Day 361, 8 June '15, Galway, Dunguaire Castle (pictured), The Burren, Bunratty.

We took it very easy this morning. Strolled about Roundstone and bought a Euromillions ticket (€112 million!) Eventually wended our way out of the Connemara and through Salthill on the way in to Galway, THE Galway. We found the traffic in Galway to be diabolical 2 years ago. We're sad to say Traffic Hell on Earth (THE) is still the status quo. Made it into Galway and like a screw getting fed into a vacuum cleaner and spat out again, we eventually made it out the other side. Straight onto one of the best coast road drives of the trip so far. We were frazzled after Galway so when we arrived in Kinvara, full of colourful shops and pubs, we stopped. The highlight of Kinvara is Dunguaire castle. We had a good look around then sat with our backs to the castle wall and enjoyed our lunch and coffee. Thoroughly rejuvenated we weaved in and out of a massive swarm of coach tourists and headed along the coast and into The Burren. Covered in strange but true limestone paving, The Burren is as close as we'll probably ever get to the moon. Last time we drove through it there was torrential rain, mist and winds. Much more impressed by it on a brilliantly sunny day. We sailed past the turnoff to the Cliffs of Moher (that was a tick from last time) and headed to our stop for the night - Bunratty. Quite possibly the world's smallest village. Essentially a life-support system for Bunratty theme park (OK - it's real name is Bunratty Castle and Folk Park). The B&B had lovely gardens full of flowers and we sat out with the Travellers' Tonic (Drambuie) and a chicken curry and rice. Early stop (5 pm), early night. Tomorrow? Off to Killarney and a heritage hit - Muckross House and Ross Castle - before heading to the beginning of the Dingle Peninsula.