Scotland to Northern Ireland and then back to Scotland. Tips?
 

Hi there!

This October, a friend and I are traveling to Glasgow, we had the plan to ferry over to Northern Ireland and see the Causeways and some of the castles up in the north, and then head back to Scotland for 3 days. We are flying back to the US from Edinburgh. Does anyone have any suggestions for traveling via ferry from Glasgow to Belfast? Also any driving tours? We don't plan on renting a car in Northern Ireland since we will only be there for two nights, the first day mostly staying in Belfast. But we do plan on renting a car for when we return to Glasgow, because we would like to go as far north into the highlands and Isle of Skye if we can. Any and all traveling tips would be greatly appreciated!

Since you'll be in Glasgow, I'd fly to Belfast and back. It will be much quicker than traveling down to Cairnryan and taking the ferry. Your time is much too short to spend most of a day getting to Belfast.

At the end of your holiday, you do realise that Glasgow to Isle of Skye is effectively a full days drive there and back again. With only three days it isn't going to leave you a lot of time to see much of the area.

You will also have restricted day length in October. The further north you go the shorter the days. Sun rise is just before 8am and sunset is around 6.30pm. On a dull cloudy day you will lose daylight even sooner. Exact times for Portrre are here.
http://www.sunrise-and-sunset.com/en...e/2015/october

You will not want to drive Scottish roads after dark.

Have you considered flying from Belfast to Inverness and a one way car hire from Inverness to drive to Skye and then back to Glasgow.

Drive from Glasgow to Stranraer Scotland. Take the Ferry to Belfast.

http://www.aferry.co.uk/belfast-stranraer-ferry.htm

Having a car is best for getting around the Coast in Northern Ireland.

I live in NI, so please send me a message if you have any queries about things to do / getting around etc. I'd love to help.

NI Sightseeing information will be posted here very soon and regularly:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeh...hfJLSrVJ64gjRQ

Hope you have a lovely time.

Barbara
MySights

Thank you all, this is very helpful! I wish we could take a longer trip, but with what we have for days I'd love to make this as efficient as possible!

Also ESW, we were planning on staying in Isle of Skye possibly, and then go from Isle of Skye to another location up in the northern highlands and make our way around and down to Edinburgh for our final night.

Glad to help.

McComb tours are good with the Causeway tours. I did the Game of Thrones tour with them and loved it. Small bus and we had a great time.

Please note, on November 20th 2011 the Stena Line Belfast-Stranraer route stopped operating. This route was replaced by Cairnryan-Belfast which is also run by Stena Line.

flpab: >>Please note, on November 20th 2011 the Stena Line Belfast-Stranraer route stopped operating.<<

That is what I thought as well (which is why I posted about traveling down to Cairnryan and taking the ferry from there). Confusing since MySights says she lives in Belfast (?) and one would think she knows where the ferry runs . . .