Please sign in to post.
Holiday Sale! Save 20% Storewide!

Have a break In Edinburgh for 6 days - Northern Ireland a short Highland trip doable?

Posted by on

I'll be in Edinburgh in August (peak travel season). I have a break from 12 - 18th (18th with be in Glasgow for World Piping championships). Is it feasible and enjoyable to try and jump over to Belfast and Giants Causeway and back with time to do a short trip up to Glencoe in Highlands by train to be back in Glasgow by the 18th? Would it be better to try and stretch out one or the other trip instead?

I will have a suitcase and backpack with Bagpipes in them - so I will have to bring a small day bag - also need place to keep things safe and sound while I sight see.

Bought Ricks Books on Scottland and Ireland. Seems Glasgow/Edinburgh to Belfast is a bit of a big hop - probably better done by plane in a short time.

Advice?

Posted by
575 posts

I have been in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Glencoe/Highlands and the Giants Causeway. However, I have not taken the Stranraer, Scotland-Belfast ferry (https://www.directferries.co.uk/stranraer_belfast_ferry.htm), though I always wanted to. Here's another: https://www.omio.co.uk/ferries/stranraer/belfast-nvpnd . And another: https://www.stenalinetravel.com/routes/cairnryan-belfast .

It appears to be only 70 miles from Scotland to Belfast and that there are multiple trips a day. With six days, you should have time to take a bus from Belfast to the Giants Causeway and then back over to Scotland.

It depends on how you want to spend your time. in 2010, I took an overnight ferry from Cork, Ireland, to Swansea, Wales, and loved just taking the ferry trip, though an airplane ticket would have been more efficient.

If you don't want to spend a lot of time in transit, maybe it would be better to fly to Belfast.

Posted by
8134 posts

Direct Ferries and Omio are only third parties selling the Stena Ferries so far more sensible to book with Stena direct. P and O also run a route from Cairnryan to Larne for rail connections to Belfast.

The easiest way to make the journey by ferry is to use Hannon's coach. Your luggage goes in the hold and the bus drives onto the Stena ferry with you on board, and you get back on the bus before the ferry docks in Belfast.

There are also direct flights from Glasgow to both Belfast City and Belfast International Airports, but also Glasgow to Derry/Londonderry (with Loganair)- Derry is actually closer to the Giant's Causeway.

It is actually possible to take an early flight to Belfast City, and a late flight back- and have plenty of time to get to the Causeway and back.

You can also take a train to Ayr, then a dedicated bus link to Cairnryan port. However due to long term issues at Ayr Station after the nearby hotel was destroyed by fire that is not currently ideal- the direct Glasgow trains are unable to serve Ayr- that is by connection from Prestwick.

You could do Day 1- To Belfast by air or ferry as above;
Day 2- Giant's Causeway; Day 3- Belfast; Day 4- return to Glasgow; Day 5- Citylink coach to Glencoe (every hour or two), overnight in Glencoe; Day 6- return to Glasgow.

Note that if you fly to Belfast or Derry there are also two direct buses a day from Glasgow Airport to Glencoe- making a same day connection easy.

This topic has been automatically closed due to a period of inactivity.