Short stay on GB tour
 

We have a limited time to see some of Great Britain and are starting with Bath and the Cotswolds. We want to go up to North England for a home base to see some of South Scotland. Suggestions on what to see on the way up in Ireland...will want a rental as home base to explore a few of days. Is Galway abd the Connemarra region too far to drive in the time allowed?

Joan - see the responses to your first post.<BR><BR>

I have traveled some of the regions you mention by various modes in the past on several visits to GB. I recently moved to London and am now planning short (&lt;1 wk) drive trips for my family members. First, Ireland is a separate country and a separate island which is not "on the way" to the between southern England and Scotland. You need to fly there then drive around, devoting a minimum of 1 wk to a specific region, so it will not fit within your plan. I do heartily recommend Bath, Cotswolds as a wonderful part of non-London England. You need to allocate a minimum of 1 day in each of those places plus transfer times, 2 days pure visit time is better. If you are interested in Shakespeare you should include Stratford-upon-Avon in this leg, it's not the convenient to other regional loops. In general in planning UK and Europe travel, be aware that although the physical distances don't seem great looking at a national map compared to what you might be used to in the US, all areas are extremely dense in population and/or sights. Also attractions, all shops and even many eateries are only open 9-5 so a "day" can only take in 1-2 attractions. If south Scotland is your next target, I am guessing you mean Glasgow and Stirling. Then the base for south Scotland is not north England but the specific city in Scotland, e.g., Glasgow. Each is also minimum 1 day. Stirling Castle is well worth seeing, large and historic. Near Glasgow is the great Burrell Collection if you are an art lover. Degas and impressionist, Chinese antiques, entire medieval rooms. That's a day too. Between say 1/2 wk in Bath area and 1/2 week in southern Scotland, if you want to add more territories, the other on the way would be either the very urban Liverpool/Manchester area or York. York is has the old medieval walled city structure, towers, cathedral. Each of the cities in the link I have suggested are big enough and far enough that once you get from Bath/Cotswolds to say Birmingham or Manchester you can also consider going by train or flying domestic. If you're not set on going to south Scotland, or the place "on the way" to south Scotland doesn't need to be located halfway between, southern Wales is actually contiguous to Gloucestershire/Cotwolds area, although it sounds like a different country. Either from Bath drive to Bristol, cross Severn Crossing to Cardiff. After 1/2 to 1 day in Cardiff drive to Forest of Dean and Wye River area. Or do the reverse from Gloucester/Cheltenham and drive over to Wye River area. Min 2 days.

Joan, I think you may need to look at a map or re-state your question. It's almost as if you don't realize that Ireland is not part of Great Britain & is in fact a physically seperate island, the Irish Sea is in between. If you have a limited time then visit either Great Britain or Ireland you won't have time to do both.

Kieran - several folks explained your point and offered advice on Joan's original post. Unfortunately, all of Isabel's wonderful post is probably not relevant since there were 8 days of posts on the first thread and Joan ended up going in a different direction<BR><BR>