aghousewright

Hello Everyone,

We are going on a trip May 31 - June 12. We are flying to Dublin where we will stay until June 3, when we must fly to Edinburgh for business. We will be here from June 3 - 6. From this point we are open for going to England for a few days then driving up the coast of Ireland back to Dublin for a June 12 departure.

With that said....I have no clue as to what we should do and how we should do it. I've looked at renting cars....roads are clogged.....bus tours...but we HAVE to stay in Edinburgh for three days....

What are your recommendations? Any and ALL will be considered. I have googled, googled, and googled and this looks like the only place to get real advice about the TRAVEL, not criticism for the duration. Can't help that with business smacked in the middle.

sofarsogood

I would recommend that you clarify what you want to do because what you've said is unclear.

<<we are open for going to England>> OK, where in England do you want to go?

<<then driving up the coast of Ireland back to Dublin>> from where, have you looked at a map??

<<roads are clogged>> well there are trains if you believe the roads are impassable, which they're not

love to help but you need to give a bit more information

annhig

hi,

if you don't mind my saying so, I think that you're being a bit overambitious.

the first part of your trip is ok - 3 days Dublin, 3 days Edinburgh, but after that you are trying to cram a quart into a pint pot.

you would have to get from Edinburgh to England, and then from there to Dublin - and where were you going to drive up the coast of Ireland to Dublin from? the only place that I know of is Rosslare, but to get there from Edinburgh you have to drive down through England and then through south Wales to Fishguard and get the ferry, and you really don't have time to do all that.

A better idea, IMO, would be to have a few more days in/around Edinburgh [shame not to see Scotland while you're there] and EITHER spend the rest of your time in Scotland and then fly back to Dublin a day or two before you fly home, OR fly from Edinburgh or Glasgow to somewhere like Belfast or Cork and drive back to Dublin.

Given the restrictions on your time, leaving England to the next time might be your best option.

BigRuss

Jeez, the phrasing "have to stay in Edinburgh" is so negative. I'd rather have to go there than Dublin.

annhig

well that's a helpful comment, BigRuss.

why not tell the OP why s/he should stay in Edinburgh?

janisj

>>I've looked at renting cars....roads are clogged.....bus tours…<<

Have no idea what you are saying (or asking?)

>>From this point we are open for going to England for a few days then driving up the coast of Ireland back to Dublin for a June 12 departure.<<

It appears you ONLY free time is from June 7 to June 11. That doesn't give you a few days in England AND a few days in Ireland. That gives you a few days in one or the other.

You are all over the place. You can't "do" Ireland in a few days; you can't "do" more than Edinburgh in 3 days; And you most definitely can't "do" England in a couple of days.

Is the first stay in Dublin set in stone -- for work or something? If not, Id use those 4 days to see some other part of Ireland. If you are stuck in Dublin those 4 days -- then do a day trip somewhere out in the countryside.

If it was me . . . I'd do Dublin, Edinburgh, a few days in one other nearby part of Scotland, fly back to DUB and fly home.

But your post is not at all clear so hopefully you can sort out some of the confusion.

aghousewright

So to clarify,

1. Thanks for all the responses!
2. we fly from Dublin to Edinburgh, while in Dublin we have a car.
3. While in Edinburgh we have a car.
4. Wife is dead set on London, we are taking a train from Edinburgh to London.
5. We will have a car in London because she is also dead set on Stonehenge and Highclare Castle.
6. We fly from London to Cork with plans to drive up the coast to Dublin...

suggestions?

elberko

Hope you have tickets for Highclere, as they are sold out.

historytraveler

Hope you don' actually plan to have a car IN Dublin, IN Edinburgh and IN London as it will only be a hassle and completely unnecessary. Parking can be a nightmare.

janisj

>>suggestions?<<

OK -- if you are willing to take them (we are sincerely trying to help but it does seem you are set on some of your plans) . . .

>>5. We will have a car in London because she is also dead set on Stonehenge and Highclare Castle.<<

Totally silly idea. You don't want a car in London in any way, shape or form. You can get to Highclere w/o a car (did you read their website). And as historytraveler says -- hope you already have your tix. Otherwise you won't see Highclere. And getting to Stonehenge for London is actually faster/easier w/o a car. Train to Salisbury and local tour bus or taxi to the Stonehenge visitors centre.

>>3. While in Edinburgh we have a car.<<

A car in Edinburgh is a <u>total liability</u> -- now a car IS good for touring the countryside, but Edinburgh itself is a driving nightmare.

The ONLY place on your entire itinerary where car makes sense is out of Cork.

janisj

oops -- sorry, it was elberko who mentioned Highcere tix being booked up . . .

aghousewright

K, we've decided to scratch England....soooo...what should we see in Scotland/Ireland....around six days each??

janisj

Those are two very diverse countries and In six days you will only see a tiny fraction of each. Ask 10 fodorites what are a few 'musts' and you'll get a whole lot of different ideas. I suggest you get a guide book or two and work out a basic framework of what YOU want to see/do.

Then we can help you refine it . . .

stevelyon

Take heed of the advice above. Focus on Edinburgh and London. Even better focus on Edinburgh and surrounds and leave London and the rest for another day.