I hope you trekkers can follow my convoluted logic...

In 2010, I have the need to spend at least a week, part time in London.

Seperately, I am plannnig a trip to Ireland in 2009 because my wife really wants to go there. I have two weeks. I am not thrilled about spending two years in a row overseas in the UK for my vacation as I prefer Latin-influenced destinations (Italy, Spain) and the British culture just doesn't appeal as much to me as an American. I like being challenged by a foreign language!

So, I'm trying to think of a way to spend a few days in London in 2010 then the rest of the week in Paris, which I have never been to before. The only way I can do that with clear conscience is if I also experience other parts of England on my two week 2009 trip to Ireland.

I was thinking... In 2009, 3 days in Dublin; 4 days on West Coast Ireland and Galway; fly to Edinburgh (3 days); fly to England and spend 4 days between York and Bath. Then in 2010 go to London then Paris. Is this just toally ridiculous and will I miss the essence of each of the three countries I visit in 2009 (Ireland, Scotland, and England)? Again, keep in mind, I am not totally fascinated with the culture.

Option 2 is: Go slower. In 2009, split two weeks between Ireland and Scotland. Then in 2010, just go to London and surrounding English/Welsh areas for one week. Save Paris for another year altogether.

I know this is kind of crazy question. I hope some of you can get into my head. This site has never failed me before.

Help, please!

Firstly if we wanted to challenge you with our native language we could leave you baffled. We're just kind to you merkins.

You want to spend 4 days between York and Bath - this seems daft. They're a good way apart and not that easy on public transport (and not a huge amount of fun to drive). Decide if you want to be in the beautiful south or up north where it's grim.

If you plump for york why not add Durham?

If Bath why not Salisbury or Winchester or even Wells?

" I like being challenged by a foreign language! "

Obviously you've never been to Wales.

Your trip sounds way too spread out, IMHO.

Since you're already going to London, why not spend more time in Scotland and Northern England?

neither of your plans are very good (except for maybe the second part of option 2) - sorry but that's the the way I see it.

You can easily spend two weeks in Ireland in 2009 and not even see a tiny fraction of it. Travel is very slow in rural Ireland and 4 days won't give you much time for the western bits.

One week in Ireland and one week in Scotland is not going slow.

In 2010 - You could go to London, do what you have to do, then take the train to Paris and fly home from there. Nothing complicated about that

Or the "other part of option 2" of just going to London and a bit of England would be OK.

Ireland and Scotland have got ample to keep you busy for a week each. London and the South have ample to offer for another time.

What about London/Paris? We have friends that did that combo recently and were pleased. Took the Eurostar from London....

WE did London/Edinburgh. I think Scotland is great...

THe language challenge. I found myself translating a bit in Scotland.....the accent was very different with some there. Very friendly city and people..

Tha mi a'smaoineachadh gum bithidh cannan eagallaich gu leor air do thon ann an Alba.

Okay, okay... sounds like consensus. I'm being way too ambitious.

Then critique these two...

Option 1
Fly from US to Dublin
3 days Dublin
3 days Kinsale, Killarney, Dingle Penin.
2 days Galway
Fly from Galway to Edinburgh
3 days Edinburgh
2 days Glasgow/Oban
Back to Edinburgh to fly back to US

Option 2
Fly from US to Dublin
3 days Dublin
4 days Galway/Dingle Penin.
Fly from Galway to Edinburgh
3 days Edinburgh
3 days York/Durham, England
To London to fly back to US

Can you fly out of your last stop? We flew into London and out of Edinburgh....big time saver.

Option 2 looks the better to me.

>>>2 days Glasgow/Oban>>>

Why on earth do you want to go to Oban. Don't you have boring towns in the USA?

" I like being challenged by a foreign language! "

Obviously you've never been to Wales."

Indeed...

You could also try Newcastle, now that would give you a linguistic challenge too !!

I don't have a clue what they say.

lol


Muck

CW, the boring towns I've been to in the US are nowhere near as pretty as Oban

I live in a coastal boring town in California. I can see the Pacific as I type and I am thankful for the quiet. We, unlike Oban, have no trains nor do we have a ferry port that can take you to many Isles. Oban is a nice place, boring as we like it, certainly not like smelly old London.

the British culture just doesn't appeal as much to me as an American. I like being challenged by a foreign language!>

i see you have never traveled to the English Midlands, Wales or Scotland

OK. I am working on refining this. Please tell me what you like and dislike:

Saturday- Arrive in Dublin (3 nights)
Sunday- Dublin
Monday- Dublin or surrounding area Tuesday- Drive to Cobh overnight in Kinsale (2 nights)
Wednesday- Kinsale
Thursday- Drive to Dingle, visit Kenmare/Killarney on the way and sleep in Dingle (2 nights)
Friday- Ring of Dingle
Saturday- Drive to Galway and visit Cliffs of Moher/Burren/Dunguaire Castle on the way, and sleep in Galway (2 nights)
Sunday-Aran Islands/Galway
Monday-Fly from Galway to Edinburgh; drive first to Culcross, then Bannockburn, visit Doune (if time) and sleep in Stirling (1 night)
Tuesday- Drive to Oban, spend day, and sleep in Oban (1 night)
Wednesday- Drive to Edinburgh, visit Glasgow and Glen Coe on the way, and sleep in Edinburgh (3 nights)
Thursday- Edinburgh
Friday- Edinburgh
Saturday- Fly home from Edinburgh

I honestly don't think you're doing justice to either Ireland or Scotland. But, if this is what you're doing... I wouldn't visit Glasgow on the way to Edinburgh. You won't really want to have a car in Glasgow, and your time there would be limited. I'd say visit Glasgow via train from Edinburgh if you really want to see it, and on the way to Edinburgh see things that require the car.

I'd fly into Glasgow from Galway. My heart is telling me that you should be going from there to Barra by air, spending sometime thereabouts, taking the boat back to Oban from Lochboisdale and driving back to Edinburgh picking up your central belt history on the way.

Arguably, you might find Barra and the Uists too much like Western Ireland, and if so, I would NOT propose this.

But, given your sceptical approach to my beloved country, what DO you want to see/experience- nature? people? language? history? culture? what? Tell me and I'll rewrite your paltry 5 days for you.

I honestly think you should skip Scotland. It is my VERY favorite place on Earth but when a plan includes >>Drive to Edinburgh, visit Glasgow and Glen Coe on the way, and sleep in Edinburgh << it is hard to even explain why that doesn't work.

It would be like saying "drive from Boston to Philadelphia and visit New York City and Gettysburg on the way and sleep in Philly". You cannot "visit Glasgow" as a drive by in a couple of hours.

If you want to keep Scotland in your plan - don't fly in/out of the same airport and end up backtracking through the same countryside twice.

You could fly into Glasgow - spend 1 night. Pick up car and drive to Oban (is there a reason why you chose Oban specifically? ) - stay 1 night.

Drive up through Glencoe and down to near Stirling. Visit Doune/Bannockburn. spend 1 night.

Visit Culross the next morning visit and drive to Edinburgh, drop the car and stay 2 nights.

Now I would not pick some of those places -- Why Bannockburn for instance. There is a visitors center at the battlefield, but it certainly isn't a must for a quick trip to Scotland when there are hundreds of other great places to visit.

Midlands (for foreign speech), hell - try Bermondsey!

Sheila,

Thanks for the reply.

My main challenge is relaxing; I have a very hard time doing it. I am not a nature buff--it's just not me. Beautiful green hills and stunning cliffs will only keep my attention for so long. So, I appreciate what you said about Barra maybe being too much like Western Ireland. My wife is of Irish descent and really wants to visit. My idea of an excellent five day trip is 3 days in a big city with big sites and two days in a more quaint area but still with vibrant restuarants, culture and people.

I'd love for you to rewrite my "paultry" five days. I love to eat, drink and be with people, and I'm really appreciate unique architecture and history.