Advice needed, visiting Ireland and Scotland

[foc]

'highway' in Ireland is often a euphemism...barely a 2-lane road where cars pass in opposite directions (in many cases without lots of room in each direction)

There were "highways" where traffic maintained reasonable speeds, but once you got off those, it fairly quickly turned into one lane roads with pull-offs to let opposing traffic get past.

Locally they are called dual carriageways (two lanes going in each direction) speed limit 100kph. Motorways are similar (blue signage) speed limit 120km,

We don't have any problem with the smaller roads or lanes because our cars have a steering wheel and we know how to use it.

 

[mpirie]

Midges shouldn’t be a worry in the last two weeks of September, though.

Of course they won't!

Mike

 

[ic-racer]

cars have a steering wheel and we know how to use it.

Yes, but the wheel is in front of the passenger seat, which is really strange....

 

[Tel]

We don't have any problem with the smaller roads or lanes because our cars have a steering wheel and we know how to use it.

+1 (ditto for gearshifts...)

 

[abruzzi]

I found it odd that a lot of these tiny roads in the areas I was driving had stone walls right next to the road so there wasn't much space to get out of the way, and many times I had to back up to get to a pull out so the oncoming could get past.

 

[lensman_nh]

Yes, but the wheel is in front of the passenger seat, which is really strange....

Then let the passenger drive!

Also what Mr Glass says tacky gift shops is spot on. Avoid if at all possible.

 

[henryyjjames]

My wants are stunning landscapes, castles, seashore, pubs and small villages.

This screams Ireland to me. (I'm a student at Trinity College for context).

I made a two-week trip around Ireland in September of 2021, and I had such a wonderful time. I know you said you don't want to drive, but if you change your mind, I recommend renting a car and touring yourselves. It's a small island (relative to most states/provinces), so you really won't be doing long amounts of driving, especially if you stop and stay the night here and there. Of course, there are plenty of tour buses that go all over, so you can arrange that route if you'd prefer.

You could start in Dublin for a day, see some of the highlights, go to Howth and enjoy the pubs in town—but you don't need more than two days to start. Then you can drive south, hit the Wicklow mountains and Glendalough, maybe Kilkenny, Cashel, Cahir, Cork, Killarney, and drive the ring of Kerry, Dingle, Doolin, and Galway. Then drive back to Dublin. There are lots of stops in there; the Skellig Islands are really cool as well if you can book a day trip. Tons of great places to stay— you honestly can't go wrong. If you're interested at all, I can send you some photos I took on this trip to convince/inspire.

 

[Pieter12]

This screams Ireland to me. (I'm a student at Trinity College for context).

I made a two-week trip around Ireland in September of 2021, and I had such a wonderful time. I know you said you don't want to drive, but if you change your mind, I recommend renting a car and touring yourselves. It's a small island (relative to most states/provinces), so you really won't be doing long amounts of driving, especially if you stop and stay the night here and there. Of course, there are plenty of tour buses that go all over, so you can arrange that route if you'd prefer.

You could start in Dublin for a day, see some of the highlights, go to Howth and enjoy the pubs in town—but you don't need more than two days to start. Then you can drive south, hit the Wicklow mountains and Glendalough, maybe Kilkenny, Cashel, Cahir, Cork, Killarney, and drive the ring of Kerry, Dingle, Doolin, and Galway. Then drive back to Dublin. There are lots of stops in there; the Skellig Islands are really cool as well if you can book a day trip. Tons of great places to stay— you honestly can't go wrong. If you're interested at all, I can send you some photos I took on this trip to convince/inspire.

Wow. Sounds like the trip I am planning for early September.

 

[beemermark]

Spent a fair amount of time around Glasgow for work and my only advice is take good rain gear (jacket, pants, and boots). Due to the gusts of wind umbrellas are pretty much worthless.

 

[Sirius Glass]

This screams Ireland to me. (I'm a student at Trinity College for context).

I made a two-week trip around Ireland in September of 2021, and I had such a wonderful time. I know you said you don't want to drive, but if you change your mind, I recommend renting a car and touring yourselves. It's a small island (relative to most states/provinces), so you really won't be doing long amounts of driving, especially if you stop and stay the night here and there. Of course, there are plenty of tour buses that go all over, so you can arrange that route if you'd prefer.

You could start in Dublin for a day, see some of the highlights, go to Howth and enjoy the pubs in town—but you don't need more than two days to start. Then you can drive south, hit the Wicklow mountains and Glendalough, maybe Kilkenny, Cashel, Cahir, Cork, Killarney, and drive the ring of Kerry, Dingle, Doolin, and Galway. Then drive back to Dublin. There are lots of stops in there; the Skellig Islands are really cool as well if you can book a day trip. Tons of great places to stay— you honestly can't go wrong. If you're interested at all, I can send you some photos I took on this trip to convince/inspire.

If you do rent a car, take your own GPS unit that you are familiar with and have already uploaded the Ireland and Scotland maps. That will make driving much easier.

 

[Sean Mac]

I lived in Dalkey as a graduate student at Trinity — on the Coliemore Road, just past the convent. (And tended bar at the Dalkey Island Pub, ages ago.) It was a sweet place. Also nearby is a pleasant walk around Bray Head to Greystones. You could do worse.

The Cliff Walk is not passable at the moment I think.

Cliff Walk – bray.ie

Safety information The Bray to Greystones cliff walk is closed until further notice owing to a rock slide. The patience and cooperation of the public are appreciated during this closure. × Dismiss alert While the Bray to Greystones Cliff walk remains closed there are alternative routes to...

bray.ie

 

[Rolleiflexible]

This screams Ireland to me. (I'm a student at Trinity College for context).

I made a two-week trip around Ireland in September of 2021, and I had such a wonderful time. I know you said you don't want to drive, but if you change your mind, I recommend renting a car and touring yourselves. It's a small island (relative to most states/provinces), so you really won't be doing long amounts of driving, especially if you stop and stay the night here and there. Of course, there are plenty of tour buses that go all over, so you can arrange that route if you'd prefer.

You could start in Dublin for a day, see some of the highlights, go to Howth and enjoy the pubs in town—but you don't need more than two days to start. Then you can drive south, hit the Wicklow mountains and Glendalough, maybe Kilkenny, Cashel, Cahir, Cork, Killarney, and drive the ring of Kerry, Dingle, Doolin, and Galway. Then drive back to Dublin. There are lots of stops in there; the Skellig Islands are really cool as well if you can book a day trip. Tons of great places to stay— you honestly can't go wrong. If you're interested at all, I can send you some photos I took on this trip to convince/inspire.

I hate trips like this. I prefer to pick a place and spend time in it, to get a more intimate sense of it. For example, you can easily burn two weeks just hanging out in the west of the country. Visit the Gaeltacht around Carraroe, drive up through Connemara to Clifden for the sights and the music, watch out for the herds of wild horses along the way, pay your respects to Billybob Yeats's grave in Sligo (Drumcliffe churchyard), explore the Dingle Peninsula, go for a pint in Doolin after a visit to the Cliffs of Moher, get hitched in Lisdoonvarna.

That's just one example. You could as easily head up to Derry and Donegal. Or to Belfast and the north coast (Portstewart, Portrush) and the Ards peninsula. Or Dublin and its surrounding counties. Or Cork and Kinsale. Or the Ring of Kerry. Pick one. Don't try to do them all.

 

[foc]

Yes, but the wheel is in front of the passenger seat, which is really strange....

But not on a right hand drive car.......................................... that drives on the left side of the road.

Of course in some parts of Ireland, you can drive in the middle of the road and then move to the left when meeting oncoming traffic (only try this on very narrow roads), and don't forget to raise your index finger very slightly from the steering wheel to acknowledge the other driver.

Here are some more helpful hints for driving in Ireland

 

[Tel]

Yes, but the wheel is in front of the passenger seat, which is really strange....

Except in Ireland, the UK, Japan, Australia, India and a dozen or more other countries...

 

[Vaughn]

I'll be in Scotland (driving up from Wales) in late May to early June. Does the wind keep the midges down at all?

 

[Sirius Glass]

But not on a right hand drive car.......................................... that drives on the left side of the road.

Of course in some parts of Ireland, you can drive in the middle of the road and then move to the left when meeting oncoming traffic (only try this on very narrow roads), and don't forget to raise your index finger very slightly from the steering wheel to acknowledge the other driver.

Here are some more helpful hints for driving in Ireland

This video reminds people to not drink before or while driving. One should not drink while driving. One could hit a bump and spill the whole thing. That would be tragic.

 

[Kilgallb]

Eric, think trains.

Go from Dublin to Ballina and you can catch a bus tour to Achile Isle. (Where they filmed the Banshees of Inesherin).

Lots of foggy landscapes, and sheep. The beach is the most westerly in Europe and has lots of windsurfers.

When I ordered my Guinness at the pub in Amathyst the old lady on our tour looked at me with scowl and said “two whiskeys please”. Probably thought I was an amateur.

 

[snusmumriken]

I'll be in Scotland (driving up from Wales) in late May to early June. Does the wind keep the midges down at all?

Yes, but they always find quiet moments and sheltered spots. If you plan to do any hill walking, be prepared for ticks too.

 

[mpirie]

The midges don't like to fly in winds over 10mph.....but that's okay, we rarely get days where the wind is so low.

Evenings and damp days are the worst for midges.

Interesting fact: Midges love photographers......as soon as you put your bag down, they're on you before you get the tripod out.

Midges are annoying, but ticks can be dangerous carrying diseases like Lyme's disease, so cover exposed skin and check yourself regularly.

Mike

 

[henryyjjames]

I hate trips like this. I prefer to pick a place and spend time in it, to get a more intimate sense of it. For example, you can easily burn two weeks just hanging out in the west of the country. Visit the Gaeltacht around Carraroe, drive up through Connemara to Clifden for the sights and the music, watch out for the herds of wild horses along the way, pay your respects to Billybob Yeats's grave in Sligo (Drumcliffe churchyard), explore the Dingle Peninsula, go for a pint in Doolin after a visit to the Cliffs of Moher, get hitched in Lisdoonvarna.

That's just one example. You could as easily head up to Derry and Donegal. Or to Belfast and the north coast (Portstewart, Portrush) and the Ards peninsula. Or Dublin and its surrounding counties. Or Cork and Kinsale. Or the Ring of Kerry. Pick one. Don't try to do them all.

I didn't mind the way we did it, I was with my parents and my sister so I wasn't really directing the trip. It was their first time in Ireland so they wanted to hit some highlights. We spent a few days in each area. I agree that there's a difference when you just stay in one place, and I completely appreciate that and enjoy doing that as well. The list of places I made was just a list of places, I wasn't saying spend a day at each or whatever. I don't have a car in Ireland so when my family was here and we were renting I had the opportunity to do that type of trip. Since then and without a car the trips I make typically result in me staying in one place for a while. Honestly, no matter how much time you spend anywhere there will always be more to see and do and experience.

 

[Rolleiflexible]

This screams Ireland to me. (I'm a student at Trinity College for context).

What are you studying there?

 

[Tel]

I hate trips like this. I prefer to pick a place and spend time in it, to get a more intimate sense of it.

I agree. I'm more of a hub-and-spoke traveler: I like to set up a base camp and do day trips out and back from there. Get to know the people in the B&B/hotel/whatever where I'm staying. And take many photos....

This thread is reminding me how much covid put me behind on my bucket list. Got to get out and poke around in rural Scotland too. My ex used to live in Kintyre and loved it there.

 

[Sirius Glass]

When I travel I like to ask the locals where the secret special places are that only locals know about. Most people are very proud to tell you where they are and how to get to them.

 

[snusmumriken]

I hate trips like this. I prefer to pick a place and spend time in it, to get a more intimate sense of it.

Me too. Ideally alone.

 

[Tel]

When I travel I like to ask the locals where the secret special places are that only locals know about. Most people are very proud to tell you where they are and how to get to them.

Yes! One time I was vacationing in County Carlow and someone in a local cafe told us about a ruined castle overlooking the Barrow river. Not signposted at all--we had to open a farmer's gate and slog across a mucky field and there it was: a very old ruin, probably Norman, with a skinny stone circular stairway up to the top with no handholds or safety devices at all. It was on a bluff above the river valley and the view was astonishing. I've tried to find it again and always failed.