First Backpacking Trip

ccarroll, what type of advice are you looking for? Routes, lodging, sights, budget?

Hi
We were looking for suggestions on routes.

Since you are flying into London and out of Dublin, are planning to spend the full three weeks in the UK and Ireland? Or were you interested in going to the continent as well?

3-4 days in London, 2 days in Dublin and the rest on the continent.

Are you truly backpacking (camping) or just traveling with a bag on your back between locations?

Travelling with a backpack. Staying in Hostels.

Bruce makes an interesting observation. My image of "backpacking" is carrying my temporary home in a pack across the Sierras and sleeping under tarp or tent while walking from one lake basin to another and living somewhat primitive. Running water was a clear flowing mountain stream.

My more civilized "backpacking" in the UK is what the British call a "walking holiday". A British Walking Holiday is carrying my day gear in a backpack from one village to another sleeping in a real bed and enjoying a hot British breakfast before walking to the next village and having my luggage beat me to the next evening's lodging.

Here is a link to one list of "best walking holidays": http://www.independent.co.uk/extras/indybest/travel/the-50-best-walking-holidays-7303507.html
(The "classic" walks start from number 26 on the list of best walking holidays.)

Do a "Google" search for "british walking holidays" for companies that provide walking holiday services. I have used and been happy with Contours Walking Holidays.

"We were looking for suggestions on routes... 3-4 days in London, 2 days in Dublin and the rest on the continent."

I suggest you review some of the general-interest Rick Steves tour routes unless you have some specific interests to post. You'll find routes of different lengths here, most of which will probably be paced too fast for independent travel but could be pared down.

Rick's Itinerary tips may be helpful as well.

Thanks.
Wqe have been looking at two different routes:
London- 3-4nights
Amsterdam -3 nights
Bruges- 3 nights
Paris - 4 nights
Barcelona - 3 Nights
Dublin- 3 nights

or

London - 3-4 nights
Venice- 3 Nights
Florence - 2 Nights
Cinque terra( vernazza and Monterosso)- 4 Nights
Barcelona - 3-4 Nights(Flight from Genoa)
Dublin-3 nights

How many nights will you be on the ground? Two nights in any location gets you one full day of sight seeing. I suggest you plan in nights. So you have 21 nights on the ground though if your three weeks includes flight time than you really only have 19 or 20 nights. You will be spending 4 to 5 nights in London and 3 nights in Dublin. That leaves you about 14 nights for the continent. Getting to Dublin from anywhere on the continent is time consuming unless you fly so you can end your continental trip just about anywhere with an airport..

Assuming you want to travel mostly by train, I suggest taking Eurostar under the channel to Amsterdam (change trains in Brussles). Spend at least 4 nights in Amsterdam and daytrip a smaller town. Visit Ghent or Bruges for 2 or 3 nights, finish with 7 nights in Paris, fly to Dublin. Alternatively, take the night train to Munich from Amsterdam, then return to Paris via Cologne. But the possibilities, are endless: Paris, Barcelona, Seville; Amsterdam, Paris, Barcelonia; Paris, Venice, Rome; Paris, Munich, Prague, or Vienna.

If you fly between cities the possibilities expand exponentially.

You may find these two sites very useful http://www.seat61.com/index.html (all things train and ferry) and https://www.rome2rio.com (how to get from anywhere to anywhere with times and cost estimates).

Thanks for the advice. We will have 20 nights. We arrive in London at 9AM on our first day. We were thinking of taking a flight out of London to our next destination and yes we will be flying into Dublin before our return.

You are all over the continental map. You need to look at the actual distances to decide whether or not they are compatible with your time and budget. Rome2rio is a good place to get an idea of that,

For now, looking at your 2 options, more clarification?

London - 3-4 nights
fly or Eurostar, then train?
Amsterdam - 3 nights
train?
Bruges- 3 nights
train?
Paris - 4 nights
train or fly?
Barcelona - 3 Nights
assuming fly?
Dublin- 3 nights

or

London - 3-4 nights
assuming fly?
Venice- 3 Nights
train?
Florence - 2 Nights
train?
Cinque terra( vernazza and Monterosso)- 4 Nights
assuming flight from Genoa as noted below?
Barcelona - 3-4 Nights(Flight from Genoa)
fly?
Dublin-3 nights

Thanks.
Wqe have been looking at two different routes:
London- 3-4nights
Fly
Amsterdam -3 nights
Train
Bruges- 3 nights
Train
Paris - 4 nights
Train
Barcelona - 3 Nights
Fly
Dublin- 3 nights
or
London - 3-4 nights
Fly
Venice- 3 Nights
Train
Florence - 2 Nights
Train
Cinque terra( vernazza and Monterosso)- 4 Nights Train to Genoa
Barcelona - 3-4 Nights(Flight from Genoa)
Fly
Dublin-3 nights

Well yes it's two different itineraries - one is focused on Italy the other on the Low Countries and Paris. There is no right answer, which do you prefer?

Do bear in mind that London is much bigger than the other cities on your lists; you could easily double your nights there and still not see it all.

I like the Cinque Terre, and there's some hope that it won't be overrun in April (though of course the weather may be not so good), but I'd spend less time there and more in one or two of the major cities. To slog all the way to and from Barcelona (one of my favorites) for at most three days seems like not a great use of your time. Your possible routings are so spread out that you're sort of stuck with multiple flights, and all that airport time takes you out of tourist mode. At least you sometimes see nice countryside when your destinations are close enough to make train or bus travel viable.

ccarroll, You have some choices to make. Yes, you can see the highlights and quickly move on. If you are determined, up early and back to bed late) you can see quite a lot in that time span. My first independent trip to Europe was fast paced like yours.
Lets look at the differences in the trips

Amsterdam -3 nights Several museums, Anne Frank House, I don't remember about churches, windmills, flowers may be in bloom.
Bruges- 3 nights My favorite small city! I proposed to my wife here. Called Venice of the North, two good churches, no good museums
Paris - 4 nights My favorite big city, and lots of sights and museums. Lourve, Muse D'Orsay, Rodin, lots more. Some Churches - Notre Dame, Sacre Coeur, St. Chappelle, the palace of Versailles and the Loire Valley castles,
or
Venice- 3 Nights Truly an amazing city not to be missed. St. Mark's Church, Friar Church, Doge's Palace
Florence - 2 Nights I have never been, but it seems like a good number of Churches and Museums.
Cinque terra( vernazza and Monterosso)- 4 Nights I have never been, but from those who have say "Amazing scenery" walking city to city.

This is just a quick idea. More research can help, even old travel guides in a library. The Notre Dame is still the Notre Dame and has been that way since 1345. Not much has changed about the most sights in a very long time. As you get closer, go buy a guide book.

The first trip may be museum and church overload. The second has a break in cinque terre with outdoor activity. It is your choice. Look up Rick's Videos to these places. Good luck and have fun!

Hello ccarroll. Of the two different routes that you mentioned, I think the first route would be more pleasant. The second route includes the Cinque Terre. There is likely to be too many people at the Cinque Terre in April. And being at the Cinque Terre is unpleasant in the rain. I like the suggestion to you from Jen, and from acraven, of not going to Barcelona. I recommend traveling from London to
Amsterdam,
Bruges,
Paris,
Dublin.
I think going to more destinations in Europe would be too much travel time, and too many hotels.