Traveling guide Lonely Planet has listed a cycle route between Miltown, Malbay and Doolin as one of the top 10 in the world.

Lonely Planet's best in Travel 2009 names the Clare cycling route in Ireland among the greatest alongside similar routes in Vietnam, Cuba, New Zealand and Australia.

The guide describes the route in elegant detail.

"Beginning in fetile lowlands flanking the Shannon estuary this route rolls past golden sand beaches to the dramatic Cliffs of Moher facing the Atlantic," it reads. 

It also makes a reference to Yeats’ old summer retreat near Gort, where one can make "a sojourn in Yeats country.” Thoor Ballylee, where Yeats spent his summers, was featured in much of the famed Irish writer’s poetry. 

Lonely Planet also encourages tourists to visit the small villages of Miltown, Malbay and Doolin in County Clare. Doolin is famous for its charming Irish character and has a vibrant Irish music scene.

There is no doubt that the west of Ireland’s inclusion in the Lonely Planet Guide will boost the region’s ailing economy.

The Clare cycle route already attracts 102,000 visitors a year and is worth an estimated $116 million a year to the local economy.

The news of Clare's inclusion in the well-known guide was warmly welcomed by the chairman of the Clare Tourism Forum, Clr Richard Nagle.

Nagle highlighted that Clare had suffered quite badly in the  recession, and the winding down of Shannon Airport has lowered peoples prospects in the region.

Nagle was aware of the opportunities that a glowing review in the Lonely Planet may bring and said, "We now need to make the most of this great achievement."