help please with Scotland & Northern Ireland itinirary
Feb 18th, 2006, 05:57 PM
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help please with Scotland & Northern Ireland itinirary
My husband and I have travelled extensively through England and most of West/South/East of Ireland but have never been North of Dublin or in Scotland. This July we'll need to be in Dublin again, but we'll have 6 full days prior to that which we thought of using in Scotland...we do enjoy driving so we thought of starting in either Glasgow or Edinburgh, tour as much as possible, perhaps take a ferry to Northern Ireland and spend a night in Belfast before heading into Dublin whether by car or train. For those familiar with the area...any suggestions regarding the best itinirary? we're aware of the "short time" we have but we're not afraid of "cramming" as much as possible, since we'd like to see as much as possible during our first trip there!
Feb 18th, 2006, 06:07 PM
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Well, I'm in love with the SW of Scotland and the NE of Ireland.
Well, if you've never been to Scotland I think you should spend a some time in Edinburgh.
After that I suggest a visit to Kirkcudbright or any other town in Galloway. It's the corner of Scotland that is not often visited and that's a shame. For gardens you can't lose with a visit to Logan Garden in Port Logan. These are mostly plants from the southern hemisphere. A lovely garden.
In Northern Ireland visit the Glenarif Forest Park. It's absolutely magical.
Well, if you've never been to Scotland I think you should spend a some time in Edinburgh.
After that I suggest a visit to Kirkcudbright or any other town in Galloway. It's the corner of Scotland that is not often visited and that's a shame. For gardens you can't lose with a visit to Logan Garden in Port Logan. These are mostly plants from the southern hemisphere. A lovely garden.
In Northern Ireland visit the Glenarif Forest Park. It's absolutely magical.
Feb 18th, 2006, 06:32 PM
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You could stay at the Londonderry Arms in Carnlough NI on the Antrim Coast & daytrip into Glenarif Park. Get a packed lunch & ask a local how to get up to Crannie Falls (pleasant hike). You can go by ferry between Larne (just s. of Carnlough to Stranraer in Scotland.
From Larne drive down the Antrim coast & stop in Ballymena. Another great hike is up Slemish Mtn. (where St. Patrick was supposedly a slave). Nice hotel in Ballymena then drive into Belfast for a night.
From Larne drive down the Antrim coast & stop in Ballymena. Another great hike is up Slemish Mtn. (where St. Patrick was supposedly a slave). Nice hotel in Ballymena then drive into Belfast for a night.
Feb 19th, 2006, 01:49 AM
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6 days is not that much when you must spend at least one on the road. For that reason, I'd agree with Danna. Spend some time in Edinburgh and use it as a base to see the Borders. Then take a day in Glasgow, then go down into Dunfries and Galloway and get the boat from Cairnryan or Stranraer to Northern Ireland.
Feb 19th, 2006, 03:11 AM
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Hi Chick,
I don't think you can rent a car in Scotland and drop it off in Dublin but I am not sure about this.
The journey with a car from Scotland will be expensive as July is high season and if you have to drop it off at one of the Belfast Airports (Belfast City would be better than the International), you will then have to take a taxi to the train station for your journey to Dublin.
I don't think it is worth it for one day.
I would spend the extra day in Scotland and fly from either Glasgow or Edinburgh to Dublin.
However if this is what you want to do I think Troon is more convenient than either Stranrear or Cairnryan.
The drive from Larne to Cairnlough is about 30 mins along the scenic coast road. I would recommend (as you like driving) to continue on to Bushmills and stay in the Bushmills Inn (a further 1 hour approx.). From there you can visit the Giants Causeway, Bushmills whiskey factory, Torr Head, Carrick-a-reed rope bridge and Glenarrif.
Do not come to NI 11th 12th or 13th July as this is the marching time and a public holiday. It is quite safe but everything will be closed and there will be disruption to traffic due to the parades.
Helen
I don't think you can rent a car in Scotland and drop it off in Dublin but I am not sure about this.
The journey with a car from Scotland will be expensive as July is high season and if you have to drop it off at one of the Belfast Airports (Belfast City would be better than the International), you will then have to take a taxi to the train station for your journey to Dublin.
I don't think it is worth it for one day.
I would spend the extra day in Scotland and fly from either Glasgow or Edinburgh to Dublin.
However if this is what you want to do I think Troon is more convenient than either Stranrear or Cairnryan.
The drive from Larne to Cairnlough is about 30 mins along the scenic coast road. I would recommend (as you like driving) to continue on to Bushmills and stay in the Bushmills Inn (a further 1 hour approx.). From there you can visit the Giants Causeway, Bushmills whiskey factory, Torr Head, Carrick-a-reed rope bridge and Glenarrif.
Do not come to NI 11th 12th or 13th July as this is the marching time and a public holiday. It is quite safe but everything will be closed and there will be disruption to traffic due to the parades.
Helen
