Thank you for all the info on diving in the U.K.! What about the train? Would we miss too much if we did the U.K. and Ireland on the train instead of driving??(We have three weeks)

The alternative is a combination of train and bus, since trains are pretty sparse in Ireland, but buses there are fine.

There are parts of Britain where public transport is thin on the ground (like most countryside), so you're either missing stuff out or using tour companies. But, that apart, trains are generally dense and efficient - though sometimes crowded and often unpunctual.

But do you really want to spend three weeks getting on and off trains, being tied to their timetable, and often feeling forced to reserve in advance? Then hassling with connecting cabs and the like?

There are two real arguments against the car. One is the two-country complication: an answer to this is to hire in, say, London, drive to Scotland slowly, ferry to N Ireland and then return to London via either Dublin/Dun Laoire or Rosslare - both giving you whole new swathes of Britain to see, and letting you drop the car off where you hired it.

The other argument is left-hand driving. Do remember that 40 million of us do it all the time - and change driving side every time we buy cheap booze in Calais, or get cheap sun in Florida. No Brit would debate for a nanosecond whether he could cope with driving on the wrong side if he decides to go to California. And I doubt any Frenchman or German would dream of a three-week tour of Britain by public transport.

Relying unnecessarily on public transport means you miss out on freedom. And is that why you're taking the holiday?

You can do a fine tour of Scotland by train. But you will inevitably miss bits.

You will also "miss bits" if you tour by auto - unless you have several decades. If this is your first trip to Scotland, there is more than enough to see by rail and local bus.

I've traveled about Britain by rail/bus on half a dozen vacations and have never made a train reservation. Also never needed a taxi.

As for freedom, I like the freedom that public transportation provides: freedom from parking, freedom from navigating, freedom from insurance, freedom from dented fenders. Freedom from speed zones and construction zones. Freedom to watch the scenery instead of the road.

Ireland is a bit more of a challenge, because the rail service is so limited. You will have to rely much more on coaches. Still it can be enjoyably done.

Many people wouldn't enjoy traveling extensively by rail/coach. You have to surrender a certain amount of control. You have to be flexible in timing and destinations. You have to be organized to deal with timetables. You have to travel lightly. You have to walk a lot. But if you're willing, it's a great way to experience Britain and Ireland.

The last response puts it very well. Without a car, you have the freedom to travel around by train, bus or boat. In Scotland I've travelled, for example, from Fort William to Inverness by train to Mallaig, then ferry to Armadale, bus to Kyleakin, and another bus to Kyle then a train to Inverness. The Scottish railways go to places that can't be reached by car (there are stations that have no road access) while there are islands that are best visited without a car.

I beg to differ on argument that because a Brit would not debate for a nanosecond about driving in California, it should be just as easy for someone from USA to drive in the UK. Except for highways, the lanes in UK are narrower than ones in California. Coming from California, it would definitely be easier to drive in UK on the left side had the lanes were wider than ones in California.

We've done both. When we were younger we did a lot of coach/train trips. If you are up to them they are a lot of fun. as "drsawyers" says, you have to be organized and flexible and deal with timetables. Also sudden rainstorms, I might add. But you meet the locals and the trip is part of the whole experience. Now that we are older we hate all the carting and being driven by timetables and standing out in the rain! So we drive. It's very scary for 24 hours, then you get used to it. Driving gives you amazing flexibility. But you don't have the same experience. There are pros and cons to each.

Save time and money with some public transport, then get a car for a day or two. I wouldn't do Scotland entirely by public transport at all. You might get to see some sights, but the great places in the Highlands I can't see doing that way. Then again anything involving Glasgow/Edinburgh you'd save a lot of money with public transport. So do both.