Condé Nast names Co Clare in list of 25 places to visit in Europe

Co Clare has been included in Condé Nast Traveller's list of the 25 best places to visit in Europe, alongside destinations such as Marseille, Vienna and Albania.

Condé Nast Traveller is a long-running travel publications, known for unearthing hidden gems with the assistance of expert contributors from across the globe.

Writing about the list, the editors explained that it was designed to spark inspiration for your next trip, rounding up the places in Europe that are most "worthy of your precious annual leave and hard-earned spending money".

The editors compiled the list by asking their network of contributors around the world to suggest destinations that are making waves in tourism at the moment, be it due to buzzy hotel openings, cultural events or new flight routes.

Among spots like the Faroe Islands and Vienna, Austria was our own Co Clare, which was spotlighted for its eco-conscious stays and immersion in traditional crafts.

Writing about the rugged West coast county, Gráinne McBride wrote that the spot is "quietly becoming the hub of a grassroots revival of other skills and an inspiring example of ecotourism along Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way".

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With many of the other destinations notable in part thanks to new openings, such as Albania, where there is an all-new InterContinental hotel opening and the country's first transatlantic flight jetting off from Tirana, the locations mentioned in Clare have been slowly building a reputation for innovation and sustainability over the last few years.

Among the locations listed were The Common Knowledge Centre, where guests can learn about dry-stone wall building and willow weaving while staying on 50 acres of native forests. The Burren, one of the most important eco-heritage sites in Ireland, was also mentioned, specifically marine biologist Cormac McGinley's leave-no-trace fossil discovery walks and tours of the area.

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As for food, The Homestead Cottage in Doolin was highlighted, the Michelin-starred restaurant set in a 200-year-old building, while the B-Corp certified Armada Hotel, set right along the coast in Spanish Point got a shout out.

"All this and you're still never far from a toe-tapping céilí and the craic", McBride added.

You can read the full list here.