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Doing BOTH Scotland and Ireland in 10 days

Hong Kong, China
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63 posts
65 reviews
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Doing BOTH Scotland and Ireland in 10 days
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I have been on this site for a while and though there is great info available, I am not able to find just the 'right' thing, so a huuuuuuuuuge sorry if some of you have to repeat your responses.

Me and my two girl pals (so 3 girls) in our early 30s have just got promoted in our jobs and want to spend the first pay on a holiday to Scotland AND Ireland (yes both!).

We really only have these days, really wanted to do both places and really need your help!

Some more info about us and the trip:

- We have about 10 days (May 25th - June 3rd)

- We do not drive on 'that' side of the road - so NO car

- We can do small guided tours for hard to reach places like cliffs and mountain castles, but mostly prefer to be on our own.

- We live in Amsterdam and will fly to Edinburgh and fly out of Dublin (if that is the right idea).

- B'n'B are preffered options - is that feasible and recommended?

- Can we ferry / train to Ireland - Scotland, if yes how do we book online tickets.

Thanks in advance

Cheers

Fayetteville...
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18 posts
6 reviews
19 helpful votes
1. Re: Doing BOTH Scotland and Ireland in 10 days
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Hi reachp,

A couple of questions:

1. Are you adamant about not driving on "that" side of the road?

2. What sorts of things are you interested in?

BnB's are quite workable, and I'll let others chime in on recommendations. I can recommend the Red River Lodge in Ballina, Ireland, the Ardmore House just outside of Clifden, Ireland, and Egan's House in Dublin. In Edinburgh I've only rented a self-catering apartment for seven days in the heart of the city, which turned out quite well. From what I understand, though, there are many many BnB's out in the hinterlands of Scotland. Book early!

You can ferry to Ireland on P&O Irish Sea ferries (http://www.poirishsea.com/). They offer services from Troon and Cairnryan in Scotland to Larne, North Ireland.

Hong Kong, China
Level Contributor
63 posts
65 reviews
70 helpful votes
2. Re: Doing BOTH Scotland and Ireland in 10 days
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Hey there dsleaton!

That was so sweet that you gave us such a quick response!

I am sorry, but we are definitely not driving - its a shame I know, but one of us can't drive, one won't drive and on is recovering from a bad accident and is scared to take the chance.

Its a shame and we will miss some, therefore the day tours through some local tour operators ( any ideas?)

We want to see highlands, the must-see's, the castles - we could do a bike tour some place, shop for trinkets...and so on!

Portland, OR
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3. Re: Doing BOTH Scotland and Ireland in 10 days
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I don't want to be a wet blanket, but I think you're going to have to limit yourself to a particular area (mainly a city) if you are 100% reliant on tour groups and public transportation. On top of it, you may have 10 days total, but 3 of those will largely be travel days (Amsterdam to Scotland, Scotland to Ireland and Ireland back to Amsterdam - or whatever order you decide to take) with maybe the ability to fit in a site or two, so you're really left with only 4 full days in one country and 3 in the other.

Admittedly I'm not the best person to give advice since I am still taking my first trip next month, but I would probably plan to spend your 3 (or 4) days in Ireland in either Dublin, Cork, near Shannon or Belfast. Each city has its own charms and sites, depending on your interests, and each city will have tour groups that can take you out to see the sites (as far as I know, someone please correct me if I'm wrong!). I definitely wouldn't recommend spending one day in one city, then another. If you're spending your days taking a train or bus from say, Dublin, then to Cork, then to Galway or something, you won't really see much of anything except the countryside out of your window.

If you base yourself in Dublin, for example, you can take tours of Newgrange, Trim, and Tara one day and then on the second day, you can tour Powerscourt gardens, Wicklow Mountains area and Glendalough. and on the third, see Dublin itself.

Or, if you fly into Cork and base yourself there, you can spend a day in Cork, a day in Cobh to see the Fota Gardens and visit the town (or take a day trip to Blarney Castle and maybe the Rock of Cashel) and then maybe take the bus to Kinsale for a day and sample some of Ireland's best cuisine and do a little shopping in a seaside town.

These are just ideas and maybe the experts will weigh in with different ones, but doing both countries with so little time and not driving is going to limit what you can see and do in Ireland.

Have a good trip!

Kris

Groves, Texas
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13 reviews
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4. Re: Doing BOTH Scotland and Ireland in 10 days
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I would suggest you make this one trip, either Scotland or Ireland. You can travel by bus (we did in 15 days) and see alot of Ireland. There is so much to see and do in Ireland. I cannot imagine only having 4 days. You can land in Dublin and then head north to the Giant's Causeway and then head down the western coast to the Cliffs of Moher and on to the Dingle Peninsula and maybe fly out of Shannon.

Austin
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12 reviews
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5. Re: Doing BOTH Scotland and Ireland in 10 days
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Althought it seems as if you have your hearts set on both countries, I agree with the previous poster about choosing either Scotland or Ireland. Relying on public transportation will take up even more time than you imagine. Also, as the other poster states, a good part of one day of your vacation will be eaten up by getting from Scotland to Ireland.

I've been to Scotland several times, and if you decide on Scotland, I would recommend basing yourselves in Edinburgh, spend two or three days seeing the sights of Edinburgh, another two days for a few daytrips, then go up to Inverness and do a few daytrips from there. I've once spent two weeks in Edinburgh doing just that.

This summer will be my first trip to Ireland in a long time, but it seems you could do the same thing in Ireland. Base yourselves in Dublin, do a few daytrips, then move on to another city.

New Hampshire
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6. Re: Doing BOTH Scotland and Ireland in 10 days
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I think you could do it. I have absolutely no knowledge of Scotland... but of Ireland, if you base yourself in Dublin or Galway for four days you'd have a wealth of day trips available to you, and some great "in-town" sightseeing, especially of Dublin. As Kabhah said - Newgrange and Wicklow... add to that a train trip up to Belfast, or the Giant's Causeway. Or taking the DART down the coast to Killiney or Bray, or north to ...wherever it goes (sorry, I'm not a local!) Or the train to Kilkenny for a day...

I think you could easily use up five days based in Dublin.

Hong Kong, China
Level Contributor
63 posts
65 reviews
70 helpful votes
7. Re: Doing BOTH Scotland and Ireland in 10 days
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Dear people!

I am overwhelmed with the swiftness and depth of the resposnes.

I will take all your feedbank and comments on board. Unfortunately, we cannot do one country only as the tickets are alreday booked and paid for. Amsterdam - Edinburgh then Dublin - Amsterdam.

Am sure that on our own, at some point, we will come back and do the countries again individually and slowly. For this once, we will probably do a a quick once over.

We will take the advice of the B'n'B and the P&O cruises and the ideas for a base in one city in Ireland and one in Scotland.

Thanks again guys.

I may come back, once the acco is booked with a few more questions - please do bear with me then.

Cheers!

Austin
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933 posts
12 reviews
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8. Re: Doing BOTH Scotland and Ireland in 10 days
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As I've said, Edinburgh is a great base.

Have you looked into flying from Edinburgh to Dublin? Any cheapo flights? It seems easier and less time-consuming than schlepping from Edinburgh to the west coast ferry terminal and then the ferry ride to Ireland.

Valencia, Spain
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9. Re: Doing BOTH Scotland and Ireland in 10 days
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Don't know much about tours around Edniburgh (Lived in Glasgow for a year but had a car) I'll leave that to other people to reccommend.

If I were you I'd get a flight from Edinburgh to Dublin (Ryanair or Aer Lingus) The ferry will take a full day out of your trip and isn't much cheaper.

You're limited enough depending on public transport in Ireland (it's lousy!)

I've seen a tour bus (more a minibus) called "paddy wagon" around the place. It seems to be aimed at younger independent travellers and the schedule looks like it takes in all the sights as well as getting you off the beaten track and getting a taste of "real" ireland. I know they have a base (hostel perhaps?) near the main bus station in Dublin but don't know contact details or anything. I'm sure if you googled it you'd find something.

Hong Kong, China
Level Contributor
63 posts
65 reviews
70 helpful votes
10. Re: Doing BOTH Scotland and Ireland in 10 days
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Hi

Thanks to all of you who have been such absolutely great help, I have been able to put the itinerary together for me and 2 girl friends.

Thanks to your advise, have also decided to stick to one country and that is Scotland

The plan is as follows and need your help to fill in the blanks please (DO REMEMBER THAT WE ARE NOT DRIVING!!)

DAY DATE PLAN

Friday 25th May Travel from Amsterdam; late night arrival

Saturday 26th May Edinburgh

Sunday 27th May Edinburgh and Edinburgh Castle

Monday 28th May Haggis Highlands tour

Tuesday 29th May Some Day tour

W'nesday 30th May

Thursday 31st May

Friday 1st June

Saturday 2nd June

Sunday 3rd June (evening flight) Glasgow Prestwick to Amsterdam

There are two things we desperately want to do, over and above the itinerary above, the Jacobite Train and Isle of Skye OR Isle of Mann

The Jacobite train is a must for us and we need to leave from Fort William and return to Fort William for the day trip...

Can someone please help us work out we fit the two things over the 4 days in and the best / most logical route as we are looking at it in every way and not able to connect the dots. We have tried ferries / buses / trains and its all so overwhelming to work out!!!

Any help would be great!

Thanks

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