Scotland & Ireland

Our adventure through Scotland and Ireland was packed with stunning landscapes, vibrant festivals, and a taste of local culture that made us continually saying, “We need 1-2 more days in this place”. Also, both Scotland and Ireland are home to some of the friendliest, most welcoming people we’ve ever met, always eager to share stories and help make the most of our stay.

Join us as we share our adventure through picturesque Scotland and Ireland!

Top Left: "Dumbledore's Island" seen from The Jacobite Train in the Western Scottish Highlands; Top Right: University of Glasgow; Middle Right: City of Cork, Ireland; Bottom Left: Kylemore Abbey, Connemara National Park, Ireland; Bottom Right: Torc Waterfall, County Kerry, Ireland

Our Scotland Itinerary

• Train to Edinburgh

• Explore Edinburgh with a HOHO bus tour

• Attend the Military Tattoo

• Tour of Edinburgh Castle

• Train to Glasgow and explore the university and museum (and that incredible meal at the non-Michelin Michelin restaurant)

• Drive to Fort William for the Jacobite Train (with a side of the best fish and chips ever)

• Drive back to Glasgow and fly to Dublin

Starting in the heart of Scotland at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, we dove headfirst into the chaos and creativity of street performers, comedy shows, and more. Edinburgh in August? Insane. But the Fringe is a one-of-a-kind experience with endless options for entertainment. Just be prepared for crowds—and chilly weather, even in summer!

Valerie Note: I have never been so cold in August in my life! Even when I have been in the southern hemisphere, where it would be winter in August, I have never been so cold. And, even when it isn’t raining in Scotland, it is still raining.

Highlights of Scotland:

Edinburgh Fringe Festival: The madness of the Fringe is something you can’t quite describe until you’ve lived it. One highlight was stumbling upon a show called For the Love of Shane McGowan. As a fan of The Pogues, this tribute to the late singer/songwriter was special to Jeremy—complete with stories and songs from one of Shane’s close collaborators. To top it off, members of The Pogues and Shane’s wife were in the audience!

Edinburgh Fringe Festival: For the Love of Shane McGowan

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo: This event was far more than a parade—it was a display of Scottish pride, bagpipes, and military precision that left us in awe. It was one of the most powerful and visually stunning experiences of the trip. If you are in Scotland in August and can score some tickets, it is a MUST!

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

The Jacobite Train: Ah, the “Train to Hogwarts”! Even months in advance, the train was nearly sold out. It didn’t disappoint. The scenery was magnificent, and the sight of people perched on hills just to watch the train cross the famous viaduct (a scene from the Harry Potter films) was magical in itself. We felt like celebrities with all of them taking our picture and waiving as we rode by.

The contrast between the bustle of Edinburgh and the serenity of the Western Scottish Highlands took us by surprise. While we’re not the “outdoorsy” type, the Highlands had us captivated.

We’d love to return, starting in Glasgow, then drive through the Highlands to Inverness before circling back down to Edinburgh. There’s so much more to explore! Oh, and yes—next time, we’ll be hitting those famous distilleries.

Our Ireland Itinerary:

• The Guinness Storehouse

• HOHO bus tour to explore the city

• Drive to Ballycastle and visit Downpatrick Head

• Stay at The Lodge at Ashford Castle and explore the grounds

• Visit Kylemore Abbey and then head to Galway

• Drive to the Cliffs of Moher and the Bridges of Ross

• Continue down to Killarney for the Torc Waterfall and Muckross House & Abbey

• End in Cork, before heading back to Dublin to fly out to London

In Ireland, we explored iconic spots like the Cliffs of Moher, Ashford Castle, and Cork. Next time, though, we’d focus more on Northern Ireland—Belfast and Derry are high on our list.

Highlights of Ireland:

Dublin: Dublin was everything we had imagined—vibrant yet chill. With pubs at every turn and a laid-back atmosphere, it’s a city we could easily spend more time exploring. We only had three days, but we made the most of it—seeing Flogging Molly (one of our favorite Irish Punk bands), exploring the Guinness Storehouse—complete with being certified to pour a perfect pint, and touring Trinity College with its absolutely stunning library.

Your eyes do not deceive you! All the books have been removed! They are renovating the library to better protect it and all its contents. They explained that after they saw the tragedy of the Notre Dame Cathedral fire in Paris, they want to make sure something similar doesn't happen here.

Ashford Castle: Staying at The Lodge at Ashford Castle was an experience in itself. This place is stunning. It felt like stepping into a fairy tale, complete with a backdrop of lush green landscapes and history at every corner. A must-see for anyone traveling through Ireland.

Ashford Castle, Ireland

Things We Learned:

• Edinburgh in August is Madness: Unless you’re specifically attending for the Fringe Festival or the Military Tattoo, it’s probably best to avoid Edinburgh in August. It’s packed, and despite it being summer, the weather is surprisingly cold. Pack warm layers!

• Galway and Cork: Both of these towns are full of energy and vibrancy. They’re like little cities that haven’t quite outgrown their small-town charm yet—and we mean that in the best possible way. We feel like we only scratched the surface of what these places have to offer.

• Irish and the Scots are Incredibly Friendly: From Edinbrugh to Killarney, we found the Irish and Scots to be some of the most helpful and welcoming people we’ve met on our travels. They go out of their way to make sure you have the best possible experience.

Scotland and Ireland are as breathtaking as they are welcoming. From the wild beauty of the Scottish Highlands to the bustling charm of Dublin’s pubs, we’ve only just begun to explore what these countries have to offer. Both destinations left us wanting more—more natural beauty, more whisky, more history, and more adventures.

P.S. The pictures and videos shared here don’t even start to capture this amazing adventure. To see more of our journey, visit the Scotland and Ireland Photo Gallery, here on the Where To Next blog.

Cheers (slàinte mhath and gártha) to another wonderful adventure that left us wanting more!

Now…Where To Next?