A taste of Scotland and Ireland

Old Mar 29th, 2015, 03:16 AM
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A taste of Scotland and Ireland

After researching my family roots, some of my family would like to go from North Carolina in the US to see a bit of Scotland and Ireland. Seems a shame to go that far and leave one of the locations out. It looks like it might be best to fly into Scotland for a few days , then fly to Ireland for a few days. I'm thinking 3 days top at each place. Don't have the time or money to stay longer and will probably never have a chance to go again. Would like to know from the experts what you think is the area to concentrate on. Would like to go in September probably.
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Old Mar 29th, 2015, 03:29 AM
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Let's have a crack at Scotland.

The two big cities are E and G. Very close and you can easily visit one from the other by train. You can use all 3 days just here.

Or you could go to the Islands, the 2 main groups are very different. You could do 3 days in one of these easily

Or the Highlands. Guess how much time you could spend here?

I'd have a look at tour company for a day of coach driving maybe and add it to one of the two big cities.
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Old Mar 29th, 2015, 04:21 AM
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Six days are not long and whilst I am a big supporter of Ireland there is little point coming here and only seeing Dublin. If you do decide on Ireland as well as Scotland fly into Belfast and see the North coast before dropping to Dublin for your flight home.
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Old Mar 29th, 2015, 05:24 AM
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I'm thinking E and G also, and I'm not really interested in Dublin actually I would rather see maybe Glendalough and Bru Na Boinne. I guess the best thing to do would be fly into Dublin from Edinburgh maybe. Definitely feel I would be less anxious doing a coach tour instead of being in a rental car with 4 people trying to give directions. Thanks for the replies. Wish I had a month to tour
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Old Mar 29th, 2015, 06:20 AM
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Bru Na Boinne.. seems like Newgrange has developed a new (Old) name for 2015??

But yes you can do tours of those two locations from Dublin http://newgrangetours.com/ & http://www.wildwicklow.ie/
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Old Mar 29th, 2015, 09:48 AM
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Before you make any plans -- do you know where in Scotland and Ireland the family(s) come from?

If say in Aberdeenshire - then visiting Glasgow might not be what you want. And While Edinburgh is just about my favorite city anywhere, if I was searching family roots in (hypothetically) Dumfries/Galloway, Edinburgh doesn't make sense.

Same w/ Ireland - if you want to see where the family originated . . .

3 days in each country is nothing so you really need to focus on/decide what you want out of this trip.
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Old Mar 29th, 2015, 12:24 PM
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Not sure with the Irish area yet but Campbell/Buie line supposedly immigrated from Island of Jura area and not sure that's something we have to see
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Old Mar 29th, 2015, 01:57 PM
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Scottish and Irish cities, and their tourist destiantions, are surely enjoyable for many people, but they vary so much in feeling, I would consult more with the members of the family doing the genealogy and consider going to the actual points of emigration. To put it another way, what would you say to people in Scotland or Ireland who said to you: "Some of our dearest family members went to the Carolinas and settled there, and we really want to go for a week since we've been searching our family history -- so we figured we would go to New York and the Grand Canyon. Or would you suggest LA instead?" Even Glasgow and Ediburgh -- which are only a very short distance apart -- have a completely different look and feel, and the local way of speaking can be as different as accents from North Carolina vs Boston.

The Isle of Jura with its famous whiskey and unique landscape would make for interesting contemplation as to why people left and made the wretched sea voyage to America. Often in these places there is extensive documentation of the story of emigration, in museums and public displays, the preservation of croft houses and places people worked before poverty forced them to leave en masse.

Anyway, just a thought.
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Old Mar 29th, 2015, 02:31 PM
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good point, didn't realize the whiskey info-love bourbon in this family so maybe my ancestors had to make do after they came over. I think we've all been pulled to visit Scotland and Ireland so just to arrive will make us smile. My husband and I visited Wales when we were on a rugby tour and just loved it. Would like my daughters to have that feeling in Ireland and Scotland The only reason I want to do both countries this time is because I HATE flying and at the age of 60 will not probably want to attempt it again.
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Old Mar 29th, 2015, 03:32 PM
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>>The Isle of Jura with its famous whiskey>didn't realize the whiskey info
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Old Mar 29th, 2015, 11:32 PM
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"The Isle of Jura with its famous whiskey and unique landscape would make for interesting contemplation as to why people left "

Dulux non drip.
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Old Mar 30th, 2015, 01:15 AM
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There were 3 main strands to migration from The Hghlands.

Economic : first was following the development of the economies that were to become the Southern States. Generally, the Scots who left were middle income and economically active. They saw the opportunities on offer and left comfortable lives to be involved in the economic boom of the very late 1600s and early 1700s.

Political : the first Jacobite uprisings of the 1720s and the resulting battle of Colloden in 1745 had a huge de-stabling effect on political structure of Highlands society. London made all attempts to remove any power base of the Stuarts to ensure that the there was no repeat. The extended families of the Highland clans suffered and many considered a move to the Americas was the only option left.

The Clearances : towards the end of the 1700s and part of a 100 year process that began during the Jacobite revolt, huge numbers of the non land owning population were removed by force in an attempt lot modernise agricultural methods. Again The Highlands had also had a close link with Southern Virgina and North Carolina and many migrated out of clear desperation.

There have always been definite links between parts of Europe and defined small areas of the Americas (to become The States). It was fascinating to discover the close links between Scotland/Northern England and the mountains of North Carolina/ Tennessee. The Blue Grass movement came out of this migration and is close to our hearts as it links both geographic areas and the mining heritage in our family.

It may be interesting to research when and how your family made it to North Carolina.
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Old Mar 30th, 2015, 03:28 AM
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As others have said before, it depends on what you want to see and where you want to go. I'm tracing my family tree roots with Dad in a few months so going through much the same dilemma. We are predominantly Scottish so doing the bulk of our travel there, and Ireland will just be for an 'unwind' before coming home. In which case you can't go past the south or Ireland. Avoid Belfast, avoid Dublin, get yourself into a nice little town south of Ireland and experience it for all it has, rolling green, beautiful people, amazing pubs and live music and all the history you want. . . and that's coming from a Scot ;-)
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Old Mar 30th, 2015, 04:31 AM
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You have very few days. I would spend three days in Edinburgh exploring everything you can squeeze in and maybe take a day tour to see something of interest.
Dublin should be your base. You can take a tour to see Newgrange but pre book and take a day tour to Wicklow and Glendalough. Those tours run around 30 a person. You will have Dublin to explore at night and there is so much to see there. No sitting around in a B&B at night in a one street village.
If you want to see more of the country take the dart train to Howth or Bray along the coast. Very scenic.
aircoach will bring you into the city from airport. Edinburgh has the new tram to get you into the city now. You have so few days so need to get up early and get moving to see as much as you can.
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Old Mar 30th, 2015, 04:49 AM
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"Avoid Belfast, avoid Dublin, get yourself into a nice little town"

Absolutely the best idea, at any one time Dublin is swamped by international tourists and students.

But for the weather you could be in any European city.
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Old Mar 30th, 2015, 04:51 AM
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You need more time than 6 days to get a taste of 2 countries. If you approach buying airline tickets like waging a war, you can stay under $1000 on the airfare. The cheapest seats for September have probably gone, though. Be careless and you will top $2000 just for the airline ticket. Same with lodging and transportation, careful planning will half the costs. What are you thinking it will cost for a week in these places? Even adding a couple days will make a big difference.
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Old Mar 30th, 2015, 05:00 AM
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I see United has flights from Charlotte into Edinburgh or Glasgow return Dublin or Shannon as low as $1150.
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Old Mar 30th, 2015, 10:18 AM
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If you don't stay in Dublin but pick a sleepy little village then you will have to rent a car. I was being practical and I like something to do after six.
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Old Mar 30th, 2015, 11:40 AM
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...Campbell/Buie line supposedly immigrated from Island of Jura area and not sure that's something we have to see...

In a short time, Jura is rather off the beaten path, and too much of your time would be consumed just getting there.

However, you could do mini-circuit of the western Highlands that would be not only beautiful but hit a couple of the main Campbell sites. Here's a map - http://goo.gl/maps/z0jyf

Inveraray is a lovely little whitewashed town alongside Loch Fyne in lovely country, and Inveraray Castle, just outside the village, is the seat of Clan Campbell. The castle is very imposing and well worth a tour. Inveraray is easily reached by car from Glasgow airport in an hour or two, so if you landed in Glasgow you could get there for the first night quite easily.

After Inveraray, it's another hour or two up to Glen Coe, site of a (rather infamous) clash (or massacre, depending on who's side you're on) between the Campbells and the Macdonalds. Regardless, it's one of the most scenic and dramatic places in Scotland, and if you watch any Harry Potter movies you'll recognize Glen Coe as a persistent backdrop to Hogwarts.

From Glencoe it's a 2-3 hour drive to Edinburgh. You could drop the car at Edinburgh airport and take public transport into the city, and after a day or two, fly to Dublin if that's still of interest, for the Irish portion of your trip.

Inveraray - http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.u...ray/inveraray/

Glen Coe - http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.u...coe/index.html
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Old Mar 30th, 2015, 11:52 AM
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BritishCaicos and wandering Mike. Should I tell someone from Europe that NYC, Boston, Chicago or Atlanta should be skipped if coming to the USA because of tourist and all cities look the same I would be laughed at on the USA board. Dublin and Belfast have a lot to offer and they are great bases for day trips. Maybe you both like to curl up with a book and warm tea at seven ready for bed but not all of us do. I would like nightlife and theater and good places to dine. So looking forward to my Belfast and Dublin trip in May.
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