Galway

Going to the Aran Islands ferry terminal at Ros a Mhil and points further west in Connemara - if you're feeling lazy, catch the number 1 bus from Eyre Square - stay on the bus going through Salthill and get off once the bus turns off the coach road. From here it's about 5 minutes walk to where the bypass meets the old coach road, which is the ideal spot for hitching. If you're lucky, you'll get a lift before you even get there.

If you're short on cash, just walk out along Father Griffin Road and Taylors Hill Road to the same spot, around 40 minutes walk; again, you may get lucky and get a lift before then but I wouldn't count on it. You could try the roundabouts on the bottom of the Headford Road, on the bypass but near the city centre, but it has always looked too heavily trafficked with local vehicles to me.

Going to Clifden, walk up University Road and Newcastle Road, and you can probably stop walking once you get beyond the flashy hotel on the right hand side; again, you might get lucky and pick up a lift quicker. Alternatively, get bus number 5 as far up the Upper Newcastle Road as it goes, get out and walk hitching to the same spot.

Going to Dublin, Cork or Limerick, I have gone out the old Dublin Road, but it's a long walk to where it meets the bypass and I have not got a lift before walking all the way out. The Ballybaan Road/Monivea Road roundabout on the bypass might be worth a try. Don't bother with a sign - a lift to where the N6 and N18 divide saves a long walk!