Am traveling as part of 3 generations with my mother & daughter to Ireland/Great Britain this summer for 3 weeks & looking for advice on some optional excursions. In Dublin for 2 days, is Glendalough worth a side trip? Though the Beatles were part of my generation, would an 80 year old & 16 year old find Liverpool an interesting side trip from Cheshire? Lastly, while in the Scottish Highlands, is a bus trip to Loch Ness & Eileen Donan Castle worthwhile or shall we just enjoy relaxing time in the Isles of Glencoe? Thank you for any advice as this may be our one & only trip ever to this part of Europe.
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
If you only have 2 days in Dublin, I would probably not take a sidetrip. There is more than enough to fill 2 days in town. I enjoyed my visit to Glendalough, but I had enough time to see Dublin.
As for Liverpool, the only thing to distinguish this city from several others in northern England is the accident of history that the Beatles originated here... which the city's tourist industry mercilessly exploits.
Similar sentiments apply to Loch Ness... it is a beautiful setting, but there's only two things to distinguish it from many other Highland lochs: the fact that it's a little bigger and the local tourism industry hyping it as the home of "Nessie".
Posted by
victoria, Canada
11507 posts
Lets put it this way,, the Beatles left Liverpool and never went back,, nuff said, LOL
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9363 posts
A trip to Glendalough would be a very worthwhile half-day trip. It's an ancient monastic settlement in a beautiful location in the Wicklow Mountains, and contains the tallest intact round tower in Ireland. There is a wonderful little museum there, with a film about the area. Many available tours also include Powerscourt and its gardens, which might be nice for your mom.
Posted by
Bromley, Kent,, UK
1829 posts
These days Liverpool majors on its maritime history although it still, naturally, promotes its 60s musical heritage which is not just the Beatles (here speaks a child of the 60s!).
In 2004 Liverpool's waterfront was designated a World Heritage Site. Although Liverpool is not my favourite northern city, the waterfront is worth visiting if you are in the area. Many migrants to America must have left the shores of Europe from Liverpool docks.
Posted by
Pittsburgh, PA, USA
2743 posts
Hi, Gail. My family (with two teenage boys) went to Liverpool about five years ago. We all loved it. Of course we are all big Beatles fans. I think you have to be to enjoy Liverpool, although I found the whole city to be interesting and much nicer than I expected. If your 16 year old is a Beatles fan, he/she will like Liverpool, but otherwise I would think not. Same with the 80 year old.
I've also been to Loch Ness and found it to be really beautiful. I personally felt like I had to see it, and I'm glad I did. Urqhart (sp?) Castle is really neat too. Eileen Donan Castle is very pretty, but I don't think I'd travel way out of my way to see it. Of course, I haven't been inside.
Sorry, I have not been to Glendalough, although I think it sounds great.
Posted by
Charlotte, NC, USA
3428 posts
I don't know of any trips that include both Loch Ness and Eileen Donan. There is one that combines Isle of Skye and Eileen Donan- it is well worth a day. A criuse up Loch Ness with a stop to see Urquart Castle ruins is nice if you are staying in Inverness. The Isle of Skye/Eileen Donan trip also leaves from Inverness. Inverness makes a great base to see lots of Scotland.
Posted by
Florida, USA
12172 posts
As a side trip from Dublin. I think Glendalough is a great choice. We took a trip to the Boyne Valley that included the Hill of Tara and Newgrange that edged out Glendalough slightly as my preference. I think Glendalough would be easier walking for an 80 year old but Newgrange is amazing.
I liked Liverpool and didn't do any of the Beatles stuff. They were together when I was a kid but I wasn't a fan. Instead I walked around the dock area because of the Naval and shipbuilding history of the area. If you're really into the Beatles, there are a lot of choices. I would think a 16 year old would love Beatles stuff, my kids and their friends are completely into retro music and seem to know more about the music I listened to than what's on the radio now.