Introduction
In late April and May of 2024, my husband Jerry and I, along with our dear friends Dave and Karen, spent 25 wonderful days traveling through England, Scotland, and Ireland. It was a classic multi-country vacation filled with history, stunning landscapes, great food, and plenty of laughs.
Trip Overview
Route: Kent → Southern & Central England → Scotland (Edinburgh & Highlands) → Ireland (Bray & Dublin area)
Travel Style: Mostly rental cars, with trains for city day trips and one short flight between England and Ireland.
We stayed in AirBnBs and cottages, cooked many meals together, and enjoyed the freedom of exploring at our own pace.
Our Route at a Glance
• Days 1–4: Kent countryside base + London day trips
• Days 5–9: Southern & Central England → Liverpool → Chester → drive into Scotland
• Days 10–15: Edinburgh + Scottish Highlands & Isle of Skye
• Days 16–19: Farewell to Scotland → Hadrian’s Wall → Whitby & Yorkshire Coast
• Days 20–25: Ireland (Bray base + Dublin + Glendalough & Wicklow Mountains)
Top Highlights
• Sunrise inside the Stonehenge inner circle
• Dramatic clifftop Dunnottar Castle
• The challenging but rewarding Old Man of Storr hike on Skye
• Foggy, atmospheric Whitby Abbey (Dracula vibes)
• Celebrating our 36th anniversary in Dublin with Guinness and city views
• Newgrange, Glendalough, and the scenic Sally Gap drive
What We Learned & Tips
• Traveling with close friends enhanced the experience — shared laughs, driving, and costs made everything better.
• The English Heritage Pass (England) and Historic Scotland Explorer Pass were excellent investments.
• Bring excellent waterproof shoes — even in late April/early May, the ground can be wet at many outdoor sites.
• Several sites we visited (including Rudston Monolith) have appeared on the History Channel’s Ancient Aliens, which added extra fun for us.
The Full Series
I’m sharing our complete trip in individual detailed posts. Here’s the lineup (new posts added weekly):
- Part 1: Arrival in Kent: Jet Lag, London Eye & First Impressions of England (Days 1-3)
- Part 2: English Heritage Castles & Southeast Coast Adventure: Dover, Deal & More (Day 4)
- Part 3: Stonehenge at Sunrise, Avebury & Bath: A Magical Day in Southern England (Days 5–6)
- Part 4: Liverpool, Chester Walls & Driving into Scotland (Days 7–9)
- Part 5: First Full Day in Edinburgh: Royal Mile, Castle & Scottish Impressions (Day 10)
- Part 6: The Kelpies, Falkirk Wheel & Wallace Monument: Day Trips from Edinburgh (Day 11)
- Part 7: Northeast Scotland Coast Drive: Arbroath Abbey, Dunnottar Castle & Stone Circles (Day 12)
- Part 8: Banff, Bow Fiddle Rock & Outlander Sites: Road to Inverness (Day 13)
- Part 9: A Relaxed Day Around Loch Ness: Urquhart Castle & Touchstone Maze (Day 14)
- Part 10: Epic Day on the Isle of Skye: Old Man of Storr, Fairy Glen & Eilean Donan (Day 15)
- Part 11: Farewell Scotland & Hadrian’s Wall: Heading Back to England (Days 16–17)
- Part 12: Rievaulx Abbey, Robin Hood’s Bay & Whitby (Day 18)
- Part 13: Gothic Mysteries & Ancient Stones: Whitby Abbey & Rudston Monolith (Day 19)
- Part 14: Travel to Ireland & First Impressions of Bray (Day 20)
- Part 15: Newgrange, Lusk Round Tower & Bray Beach: Our First Full Day in Ireland (Day 21)
- Part 16: Dublin Day: Hop-On Bus, Temple Bar & Guinness Storehouse (Day 22)
- Part 17: Glendalough, Sally Gap & Our Last Day in Ireland (Day 23)
- Part 18: Journey Home & Final Reflections: 3 Weeks in England, Scotland & Ireland (Days 24–25)
I’ll update the links as each post goes live.
Final Thoughts
This trip reminded us why we love traveling — the shared experiences, the unexpected moments, and the beauty of seeing the world with people you love. England, Scotland, and Ireland each have their own special charm, and we’re already talking about going back to see more of Ireland.
Would we do it again? Absolutely.
Have you traveled with friends or celebrated a big anniversary on a trip?
I’d love to hear your experiences or recommendations in the comments!
Planning Your Own UK & Ireland Adventure
If this three-week journey through England, Scotland, and Ireland has inspired you to plan a similar trip, GoWithGuide is an excellent way to make it smooth and memorable. Their local expert guides can create private, customizable tours tailored to your interests — whether you’re exploring historic cities in England, the Highlands of Scotland, or the stunning landscapes and culture of Ireland.
For England & Scotland (UK):
Book Private Tours in England & Scotland with GoWithGuide →
For Ireland:
Book Private Tours in Ireland with GoWithGuide →
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