Ireland, Scotland and Paris - Places to go!!

[azkaban]

So we are off OS next Thursday for a month and our itinerary is relatively flexible. We are just wondering where the places to go are and what we HAVE to see in the places we are going.
We have 1 week in Ireland (Dublin(3nights),Cork(3nights) , Galway (1 night) and a night in Belfast) the onto Glasgow (2nights) 8 days driving around Scotland then 7 nights in Edinburgh and then 5 nights in Paris on the way home.
We have sorted out all our accommodation but are looking at places to go!!
Any suggestions would be appreciated!!
Thanks

[Podlettte]

My sister has been to scotland several times at varying times in summer and has always needed clothing for wet and wild and cold weather!

take a goretex jacket and warm mid layer, 1 will be enough.

places to visit... where you driving to around scotland? Inverness is gorgeous. Stirling castle in between glasgow and Inverness is interesting she says.

Obviously Loch Ness and various other lochs in the area, will get more detail form her for you.

[azkaban]

Cheers Pods. Inverness, Stirling castle and Loch ness are Definitly on the list of "to dos"
Look forward to hearing more from you Sis ;)

[ 23. June 2009, 09:54 PM: Message edited by: azkaban ]

[ozgirl]

Pods is right on the layers!

I usually take the light shell ski jacket i have.

I loved Galway (it is a great uni town) and belfast - the pubs will freak you out with the cage at the door. You have to do the black cab tour in Belfast - it is a really eye opener.

I found Derry (or Londoderry) to be worst racially than Bellfast. Besides the black cab tour i woudl have never know i was in Nth Ireland. Well beside the cage for the door, the publican will let you in when you buzz (if you don't look doge!)

[Podlettte]

ok here is her reply - I mentioned you were already going to stirling castle, inverness etc...


lots of places you can visit in 8 days if you plan it right. all the one's you mentioned. i also recommend driving up north of edinburgh through st andrews and visit Dunrobin Castle. Isle of Skye of course. You can do alot of trips from edinburgh itself - i visited many places on day trips from there - the trussochs, Glencoe (definately a must - some people go for walks there), cullodeon battle fields, Loch Lomand.

if they have time to go further up to the north coast of Scotland - Dunnett Head a wonderful part of the coastline and they could maybe (if they have the time) catch a boat to the Orkneys- on here are the ring of brogar - standing stones with more atmosphere than stonehenge or head to Oban - i was just reading yesterday that they have tours of the different islands from there. They might be able to look into that option, i'm not sure of the exact details.

There is also some nice villages between the border with England and Edinburgh - the Abbey area - lots of different castles and abbeys like Melrose Abbey and Jedburgh Abbey - very cute towns as well. Also somewhere around there is Sir Walter Raliegh's place called Abbotsford House it's near the Tweed River - very pretty area.

Probably alot more i'm not remembering - Iona and Mull islands - but they should have a look at the Scottish tourist websites, there is quite a few. Just google Scotland and heaps will come up.

I know it sounds like alot but most of the day tours take in the major areas of interest and anything else you can travel to yourself.The ring of Brogar is (one of) where Billy connelly danced around naked in the half light :D

[TB]

Another vote for Isle of Skye. and mainland neighbour-Kyle of Lochash (I think). Eileen Donan castle (think highlander is near here).

I had less time than you. I would absolutely climb Ben Nevis-I havent, winter is not the appropriate time but research it. It may not be that high but deserves respect.

Paris, anywhere, I loved Montmarte at night. Just hanging out at Sacre Couer is an event.

You have time to train it to Versailles-I didnt but I would. Again you have more time than me but the Catacombs would be on my list-if you have never been to an ossuary-you should, weird and magnetic. Continuing the theme is Père Lachaise Cemetery. Stupidly famous people here including Jim Morrisson, Proust, Bizet, Chopin, Oscar wilde and others. Bois de Bologne is a great park, daytime only as a recommend.

Champs Elysee-just walk it from the Arc to the Place de la Concorde. Hang out in the park, watch the remote boats in the lake, Jump on a boat on the Seine. The Musee Dorsey is a MUST see, the louvre is a if you dont people will think you are nuts.Notre Dame is almost the most spectacular building I have ever seen, inside and out.

Try to just hang out in Paris, its hard but try, stay somewhere cool like Rue de Rivoli. Paris is just awesome. I liked Rome better as an event but Id rather live in Paris.

[bdenny4]

Paris is just awesome and the best part of it all is roaming the streets, sitting in cafes and ****ing in the atmosphere. The tourist bus thingy that goes around Paris is great for an overview and hop on and off where you want.

Louvre, Opera House, Versailles and Luxemborg Gardens were high on my list.

Ireland, for me, was all about driving around the countryside and all the little villages along the coast. Sitting in a tiny village pub taking to the locals. Some of the B&B's are just magnificent and very traditional. Ring of Kerry and the entire West and South West coast has magnificent scenery

[chicco]

Places to go in Ireland. If your going to Northern Ireland I'd recommend Belfast; go see the parliament house, memorial to the titannic the opera house,The Crown Bar (which is famous for being blown up so many times), the dock lands including where the Titannic was built. Derry (Londonderry/Derry/Slash City)it known as pretty all of them depending what religion you are or who your talking to, There is the famous for all the wrong reason Bogside where "Bloody Sunday" happened and all the murels on the buildings, the town walls. The north Coast including The Giants Causeway, Bushmills Irish whiskey distillery,a really small town called Downhill where I stayed in the backpackers on the beach pretty much(nothing else there though), Carracreed (not sure on the spelling)its a little bridge that goes to a small fishing island.

As for the Repulblic of Ireland I only went to Dublin for 2 days Obvious choice Guiness Brewery, Kinaharn Goal (again cant spell); do the goal tour to really understand the place,St Patrick's Cathederal, Dublin Castle, Botanical Gardens, and a good walk around the City and river, For a great night out Temple Bar (you'll understand when you get there)

[azkaban]

Thanks so much guys and gals. I have been franticly writing down all these places (some I already had) on my "travel notepad"
I have all the Lonely Planet books but will probably read more of them when I am sitting on the planes on the way over.
Again thanks for all the imput!!

[Podlettte]

No wukkas!

I didn't think to ask her about Ireland, she's been there to.

have a great trip and report in when you're back smile.gif PICS or ban ;)

[HelsSA]

Where are you staying in Paris AZkaban? We are heading for Rome, Venice, Paris and Barcelona and I need to find reasonable accomodation in Paris. Any hints would be great. Have fun. If you get a chance you could check out Castle St Monte up near the top of France.

[azkaban]

Well back from the trip and had amazing time and got so much done!!! I posted 545 pic on facebook so if anyone is interested in seeing them just add me(Mick Sweeney) ( I am holding a shinty(scottish hockey)stick in my profile pic)and you can have a squizz!!
HelsSA, not sure if you are still here but in Paris we stayed at The Ramada Tour Eiffel. 500m from the tower and we could see it laying down in our hotel room ;) As cliched as it sounds it was very romantic LOL
Ireland was beautiful as was Scotland and we just LOVED Paris!! Belfast didnt leave a good impression as we witnessed a daylight bank robbery and almost got beaten up in a very very rough "Catholic" bar downtown!! Other than that the trip was fabulous.
Thanks all for your travel tips and advice on places to go!!