Thanks for all the nice and knowledgeable responses. I have a lot of info to process before making a decision. God bless this site! Sincere thanks to all of you.......

I can't speak with much authority as I've only done the trip from Scotland to Ireland once. I believe we flew from Scotland over to Dublin and it was so incredibly cheap. I want to say it was less than about £14/each one way. Of course it was about 10 years ago. Even if by today's rates it is more than a ferry ride - you'd have to figure in the rental car fee, the gas, the ferry ride and the travel time.

>>I hate to flight in the middle of a vacation, it is practically a whole day lost, with added stress, while driving one enjoys the scenery, make stops, talk to locals.>>

This is something that figures into our travel plans as well olgavictoria so I can understand your concern. That might be something that would make it worth your time to take a ferry. However, as I recall the plane ride was very quick and very, very short.

>>while driving one enjoys the scenery, make stops, talk to locals.<<

This trip is in <u>December</u>. There ain't gong to be much scenery to speak of between SW Scotland and Edinburgh -- and locals won't be hanging around outside waiting to talk to you. They will be at work or inside keeping warm/dry.

I suspect based on your last few posts that you are still set on this impractical/crazy idea. You have been warned off by locals and by very frequent visitors to that part of the world. Do what you want . . . You will anyway. But those living in the area wouldn't do this (even though they have the luxury of being able to delay and travel on another day if the weather/seas cancel out their ferry)

And what will you do IF your ferry is cancelled? Walk up airfares are very expensive - assuming seats are even available.

December hmmmm, missed that. Yes, do the airplane. It really is very quick and you'll have more time to spend in the nice warm pub chatting with the locals.

That is a little OTT Janis, we have done this trip in winter and as locals we do go out more than one month a year.

Winter is a lovely month in SW Scotland, huge amounts of transient wildlife and the resident wildlife has to come out of its comfort zone to feed.

The winter weather has been totally unpredictable over the past 5 years, anywhere between -15oC and 15oC. Beautiful calm spells to wet, mild and very, very wild Atlantic storms.

Who knows?

>>Winter is a lovely month in SW Scotland, huge amounts of transient wildlife and the resident wildlife has to come out of its comfort zone to feed. <<

Sure it is . . . however the OP isn't going TO southwest Scotland - she is transiting through enroute to Edinburgh. In context of the rest of her trip -- this idea makes no sense. (Now IF she was staying in Rockliffe instead of Edinburgh ;) - that would be a <i>whole</i> different thing )

I will definitely fly to Edinburg and will forget rail and ferry. The whole itinerary is now intended like this:
- Landing in Madrid from Miami on Dec 27th to spend the weekend with friends.
- Dec 30 @ 10 am Fly Mad-Dub for 3 nights stay at Best Western Plus Academy Plaza Hotel (Dec 30-Jan 1)
- 3 days (Jan 2-4) road trip similar to the itinerary Tony2phones suggested (http://goo.gl/maps/70wJX) I think I am 1 day short, so will probably cut one destination.
- Monday Jan 5th - one day trip to Belfast and back to Dublin with stay at Bewleys Hotel Ballsbridge. (I expect comment on this)
- Tuesday Jan 6th - Flight Edin to spend 2 nights (Jan 6 - 7).

Even though we have round trip ticket Mad-Dub / Dub-Mad, we will loose the leg back and will fly to Madrid from Edin on the 8th to return home on the 9th.

Thanks again for all the good (and passionate) advise, I am expecting new ones now.........

If you haven't booked your flights yet, fly "open jaw" Boston to Madrid and home from Edinburgh/Glasgow. It will add a say to your itinerary and cost about the same.