10 Tips for Planning a Trip to Scotland and Ireland

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by Maggie Turansky


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The rugged landscape and emerald green nature of the British Isles leave many travellers longing to jump on the next flight to explore these two fantastic countries. However, planning a trip to Scotland and Ireland takes a bit more preparation than simply booking a flight and packing a bag.

While these two countries are, on the whole, quite easy to travel in — especially if you’re an English-speaker — there are a number of things you need to be aware of when visiting the wild north of Great Britain and the Emerald Isle.

Before we left on our amazing road trips through the Scottish highlands and the west of Ireland, there are several things we wished we would have known. To help you avoid some of the mistakes that we made, we’ve compiled a handy list of ten helpful tips for your trip to the region!

10 Tips for Travel in Scotland & Ireland

Though Scotland and Ireland are both highly developed Western countries, there are a few anomalies that can throw a wrench in your travel plans if you’re not adequately prepared.

It is also worth noting that, while the countries are quite similar, there are some suggestions in this list that apply more to one country over another.

1. Rent a car

While it is certainly possible to get around Scotland and Ireland while relying solely on public transport, the further out of the bigger towns you get the more difficult it will become.

If you don’t want to spend the majority of your days either on a bus or waiting for one, one of the biggest travel tips I could give is to hire a car. We recommend searching for cars on Rentalcars.com to compare prices across major companies.

While fuel prices can be steep, most cars have quite good mileage and both countries are fairly small, so you won’t have to fill up often. Hiring a car will definitely allow you to see the sites you want on your own terms and gives you a certain amount of freedom that the bus just doesn’t.

Glencoe in Scotland
Glencoe in Scotland

It is worth noting that both countries drive on the left side of the road and it can take some getting used to if you’ve only ever driven on the right.

However, it isn’t too hard and many visitors manage to navigate the change without any incidents. If you’re looking for tips about driving in Ireland for tourists, make sure to tell the rental car company your qualms and they are sure to help you out.

It is also worth spending time in the car park to familiarise yourself with the car before hitting the road.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the majority of rental cars in Ireland and Scotland tend to have manual transmissions. If you are confident driving manually, hiring this kind of car can save you a fair amount of money per day.

There are fewer automatic transmission cars available and they, therefore, tend to be a bit more expensive. However, if you don’t drive a manual or are nervous about driving in Scotland or Ireland, then it might be better to rent an automatic.

Road on Achill Island
Road on Achill Island in Ireland

2. Wild Camp in Scotland

Camping has long been one of the saving graces for the budget-conscious traveller, with campsites coasting a fraction of the price of even the most discounted of hostel dorm beds.

However, in Scotland, while you can certainly drop some cash on a campsite plot, you don’t have to pay a thing if you choose to wild camp — and it’s perfectly legal almost everywhere.

Wild camping is both a really good way to offset the cost of a car hire and an excellent way to get away from it all and to enjoy the stunning natural scenery all to yourself. So, if you find a good spot, go ahead and pitch a tent and spend the night — this is one of the best Scotland travel tips I could give.

If you do choose to wild camp in Scotland, just make sure to do so safely and respectfully. Exercise leave no trace practices and make sure you leave your sleeping spot looking as if you were never there.

Make sure to camp away from main roads, as well, and be sure that it is legal to park your car where you are overnight. If you are unsure if you’re allowed to camp somewhere, a quick Google search for local laws should set you straight.

This tip applies only when planning a trip to Scotland as wild camping is illegal in Ireland. However, camping is still a popular money-saving option in Ireland, you just need to be at a proper campsite to do it.

As many people choose to camp in Ireland, there are hundreds of campsites throughout the country and they rarely cost more than about €10-15 per night. You also get the added benefit of shower facilities…which isn’t offered if you’re wild camping!

wild camping on the North Coast 500
Not a bad place to pitch a tent — just outside of Durness

3. Take advantage of petrol stations.

The Highlands of Scotland are the most sparsely populated area of the UK and larger towns become few and far between the farther north you venture. This is much the same once you get outside of the bigger cities and towns in Ireland.

This being said, I would recommend that you consider filling up your tank when you’re about half full as it can be a long time before you come across a petrol station.

No one wants to be stranded with an empty tank in the middle of nowhere, so make sure to take advantage of whatever stations you come across. You don’t know when the next one will come along.

Petrol prices can be high in this area of the world, especially if you’re visiting from the United States so that is something to keep in mind when figuring out a budget.

Beautiful Scottish countryside
Beautiful Scottish countryside

4. It can take a while to travel short distances

One of the best travel tips to keep in mind while you’re road-tripping is that even though your destination might look fairly close by on the map, it can take a while to get there.

This is especially true in the more rural areas, but it can take close to three hours to travel just 60 miles. So make sure to plan accordingly and be realistic about how long it might take you to arrive at your destination.

The same goes when planning a trip to Ireland, especially if you decide to get off of the main motorway and enjoy the bucolic scenery of the smaller country roads.

We recommend getting off the big roads when visiting both Scotland and Ireland because it will help you find some hidden gems and see parts of the countries that few tourists ever even think to, but this can add to your travel time.

If you’re wondering how long it might take you to get somewhere, make sure to check out the travel times on Google Maps rather than just looking at the distance.

If your destination is 100 kilometres (62 miles) away, for instance, don’t expect it to take an hour to drive there as you might in the USA. It will likely take at least 2 hours to drive there.

Wild Atlantic Way Viewpoint @ Tullan Strand
Wild Atlantic Way Viewpoint @ Tullan Strand

5. The roads are narrow and full of sheep

One of the reasons it might take you a while to get from point A to point B while on a Scottish Highlands or Ireland road trip might be due to the narrow roads.

The farther away from the bigger towns you go, the roads get steadily narrower — to the point where there might only be one lane with passing places every 100 meters or so.

Another thing to know is that there often tend to be several sheep grazing on the side of these one-lane roads and they have little concern for oncoming traffic.

Michael and I spent about ten minutes at one point trying to get some sheep to move out of the middle of the road and had no success until someone came along and let his Border Collie chase them off.

Sheeps in Orkney
Sheep are ubiquitous in Scotland, even at major tourist attractions

6. Be prepared for all weather

It is a well-known fact that this part of the world and rainy weather go hand in hand, so one of the best Scotland travel tips I can give is to make sure that you’re prepared to experience every season in one day.

The most valuable thing you can remember to pack when planning a trip is a waterproof/windproof jacket.

Even though a day might start out bright and sunny with not a cloud in the sky, it can turn at the flip of a switch and, without the proper clothing, you can end up getting completely soaked. So do yourself a favour and dress appropriately.

Glenveagh National Park
Glenveagh National Park in Ireland

7. Make sure to book ahead during the high season

Gone are the days where you could just search for a vacancy sign the day of, or expect to find a table at the local pub without a reservation. No, if you’re planning a trip, especially in the high season of June to August you’re going to have to book ahead.

If you’re not planning on wild camping or cooking for yourself, you are going to need to have accommodation and dinner booked in advance.

8. Get off the main highways

If you’re going on a road trip make sure to get off of the main highways!

As I mentioned in tip 4, even though rural backroads might be windy, narrow, and full of sheep, they will also provide you with some of the most stunning natural scenery in the world, with every turn giving way to a gorgeous vista.

The smaller roads are infinitely more scenic than the big motorways and will definitely make your Scotland or Ireland road trip all the more memorable.

Driving along the Sky Road in Connemara
Driving along the Sky Road in Connemara

9. Eat local seafood

While British and Irish food may come with several preconceived negative stereotypes, much of the UK and Ireland is actively trying to remedy this and food is much better today than it ever has been.

And absolutely nothing is comparable to the incredible seafood available all along the Scottish coast or the wonderful oysters and salmon available along Ireland’s wild Connemara region.

Though there are many chippies to be found and the battered and fried fish is out-of-this-world delicious, there are also fantastic restaurants where you can get beautifully prepared, freshly caught local seafood.

Ireland especially is having its own food revolution with many local chefs reimagining their local cuisine and giving it a modern twist.

While the city of Cork is most notable for starting this trend, many other Irish cities have followed suit and there are myriad Michelin-starred restaurants throughout the Emerald Isle.

Even if these restaurants lie a bit outside of your Ireland travel budget, there are some more affordable restaurants, especially in bigger towns and cities, that serve incredible Irish food that will knock your socks off.

Seafood Platter at Skerries Bistro
Seafood Platter at Skerries Bistro

10. Drink (a lot of) whisk(e)y

Nowhere in the world can you find so much phenomenal whisky in such a small area. There are over 100 single malt whisky distilleries actively producing Scotland’s most popular export throughout the country and it would be a shame if you didn’t take this opportunity to tour at least one distillery and see how this wonderful spirit is made.

Ireland is no different and although Irish whiskey dropped in international popularity in the past couple of decades, it is seeing a massive resurgence. There are many fantastic whiskey distilleries throughout the country and it is very worth sampling Ireland’s famous firewater.

If touring a distillery bores you but you still love whisky, most pubs in Scotland and Ireland have impressive collections of Scotch or Irish whiskey at better prices than you could get anywhere in the world.

Head to a cosy pub with some live music and order a peaty dram of a fine single malt. That is a recipe for an unforgettable evening in the Scottish Highlands or Irish countryside.

The Glenmorangie Distillery in Tain
The Glenmorangie Distillery in Tain

These ten tips will help you have the best trip possible in the British Isles! Make sure to take time to get off of the beaten path and enjoy all of the things that Scotland and Ireland have to offer — you won’t be disappointed!

Are you planning a trip to Ireland and Scotland? Have you been? Let us know in the comments!

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Maggie is a co-founder and writer for The World Was Here First. Originally from the US, she has lived in five different countries and has travelled to dozens more, both solo and with her partner, Michael. She particularly loves exploring Spain and spending time in the Caucasus and the Baltics. Read more about Maggie

Comments

  1. Maggie:
    I appreciate your advice to rent a car and I agree. However, my wife and I are in our 80’s (I’m 88) and driving for us would be unwise. What advice do you have for us for a 10-14 trip to Ireland and Scotland?
    David

    Reply
    • Hi David – if you’re unable to hire a car there are train and bus connections between major cities in Scotland and Ireland. If you want to venture somewhere a bit more rural, I suggest hopping on some organised day tours 🙂

      Reply
  2. Hi,
    Would you recommend exploring on your own or going on one of the many tours offered from Dublin to the Cliffs of Moher? We are headed to Ireland in June and want to make the most of our time.
    Thanks,
    The Jacksons

    Reply
  3. I’m planning on a trip to Ireland and Scotland for 2023-24. What airline do you recommend and what do you think cost would be. I’m planning to visit on my own terms.

    Reply
  4. My husband and I are planning our first trip to Scotland and Ireland in 2022 to celebrate our 50th Wedding Anniversary. Since we have not traveled abroad before, your website has given me an excellent place to start planning. My ancestral home is a little town called Methven and we would like to do a handfasting ceremony there, if possible. Any ideas on who to contact for something like that?

    Reply
    • Hi Linn, thanks for your kind words and I’m happy that our website has proved helpful in planning your trip! Sounds like you’ve got quite the adventure in the works. Unfortunately, I don’t know anything about handfasting ceremonies so I can’t be of any help in that regard. I hope you’re able to find what you’re looking for!

      Reply
  5. Experiencing a trip to Scotland and Ireland is on “my bucket list”, and I’ve decided to not wait to be invited, so I’m making plans for myself, in two years. Hopefully the world will be back to normal by then! Thank you for the tips and I will be looking for other resources to help plan my future trip.

    Reply
  6. Can you give more tips on how to get affordable yet amazing accommodations throughout a 20 day trip to Ireland. After reading your article, might add Scotland. Family of 4 (2 teens). Thanks!

    Reply
    • Hi Teresa! I would recommend having a look at booking.com or Airbnb in order to find accommodation that would suit your family’s particular needs.

      Reply
  7. Hi Hugo. Not sure with the pandemic if you went to Scotland yet. But my husband and I are also looking into a trip to both Scotland and Ireland. We are also from South Africa and are thinking of going next year in September if all goes well. Have you had any luck with the Campervan idea? That sounds kinda brilliant. Thanks for the tips Maggie will definitely use them.

    Reply
  8. Good Day

    We are planning a Scotland Ireland trip and want to do it with Campervans. We are from South Africa and have never been to these two countries. do you have a prevered company that we can contact for these campervans to rent?

    Reply
    • Thanks for your comment, Hugo! Unfortunately, we don’t have a specific campervan company to recommend as we haven’t done this mode of travel before. Scotland and Ireland are the perfect place for it, though!

      Reply
  9. I’ve physically never been to Ireland or Scotland but my soul has,for sure, and it has been pulling and haunting me to go for some time now!! I’m starting to plan a trip to mark and celebrate turning 50 in my life and I am so glad I came across your site to help me with the planning process where I’m looking to do a more ‘out of the box’ type trip instead of a more typical, traditional,touristy type visit. Thank you for sharing your experiences,suggestions and tips!!!

    Reply
    • Thanks for your comment, Janeen! I’m glad you’ve found our website helpful for planning your trip. Scotland and Ireland ar both beautiful countries with so much to offer travellers and I hope you have an amazing time exploring 🙂 If you have any more questions, please don’t hesitate to get in contact

      Reply
  10. Great tips! I have been to Ireland 2 years ago and now I’m planning a 3 week trip in Scotland and Ireland. I will definitely use your tips, thank you a lot for sharing.

    Reply

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