I've narrowed down my autumn travel plans to these two countries. For those of you who've been to either (or better: both), what are their selling points? What must I see/do? Which should I pick if I could choose only one?

Thanks in advance.

Ireland

luv4u said:

Thanks, but could I get some whys and wherefores?

I never been to Ireland but I have been to Scotland which I loved. Visit Glascow, Edinburgh and definitly Aberdeen. If you're a foodie & a lover of history, you'll love what Edinburgh has to offer. Aberdeen becuase of its country side. And Glascow, because well, its Glascow vibrant night life.

Hamad said:

I was in Ireland last October. I'd recommend it for the pleasant climate, and it's still lush and green around that time. Never been to Scotland.

Ireland. You have the Wild Atlantic Way on the West coast. Kerry has Dingle and all around the Ring plus lots more. Haven't been north but heard its fab especially Belfast. Dublin too. So much to see and its very easy to get around. Excellent value for food and drink and of a very high quality. Irish pubs are the heart of Ireland and a lot have live music and this is where the craic is. People are so friendly (So are the Scots).

I confess I'm a bit more inclined toward Ireland, as I think it could be a treat to be on the isle during Halloween. I'm not particularly big on the day myself, but I understand Derry, in Northern Ireland, has one of the biggest Halloween celebrations in the world. It could be cool to drive up from Dublin, if only to see the costumes.

I'm thrilled to find, though, that flights between Dublin and Glasgow are dirt cheap! Makes it a bit more likely I'll do both. And with Edinburg less than an hour from Glasgow, I may go for blood and hit all of these spots.

[Edited 8/24/16 16:05pm]

I've been to Ireland 10+ times and Scotland maybe 4 or 5. Definitely seen more of Ireland, especially Dublin, so I can't really be fair about it, but I have to say Ireland. I like Glasgow and Edinburgh but I think I enjoy Dublin more. Weather may be a factor.

Fauxie said:

I've been to Ireland 10+ times and Scotland maybe 4 or 5. Definitely seen more of Ireland, especially Dublin, so I can't really be fair about it, but I have to say Ireland. I like Glasgow and Edinburgh but I think I enjoy Dublin more. Weather may be a factor.

Hey, Nick. What should I expect of these two places weatherwise?

Lammastide said:

Lammastide said:

Fauxie said:

I've been to Ireland 10+ times and Scotland maybe 4 or 5. Definitely seen more of Ireland, especially Dublin, so I can't really be fair about it, but I have to say Ireland. I like Glasgow and Edinburgh but I think I enjoy Dublin more. Weather may be a factor.

Hey, Nick. What should I expect of these two places weatherwise?

Irish too and the climate between both probably will not differ too greatly.Coming into the Winter months but you may get lucky. Flights to Edinburg/Glasgow are really cheap and frequent with Ryanair from Dublin so you can pre-book or have a look at prices and possibly do both.

EmmaMcG said:

Lammastide said:

Hey, Nick. What should I expect of these two places weatherwise?

Ireland has pretty shitty weather. I've lived here all my life and can attest to that. And Scotland is worse.

I see you've got a future in sales!

Lammastide said:

Lammastide said:

Fauxie said:

I've been to Ireland 10+ times and Scotland maybe 4 or 5. Definitely seen more of Ireland, especially Dublin, so I can't really be fair about it, but I have to say Ireland. I like Glasgow and Edinburgh but I think I enjoy Dublin more. Weather may be a factor.

Hey, Nick. What should I expect of these two places weatherwise?

Rain. But Ireland looks nicer in it.

If it's scenary and history you're after then you can't beat the Scottish Highlands. The Outer Hebrides have some of the best beaches in the world, too. As for cities, I can't say I care for many Scottish cities very much - although Inverness is in a fantastic location.

Ireland, greener, better beer and spirits. Also people are not stingy and the temperature will be 11 degrees celsius instead of 10, and you will either see a leprechaun or a bright yellow disk shaped object low in the sky. Rumour has it, the locals call it the sun!

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Also there is so much history, the pub that Brendan Behan got pissed in 1959 and the one where Andrew from the Commitments called Shaz the "Commitment tits".

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Seriously though Ireland has a lot of megalithoic monuments, breath taking coastlines and friendlier locals. Personally myself Irish brogue is a bit easier than Scottish brogue. Still Scotlan dis pretty cool too.

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Seriously dude, Scotland or Ireland in October, it will be very wet, dark and freezing, why don't you go some where a bit warmer like say Malta or Cyprus.

Adorecream said:

Ireland, greener, better beer and spirits. Also people are not stingy and the temperature will be 11 degrees celsius instead of 10, and you will either see a leprechaun or a bright yellow disk shaped object low in the sky. Rumour has it, the locals call it the sun!

.

Also there is so much history, the pub that Brendan Behan got pissed in 1959 and they haven't cleaned up the vomit yet. Rumour has it, is that it morphed into Bono.

.

Seriously though Ireland has a lot of megalithoic monuments, breath taking coastlines and friendlier locals. Personally myself Irish brogue is a bit easier than Scottish brogue. Still Scotland is pretty cool too.

.

Seriously dude, Scotland or Ireland in October, it will be very wet, dark and freezing, why don't you go some where a bit warmer like say Malta or Cyprus.

.

Weather wise seriously, October is autumn and the weather is getting cooler in both places. Dublin has an everage October high of 14 (57) and low of 6 (43), Edinburgh is marginally cooler with 12c (53) and 5 (41). Temperatures could be as warm as 60 -65 in both places at the start of the month. When in October is depenedent, earlier October its a bit brighter and warmer with sunsets between 6 and 6.30pm, however late October they switch back to standard time and this means sunsets at 4.30pm or so. Also take your umbrella as it will rain and rain a lot, fine days are rare and dreary cloudy ones are common. Autumn leaves may look nice though as October is peak leaf time (Usually still greenish on the 1st and nearly starkers by October 31st).

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You should not get snow, but a rogue snowstorm at the end of October is not unknown in Scotland, weatherwise, Scotland is like Nova Scotia and Ireland has a more Seattle type climate.

Lammastide said:

I confess I'm a bit more inclined toward Ireland, as I think it could be a treat to be on the isle during Halloween. I'm not particularly big on the day myself, but I understand Derry, in Northern Ireland, has one of the biggest Halloween celebrations in the world. It could be cool to drive up from Dublin, if only to see the costumes.

I'm thrilled to find, though, that flights between Dublin and Glasgow are dirt cheap! Makes it a bit more likely I'll do both. And with Edinburg less than an hour from Glasgow, I may go for blood and hit all of these spots.

[Edited 8/24/16 16:05pm]

By all means if you can hit two birds with one stone, do it

Lammastide said:

I confess I'm a bit more inclined toward Ireland, as I think it could be a treat to be on the isle during Halloween. I'm not particularly big on the day myself, but I understand Derry, in Northern Ireland, has one of the biggest Halloween celebrations in the world. It could be cool to drive up from Dublin, if only to see the costumes.

I'm thrilled to find, though, that flights between Dublin and Glasgow are dirt cheap! Makes it a bit more likely I'll do both. And with Edinburg less than an hour from Glasgow, I may go for blood and hit all of these spots.

[Edited 8/24/16 16:05pm]

Forget Glasgow and Edinburgh - head north!

It appears to be a UFC fight between the Leprechaun vs Haggis... I know idea who will win but it should be great entertainment

Lammastide said:

I confess I'm a bit more inclined toward Ireland, as I think it could be a treat to be on the isle during Halloween. I'm not particularly big on the day myself, but I understand Derry, in Northern Ireland, has one of the biggest Halloween celebrations in the world. It could be cool to drive up from Dublin, if only to see the costumes.

I'm thrilled to find, though, that flights between Dublin and Glasgow are dirt cheap! Makes it a bit more likely I'll do both. And with Edinburg less than an hour from Glasgow, I may go for blood and hit all of these spots.

[Edited 8/24/16 16:05pm]

So what is the final plan?! Where all are you going?
I'm so jealous. I hope to visit the UK soon, or someday

thekidsgirl said:

Lammastide said:

I confess I'm a bit more inclined toward Ireland, as I think it could be a treat to be on the isle during Halloween. I'm not particularly big on the day myself, but I understand Derry, in Northern Ireland, has one of the biggest Halloween celebrations in the world. It could be cool to drive up from Dublin, if only to see the costumes.

I'm thrilled to find, though, that flights between Dublin and Glasgow are dirt cheap! Makes it a bit more likely I'll do both. And with Edinburg less than an hour from Glasgow, I may go for blood and hit all of these spots.

[Edited 8/24/16 16:05pm]

So what is the final plan?! Where all are you going?
I'm so jealous. I hope to visit the UK soon, or someday

No worries. I'm sure you'll make it one day. And how lucky they'll be.


* Flying from Toronto to Glasgow, spending 4 days between there and Edinburgh

* Taking a 2-day tour of the Scottish Highlands

* Back to Glasgow, then flying from there to Dublin on Ryanair (And I've been warned that their only service is to get me from Point A to Point B in one piece )

* Spending 3 days in Dublin

* Driving up to Derry for Halloween, then back down to Dublin (maybe briefly hitting Belfast), from where I'll fly back to Toronto

I should be plenty exhausted after this all, but I'm psyched to go.

[Edited 9/14/16 21:14pm]

thekidsgirl said:

Lammastide said:

thekidsgirl said:

So what is the final plan?! Where all are you going?
I'm so jealous. I hope to visit the UK soon, or someday

No worries. I'm sure you'll make it one day. And how lucky they'll be.


* Flying from Toronto to Glasgow, spending 4 days between there and Edinburgh

* Taking a 2-day tour of the Scottish Highlands

* Back to Glasgow, then flying from there to Dublin on Ryanair (And I've been warned that their only service is to get me from Point A to Point B in one piece )

* Spending 3 days in Dublin

* Driving up to Derry for Halloween, then back down to Dublin (maybe briefly hitting Belfast), from where I'll fly back to Toronto

I should be plenty exhausted after this all, but I'm psyched to go.

[Edited 9/14/16 21:14pm]

That sounds like a fantastic itinerary!! Report back how it goes. Hopefully this thread will still be open in a month

.

[Edited 9/23/16 10:56am]

thekidsgirl said:

Lammastide said:

No worries. I'm sure you'll make it one day. And how lucky they'll be.


* Flying from Toronto to Glasgow, spending 4 days between there and Edinburgh

* Taking a 2-day tour of the Scottish Highlands

* Back to Glasgow, then flying from there to Dublin on Ryanair (And I've been warned that their only service is to get me from Point A to Point B in one piece )

* Spending 3 days in Dublin

* Driving up to Derry for Halloween, then back down to Dublin (maybe briefly hitting Belfast), from where I'll fly back to Toronto

I should be plenty exhausted after this all, but I'm psyched to go.

[Edited 9/14/16 21:14pm]

That sounds like a fantastic itinerary!! Report back how it goes. Hopefully this thread will still be open in a month

.

[Edited 9/23/16 10:56am]

Will do.

Lammastide said:

thekidsgirl said:

So what is the final plan?! Where all are you going?
I'm so jealous. I hope to visit the UK soon, or someday

No worries. I'm sure you'll make it one day. And how lucky they'll be.


* Flying from Toronto to Glasgow, spending 4 days between there and Edinburgh

* Taking a 2-day tour of the Scottish Highlands

Glasgow is great for shopping and nightlife but it looks like a toilet for the most part.

Edinburgh is great for shopping and nightlife but looks beautiful, the city centre is a world heritage site.

I live in Edinburgh but spend time in Glasgow every now and then.

The highlands are great if you like mountains and sheep. Personally they bore the arse off me after ten minutes.

Ireland? Been to Dublin but that's it.

.

Enjoy your trip.

[Edited 9/26/16 12:49pm]