My best girlfriend and I have been meeting every year for over 30 years for a 3 day retreat and have always said we’D celebrate our friendship and age in our 70th year. We are from Canada and have decided on an 8 day walking trip in the Cotswolds or the west part of Ireland. Ireland is preferable for Irish pubs and music and beauty- we both love Irish music. But she’s been in the Cotswolds as well and she said it’s storybook beautiful. My preference is Ireland but in the long run, we will have a wonderful time anywhere? Any thoughts?

OK -- I absolutely LOVE the Cotswolds . . . however 'storybook beautiful' is not how I'd describe the area. It is full of really lovely villages, great pubs, very nice but gentle scenery. IMO a perfect walking destination.

But if gobsmacking scenery is what you are looking for, western Ireland has that. A little more difficult place to walk though IME

I liked the pubs in the Cotswolds better, more choices of that cool, old pub-by look and feel you want- but no Irish music. The villages with the stone houses are gorgeous and the walking paths are wonderful. But the natural scenery in west Ireland is superior to the rolling hills of the Cotswolds, IMO. Be aware, we were in west Ireland at end of June and the pubs were filled with Americans. So if you are going in the summer you might be rubbing elbows with mostly non-Irishmen.

Check out Westport, great walking and biking trails. Good hotels, airbnb, many places to dine and best music at night. We loved Clare island, the ferry ride over is great. I love that island. Train from Dublin to Westport.

I'd look at the weather, while both climates are maritime, Eire is further out in the Atlantic, for the same period the Cotswolds will be drier.

Weather, it is a big if factor. You could have sun or rain. We have gone in spring and fall and it is a mix bag. My friend in Cornwall has been complaining about no sun all week. I live in Fl and we haven't seen a drop of rain in my yard in two weeks. Toss a coin.

yes there is a coin toss element to it, but my point is that (as a Brit who has worked in Ireland) I know we basically get the same weather structure hitting us mainly coming from the west. So basically I know that the Cotswolds (where I have also worked) gets the same weather as the Irish only a day later but generally less wet as mainly it dumps most of the water on the Emerald Isle while the UK is more in its rain shadow.

Thanks so much for comments, it’s so hard to decide! I’m crazy about the Irish music and I’m scared I’ll miss that but I don’t know if that should be the priority for making the decision on where to go. Weather, price and accommodation will also be a factor!

I walked the Cotswold Way a few years ago & I think it has a lot going for it. It's not as remote as some walks, so there's often a lovely village to stop in for lunch, and it's not hard to find a taxi if you need one. We really enjoyed the many pubs we stopped at, the friendly people we chatted with, and all the cute dogs we petted.

Perhaps you could do a walk & then spend a few days in Ireland?

As a fairly experienced walker in England, but not in Ireland, I had refrained from weighing in on this discussion for that reason. But with mention of the Cotswold Way I feel I should add a few words. I can’t quite tell if Jennifer, above, has walked the entire 100+ miles as I did in my 60s but, though it sounds a bit stroll-in-the-parkish, much of it is serious hill walking and I recommend choosing parts to take on carefully, with special attention paid to those pesky contour lines on a good map. I got in trouble a couple of times with foot injuries and decided, after finishing the path, that tow paths along rivers and canals would be my friends henceforth. I’ve stuck with that decision since and have found it was an excellent compromise, more or less flat walking with just as much beauty.

So if you haven’t arrived at a firm decision yet and are still contemplating the Cotswolds for your walk, I suggest the Thames Path, rather than the Cotswold Way, which begins in the Cotswolds, heads into Oxfordshire before making its way toward London. It really has everything a walker could want except maybe views from high hills, but without the hazards that high hills entail. There are loads of websites to help you choose a section and any part you choose will be satisfying, I’m sure. I’m almost to the end of it now, having gotten to Kew Bridge last time and look forward to finishing next visit. Wherever you decide to go for your walk it’s a wonderful way to celebrate your friendship.

I did walk the entire CW, but I agree with MmePerdu that while it's not one of the more remote long distance walks, it does love its hills. Anytime you see a hill in the distance, you can be sure it will make a detour so that you climb up it. You said you wanted an 8 day walk, so I'm assuming you are already experienced hikers. If you want the scenery and villages of the Cotswolds without such a long walk, you could also look at doing a shorter circular walk between some of the villages.

We’ve decided on Ireland! Now we have to decide where to go! We’ve been told that we absolutely HAVE to go to Dublin first, so then our destination via plane has been decided! After that, we have been told Dingle/Tralee/Killarney areas are spectacular.My brother has been to Ireland 4 times and said that we can’t go wrong so now we have to narrow it down. Although we wouldn’t be driving from Dublin to the other side of the country, I’m wondering whether it might be a thought to walk but maybe also rent a car for 1or 2 days to see a bit larger area? Thanks again for any responses, they’re really appreciated!

You can take the train from Dublin to Tralee. Killarney has actual walking tours available. Look at hiking tours of Ireland.

Have a look at the Wild Atlantic Way:
https://www.wildatlanticwayonline.com/

I have been to Ireland several times and we have walked section of the WAW. (We have also done a little in the Cotswolds.)
I would skip Dublin and add in Westport, Mayo and incorporate the Western Greenway or perhaps Crough Patrick (which can be difficult depending on your ability). While based in Westport we took the ferry out to Clare Island and enjoyed some walking on the island. In County Galway you could take the ferry from Cleggan out to Inishbofin - lots of great walking on Inishbofin.

GREENWAY | Home
https://www.wildatlanticwayonline.com/
Teach na Miasa | Croagh Patrick Visitor Centre at the Foot of the Holy Mountain - Teach na Miasa

The Gap of Dunloe in the Killarney area is a very pleasant day:
Gap of Dunloe Tours

Inishbofin Island

I think we’ve decided on an 8day walking trip with Randonee Tours. We will fly to Dublin because we want to see Dublin, then somehow start our journey by getting to a place called Ennis. Our dates look like we will leave Canada on June 1 and this tour company has been highly recommended to us. As someone said to us, we can’t go wrong, it’s a beautiful country, so we will now start our planning. Thank you again.

>>We’ve been told that we absolutely HAVE to go to Dublin first,<<

Told by whom and why??? Dublin certainly is not a must if one is mainly interested in the scenic west coast.

If you are flying into Dublin it is a great place to get over your jet lag. Drop your luggage at the hotel and have breakfast, see the free museums, do a hop on hop off bus tour. Check out lovingdublin.com to see what is going to be on while there. I love the walking tours given by Trinity students. Also, see if Buswell's hotel has a room available. Airport coach drops off very nearby. The National museum/Archaeology stop. We drop bags, visit the bog men, have a bite to eat and room is ready. Train to Ennis. Dublin Heuston to Ennis.

We looked at flying into Shannon for May trip and it was not nonstop and the plane was not Aer Lingus but a charter so stuck to our plan flying in and out of Dublin. It might work from other airports but not mine. I love that nonstop flight. We had to take jet blue to NY or Boston and then get on another plane. Same price. Our first stop is Galway so not a big deal anyway. We book an early bird dinner, love Boxty house but there are nicer places to eat.
I am glad you are doing the tour. They keep track of you if any problems and have your luggage waiting for you at stops.

After spending 2 days in Dublin, what is the best way to get to Ennis area?

The transport planner I use is

https://www.transportforireland.ie

There is a train to Ennis and there will also be buses. If by 'Ennis area' you mean somewhere remote and rural and not in the town then taxi from Ennis might be the only option

Hueston station to Ennis. The luas goes right to the Hueston station.