Let me start by saying I’m fully aware that 15-16 days isn’t close to long enough to do either country justice. So I’m even ok with just doing Ireland only but I have this dream that I would love to take 2-3 days and take a ferry across to visit the cotswold area. But it might be just a dream.
We love to go to pubs and small scale hiking, plus we also enjoy historical sites and art museums but not as much as the former.
I usually stay in hotels in the city centers in big city’s and then stay in airb&b’ sit farmstays type places in rural areas, but I’m not sure of the options in these countries? Thanks for all the help in the past. Charles
Posted by
3123 posts
With limited time, you'd be much better off flying between the two islands. Unless you really, really want the ferry experience from Rosslare to Fishguard or Dublin to Holyhead. As you can see from a map, the ferry ports on the UK side are not very near to the Cotswolds. In 2-3 days you'd be spending Day 1 on the ferry, leaving you 1-2 days to drive to the Cotswolds and try to see some of that region.
Flying open jaw to Dublin with return to the USA from London would save you returning to Ireland.
As with just about any proposed itinerary, it CAN be done, but whether you'll enjoy it and whether it will be worth the expense are questions only you can answer.
Posted by
Camano Island, WA, usa
1518 posts
Think about Wales! Real Castles!. Great Hikes by Shoreline and Mountains!
Posted by
Maryland, USA
39 posts
I concur with the advice to fly in between.
In Ireland I had a sort of random trip (results of being 21, on a budget and planning sort of oddly). Spent 3 days in Dublin, which was plenty. Took a day bus trip to Glendalough Monastery one day and Cliff of Moher on another (with points in between). Then a day in Kilkenny and a day in Baltimore on the coast. Took about a half day getting back to Dublin for my flight. So that was a Friday- following Saturday originating from the Bristol UK airport (I was studying in Bath). I think you could probably swap Kilkenny and Baltimore other spots but still see the country's highlights in a week plus a smaller trip to 1 region of the UK.
Posted by
Noblesville, Indiana, USA
1406 posts
Hike around Dublin for pubs and go to Temple Bar for touristy ones. The Cliffs of Moher and nearby Aran Islands are definitely worth visiting as is a drive through The Burren to get there - we stayed in Doolin and took the ferry to Inis Oirr. The Rock of Cashel is impressive and takes a couple of hours. We also enjoyed passing through Ennis and Lahinch.
Posted by
Mid-Atlantic area
7146 posts
I’m not an expert but I believe the ferry from Dublin goes to Holyhead on Anglesey and is a long way from the Cotswolds. One can easily spend a week in that part of Wales. For castles there are Beaumaris, Caernarfon, and Conwy. There are also a number of Neolithic standing stones and burial mounds on Anglesey itself. In addition, a visit to South Stack lighthouse is interesting with very nice scenery. Believe you can also take a ferry to Liverpool, but it too is a long way from the Cotswolds. If you want to visit the Cotswolds then flying might be best as it would be quicker.
Posted by
Winchester, UK
136 posts
Spending half your time in both countries with the ferry to Wales would be doable. In some cases you can bring cars on the ferry but I'm unsure whether you can hire in Ireland and drop off in the UK as I've never done so before.