My husband and I will be going to Ireland for 7d (flying into Shannon), and then flying to Scotland for 8days in July/August. I have booked the first 2 nights in Doolin and the last 2 nights in Edinburgh. Question: Is it possible to just drive from place to place and find decent places to stay? Do we have to book in advance during this time of year? Would much prefer to drive around and not have a strict schedule to follow (it's vacation, afterall!)

Tentative schedule:
Doolin- 2nights (Daly's b&b)
Inishmore- one night
Dingle-2 nights
Kenmare/ROK- 2 nights
Fly out of Shannon (don't think we'll get to Dublin this trip)

or
Doolin- 1night
Inishmore- 1 night
Clifden/Connemara area- 2 nights
drive to Dingle via Tarbert Ferry (is this way too much a drive for a day?)
Dingle-2 nights
Killarney or Kenmare/ROK-1 night (will driving the RIng be crazy with traffic in summer?)
Fly out of Shannon

The amount of time in Ireland vs Scotland is open but we need to fly out of Glasgow. Thanks for any and all advice. This is a great resource!!

I found (coming from Australia) that it took much longer to drive what appeared to be short distances - even in Tasmania the roads are more open. It may have been also because there is so much to see in Ireland so the temptation is to stop often! I see you aren't thinking of Galway area, but if you do - we based ourselves at Athenry and managed to see quite a lot : http://www.caheroyanhouseathenry.com/ Also went to the Ring & Kenmare - yes, it does need most of one day to do it

oops, that's ambiguous - going to Kenmare - it was a 2 night trip there and back from Athenry B&B ie day 1 drove there, day 2 drove the Ring etc, day 3 back to Galway area

Thanks for the reply. How long did it take you to drive from Galway to Kenmare? Did you take the Tarbert Ferry? Where did you stay in Kenmare?
thanks!
ps I would like to go to Galway but it seems like too much. Would you recommend it over areas on my list??

eek - too many questions - no, did not take ferry, Galway-Kenmare was probably 5.5 hours with at least 2 brief touristy stops, it was a self-contained cottage about 20 minutes out of Kenmare that the B&B at Athenry booked for us thru their connections, and i can't remember more details - sorry. I think your list is good, but I don't know if it is any better than Galway area, my personal preference is staying in one place for at least 4-5 nights, and coming home every night to the 'hub' (but i did have 15 days) Cheers