Considering a two week trip between May 22 and June 6 which would include my husband and I and our four young adult children, all in their 20s. I usually plan far in advance, so I’m feeling a bit behind schedule, and looking for advice, please. We have visited France, Italy and some other parts of Western Europe several times, but have never been to Ireland or Scotland. I have done a bit of research which reveals a preference for choosing one country or the other as opposed to one week in each. That fits well with the way we travel – we tend to stay in just a few places and get to know them. Have had success in the past with mixing a stay in a city for 4 to 6 nights with a second location in the country for about the same amount of time. Seems to offer something for everyone!
We like good food, experiencing different cultures, historical sites, natural beauty and friendly locals. We also tend to prefer a slow pace. We have also found that locations that require long drives or time in the car every day can be stressful with a party of six -on recent trips we have gotten two cars, but that can also be complicated.
I have so many questions! What is typical weather that time of year? Should we be concerned about midges? Does the lengthy period of daylight impact most people‘s ability to sleep? Any thoughts about Scotland versus Ireland? Suggestions for a fun city for 20 to 30-year-olds? Somewhere in the countryside to base ourselves for a few days?
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8454 posts
Scotland appears to be very popular. We started to go there a couple of summers ago, and the hotels were packed and very rooms were quite expensive.
Many do not realize how mountainous and beautiful Scotland is. It is a June to October season. And you are right about traveling with a party of six is difficult.
We went to Ireland 3 years ago in May. We rented a car and drove to the far southwest end of the island. The roads were crooked and often had hedges and deep ditches. It was some of the more difficult driving we have experienced. Frankly, we were somewhat bored.
For young people, take them to Prague and Vienna. Or Munich, Salzburg and Vienna. Or Munich and Budapest. And Amsterdam is another great and lively city.
Posted by
London
1037 posts
These are both great locations, and I think you will enjoy either. To respond to your questions:
-This time of the year is lovely in both places- long days and a lot of sunshine. However, you may still get rain, which can happen any time of year. But it's less common late May/early June. In Scotland and Ireland you will probably need a light jacket but not much more.
-You do get midges in Scotland but I think sometimes people make too big a deal of them. You can get sprays if you need.
-I used to live in Edinburgh and never had trouble sleeping in the summer- and if you are staying in a place with black-out curtains or dark curtains you should be fine either way.
-I like both but might suggest Scotland. You could base yourself in Edinburgh first, which I think is a very fun city, and has a lot of students. Glasgow is also an option but I think for first time in Scotland I would go with Edinburgh. Then really you could go anywhere in the highlands or islands. If you don't want to drive you could get a train from Edinburgh to somewhere like Oban (going via Glasgow) and then a ferry to Mull, for example. But I do know a lot of these places, especially Skye, book up far in advance. Honestly tho you can't really go wrong, the whole country is beautiful.
Posted by
Minnesota🌲
11139 posts
Here's another vote for Scotland. I definitely would not try and do both with only two weeks. I spent three weeks in Scotland in 2023 and loved the country so much and can't wait to go back. I agree with Cat's recommendation about staying in Edinburgh; it's a very cool city with lots to see and do, and I think your kids would just love it. My daughter went to Edinburgh when she was in college and fell in love with it, and she's the main reason I went to Scotland years later.
With regards to midges, again I echo what Cat said. During my three-week trip in May, I only encountered midges once, and that was on the Isle of Arran, and I was in a very boggy, shaded area. Midges don't like the sunlight or drier areas, and you probably won't find them in the cities at all.
You could easily spend 4-6 nights in Edinburgh and find plenty to do. There's a lot in the city, but there's also day trips you can take to Stirling Castle, St Andrews, Glasgow and so on. After that, you could head to the Highlands, but having a car for that would be best, as public transportation in the Highlands area is not great.
When I was there, I visited the Isle of Arran, which is a smaller island but has a lot to see and do. It's often called Scotland in Miniature because it has all the features of the main island; mountains, beaches, ruins, castles. After that, I went to the Isle of Mull, which I think was probably one of my favorite places in Scotland. I loved that island, and I especially loved the town of Tobermory. I visited the Isle of Iona while I was there. Another very popular place is the Isle of Skye, which is probably the most visited place in the Highlands area. It has some beautiful sights, but it can get crowded in June. I went to more places, but I also had more time than you and was traveling solo, so it was easy for me to move around quickly. 😊
One thing you might consider is checking out the Highland Games calendar. Attending a Highland game is something that everybody could enjoy. I went to one at Gordon Castle on my trip and absolutely loved it. It was so much fun, and so fascinating to see all the piping competitions, the games, the animals and all the interesting food and drink that was available. And it would be definitely something that give your children a wonderful memory! Here is a link to the calendar for 2026: https://www.rshga.org/calendar