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Ireland/Scotland Trip: Itinerary Help Needed!

First solo trip, early May 2017
All by public transportation, no car rentals
I know it is very full and very planned out, but that's what I enjoy
Suggestions would be appreciated!

Day 1:
• Depart Chicago O’hare Airport
Day 2:
• Morning: Arrive in Shannon, Ireland, eat lunch
• 3:30pm: Arrive in Doolin
• 4:30pm: Arrive at hotel and check-in
• 5:00pm: Depart for Cliffs of Moher by bike rental
• 8:00pm: Dinner
Day 3:
• 10:00am: Wild Burren Kayak Tour
• 2:00pm: Return to Doolin, lunch, and relax
• 5:15pm: Cliffs of Moher Ferry Tour
• 6:15pm: Return from tour
• 6:30pm: Dinner
Day 4:
• 8:35am: Depart for Galway
• 10:30am: Arrive in Galway
• 12:00pm: Depart by train for Dublin
• 3:00pm: Arrive in Dublin, check into hotel
• 4:00pm: Guinness Storehouse Tour (1.5 hours)
• 6:00pm: Dinner
Day 5:
• 8:45am: Depart for Kilkenny Day Tour (Collins Day Tours)
o Glendalough
o Kilkenny Castle
• 6:00pm: Arrive Back in Dublin
• 7:00pm: Dinner
Day 6:
• 8:00am: Celtic Boyne Valley Tour
o Loughcrew
o Trim Castle
o Hill of Tara
o Monasterboice
o Drogheda
• 6:00pm: Arrive in Dublin
• 6:30pm: Dinner
Day 7:
• 9 am: Irish National Stud (1.5 hours)
• 12:30pm: Return to Dublin, eat lunch
• 1:30pm: Kilmainham Gaol (1.5 hours)
• 3:00pm: Return to hotel, collect bags, head to train station
• 4:15pm: Depart for Belfast
• 7:05pm: Arrive in Belfast, dinner
• 8:30pm: Check into hotel
Day 8:
• 9:30am: GIANTS CAUSEWAY & ANTRIM COAST TOUR FROM BELFAST
o Bushmills Whiskey Distillery
o Dunluce Castle
o Giants Causeway
o Carnlough
• 6:00pm: Return to Belfast
• 7:00pm: Dinner
Day 9:
• 9:00am: Titanic Belfast Museum (2 hours)
• 11:00am: Collect bags, head to airport
• 12:00pm: Arrive at airport, lunch
• 2:00pm: Fly to Edinburgh
• 3:00pm: Arrive in Edinburgh, collect bags
• 4:00pm: Check-in to hotel
• 5:00pm: Dinner, explore Edinburgh
Day 10:
• 9:30am: Edinburgh Castle (3 hours)
• 12:30pm: Lunch
• 1:30pm: National Museum of Scotland (3 hours)
• 4:30pm: Royal Mile, Arthur’s Seat (3 hours)
• 7:30pm: Dinner
Day 11:
• 6:15am: Depart for Aberdeen (bus)
• 9:10am: Arrive in Aberdeen
• 10:00am: Check into hotel, drop bags
• 11:20am: Dunnottar Castle (2 hours), lunch
• 3:00pm: Aberdeen Maritime Museum (2 hours)
• 5:30pm: Dinner, walk and explore
Day 12:
• 7:15am: Depart for Inverness
• 9:35am: Arrive in Inverness
• 10:30am: Check into hotel, drop bags
• 1:00pm: Jacobite Cruise (2 hours)
o Loch Ness
o Urquhart Castle
• 4:00pm: Rent bike and ride to Culloden Battlefield
• 5:00pm: Arrive at Culloden Battlefield (2 hours)
• 7:00pm: Leave for Inverness
• 8:00pm: Arrive in Inverness and dinner
Day 13:
• 8:45am: Depart for Fort William (bus)
• 10:45am: Arrive in Fort William
• 11:00am: Bus to Glencoe
• 11:30am: Arrive at hotel, check in, drop bags, lunch
• 1:00pm: Glencoe, Lost Valley Walk (5 hours)
• 6:00pm: Dinner
Day 14: Jacobite Steam Train and Travel to Skye
• 9:00am: Arrive in Fort William, walk to train station
• 10:15am: Jacobite Steam Train to Mallaig
• 12:25pm: Arrive in Mallaig, lunch
• 4:00pm: Ferry to Armadale, Skye
• 4:30pm: Arrive in Armadale
• 5:20pm: Bus to Broadford
• 5:45pm: Arrive in Broadford
• 6:00pm: Check into hotel, dinner
Day 15:
• Morning: Isle of Skye Seaplane Tour (~70 minutes)
• 12:00pm: Lunch, collect bags
• 3:45pm: Depart for Portree (bus)
• 4:30pm: Arrive in Portree
• 5:00pm: Check-in to hotel (Cruinn Bheinn), drop bags
• 6:00pm: Dinner, explore Portree
Day 16:
• 9:30am: Skye Bus Tour Departs
o Fairy Glen
o Kilt Rock
o Fairy Pools
o Quiraing
o Neist Point
o Dunvegan Castle or Neist Point Lighthouse
o Old Man of Storr
o Cuillin Mountains
• 7:00pm: Arrive back in Portree, dinner
Day 17:
• 7:45am: Depart for Glasgow by bus
• 2:00pm: Arrive in Glasgow, lunch
• 3:00pm: Check into hotel
• 3:30pm: Kelvingrove Art Gallery (1.5 hours)
• 5:00pm: Dinner
Day 18:
• Return Flight to Chicago

Posted by
977 posts

You seem to have everything well and truly covered. Looks like a great trip. We were in the highlands and Skye this May. Oh to be going back again. It's God's own country.

Posted by
9363 posts

Since you are mostly taking day tours, the full days are taken care of. Once you get to Glasgow, though, I doubt that you can get checked into your hotel and get to Kelvingrove in just 30 minutes (unless you are staying near there). I think you will also want more than 1 1/2 hours there. There is a lot to see.

It appears that you intend to see nothing in Dublin except the Guinness Storehouse. Out of everything there is to see in Dublin, Guinness would be my absolute last choice for how to spend an afternoon. A hop-on, hop-off bus tour, Trinity College and the Temple Bar area, or any of the national museums would all be a better use of your time, in my opinion. But, of course, it is your trip.

Posted by
5 posts

Please see my day 7 schedule. I've allotted that time for sight seeing in Dublin as well.

Day 7:
• 9 am: Irish National Stud (1.5 hours)
• 12:30pm: Return to Dublin, eat lunch
• 1:30pm: Kilmainham Gaol (1.5 hours)
• 3:00pm: Return to hotel, collect bags, head to train station
• 4:15pm: Depart for Belfast
• 7:05pm: Arrive in Belfast, dinner
• 8:30pm: Check into hotel

Posted by
5 posts

Also with Glasgow, just trying to kill time in the evening, due to my flight being the next day.

Posted by
9363 posts

You really haven't allotted any time for sightseeing in Dublin. National Stud is some ways outside of Dublin, so the only other time I see for seeing anything IN Dublin is your Kilmainham Gaol slot (which is a good choice). Not sure I understand your remark about Glasgow, though. Have you checked the opening hours for Kelvingrove to see how late you could go?