The catch is we are visiting our two daughters, both students in York. One wants to join the trip for the whole 2 weeks, the other just for one week (we might be able to extend that a couple of days). We could fly to Manchester and get to York and start there with the kids, or we could fly to London instead and have them meet us in London to start, or fly Edinburgh to start (both are pretty easy train trips for them). but after a week or so (max 9 days), one wants to get back to York! We can take trains and rent a car and fly. Nothing is set in stone but the two weeks available daughter wants to visit Ireland (not Northern Ireland) and Bath (not set in stone). We'd all like to visit London and I'd like to see Edinburgh,(not required). We like scenery and historical sites, music and theater. We can hike, bike, drive and fly and would prefer not to spend all day just driving. My eyes are crossed trying to figure out a reasonable itinerary. I don't particularly love sea voyages but can spend a few hours on a ferry.
Do we all start in London (3days or so), head to Bath for 2 days, then over to Ireland (ferry? can we rent a car in Bath and take it to Ireland? or rent one in Ireland? I'm flummoxed about how to get to Ireland from Bath), then make our way around Ireland by car for 4-6 days (I'd love to see Gap of Dunloe/West coast),then take a ferry or flight back to the UK to then get to York... or from Bath just leisurely make our way up to York by rental car (we do want to spend a couple of days in York), then start the next leg of the trip (Ireland) and end in a place where we can fly home (U.S.) and our remaining kiddo can also easily get back to York. the school break is 4/5-4/21 so it's really 17 days with the kid/kids, and we parents can fly in a day or two ahead and leave a day or two after.
OR do we do a sort of infinity loop/figure eight journey with York as the start, midway point and finish, first loop with both kids for about 9 days and second loop with just the one for another 7-8 days (this has to include a couple days in York in the middle.)? My husband and I have a few days on either side of the two week break that the kids have. It would be nice to be able to hug them both goodbye in York at the end when we depart, but not required.
Basically I need recommendations for two different Itineraries with York in the Middle, focused on where to stay, and how to get there/transport more than what to see, as I'm sure there is plenty to see all over the place!
Thanks for any advice!