How to Tour Ireland and Scotland
Small but brimming with history, culture and character, Scotland and Ireland make a great tour combination. In addition to the scores of medieval landmarks, such as those at Cashel, Skellig Michael and Kilkenny, and the Victorian grandeur, epic festivals and famous pubs of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dublin and Derry, these two nations boast sweeping coastal vistas at Connemara and the Outer Hebrides and wild natural scenery at Glen Affric and Killarney National Park. Thanks to their close proximity and a common language, Scotland and Ireland can be easily visited in a single tour.
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Instructions
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Get your paperwork. Non-EU citizens must have a passport that is valid at least six months after the arrival date in Ireland or Scotland, while citizens of China, India and most African countries will additionally need a visa. EU citizens need only an official photo ID for both nations.
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Choose your dates. Thanks to the moderation of the Gulf Stream, the weather in both Scotland and Ireland remains quite mild despite their latitudes but seasons do make quite a difference. High season coincides with most of the two nations' festivals, the year's most crowded and expensive months and the most comfortable weather, with up to 18 hours of daylight. The off-season is from November to March, when it is cold (although temperatures rarely drop below freezing) with much shorter days. Both destinations can get quite wet year-round, particularly along the coast. Ireland gets up to 270 days of rain per year, while Scotland's western highlands are the wettest part of Britain.
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Start saving. Neither Scotland nor Ireland is cheap. Expect to pay at minimum €50 per day in Ireland and £40 per day in Scotland just for food and accommodation. When you add in your other travel expenses (transportation, tours and souvenirs) or if you prefer classy hotels and fine restaurants to youth hostels and buying your food, you may need a small pot of gold to afford your trip. On the bright side, students and seniors can count on discounts for transportation and entrance fees.
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Choose your accommodation. Both Scotland and Ireland have a wide range of lodging options, from hostel dormitories to top-end luxury hotels in all major cities like Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dublin, Belfast, Shannon, Aberdeen and Cork. Book well in advance for the summer months and especially for popular festival dates (such as St. Patrick's day in Ireland).
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To reach Scotland from elsewhere in the UK, buses are the most affordable option, while trains are generally the most comfortable. Trains now links Scotland to Paris and beyond via the St. Pancras International station in London. Boats connect Belgium and Northern Ireland to Scotland, while in the summer months there are also ferries linking Scandinavia to Scotland. To reach Ireland, there are flights from all over the UK, North America and Europe and several fast boat lines connecting Britain and France. In reaching both destinations, most flights from Europe and North America land in Dublin, Shannon and Glasgow.
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In Scotland, there is a widespread network of buses, ranging from large, comfortable Scottish Citylink buses to the much smaller Royal Mail post-buses, and trains (except in the Highlands and the Southern Uplands). In Ireland, a limited public transportation system makes car rental a practical option. Still, buses, taxis and trains, such as Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail) and Northern Ireland Railways, will get you to most places if you are patient. There are many ferry operators within both destinations connecting the outlying islands. Unless you are visiting remote destinations like Orkney, the Hebrides or Shetland, flying is less practical, as distances are short and prices remain much higher than other options. Within Scotland, the main domestic carrier is British Airways/Loganair and in Ireland there are Aer Árann and Aer Lingus.
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- Photo Credit cliffs of moher image by Peter Helin from Fotolia.com
