Hello,
When I plan a trip to Europe, I start by checking going to my local
library and checking out each guidebook they have. After looking
through them all, I decide which one I want to buy. But, I also go on
line and see what all the internet guides say have to say.
Certainly, my own interests effect where I am going to go on my visit
as will yours. However, most of the guides have a list of “must see”
sights for every country. I look at all those and decide if they are
what I want to see and if I have the time to spend on them. I always
start with Rick Steve. He admits to being opinionated. However, that
allows him to make lists of “must see” sights that are entertaining
and unique. It is a good place to start.
Rick Steve on Britain
Here is his itinerary for Britain and it includes 4 days in Scotland
Day 1 Loch Lomond, Scottish West Coast
Day 2 Scottish Highlands, Loch Ness
Day 3 &4 Edinburgh
http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/countries/brit22.htm
This is what he suggests for Ireland
5 days: Dublin, Dingle Peninsula
http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/countries/ireitin.htm
You can find the Rough Guides “Best of Scotland” & “Best of Ireland”
at
http://travel.roughguides.com/roughguides.html
The Lonely Plants Picks.
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/europe/scotland/attractions.htm
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/europe/scotland/obt.htm
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/europe/ireland/activities.htm
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/europe/ireland/obt.htm
Here are the official Tourist sites of Ireland and Scotland
http://www.visitscotland.com/
I have never done this, but I think it is a good idea. You can plan
your trip by flying into one city and flying out of a different city.
It may cost a little more, but it allows for an easier, one way trip.
Looking at the suggests from the guide books, I would fly into
Edinburgh, spend two days taking in the sites there. Drive up to Oban
through the rugged, scenic Highland. Along the way, you can stop for a
walking tour of historic Glencoe. A day in Oban, where you can catch
a ferry to the island of Iona. Then catch The West Highland Railway
down to Glasgow and travel along the western coast to Loch Lommand.
From Glasgow you can fly to Dublin (http://www.visitdublin.com/).
Where you can spend two day. Then drive, or bus out to the Dingle
Peninsula (http://www.dingle-peninsula.ie/).
I didn’t include sites in the cities. There are so many, that it
would be better for you to look at the web pages I mention and decide
what to see. But, two days in both Edinburgh and Dublin will give you
plenty to see.
Here is a site that may or not be of interest to you. It is a site of
‘mysterious’ places in the UK.
http://www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk/site_map.html
Here are some sites about car rentals. You don’t say what country you
live in, but I live in the U.S. and I can use my U.S. driver’s license
to rent a car in the most of Europe. You might want to check with
your credit cards. Only some of them will automatically give you car
insurance when renting a car in a foreign country. As long as you are
comfortable driving in a foreign country, it is the easiest way of
getting around Scotland and Ireland. Apparently, it will be cheaper
if you rent one car in Scotland and a different car in Ireland rather
than pay the fees to take it into the two countries.
http://www.autoeurope.com/
http://www.ricksteves.com/news/0303/iredriving.htm
Information on public transportation
http://www.ricksteves.com/rail/ireland.htm
http://www.oconnors.com/info/info-public_trans.html
http://www.pti.org.uk/index.cfm?page=26
Here are lists of festivals that might be of interest when planning
the time of your trip.
http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/festivals/irefest.htm
http://scotlandinter.net/festivals.htm
Keywords Used:
scotland tourist bureau
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=scotland+tourist+bureau&btnG=Google+Search
irish tourist bureau
http://www.ireland.travel.ie/home/
scotland public transportation
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=scotland+public+transportation&btnG=Google+Search
ireland public transportation
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=ireland+public+transportation&btnG=Google+Search
I hope you enjoy your trip. I hope this helps.
PbA
Google Answers Researcher |
