Our road trip around the U.K. and Ireland was an unforgettable experience. We had the opportunity to see so many beautiful places and really enjoy the beautiful scenery that each of these countries has to offer. Although planning a road trip, especially one to a place you’ve never been to, can be a bit daunting, the planning is absolutely worth it. This has been my second road trip abroad and I’m falling more and more in love with driving around England and Europe and how easy it truly is to get from one country to the next. Our trip consisted of visiting the following: England, Wales, Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
Some Tips:
My biggest advice of planning a road trip to a place you have not visited before, is making sure that you do as much research as possible in advance. Compare different modes of transportation, especially if traveling by car. During this road trip we drove a rental van and used two different ferry’s to cross to and from Ireland. If you are not using your own vehicle, make sure that the rental company you are using allows for unlimited miles as well as the ability to travel to a different country without extra fees. We actually had a breakdown with the rental we had and had to request an exchange car, so make sure that you opt for the additional insurance and roadside assistance if it’s not already offered.
The other thing to most definitely do is make sure that you book any tickets, ferry’s, and accommodations far in advance, especially if traveling during peak seasons. If you are driving into cities make sure that the accommodations have parking available either free or for a reasonable cost. This was probably the hardest thing for us to coordinate especially because we were traveling with a larger group.
7 Day Itinerary for U.K. & Ireland
Here is our 7 day itinerary, where we visited and some things you can do during your time there.
Day 1: England to Wales
We started our road trip in Cambridgeshire and took about a 4 hour drive to Snowdonia in Wales. One the way from England to Wales you can take advantage of the many castles that are in the area. We visited Gwrych Castle and had a lunch picnic there. In the afternoon we made our way to the Snowden Mountain Railway. Our tickets were booked about 1 month in advance, which I highly recommend you do. This was a fun train experience that takes you up to the Snowden Summit, however when we went it was completely covered in fog, but nonetheless the train ride up was gorgeous. There is also the option of hiking up to the summit, or taking the train up and hiking down.
Day 2: Wales to Ireland
Our ferry ride with Irish Ferries was in the afternoon, so we opted to visit another castle in Snowden during the morning. We visited Dolbadam Castle that offered beautiful views of Padarn Lake. This was a perfect combination of the beauty that you can find in Wales. The ferry ride was really easy, with food, bars and a small shop available to spend some leisure time via Irish Ferries. The port in Dublin is about a 15 minute ride into Dublin itself. We settled into our AirBnB and wandered into the city center of Dublin for dinner.
Day 3: Dublin, Ireland
Our third day we spend in Dublin, Ireland. Dublin is such a great city, with endless amount of things and activities to do. Because we only had one full day in Dublin, we wanted to make sure that we made the most of it. We headed out early morning and spent the day sightseeing and enjoying the best of Dublin. Here is what we were able to see in one day in Dublin: Dublin Castle, Temple Bar, Ha’penny Bridge, Jameson Distillery and Guiness Experiences.
Day 4: Dublin, Ireland & Belfast, Northern Ireland
We headed out of Dublin to Belfast as early as possible so that we could make the most of our 24 hours in Belfast. We opted for the Belfast City Bus Tour in order to see the most we could. We also did the Game of Thrones walk to find the 7 Glass of Thrones scattered throughout the city. This was actually a very nice walk that took us to some of the popular places in Belfast. My only recommendation would be to spend more than one day in Belfast, it’s such a great city with so much history to offer that 24 hours just does not do it justice.
Day 5: Northern Ireland to Scotland
On our fifth day we had to take the second ferry of our journey from Belfast port to Cairnryan Port in Scotland via Stena Ferries. We had another 24 hour day in Glasgow and again opted for the Glasgow City Bus Tour. Unfortunately there was not enough time for us see much more of Glasgow than what we could during the tour. But it was really a good option, if they are offered in a city you are spending a short time it’s a great option if you aren’t able to do a walking tour of the city.
Day 6: Glasgow to Edinburgh
The drive from Glasgow to Edinburgh is quick and easy. Edinburgh is a great place to visit, with all its charm and history we decided to spend a little more time here. There is so much to do in Edinburgh, it was my second time here and I still enjoyed just as much as the first time and continued to explore more of the city that we weren’t able to see the first time. Here is what we were able to see during our time in Edinburgh: St. Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh Castle, The Elephant House, Royal Mile, Scott’s Monument, Princes St. Gardens, Arthur’s Seat, and Calton Hill.
Day 7-8: Edinburgh, Scotland & Back to England
Depending on where in England you based your drive could be anywhere from 6-8 hours. There are different routes to take, we opted for the scenic country drive that was gorgeous. And I was really excited, for the first time I actually saw a Welcome to England sign! I know to some this may not seem like much, but these are the little moments that makes driving absolutely worth it.
If you haven’t been able to take a road trip, it’s definitely something you have to do at least once in your lifetime. With any travel, there is always possibility for delays or problems, but sometimes with driving it feels that you can be in a little more control over your itinerary. If you’re considering a road trip during your time in England, Wales, Ireland, or Scotland, stop considering it and do it. You won’t regret taking the time to admire all the breathtaking beauty there is to find.
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