Ireland and Scotland in seven nights...
 

Hello! My boyfriend and I land in Dublin Friday August 30 at 3pm and need to take the train from Edinburgh to London on Saturday September 7 in order to catch our flight back to LA. We are trying to decide between flying from Dublin to Edinburgh either Monday or Tuesday. So three nights in Ireland or four?

We want to spend Friday night in Dublin, drive to the Cliffs of Moher, visit Blarney Castle, and see the Ring of Kerry. I was told to allow myself an afternoon to really sit back with a picnic and enjoy the Cliffs of Moher, and to try and stay in Blarney the night before the visit so we can be the first ones in the castle in the morning. In Scotland, we'd like a night or two in Edinburgh, see the Highlands, Isle of Skye, Eilean Donan Castle, Glencoe, and gosh I don't know.

So....fly Monday for an extra night in Scotland?

OK - slow down! :)

Dublin, the Cliffs, Ring of Kerry, Blarney, etc . . . that is more than a week right there.

And Edinburgh + the Highlands, Skye, and Glencoe -- is another - very rushed - week.

So either do 1) JUST Dublin w/ maybe a day trip somewhere nearby and Edinburgh w/ another day trip somewhere like Stirling or St Andrews . . . OR . . . 2) JUST Ireland (since that is where you are flying).

You don't have time enough for two countries where touring you will average 35-ish mph.

If you only have a couple of days in Ireland, pick Dublin OR the west coast. I find Dublin a bit of a let down, whereas I love the Irish countryside. If you plump for the countryside, fly into Shannon instead. It's then an easy trip to the Cliffs of Moher (good luck with the picnic - it was so windy on the day I was there I struggled to open the car door). From there, head south to the Ring of Kerry, then west to Blarney and fly from Cork to Edinburgh.

Sorry, it's east from Kerry to Blarney. I always did have trouble with east/west and left/right.

I agree with the others. I have now been a couple of times to both Scotland and Ireland, a week in each place. I had about 8 days to see the whole of Ireland, and we did that, but it was extremely rushed. Too rushed!! That trip needed atleast 2 weeks... My next trip to Ireland will also be about 8 days. But this time, it will only include 2 areas: Killarney National park 2-3 days for exploring it, and a small town up the west coast for the rest of the trip. I have also done Scottish highlands and isle of Skye in a week, and felt very rushed in a campervan.

But, for Scotland, I have done another trip which I was extremely satisfied with. I had wednesday - sunday in Scotland. It looked something like this: day 1 - Edinburgh, day 2: day trip with a tour company into the Highlands, day 3 Edinburgh (exploring more and relaxing), day 4: another day tour with a bus tour company to the western Highlands/castles. Day 5 - Edinburgh - just seeing the castle in the morning, afternoon flying out. It was a perfect trip! Relaxed but filled with sightseeing. The tour company was a small group tour company, Rabbie's trail burners.

Hi C,

Since you have already shackled yourselves to the planes, I suggest 4 in Ireland.

Enjoy your visit.

((I))

If you are driving I would suggest spending the Friday night in Dublin.
Saturday morning visit what you missed Friday afternoon and drive in the direction of Cork / Blarney.
Personally I´d make a slight detour via Glendalough.
Spend Saturday night in or near Blarney, kiss the stone and head for Kerry.
Spend Sunday / Monday in Killarney or thereabouts and after that drive to the Cliffs and spend some time in Doolin or maybe even Galway.
That will probably take up Tuesday / Wednesday which leaves you with a possible daytrip to Edinburgh.
Enjoy Ireland, it is a beautiful place.
Enjoy Scotland another time, you´ll be doing it and yourselves no favours by racing through it.

Thanks, all! I appreciate the insight and will post a trip report upon my return. I am looking at Riverdance tickets in the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin :) Saw the post from RobinBinNYC regarding booking things in advance in Ireland and found it very helpful. Getting excited! Sláinte!