Western Ireland and Scotland
Travel ItineraryOn the Fringes of Western Europe
Western Ireland, Scottish Highlands & the Outer Hebrides
Duration: 15 days
Distance Travelled: 2,000 km
While planning our trip to the British Isles, we could not decide between Ireland and Scotland. Being of the Irish-American heritage, my husband had a growing desire to visit his ancestral homeland. On the other hand, both of us felt strongly about going to the remote parts of Scotland. Following a few weeks of heated discussions, we settled on a travel itinerary, which included both Ireland and Scotland in a single 2-week long trip
- Lodging 20%
- Food 20%
- Transportation 45%
- Activities 15%
The high transportation cost (45% of the entire budget) for this type of trip is to be expected if your home is somewhere in the Northern hemisphere. Like in most West European countries, the car rental and gas prices are relatively high in both Ireland and Scotland. We discovered that the Airbnb accommodation and food are substantially less expensive in Western Ireland.
The Air Travel
1. Boston – Dublin
9h 15min with Air Lingus
2. Dublin – Edinburgh
11h 15min with Ryanair
3. Edinburgh – Dublin
2h 15min with Ryanair
4. Dublin – Boston
5h 5min with Air Lingus
Trip Video
This was not a formal performance, but a traditional trad session of a group of local musicians, who were got together at the pub of the Cliffs of Moher Hotel to play popular Irish folk tunes.
We booked one night Airbnb stay at a farmhouse in Corofin completely unaware of this upcoming entertainment opportunity offered by our gracious host Laura.
Drawn to the County Clare by its strong Irish music traditions, Laura moved in to the area from Limerick, where she studied Irish Music and Dance. In addition to playing music at various events and functions, Laura also offers one-on-one training lessons to anyone interested in celtic fiddle playing. This unique opportunity to learn and practice with Burren Fiddle Holidays while travelling abroad was featured recently in “A Fiddlers Dream Holiday” by Americana Rhythm Music Magazine.
If your Ireland trip is still in the early planning stage, do not despair yet. Laura can offer you a few introductory internet lessons through the video chat site: Skype®.
Memorable Sips and Bites
1. Gourmet Breakfast by our Celbridge Airbnb Chef-host
During our last stop in Ireland, we woke up not to a traditional hearty fry-up, but a truly elegant creation by our host (who also happened to be a professional chef. In addition to a tasty and original meal, we were also lucky recipients of a thoughtful “Irish souvenir” that morning. In a sealed envelope was a copy of Adrian’s own “Guinness Bread” recipe inspired by the taste of the world-famous local stout.
2. Local Ale and Salmon in Kilkieran
After a day-long drive across Ireland, we finally found a local waterhole in a remote corner of Connemara. Strangely, there was a big portrait of the Mayor Boston on the wall (turned out, Mr. Walsh’s family had extensive local roots in these parts of the country). During our visit, the host of the Airbnb palce, where we were staying that night, was enjoying his pint at the bar. However, we did not have a chance to meet him yet at that time. It’s a small world indeed…
3. Home-grown Berry Jams (Stirling)
The two ladies we stayed with on our first night in Scotland had a lovely fruit and vegetable garden in their backyard. In the morning, we were spoiled with a wide variety of homemade jams served with a warm freshly baked loaf of bread.
4. Haggis in the Scottish Highlands
This small second-floor restaurant on the main street of Fort William had a lovely view of the Loch and a few highland culinary traditions on the menu. Frankly, the prospect of getting a taste of the local version of “haggis, neeps and tatties” received a loud grunt from my slightly less-adventurous husband. Disclosure: This specialty might be more enjoyable if you resist the temptation of looking up the recipe details!
Western Ireland
This trip started out of the burning desire to explore my husband’s Irish-American heritage in County Cavan. At the end, it was a memorable one weeklong road trip through the costal landscapes of the Western Ireland, with its epic moorlands of Connemara, mountains of Killarney and the small lively market towns. Great vibes of ubiquitous pubs, fiddle tunes and folk dancing at countless trad hotspots, felt just like the icing on the cake.
Scottish Highlands
If your ultimate travel destination is the Western Isles, you’ll still get a glimpse of the numbing beauty of the Scottish Highlands on-route. Start your trip into history of Scotland with a visit to the Stirling Castle and the National Wallace Monument. Plan a hike in Glencoe Valley and a harbor stroll in Fort William. Enjoy the scenery of the picturesque Isle of Skye landscape, with the romantic Eilean Donan Castle on the way to Uig ferry landing.
The Outer Hebrides
Realistically, you may only visit a couple of islands within a week (unless you air travel). The Isles of Harris and Lewis became our destinations this time. Allow 4-5 days to see both islands, with extra time if you also plan to visit St. Kilda or go on long hikes. Enjoy the solitude and wilderness of rugged moorland and silky beaches. Immerse yourself in history of the Western Isles and Stornoway at the magnificent Lews Castle.