Becks16

So I am trying to plan out an itinerary for a friend and myself who are backpacking Ireland and Scotland for 5 weeks in May/June. We are not renting a car, so it’s all via transit.

While I have planned long trips before, including through these 2 countries, I have never felt quite so overwhelmed! So all of your help is appreciated.
I’ve researched these forums and other places a lot, but some things I just cant find an answer to.

A few questions...
1) Loch Lomond as a day trip from Glasgow: seems easy by transit, but where does the bus actually drop you? Is there enough to see/do in that one area to entertain for the day? We enjoy beaches, but more for walking and admiring the scenery, not for sitting on and picknicking. Are there hikes or walks easily accessible from here? Is there a town to explore? I know there are several towns along the Loch, but do the buses from Glasgow run to a main one?

2) Can you recommend a different day trip from Glasgow that may be worthwhile? I am really open to any suggestions, but they have to be accessible by transit. I would prefer not doing a guided bus tour if at all possible. But anything that offers a nice town/beach/generally nice scenery/interesting experience, etc. And if the bus tour takes us somewhere really great, I would consider it.

3) Is there anything to do in Cashel other than see the Rock? It really must be IN Cashel rather than AROUND Cashel, as again we won’t have a car.
We are staying in Dublin for several nights, then staying in Dingle for several nights, but it is quite a distance between the two, so I thought we could break it up with a stop in between. I have already stayed in Cork, Kilkenny and Killarney, so I am not considering them. Cashel seemed like a nice mid-way point, and also offered the lovely attraction of the Rock. But I’m wondering if there is a better mid-way point someone can recommend? I know that “better” is fairly subjective, but any suggestions are appreciated.

4) We fly into Glasgow, then will be flying to Dublin on Ryanair to do our Ireland circuit before returning to Scotland: we planned to take the ferry from Belfast to Stranraer to get back. However, I don’t particularly want to stay in Belfast (I’ve already spent some time there). Essentially, I have us staying 3 nights in Galway. Then we have 4 nights in Ireland that are open for suggestions before we head to Scotland (leaving from Belfast). I have stayed in Derry and really enjoyed it, so I’m considering that option again, but can anyone suggest an alternative?

I think that I may be asking too much all at once! If it would help, I can post the whole plan that I’ve worked out so far.

Thanks to anyone who would like to give their opinion!

irishface

Have you been to the Giants Causeway area in Northern Ireland?

If not, you could take the ferry to Belfast and then train or bus to the coast. Great walks. Giant's Causeway, Dunluce Castle, etc. Not far by bus to Carrick-a-rede bridge or ferry to Rathlin Island for a day of hiking, etc.

Back to your Cashel question, I think Cashel is good for a none night stop over. Explore the Rock, check out the Boru center (music orented), a few little cottages to visit. Hore Abbey ruins are a short walk from Cashel. Interesting to poke around and a good view of the rock from there.

alihutch

You can get the train from Glasgow to Balloch which is at the bottom of Loch Lomond and take a boat trip from there. http://www.visit-balloch.com/

alihutch

You could also do day trips by train to Stirling or Linlithgow

sheila

For Loch Lomond you want to get to the loch and use one of the boat trip companies. Nowhere on Loch Lomond- other than the big Hotel/Spa complex- has a day's worth of entertainment unless you are a) on the water or b) walking. Masses of places to walk round the loch. I THINK (but am not certain) taht at least some of them allow you to hop on and hop off

2) You have a lot of options for day trips from Glasgow. Have a look at this.

http://www.scotland.org.uk/scotland-...-from-glasgow/

You can take the train all the way to Mallaig and back along the West Highland Line which is one of the top 50 rail journeys in the world. Leave early enough and you could get off at Arisaig and walk the beach and get a later train home.

Or, if your dates coincided with its timetable , you could go "Doon the Watter" on the Waverley.

On the return journey thing, why not leave the car at Sahnnon airport and fly back?

Becks16

Thanks so much everyone for your replies! It has definitely given me some food for thought.

irishface: I have been to the Giant's Causeway, though I haven't seen much of the surrounding area, so I am thinking that that is how we will go. And I've never heard of Rathlin Island but it looks very pretty! Will definitely look further into that.

Thank you for your opinion on Cashel, I think that it has confirmed it as our one night stop

Alihutch: Balloch and a boat trip is sounding like a good plan! We are staying 2 nights in Stirling already. I hadn't heard of Linlithgow, but will keep it in mind for a sunny day.

Sheila: Thanks very much for the day-trip site and especially the train suggestion! I had no idea that the Jacobite Steam Train to Mallaig was the Hogwarts Express! haha, there is no way we can miss that now. I have found in a different thread 7 years ago you recommended to someone that they stay the night in Fort William, do the Jacobite train to Mallaig then back to Glasgow: that is exactly what we are going to do!

We don't have a car, and I did consider flying out of Shannon, but I think that we will spend the days in the North along the coast.

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions! If anyone wants to comment further, more opinions are always welcome!

sheila

To be clear, the train is not the Hogwarts Express, but the route across Glenfinnan Viaduct is the way to Hogwarts by train and flying car.