow the visitor to truly get inside the local culture, such as learning traditional dance in Galway, taking Irish language classes in Ennis, or volunteering to help restore the country's native boglands.

Whether you're planning to follow the James Joyce Trail in Dublin, have a pint and enjoy the craic in the famous Crown Liquor Saloon in Belfast, or simply ramble through the beautiful open spaces of the aptly named Emerald Isle, "National Geographic Traveler: Ireland" has everything you need to make your trip a memorable one.