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2024 visit to the UK and Ireland

In September, we will start our trip with a 10 day bus trip through Scotland, spending a few days in both Glasgow and Edinburgh. [We’ve never done a bus trip but we’re both in our 70s and we are slowing down a bit.]

After Scotland, we’d like to see a some of England. We’ve been to London. I’m thinking about spending a week in Yorkshire. Maybe Whitby (with a ride on the steam train) and York but I’m looking for suggestions. We’re into walking around towns and villages. We like architecture, gardens, markets, and one day tours to get us outside of the places we stay. Local buses are OK, too. Hoping to find some of that English quaintness.

After that we’d like to spend 5 or 6 days in the north of Ireland, Donegal, and Northern Ireland. What would be the best way to get here without flying from England? Ferry from where? Looking for recommendations of where to stay and what to see and do?

Then we have another 5 or 6 days to get to Dublin. We will fly home [USA] from Dublin but we don’t necessarily want to stay there so maybe we could stay at an interesting town or two on the way to Dublin. We have traveled in the lower half of Ireland (Dublin/Galway) but not the northern half. We’d prefer traveling by train but buses are OK.

Your thoughts and suggestions will be appreciated. I realize that the possibilities are unlimited.

Thank you,

Janice

Posted by
181 posts

You don’t say if you are planning to get around the north of England by public transport or by hire car.

Either way York is tremendous, and not a place for a car. As a minimum, you want to see the Minster, the Jorvik Viking centre, York Castle Museum and to walk (at least part of) the medieval walls. If you’re interested, the National Railway Museum is very good. It’s free to enter but they make you queue to ask for a donation!

Posted by
8131 posts

From Yorkshire to Northern Ireland without flying your best route is the overnight Stena ferry from Birkenhead [Liverpool] to Belfast- https://www.stenaline.co.uk/routes/liverpool-belfast

A direct train runs every hour from Newcastle and Yorkshire stations to Liverpool. The fun way to the Birkenhead terminal is train from Liverpool Lime Street to James Street, then the ferry 'cross the Mersey to Birkenhead then taxi. The easy way is taxi through the Mersey Tunnel to Birkenhead. Personally I walk round from the ferry terminal and enjoy it immensely but am not asking you to do that.

They are very nice and very stable Scandi-Chic ferries indeed. Any cabin will do but if you can get the 2 berth Outside Deluxe it is the best ferry cabin you will probably ever have seen, including a private balcony and a well stocked, complimentary mini-bar. Strictly the balcony is deck space looking aft, and strictly any passenger can access it. But they won't as it is very hard to find that deck.

There are just 6 of those cabins and they sell like hotcakes, so an ordinary cabin will probably have to do.

Taxi from the terminal to Belfast Lanyon Place for trains or to Europa Bus Station for buses all over NI.

Wind your way via wherever to Derry/Londonderry from where two different bus routes run to Donegal (it no longer has a railway station).

Donegal has 13 buses a day to Dublin on the Bus Eireann 30/X30 routes. Or there is the BE #64 every two hours to Galway via Sligo.

Posted by
17559 posts

We really enjoyed both York and Whitby—-3 nights in York and 2 in Whitby. We would have been happy with another night in each.

The National Railway Museum is wonderful, as is the York Minster. We hiked to Robin Hood’s Bay and rode the bus back; you could take the bus there and back if walking isn’t your favorite thing.

Posted by
11 posts

Thank you for your thoughts on York and Whitby. They are very helpful.

isn31c,

I am interested in your proposal of train to Liverpool from York and ferry to Belfast.

I’m thinking we could take the train to Liverpool Lime Street on the morning of September 30th and stay overnight near the train station. That would give us time to look around Liverpool a bit and put part of the journey behind us. In the morning, we could take the Merseyrail across the river.

Can we expect to find a taxi to the ferry terminal? Or is there a bus? A mile is too far for us to walk with luggage. A cabin on the ferry is a great idea. I’ll book it now so we don’t miss out. Thank you for the tip.

Your information on Northern Ireland is also welcomed. It’s the type of information I need. It’ll make planning the rest of the trip much easier.

Posted by
8131 posts

There is a weird bus service links Woodside Ferry Terminal and the Belfast Ferry Terminal- the #811- https://merseytravel.adidocdn.dev/timetables/Bus/811-21Jul24.pdf

Any time I've been over to Woodside there are taxis there. If not they would be just up the hill at Hamilton Square station.

There is also a daytime sailing. I don't know if you want to spend 8 hours in the daytime on the ferry or would rather sleep through the passage overnight.

The other option on the day sailing is the premium Stena Plus lounge.

There is a bus from Belfast VT7 terminal which passes the VT5 terminal (from Birkenhead). But in the morning you usually just miss it by a few minutes. Very frustrating and very silly. That is why I say taxi in from the dock in Belfast.

By the way when you do get to Belfast you want to buy a Zone 4 I Link Travel Card. That covers all buses and trains in NI- £20 for one day or £67 for one week.

Any days just in Belfast you would just want a Zone 1 Card- https://www.translink.co.uk/usingtranslink/ticketsandtravelcards/ilink

That won't cover cross border to Donegal. In the Republic (including the Cross Border service from Derry) you want to think about a Leap Card. As you are starting in Derry you would need to buy it on line and have it mailed to you- https://leapcard.ie/Home/index.html
That saves you 30% off most fares in Ireland, and also suburban rail and trams in Dublin and Cork.