Driving in Ireland and Scotland

<<I have no problems with narrow roads etc. Just want to avoid major headaches figuring out where to go.>> Chad - just get a GPS with your rental car. And no, there are no ZTL's in Ireland or Scotland.

If you don't have problems with narrow roads, you will have no problems in Ireland or Scotland. We've driven in both countries without a GPS and did not have any trouble getting where we wanted to go. The roads can be really narrow, and you've got to watch out for sheep and people on bikes, but zones where you get fined. The scenery is beautiful.

Chad, you'll be fine. In Scotland you'll encounter single track roads. Just stay on the left at the passing places. The first car to reach a passing place stops and waits for the oncoming car or truck. The system works amazingly well. Edinburgh is a mess because of the tram works although that may be done this summer, so you're smart to avoid driving there. BTW there is a great bus from the airport to city centre Edinburgh. Getting out of Glasgow airport is not hard particularly as you are headed north toward Loch Lomond. Pam

Don't be afraid to catch some twigs and small branches in Eire. It is pretty unavoidable on smaller roads. You may be ok on narrow roads, but do know they feel different when you are driving to the left/sitting to the right (and managing a stick on your left). You'll get the hang of it. Just think, left.

THanks for all the replies. Just wanted to confirm that a wrong tour was not going to cost me $150 6 months later ha ha..... Chad

Not unless you trigger a speed camera or a traffic light camera or a bus lane camera. Or a yellow box junction camera.

I'm planning a driving trip out of Dublin myself for late March/early April. I've reserved a Sat/Nav as I found it helpful when driving in Wales on my own last year, especially when driving in towns with all the roundabouts. There were a few glitches like the time it told me to turn into a stone wall or wanted me to take what definitely looked like a walking path! I had it set to recalulate, though, so when I ignored such directions, it would get me going again. I've bought a Collins road atlas for Ireland which marks all the traffic camera locations. It also noted that the M50 highway around Dublin has a toll between junction 6 and 7 but there are no tollbooths. If you car is not "registered" you have to pay the toll before 8 pm the next day in a special shop or garage or online. I've not figured that one out yet but plan to ask when I arrive so I don't face a fine.

Chad, if you are a whisky fan, or just enjoy driving, you might want to check out a book by Iain Banks, Raw Spirit. He's commissioned by a publishing house to search out the perfect dram, and the book is about his search. It's a great book. It's about the whisky search, but much more. Pam

Ok, maybe not about driving yourself, but hitchhiking, "Round Ireland with a Fridge" is an absolute classic. The writer, Tony Hawks, not the skateboard dude, but an Englishman, makes a bar bet that he can hitchhike around Ireland with a refrigerator. The book is a nice primer for Ireland, especially once you get out beyond the pale. Amazon synopsis below: On his only prior visit to Ireland, English songwriter-comic Tony Hawks had seen a man hitchhiking with a refrigerator. For years, he was wont to tell the tale during late-night drinking matches, and after one particularly heavy-duty night of partying, he awoke to find a bet scrawled pillowside: a friend wagered 100 pounds that Hawks wouldn't travel Ireland for a month with a refrigerator at his side. Out of this stupid premise, a ridiculously amusing book was born. Quickly discovered by the Irish media, the thumbing Englishman finds that he and his box fridge are elevated to celebrity status, and there's no dearth of rides, places to stay, or goofy people to meet, from kings to spoons players to locals who take his fridge surfing. As insightful about the strange inner workings of Hawk's mind as it is about charming peculiarities of Irishmenit's doubtful that Hawks would have been similarly embraced by Germans, Italians, or the FrenchRound Ireland with a Fridge is an entirely silly, heartwarming tale told in a rollicking funny and refreshing style.

We flew into Dublin and rented a car at the airport. Trying to drive in Dublin was the worst experience EVER! My husband and I thought we would be driving around Dublin the rest of our lives! The rest of Ireland was a piece of cake

"My husband and I thought we would be driving around Dublin the rest of our lives!" "(gesturing)...Buckingham Palace...(crying)" -------'Sparky' Griswold, 437th time around traffic circle in London, "Nat'l Lampoon's European Vacation"

Great question! I too will be driving in Ireland later this month. First time to Ireland and first time driving on the left side of the road. (yikes!) We are flying into Dublin, renting a vehicle and heading out on the M1 to Restrevor. Does anyone have any tips on getting out of the airport area to the M1? I have looked at a map, and frankly, it looks fairly simple with only one roundabout but I could be deceiving myself. Any and all pointers would be greatly appreciated!

Yep, it is about that simple. Very well marked too.

Michael, thank you for the confirmation! Turns out we have two roundabouts, one small one taking the first exit and a larger one taking the second exit. It does seem very straight forward. We are driving to Rostrevor but plan to stop in Newgrange to take a "breather." :-)

Once you're under way staying on the left is no big deal. The best chance for "oopsies" is when entering or leaving car parks (parking lots) - having a navigator who shouts "keep left" helps.

One lessoned I learned, rather quickly, is that when entering a roundabout - know the name of the next town or village on your route. The main city/destination is not always the name on the roundabout sign board. Driving on the left side was no problem it just took a little while getting used to shifting with my left hand. In regards to GPS, we take our own after finding out the additional cost per day of a rental unit. My friend picked up his rental car in London (GPS rental prearranged) and was told that they were all rented out!

On a similar note, I'll fly into Dublin the end of March and will drive to Thurles. If I want to do a day trip to Dublin, does Ireland have the "Park and Ride" options that I found in England? I would much rather enjoy a bus ride into the city than try to navigate the traffic!

Chad, search the web for info on traffic signs and symbols in the two respective countries. it might save you some confusion. I'll second Bob's advice to know which towns are between you and your destination. Road signs often mention only the next place down the road.