United Kingdom &
Ireland
Our15-day journey through Scotland, England, Northern Ireland, and Ireland combined outdoor adventure, history, culture, and great food. Highlights included hiking through England's stunning Lake District and climbing Ben Nevis in the Scottish Highlands, exploring the iconic sights and neighborhoods of London, and taking a fascinating Troubles tour in Northern Ireland to learn about the region's complex history. We also enjoyed traditional Irish music in lively local pubs and sampled plenty of classic fish and chips along the way. The trip offered a memorable blend of spectacular landscapes, vibrant cities, rich heritage, and authentic local experiences.
Things To-Do
Irish Road Trip: Rent a car in Dublin and hit the road to see the beautiful Irish countryside. Over six days we visited Dublin, Galway, Cliffs of Moher, the Dingle Peninsula, Ring of Kerry, and Kilkenny. We then crossed the border into N. Ireland to spend the day in Belfast. Traveling at the end of May meant great weather (lucky?), green hills, and fewer crowds.
London: You can easily spend a full week in London and still not see all there is to see. We spent just two days in this clean, safe, and lively City. Highlights were Tower of London, catching a musical (Book of Mormon), Churchill War Rooms, and accidentally running into some great graffiti street art.
The Lake District. Northwest England is truly a hiker's paradise, offering stunning landscapes and a variety of trails for all skill levels. Amidst the breathtaking scenery, we stopped a several small towns filled with charming gray stone architecture. We used Keswick as our home base, which was close to the Helvellyn and Helm Crag trailheads.
Scottish Highlands: This beautiful region also offers great hiking, like conquering Ben Nevis, the highest peak in the U.K. Tour and taste at the Ben Nevis distillery, go for a driving tour along a Loche, and of course, hang out with the Highland cows.
Edinburgh: Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital, is a historic city known for its dramatic skyline, medieval Old Town, and elegant Georgian New Town. At the heart of the Old Town is the Royal Mile, a famous cobbled street that stretches from Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, lined with historic buildings, shops, and attractions. Highlights of our time here include the Writer's Museum and a night-time ghost tour through Greyfriars Kirkyard Cemetery.
Where We Ate
We aren't exactly foodies but here are some of our favorite spots from our UK/Ireland trip:
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Ireland: In Ireland, we couldn't get enough of the Irish pub food and music. Our favorites were Matt the Miller's in Kilkenny (good vibe), The Dingle Pub in Dingle (best food and music combo), and Oliver St. John Gogartys in Dublin (best music).
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London: Stroll through the Borough Market and try Bomba Paella. Grab a pint at the Westminster Arms.
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Lakes District: In Keswick we tried a traditional gastropub, The Pheasant Inn which had a great atmosphere and service.
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​Edinburgh: Try some great Indian food at Dishoom or traditional pub food at Nicholson's.
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Where We Stayed
Here are some of our favorite stays on this 15-day British Isle & Ireland Trip, all of which have kitchens so we could make breakfast each morning and pack
"to-go" lunches:
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Keswick, Lake District. Bethby Beck
Kenmare, Ireland: AirBnB
London: Marlin Waterloo
Edinburgh: AirBnB
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Blog Posts - United Kingdom and Ireland
