Hello all,
Myself and my wife are hoping to see Ireland and Scotland with our children aged four and seven. We would arrive August 5th from Norway (I have already booked a two week Scandinavia trip leading up to august 5). Date to return home to Canada is not set in stone, but I am thinking August 20th from Edinburgh. My initial plan was to see Rick Steve’s “must sees” for Ireland (Dublin, Aran islands-staying in Galway for this, Dingle) then go to Edinburgh, then go home. I’m reluctant to drive a car on the left side, I don’t drive manual, and my only experience driving at all in Europe is in Tenerife and I’m not super confident to be honest. We were thus looking at public transit, but Dingle seems like an ordeal to travel to with young kids and luggage. I have looked at a few organized tours, but seems tough to fit the exact dates, and many don’t accommodate four year olds. Any ideas of transport options or tours to Dingle? I might be asking the impossible, but before I pull the plug on Dingle, wanted to make sure I’m not missing anything obvious. The easiest thing seems to be to replace Dingle with Belfast. Maybe a full Ireland tour when the kids are older (or somehow my driving skills improve in middle age)!
Posted by
1383 posts
If I'm reading this correctly you want to do Ireland and Scotland in approximately 15 days? That's alot of ground to cover without a car. How many days are you actually planning on spending in Ireland? That will help determine what is actually reasonable to see.
Posted by
OP
Canada/Amsterdam
5 posts
I was thinking three nights in Edinburgh, leaving the rest for Ireland. We can cut that out though. If we flew back from Dublin rather than Edinburgh, the 21 at would make more sense in terms of Available flights.
Posted by
1383 posts
With 9+ days you could do 3-4 nights in each of Dublin, Galway and Limerick, taking the train to each place. I'm choosing the train since that would allow the kids to move around more freely than in a bus. From Limerick you could look into day tours to the Dingle and Kerry peninsulas. I've never taken a Paddywagon tour, https://www.paddywagontours.com/DINGLE-Day-Tour-From-Limerick, but I have a friend who did take one out of Dublin and although it was long, he enjoyed it. But with 4 of you it might be cost effective to take a private tour. Or if you wanted to stay in Dingle hire a private driver just to take you to and from Dingle from Limerick. Given how expensive it is to rent a car hiring private drivers isn't that extravagant.
Posted by
Cornwall
105 posts
Are you aware of what happens in Edinburgh in August?
Posted by
OP
Canada/Amsterdam
5 posts
Thanks Trotter, that’s exactly the kind of idea I was looking for.
Posted by
OP
Canada/Amsterdam
5 posts
Cambrone, my understanding is that there are a variety of festivals, in particular the fringe festival. Does this preclude children visiting?
Posted by
OP
Canada/Amsterdam
5 posts
Hey Trotter (or anyone else), what do you think of Killarney instead of Limerick? Seems like day trips to Dingle Peninsula (or Ring of Kerry) would bea bit easier from there. Getting from Killarney to Galway seems like it would be a bit harder, but I think my kids could do two two-hour bus trips. I guess another possibility would be adding Cork as well, for a Dublin—Cork—Killarney—Galway—Dublin loop (would likely require 15 days, especially if we added Belfast).
Posted by
1383 posts
Yes, Killarney would be much more convenient for touring. I just thought that the kiddos might rebel at being in transit for so long. At least mine would have been holy terrors.