2021 May/June in Scotland/Ireland

Keacc

DIS Veteran
Joined
Jul 14, 2004
We live in the USA and will be celebrating our 40th anniversary in 2021. I just booked a 14 day tour of Scotland/Ireland for May 29th thru June 11th of 2021. Am I crazy for booking this?
 
The only crazy part is not booking to come to Wales. We have the best castles, culture and coastline in the UK.
It drives me potty when I chat to American guests art Disney and they say they want to visit England, come to Wales as we keep a welcome in the hillside for everyone!
 
We live in the USA and will be celebrating our 40th anniversary in 2021. I just booked a 14 day tour of Scotland/Ireland for May 29th thru June 11th of 2021. Am I crazy for booking this?

Nope not crazy, waving hi from Dublin, pay no attention to the above :rotfl2:

Any help you need, let me know.

Just remember that Republic of Ireland, Dublin etc is a separate country to Scotland. Scotland is part of The UK.

Scotland is pounds sterling currency £
Republic of Ireland is Euro €

Also now that we are in the world of Covid 19, you will need to follow the travel advice for both The UK and Republic of Ireland.

Are you doing DIY or have you booked an all inclusive with a travel company?
 


oh wow, thats an intense itinerary. I need to have another look, and I'll get back to you with my tips. I have visited many places on your itinerary and have lived in Edinburgh :)
We will actually be getting into Edinburgh during the afternoon of May 27th. We will be staying at DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Edinburgh City Centre. We will need a recommendation for dinner on the 27th. On the 28th, we will be on our own to see some things that are not on the tour itinerary. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. We won't have a car, but could take a taxi. We hook up with the tour group on the 29th.
 
We will actually be getting into Edinburgh during the afternoon of May 27th. We will be staying at DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Edinburgh City Centre. We will need a recommendation for dinner on the 27th. On the 28th, we will be on our own to see some things that are not on the tour itinerary. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. We won't have a car, but could take a taxi. We hook up with the tour group on the 29th.

For dinner, my suggestion is not very Scottish but a personal choice, Hard Rock Cafe :rotfl2: I used to work there and some of my former workmates are still there.

For something not on your Edinburgh itinerary I always suggest The Real Mary Kings Close https://www.realmarykingsclose.com/ which is near Edinburgh Castle on The Royal Mile. Its an excavation site of the old Edinburgh streets from the 17th century which has been turned into a tourist attraction. Its the real streets, the real buildings from 400 years ago. You need to check their website though as some of the steps and stairs etc are not suitable for those who are unsteady on their feet.

Edinburgh is now Harry Potter city and there are tons of Harry Potter shops and walking tours. You can even go for coffee in the cafe where JK Rowling wrote the first books, called The Elephant House.

Another cool place to visit is Greyfriars Kirkyard (churchyard) https://greyfriarskirk.com/visit/kirkyard/ You can see the statue of Greyfriers Bobby at the entrance and if you look closely at headstones in the graveyard, you can see names of Harry Potter characters, as JK Rowling used many of the real people buried here.

Depending on time another place to visit is the Royal Yacht Britannia https://www.royalyachtbritannia.co.uk/ which is now permanently at Leith docks and open to the public.
 


For dinner, my suggestion is not very Scottish but a personal choice, Hard Rock Cafe :rotfl2: I used to work there and some of my former workmates are still there.

For something not on your Edinburgh itinerary I always suggest The Real Mary Kings Close https://www.realmarykingsclose.com/ which is near Edinburgh Castle on The Royal Mile. Its an excavation site of the old Edinburgh streets from the 17th century which has been turned into a tourist attraction. Its the real streets, the real buildings from 400 years ago. You need to check their website though as some of the steps and stairs etc are not suitable for those who are unsteady on their feet.

Edinburgh is now Harry Potter city and there are tons of Harry Potter shops and walking tours. You can even go for coffee in the cafe where JK Rowling wrote the first books, called The Elephant House.

Another cool place to visit is Greyfriars Kirkyard (churchyard) https://greyfriarskirk.com/visit/kirkyard/ You can see the statue of Greyfriers Bobby at the entrance and if you look closely at headstones in the graveyard, you can see names of Harry Potter characters, as JK Rowling used many of the real people buried here.

Depending on time another place to visit is the Royal Yacht Britannia https://www.royalyachtbritannia.co.uk/ which is now permanently at Leith docks and open to the public.
Looks like we will have some great things to see! :cool1: My wife loves Harry Potter. The Real Mary Kings Close sounds interesting. Thanks for the info.
 
Looks like we will have some great things to see! :cool1: My wife loves Harry Potter. The Real Mary Kings Close sounds interesting. Thanks for the info.
Is Costcutter a grocery store? I see that there is one near our hotel (Double Tree). We would like to pick up some snacks for our back packs.
 
Is Costcutter a grocery store? I see that there is one near our hotel (Double Tree). We would like to pick up some snacks for our back packs.

yes Costcotter is a store but its more like a convenience store than a grocery store. You would be better off looking for Sainsburys, Asda or Tesco, they are grocery stores which have better prices and range of food. Other grocery stores I would recommend would be Marks and Spencers known locally as M & S or Waitrose. M & S or Waitrose would be more high end, think similar to Wholefoods, while Sainsburys, Asda or Tesco would be more mid range prices and range of food. The lunch meal deal is very popular in all types of grocery stores. Depending on the chain, it is usually a premade sandwich or salad with a soda and a snack, which could be chocolate or crisps (potato chips) Again depending on the store meal deals are usually very reasonably priced at less than £6.

Drugstores such as Boots and Superdrug also do the premade sandwiches and salads meal deals.

These meal deals are good quality food, not like the pre made sandwiches in American small grocery stores or convenience stores.

Another option for snacks for your backpack would be a coffee shop called Pret A Manger or EAT which are similar to Starbucks but they specialise in premade sandwiches and salads. Again very fresh, very good quality food which is reasonably priced and easy to pop into back packs.
 
Hiya, your tour looks amazing, you will see so much. I am Glaswegian but have lived in Edinburgh and Coleraine up near the Giants Causeway, so I know quite a few of the areas you'll be seeing. I don't think your crazy for booking to come to the celtic isles, you'll have a great trip and meet some of the nicest people. Both the Scots and the Irish like a good laugh and don't take themselves too seriously!

I second the recommendation for the Witchery for eats, I'm visiting there myself just next month. If you want something very fancy, there is an amazing Michelin starred restaurant called 'the kitchin', it's top notch and one of the best places I have eaten on the globe (and I travel a lot, I'm writing now from Rwanda lol), but it also has a price tag to match. However, for a special trip like an anniversary, I highly recommend. Also, if you enjoy a cocktail, I also recommend Panda and Sons in Edinburgh too.

I see you stop in Loch Lomond...one of my favourite places, whenever I'm back home in Scotland, I try and do at least one night there. The beauty of the surroundings never gets old. Your going to have a blast :)
 
Checkout the England and Scotland *12/6* updated trip report under the Disney Cruiseline Trip Reports on page 3 for tips and pictures.
 
Following. Our 25th is next year and we are thinking of a trip to Ireland. Sis in law is wanting to go back. Her and DH went with their parents not long before we got married. FIL is 100% Irish ancestry so they love Ireland.
 
Following. Our 25th is next year and we are thinking of a trip to Ireland. Sis in law is wanting to go back. Her and DH went with their parents not long before we got married. FIL is 100% Irish ancestry so they love Ireland.

waves hi from Dublin, feel free to ask me any questions. :) I'm born and grew up in Dublin. I have family in many parts of Ireland and I have lived in Galway, Athlone, Wexford and Wicklow, and I have been to many tourist things all over the country
 
waves hi from Dublin, feel free to ask me any questions. :) I'm born and grew up in Dublin. I have family in many parts of Ireland and I have lived in Galway, Athlone, Wexford and Wicklow, and I have been to many tourist things all over the country
FIL is 100% from county Mayo according to Ancestry DNA. I am not sure where that is, Galway area I think. Not sure what we will do over there as I haven't been. But once some plans get started I will, for sure, come ask you some advice. Thanks!
 
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County Mayo is west coast, not right at the top, but above half way. A nice place to visit there if you're keen to go is Westport. Just a little coastal market town, but some artisan chocolate shops etc. seem to have popped up recently.
 
We live in the USA and will be celebrating our 40th anniversary in 2021. I just booked a 14 day tour of Scotland/Ireland for May 29th thru June 11th of 2021. Am I crazy for booking this?
Congrats to you! Our 40th is also in 2021. But we are being very cautious and have made no plans yet. I will live my anniversary through your wonderfully planned trip. Love Ireland and Scotland so please do a trip report. I would love to read it. Thinking someday when all of this is behind us we'll be back!
 

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