Trip to the UK and Ireland

Question

Alright so I am beginning my planning of a trip next summer for myself and two others to the UK and Ireland. now what I really wanted to know was how long realistically,factoring in travel time, do I need to visit these places. To break it down for you here are the major places I want to visit, probably only lingering at most 2 days at any one place, Dublin, Irish Countryside, Edinburgh, Loch Ness and the Scottish highlands, Castles in the UK, and london. I know its a lot probably too much but I think the most I could stay is two weeks. Is this completely unrealistic?

Answer 1

I can't really comment on Ireland or Scotland as I have never been, apart from Edinburgh, but to see the castles in the UK may not be so easy in two weeks as there are lots of them and they are dotted all over the country. London is also at the opposite end of the UK to Scotland, so you will spend almost a day just travelling to London.

Answer 2

I think what you've suggested is ridiculously ambitious.

You have to understand that travelling in Britain is MASSIVELY different from travelling in the US. In a 2 week period, trying to get between London, Ireland and Scotland is totally unrealistic, you will spend more time travelling than enjoying the holiday. Also, it costs quite a bit on the train, i would guess that to go from London to Edinburgh on a train would cost you upwards of £150 ($300) and it would easily take all day. To get to Ireland you'd need to include the cost of a ferry or flight. (I'd recommend a flight - can be as cheap as £30 and much faster)

Edinburgh is a lovely city but it is nowhere near the highlands or Loch Ness. To be fair, there isn't much to see at Loch Ness (living in the Lake Distrct myself, i don't find the scenery as spectacular as you might) and it isn't really worth the trip if all you want to do is say 'i've been there'. Same for the Scottish highlands, beautiful scenery but not much to do except walking and looking at the views.

I've never been to Dublin myself but my mum has and she said it was nice. I personally think it's mammoth task trying to experience 3 major British cities in the space of 2 weeks and i think your time would be better spent experiencing one or two of them to a greater depth.

If I were you, i'd go for 2 weeks, spend a week in London, then spend 3 days travelling up the country (you could detour to Newcastle, Manchester, Lincoln, Bath, York or even the Lake District - as beautiful as Scotland) and spend the last days in Edinburgh. Edinburgh and London both have beautiful castle but i think you'll find Edinburgh more 'castle-y'. That's not to say you shouldn't go to the tower of London to see the Crown Jewels!

I hope you have an awesome trip and i'd be glad to help you out with anything else you're wondering about!

Answer 3

I think you need to prune your itinerary or you'll arrive back home in a state of complete exhaustion not remembering a thing you've seen or done.

Just a few points to consider:

Dublin:  

great place, two days is the minimum to see anything. You could easily stay a week as the Irish are so hospitable.

  

Irish countryside:  

where precisely?  I remember driving back from the Dingle peninsula to Dublin one year and it took us a whole day - just driving back.  You need a at least a week to see the peninsula and drive along the south coast.  (I still haven't managed to visit the north, but I don't think there's any less to see)

castles:

England has hundreds of castles - literally!  Neither are they all in the same place.  You could probably manage to see them all if you stayed for two years!

Edinburgh:  

like Dublin.  Wonderful place and needs several days to get the best from it.

Loch Ness and the Highlands:

You will probably spend a day DRIVING from Edinburgh to Loch Ness.  The views are so stunning you'll want to stop to take photos often.  And then you're not yet in the Highlands.  And then you'll have to come back.

Edinburgh to London:

plan in at least half a day's travel if you're flying, one day's travel if you're not.  (the same goes for travelling between Ireland and England/Scotland).

London itself:

days, weeks, years ... probably 2-3 days for the main tourist attractions.  If you really want to see London, you need much more.

Altogether:

good idea, but too ambitious.  Good thing you're starting to plan early!

allow more time or prune your must-see list.  

What sort of a traveller are you?  What is important to you?  

The more thought you can give it, the better your trip will be.

Have a good one!

m