Sometime make the time to drive out west

Into Clare, along the Flaggy Shore,

In September or October, when the wind

And the light are working off each other

So that the ocean on the one side is wild

With foam and glitter, and inland among stones

The surface of a slate grey lake is hit

By the bolt lightning of a flock of swans...

SEAMUS Heaney, as the lines from his poem Postscript reveal, saw the Flaggy Shore in a violent passion but the less poetic might equally enjoy it in its summer tranquillity.

It lies on the south shore of Galway Bay between Kinvara and Ballyvaughan on the Finavarra peninsula (bring a map). The flags in question are a limestone pavement against which the sea loves to sport along two miles or so of shore.

The road follows the sea past Mount Vemon Lodge Lady Gregory's holiday home and the UCG Marine Research Station, beyond which there are optional deviations.

To the left, follow the track up Cnoc an Bhoirnin for a view of the bay and a look down the limestone crevices at the burnet rose or dwarfed and wind shaped ash and black thorn. Best bring your Burren guide book, for you are in the heart of that unusual landscape.

To the right, you can follow the shore out to Finavarra point and the Martello tower that commands the entrance to Ballyvaughan Bay.

And, if you don't want to walk, you could go up to the Yellow House where Paul Ryan will seat you on a four footed beast suitable to your skill and its temperament for the hour long circuit of the shore.

The straight route follows the road inland past Loch Muiri and back through farms and country roads to the pier at New Quay and the famous Linnane's sea food bar where lobsters, oysters, mussels and scallops await your pleasure. On a fine evening, take an outside table, a nice bottle of wine and, as the musicians warm up for the evening's seisiuin, you can put your feet up and watch the sun go down on Galway Bay.