In Athlone, in the green and blue heart of the island

Athlone (an hour's train ride from Galway) is a beautiful town crossed by the River Shannon and is an ideal base for visiting Ireland's Hidden Heartlands, the green and blue heart of the island. Discover the historic Athlone Castle, a 12th-century fortress that tells the story of the town's past and a scenic riverside walk is a must in this town, too. A must is Sean's Bar, Ireland's oldest pub, for a drink in an atmospheric setting - it has been serving beer for over a millennium. If you want to explore the surrounding area, you can hire a bike and ride the Old Rail Trail through the bucolic countryside or hop on a Viking-style boat and sail down the river to the 6th-century monastic site of Clonmacnoise.