Do I need a rental car for Ireland and Scotland?

[Anonymous]

I just came back from Scotland. I would do 2-3 days in Edinburgh and then hire a driver/rent a car for Skye which is about 5 hours away and also see Loch Lomond and St. Andrews if you have time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just came back from Scotland. I would do 2-3 days in Edinburgh and then hire a driver/rent a car for Skye which is about 5 hours away and also see Loch Lomond and St. Andrews if you have time.

Glasgow isn't really much to look at personally, and Skye is worth staying at least two nights for its beauty and stunning vistas and hikes.

[Anonymous]

Is Northern Ireland worth going to? My husband wants to go to Ireland next spring and we know nothing about it. What’s the least rainy month?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For Ireland we hired car/driver. Edinburgh we’ve had great day trips on the train.

Going to Edinburgh this summer. Plan on a few days in the city, one day out in the Highlands with a car and driver, and a DIY train trip to Stirling. Not interested in the other large cities. What else can we do easily by train, if we have another free day?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is Northern Ireland worth going to? My husband wants to go to Ireland next spring and we know nothing about it. What’s the least rainy month?

Spring will likely have rain (June-August are the driest months), but you just get on with it.

Yes, Belfast is worth visiting. And places just south of it, like Fermanagh, are gorgeous. Ireland/NI are really pretty small, so it’s possible to cover a lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For Ireland we hired car/driver. Edinburgh we’ve had great day trips on the train.

Going to Edinburgh this summer. Plan on a few days in the city, one day out in the Highlands with a car and driver, and a DIY train trip to Stirling. Not interested in the other large cities. What else can we do easily by train, if we have another free day?

I would cross the Firth of Forth Bridge and spend a day in Fife, including St. Andrews. If you like to walk, there's a foot path along the sea and the golf links that is beautiful if you get halfway decent weather. https://fifewalking.com/east-fife/leven-lundin-links/

[Anonymous]

If you rent a car make sure it is an automatic. Driving a manual on the other side can take some getting used to.

I like Glasgow a lot but it is definitely less immediately attractive than Edinburgh.

I think the Highlands are worth a few days.

Dublin is not a particularly interesting city to visit. You could skip it altogether without missing much - better to spend your time in the west.

[Anonymous]

Don't skip Dublin but you don't need much time. Get tickets for Book of Kells, Kilmainham and EPIC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For Ireland we hired car/driver. Edinburgh we’ve had great day trips on the train.

Going to Edinburgh this summer. Plan on a few days in the city, one day out in the Highlands with a car and driver, and a DIY train trip to Stirling. Not interested in the other large cities. What else can we do easily by train, if we have another free day?

From Edinburgh? Falkirk to ride the wheel on a boat, and the Kelpies are about 4 miles away (there is an easy walking path or you could try to get a taxi.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For Ireland we hired car/driver. Edinburgh we’ve had great day trips on the train.

Going to Edinburgh this summer. Plan on a few days in the city, one day out in the Highlands with a car and driver, and a DIY train trip to Stirling. Not interested in the other large cities. What else can we do easily by train, if we have another free day?

From Edinburgh? Falkirk to ride the wheel on a boat, and the Kelpies are about 4 miles away (there is an easy walking path or you could try to get a taxi.)

Thanks for the Falkirk Wheel recommendation; it sounds unique. I think we can do that the same day as our Stirling Castle trip since they are 10 minutes apart.