We are beginning to plan for next summer, mid-May/June to avoid Olympics. This summer we were in Italy for a month. Four days in Rome, trained to Florence for three days, trained to Venice for three days. Rented a car over to Cinque Terre and down the west coast to Sorrento and back to Rome. We wonder if a similar agenda is practical for this trip; that is, renting a car for Ireland and training in England/Scotland? We are seniors, prefer to avoid one night stays, love B&B's and farmhouses. What leg first? What, if any, train passes? Best way to other country? The RS book on Italy was our bible and we are plowing thru the Ireland 2012 while waiting for the England 2012 out later this month. It all seems much more complicated. Thanks for any input
Posted by
Gig Harbor, Washington, USA
1864 posts
We have been to Ireland /England/ Scotland six times. Here are my suggestions: Either fly into Shannon or London to start your trip.............. If you choose London, something like this might work: land at LHR, get car, tour Cotswolds, Oxford, Bath, Wells, Salisbury area maybe 4 nights or possibly add 2-3 more and explore Devon and Cornwall...... Return car to LHR, 4 nights London, train to York, 2 nights, get another rental car, visit Yorkshire, Northumberland, border abbeys, Glencoe, Skye, Inverness (5-6 nights for this area) , return car to Edinburgh, stay there 2 nights. Fly to Shannon airport, spend remaining time on the west side of Ireland. Highlights there are Connemara, Dingle, Ring of Kerry, Beara Peninsula. If you return your car to Dublin, you could add visits to Cashel and Glendalough and a slight detour for New Grange as you drive back towards Dublin airport.......... I would skip Dublin unless you have ancestral ties to that city. IMHO it's just another big city and would be anti-climatic after London and Edinburgh..........I haven't looked at a RS United Kingdom guide recently, but I believe it skips Devon / Cornwall and Northumberland, two of the best bits.........It's a lot more time efficient to drive when touring the countryside.
Posted by
Genesee, ID
1840 posts
You might consider buying the Rough Guide to Ireland, and the Rough Guide to Scotland to help round out your knowledge of travel in those countries.
Posted by
Carrollton, Texas, USA
81 posts
Ray, I can only comment on the Ireland portion. My wife and I did an 8 day "self drive" tour vacation in March 2010. We spent 3 months wrestling with our itinerary. There is so much to do that we really had to narrow our choices. We flew in and out of Dublin because due to the tour package. The entire west coast of Ireland is where the real beauty is. Without all the detail, here was itinerary. Day 1 - Dublin - landed 7 a.m. St. Patrick's Day - went to City Centre for the big parade. It was great! Day 2 - Drove north out of Dublin to Newgrange, Boyne River Valley and Hill of Tara. Day 3 - Drove south of Dublin to Powerscourt and then on to Cashel. Day 4 - toured Rock of Cashel in the morning - then drove to Killary & toured the Muckross House - then to Dingle. We were in Dingle by 6 p.m. Day 5 - While in Dingle did the incredible Slea Head Drive. Day 6 - Left Dingle drove through Connor Pass - stopped in Shannon @ Bunratty Castle for lunch & tour - then on to Cliffs of Mohrer. Arrived @ 6 p.m. watched sunset on the Atlantic until 7. Stayed the night @ B&B just outside of Doolin overlooking the Atlantic. Day 7 - Drove through the Burren, then to Galway for lunch, north for an hour out of Galway to Ottergard, then back to Galway and then back to Dublin. Arrived in Dublin @ 6 p.m.
Day 8 - Airport and back to States. We stayed in some of the most incredible B&B's. Loved them all. Next year, we will do the northwest coast of Ireland - Connemeara & Donegal. We will probably fly roundtrip to Belfast. It's only 2 hours from Belfast to Donegal. Enjoy Ireland - it's the land of my ancestors & the Irish are the warmest & friendliest of all Europeans.
Posted by
Charlotte, NC, USA
3428 posts
For the England/Scotland leg consider something like this: London- 4-7 days with day trip to Windsor and maybe 1 other such as Stratford-upon-Avon, Brighton, Canterburry, Dover or Cardiff Wales. Train to York- 2 days Train to Edinburgh- 3 days Train to Aviemore- 3-5 days (lots to see and do, including funicular up Mt. Caringorm, hiking, canoeing, horseback riding, distilleries, etc.) Train to Inverness- 4-7 days with day trips - possibles include Orkney, Isle of Skye, distilleries, cruise up Loch Ness with stop at Urquart Castle and Drumnadrochit, and more Train to Glasgow- 2 days
Then either flight or ferry to Ireland (might have to alter itenerary for ferry I realize this takes up most of your month, and does not even touch the midlands of England, the lowlands or borders of Scotland and none of Wales---- but it covers my personal favorites (we've been more than 40 times). If you saved Ireland for another trip, you could add the Cotswolds and or the Lakes area or parts of Wales.