Hello everyone,
So I’m planning a trip to the UK & Ireland with a friend between mid-August and mid-September (around 9th August - 8th September). I have a 2-month continuous pass and her a one-month pass. She prefers cities while I like both cities and nature. We have a rough itinerary but open to changes. Any advice for places to stay or scenic railways ?
- DAY 1 : Switzerland - Paris - London → TGV from Frasne (10€) and Eurostar (30€)
- London (3 nights) : we’ve already been but there are some exhibitions on our list
- York (1 night)
- Edinburgh (3 nights) : day trip to St. Andrews worth it ?
- Inverness (1 night) or 4 nights in Edinburgh and a long travel day to Kyle of Lochalsh (nothing against that)
- Kyle of Lochalsh Railway
- Portree (Isle of Skye) (1 night) : we’ll go back one day to explore more of that area (and other islands) by car. The main goals are the incredible railways in that area.
- Bus to Armadale (must be on a Friday, I checked with the tourist office), ferry to Mallaig and last train to Glasgow (arrival 21:25)
- Glasgow (2-3 nights)
- 4 nights : Lake District, Liverpool/Manchester, North Wales ?
- Ferry to Dublin (30% discount Stena Line or Irish Ferries)
- Dublin (4 nights) : Kilkenny day trip
- Belfast (2 nights)
- Long travel day : Belfast - Dublin - Rosslare, ferry to Fishguard (arrival 21:45)
- Fishguard (1 night)
- Cardiff (1-2 nights)
- Gloucester (2-3 nights) : staying with friends, day trip to Bristol for sure, Oxford possibly
- Gloucester - London - Harwich, night on the ferry to Hoek van Holland
- Utrecht (1 night)
- Back to Switzerland
What would you do different ? Less time in Glasgow and more elsewhere ? My friend has been to London while I’ve visited most of South West England and Wales. Long travel days are perfectly fine for us. Nothing is booked yet except for the night on the Isle of Skye.