Three weeks in England, Scotland and Normandy
Sep 24th, 2013, 11:23 AM
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Three weeks in England, Scotland and Normandy
Hi:
We are going to Europe for 3 full weeks (23 days with two travel days). We are planning to spend the first three days in London (we have been before and just want to catch a couple of things we missed last time) and the last 4 days in Normandy. That leaves 2 full weeks for Scotland (including one travel day.) I am wondering if we should try to add Ireland to the mix, or leave it for next time? Can you really see Scotland in 1 week or do you need two? Would it be worth the additional travel time to try and get back and forth from Ireland? Right now we are flying in from the U.S. to London, doing that visit, flying to Edinburgh to see Scotland, then from Edinburgh to Paris for the Normandy part. I am really torn about trying to add Ireland. I don't want things to get too hectic, but I don't want to miss Ireland if there is ample time. I would appreciate your imput.
We are going to Europe for 3 full weeks (23 days with two travel days). We are planning to spend the first three days in London (we have been before and just want to catch a couple of things we missed last time) and the last 4 days in Normandy. That leaves 2 full weeks for Scotland (including one travel day.) I am wondering if we should try to add Ireland to the mix, or leave it for next time? Can you really see Scotland in 1 week or do you need two? Would it be worth the additional travel time to try and get back and forth from Ireland? Right now we are flying in from the U.S. to London, doing that visit, flying to Edinburgh to see Scotland, then from Edinburgh to Paris for the Normandy part. I am really torn about trying to add Ireland. I don't want things to get too hectic, but I don't want to miss Ireland if there is ample time. I would appreciate your imput.
Sep 24th, 2013, 11:51 AM
#3
No, do not add Ireland. You can't 'see' Scotland in a year let alone a week. I've spent maybe six months in Scotland over many trips and still haven't see it all..
W/ two weeks in Scotland you'll still have to be very selective what you see/do.
I personally would take the train to Scotland - quite a bit faster door-to-door London to Edinburgh than flying.
W/ two weeks in Scotland you'll still have to be very selective what you see/do.
I personally would take the train to Scotland - quite a bit faster door-to-door London to Edinburgh than flying.
Sep 24th, 2013, 11:59 AM
#4
I agree. Either save the 2 weeks for Scotland or spend the entire 3 weeks in Ireland. It makes no sense to try to do it all in the time you have. Even better, double the time you have for your trip and make the most of getting to the region by visiting Ireland too. That, to me, would be best of all.
Sep 24th, 2013, 12:01 PM
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How are you getting around - by train and by car or just public transportation?
If by train in addition to day trains to Scotland that janis rightly IMO recommends there is the overnight Caledonian Sleeper trains - save on the cost of a hotel but you will miss some pretty sweet scenery once the train gets past York - one reason not to fly is to see the bucolic English/Scottish landscapes - not dramatically gorgeous but to someone who has never been to the U K before rather captivating - yes there are a whole lot of sheep in the U K!
Anyway for loads of goodies on trains in Britain and France check out these IMO fantastic sources: www.seat61.com (good info on discounted tickets that can save you a ton if you do not desire flexibility - have to book in stone weeks in advance to get best fares as they are sold in limited numbers - go to the official Caledonian Sleeper site for deals on the night train - other good rail sites IMO - www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.
I would consider flying from Scotland or Ireland to Normandy - that is if you do not want to go to Paris - say Caen's airport if possible.
If by train in addition to day trains to Scotland that janis rightly IMO recommends there is the overnight Caledonian Sleeper trains - save on the cost of a hotel but you will miss some pretty sweet scenery once the train gets past York - one reason not to fly is to see the bucolic English/Scottish landscapes - not dramatically gorgeous but to someone who has never been to the U K before rather captivating - yes there are a whole lot of sheep in the U K!
Anyway for loads of goodies on trains in Britain and France check out these IMO fantastic sources: www.seat61.com (good info on discounted tickets that can save you a ton if you do not desire flexibility - have to book in stone weeks in advance to get best fares as they are sold in limited numbers - go to the official Caledonian Sleeper site for deals on the night train - other good rail sites IMO - www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.
I would consider flying from Scotland or Ireland to Normandy - that is if you do not want to go to Paris - say Caen's airport if possible.
Sep 24th, 2013, 01:06 PM
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Personally I think it depends how thoroughly you want to explore Scotland and/or Ireland. With a car you can see quite a lot in a week, and I'd want a change of scenery after that. Given 2 full weeks, I'd spend 2 days (3 nights) in Edinburgh, pick up a car and spend 5 days (6 nights) touring the Highlands and islands, fly to Knock and hire another car to tour Ireland's west/south-west coast for 4 days (5 nights), then fly from Cork to Paris.
Sep 24th, 2013, 02:13 PM
#8
>> I'd want a change of scenery after that.<<
To get a change of scenery -- simply travel to a different bit of Scotland. The scenery changes - trust me. There are many totally distinct regions which look nothing like each other. Anyone who can tour the highlands and islands in 5 days is giving very short shrift IMO.
To get a change of scenery -- simply travel to a different bit of Scotland. The scenery changes - trust me. There are many totally distinct regions which look nothing like each other. Anyone who can tour the highlands and islands in 5 days is giving very short shrift IMO.
Sep 24th, 2013, 02:51 PM
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Thanks everyone...lots of good information. I had not considered trains from London to Edinburgh simply because we are so comfortable getting to/from Heathrow/London. Is the train station easier to get to? We will be staying near Buckingham Palace. The price and time (when you add airport travel and check-in times) seems comparable. Thanks again for all the good information and ideas.
Sep 24th, 2013, 06:30 PM
#10
Are you staying in central London.. The trains leave from Kings Cross station in the middle of London (on the Piccadilly, Northern, Victoria, and Circle tube lines). So about the easiest place to get to in London.
In Edinburgh the station is in the VERY center of town on Princes Street and near the castle. MUCH easier than schlepping out to LHR and schlepping in from EDI.
In Edinburgh the station is in the VERY center of town on Princes Street and near the castle. MUCH easier than schlepping out to LHR and schlepping in from EDI.
Sep 25th, 2013, 11:55 AM
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You can't 'see' Scotland in a year let alone a week>
Are you serious about that? Well I guess you could say that about any place - even Detroit!
No you cannot see all of Scotland in a week but in a week you could see some really nice parts of it - Leave Edinburgh on a train for Inverness - spend a few days here hunting for Nessie - then take the very scenic railway to Kyle of Lochlash and hop a bus over the bridge to the Isle of Skye (which is Scottish last I knew) - spend a few days there and head to the ferry back to the U K mainland at Mallaig for what Man in Seat 61 calls Britain's most scenic train ride - the fabled West Highlands line that slices thru desolate moors, including the famousRannoch Moor - the train being about the only way to cross this dstark desolate-looking place - to Fort William for trains to Glasgow or the Caledonian Sleeper to London.
http://www.seat61.com/WestHighlandLine.htm#.UkM_Bobrzgk
Rannoch Moor Images: https://www.google.com/search?q=rann...bih=1075&dpr=1
So you have a circular tour from Edinburg or Glasgow that incorporates in a week or less the very best parts of Scotland - the Highlands, the sea coast and wild moors - if you have a BritRail Pass all trains are covered in full as these are regular trains not special ones.
Harry Potter fans will find several venues on the West Highlands Line that were used in Potter flics.
Are you serious about that? Well I guess you could say that about any place - even Detroit!
No you cannot see all of Scotland in a week but in a week you could see some really nice parts of it - Leave Edinburgh on a train for Inverness - spend a few days here hunting for Nessie - then take the very scenic railway to Kyle of Lochlash and hop a bus over the bridge to the Isle of Skye (which is Scottish last I knew) - spend a few days there and head to the ferry back to the U K mainland at Mallaig for what Man in Seat 61 calls Britain's most scenic train ride - the fabled West Highlands line that slices thru desolate moors, including the famousRannoch Moor - the train being about the only way to cross this dstark desolate-looking place - to Fort William for trains to Glasgow or the Caledonian Sleeper to London.
http://www.seat61.com/WestHighlandLine.htm#.UkM_Bobrzgk
Rannoch Moor Images: https://www.google.com/search?q=rann...bih=1075&dpr=1
So you have a circular tour from Edinburg or Glasgow that incorporates in a week or less the very best parts of Scotland - the Highlands, the sea coast and wild moors - if you have a BritRail Pass all trains are covered in full as these are regular trains not special ones.
Harry Potter fans will find several venues on the West Highlands Line that were used in Potter flics.
Sep 29th, 2013, 04:36 AM
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Not it doesn't Incorporate the very best bits of Scotland! I've loved here all mu life, and I love it and travel widely in it. That route misses Orkney and Shetland, the whole east coast, the Borders, the Outer Isles, Islay, Iona, Mull, Arran, the Trossachs, Perthshire (except the strip you can see from the train windows), the Flow Country, and many many other fabulous places.
Take the full two weeks. You will still want to come back
Take the full two weeks. You will still want to come back
