Scotland & Ireland!

I just got back from a 12-day trip to Scotland and Ireland. It was a fantastic trip and I have to say, Scotland is one of my favorite destinations so far! It was also my first trip as a solo traveler, and though I was a bit nervous to travel on my own, I mostly really enjoyed it! Here are the general details:

Length of Trip: One week in Scotland, then 4 days in Dublin (where I met up with my sister)

Destinations: Scotland: Glasgow, Edinburgh, 2-day tour to Inverness, Loch Ness, and the Highlands, day trip to St. Andrews and the fishing villages of Fife, day trip to Loch Lomond, Stirling Castle, and the Kelpies; Ireland: Dublin

Lodging: In Glasgow and Dublin (1 night) I stayed in Airbnbs, in Edinburgh I stayed at Haystack Hostel (1 night) and The Baxter Hostel (several nights); in Inverness (1 night- part of 2 day tour) I stayed at a traditional B&B; and in Dublin I shared a hotel room with my sister (3 nights)

Tours: I have never thought I would like going on a bus tour, but also really didn’t want to rent a car (and because I’m under 25, it would have been insanely expensive). I knew I really wanted to go into the Highlands in Scotland, but the train schedules were limited since October is the off-season. So, I looked into maybe doing a tour, and found Rabbie’s Tours. These tours are a maximum of 16 people and the reviews were excellent. I ended up doing 3 tours with them, and really enjoyed them! I’ll share more later about the tours and my trip in more detail.

Transportation: I flew into Edinburgh Airport, then took a bus to Glasgow. I took the train from Glasgow to Edinburgh, and a bus from Edinburgh city center to the airport at the end of my time in Scotland. I flew from Edinburgh to Dublin, then again from Dublin back to the USA. In Dublin, my sister and I traveled by bus or by foot.

Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrive Edinburgh Airport, Glasgow: Buchanan Street, George Square, Trongate Street, Merchant City, Tollbooth Tower, Glasgow Green and The People’s Palace, The Lighthouse

Day 2: Edinburgh: Rabbie’s City Tour, Nelson Monument, Stewart Monument, Scott’s Monument, Royal Mile, Real Mary King’s Close

Day 3: Departed on Rabbie’s Loch Ness & Inverness Highlands 2-Day Tour: Forth Bridge, Dunkeld, Pitlochry, Loch Morlich, Tomatin Whisky Distillery, Clava Cairns, Inverness

Day 4: Day 2 of Loch Ness & Inverness Highlands Tour: Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle, Fort William, Glencoe, the Trossachs, Doune Castle

Day 5: Rabbie’s St. Andrews & Fishing Villages of Fife Day Tour: Anstruther, St. Andrews Castle, St. Andrews Cathedral, The Old Green at St. Andrews, Falkland and Falkland Palace, the Forth Bridges

Day 6: Rabbie’s Loch Lomond & Stirling Castle Day Tour: Stirling Castle from below, Loch Lomond, Aberfoyle, Duke’s Pass, Highland cows!, Stirling Castle, the Kelpies

Day 7: Edinburgh: Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile, Palace of Holyrood, Elephant House, Greyfriar’s Bobby

Day 8: Edinburgh: Princes Street Gardens, Farmer’s Market; Flew to Dublin

Day 9: Dublin: reunited with my sister, Jameson Whiskey Distillery, walked around central Dublin

Day 10: Dublin: Kayak tour on the River Liffey, St. Stephen’s Green, Grafton Street

Day 11: Dublin: National Botanical Gardens, Chester Beatty Library

Day 12: Flew home.

Stay tuned for more!