Trip to either Ireland or Scotland in May 2025 with 5 adults

Welcome to the forum.
Are you asking about Rick Steves tours or independent travel? It’s unclear since you posted in the Rick Steves Tours forum.
With only 8 days, I’d do one or the other. There is a 7 day Ireland tour and an 8 day Scotland tour. Your choice depending on your family’s interests.
You really don’t have time to see both with such a short trip when you factor in travel time.

You can sometimes stack tours back to back; for example taking the Scotland tour and then following it with the Ireland tour, depending on dates. But of course, that would involve more time than just 8-9 days.

Thanks! I think this is enough to convince us that we should do one or the other and right now we are leaning towards Ireland.

Eire is always lovely.

Will you include a trip to Northern Ireland?

IMHO having a car/van in Ireland is the best travel mode.

I would suggest getting hotels lined up as soon as you have flights. It is late for May.

You can't go wrong with Ireland. First visit was 33 years ago. Finally returning this July.

Thanks so much this is great advice

You can't go wrong with Scotland either !

If you have 8 or 9 days then there is no reason why you can't spend 4 days in each country.

There are lots of flights to various airports from Scotland to various Irish airports- as well as Dublin and Belfast there are also flights from Scotland to Derry, Donegal, Shannon, Knock/Ireland West and Cork.

Those allow you to start or spend all 4 days in just about any corner of Ireland (North or South).