Highlights of Ireland & Scotland: Self-Launched
11 days · Ireland & Scotland
Trafalgar charges £3,280
No-markup version: ~£1,055 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 11-day run from Dublin to Edinburgh covering the same big-hitters as the Trafalgar coach tour — EPIC museum, Guinness, Kylemore Abbey, Connemara, Donegal, Derry's walls, the Giant's Causeway, Titanic Belfast, the Scottish Highlands, Loch Ness, St Andrews and Edinburgh Castle — but built on hostels and guesthouses, public buses, trains and the ferry across the Irish Sea. Costs are rough budget-traveller estimates in GBP and assume dorm or shared-room accommodation and self-catering where sensible; swap in a private room or B&B and expect to add roughly £30–45 per night in Ireland/Scotland.
Day-by-day
Arrive Dublin — EPIC and Temple Bar
Dublin, Ireland
Land at Dublin Airport and take the Airlink 747 or Dublin Express coach into the city (~£7 single, 30–40 mins) — no need to wait for a scheduled group transfer. Check into a hostel around Smithfield or Temple Bar. In the afternoon visit EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum (book online, ~£17) in the CHQ Building, which is exactly the visit the coach tour does on day one. Evening: wander Temple Bar for the atmosphere (drinks are pricey — a pint runs £6–8), or head to The Cobblestone in Smithfield for a proper trad session at half the price.
🚌Dublin Express/Airlink coach from airport ~£7; walking in the city
🛏Hostel dorm, Smithfield/Temple Bar area (e.g. Generator Dublin or Barnacles) — ~£22–28/night
- →EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum (~£17)
- →Temple Bar wander
- →Trad session at The Cobblestone (free entry)
Dublin sightseeing, then bus to Galway
Dublin → Galway
Morning self-guided walking loop of the tour's Dublin highlights: St Patrick's Cathedral (~£9) and Dublin Castle/Christ Church exterior, then the Guinness Storehouse if it appeals — book the Gravity Bar ticket online in advance (~£26, cheaper than the gate). Alternatively join a free walking tour (tip-based, ~£10 tip) for the history a Local Specialist would give you. Mid-afternoon take a Citylink or Gobus coach Dublin → Galway (~£14–18, 2h30) or the Irish Rail train from Heuston (~£16–20). Check into a hostel near Eyre Square or the Latin Quarter.
🚌Citylink/Gobus coach Dublin–Galway ~£16
🛏Hostel dorm, Galway city centre (e.g. Snoozles or Kinlay Hostel) — ~£24–30/night
- →St Patrick's Cathedral (~£9)
- →Guinness Storehouse (~£26, optional)
- →Free walking tour (tip ~£10)
- →Latin Quarter evening
Connemara and Kylemore Abbey day trip
Galway / Connemara
Do the Connemara loop independently rather than on a coach: take the Bus Éireann 419 from Galway to Leenane/Oughterard area, or — far more practical — book a small-group Connemara day tour through GetYourGuide or a local Galway operator (~£40–55 including Kylemore entry). You get Kylemore Abbey and its Victorian walled gardens (~£16 entry if self-driving), the Connemara landscape and a crystal/ craft stop comparable to the Celtic Crystal demo. Return to Galway for the evening; catch trad music in the Latin Quarter (free) instead of the €72 castle banquet.
🚌Small-group Connemara day tour ~£45 or Bus Éireann 419 ~£10 return + local legs
🛏Hostel dorm, Galway — ~£24–30/night
- →Kylemore Abbey & Walled Gardens (~£16)
- →Connemara scenic drive
- →Craft/crystal workshop stop
- →Trad music in the Latin Quarter (free)
Galway → Cong → Donegal
Cong & Donegal
Bus to Cong (Bus Éireann 422/456 via Ballinrobe, ~£8, 1h15) and walk the village and Cong Abbey and the Quiet Man cottage trail — the same stop the tour makes. Book a farm visit/afternoon tea experience in the Cong–Ballinrobe area or at a local farm directly (many small farms list on Airbnb Experiences or take phone bookings, ~£20–30 for scones and a farm walk) to mirror the Glen Keen Farm 'Be My Guest' stop. Then continue by bus/coach to Donegal town (via Galway or Sligo, ~£18–25, 3–4h). Check into a Donegal town hostel or guesthouse.
🚌Bus Galway–Cong ~£8; Cong–Donegal ~£20
🛏Donegal town hostel/guesthouse — ~£25–32/night
- →Cong village & Cong Abbey (free)
- →Farm visit with tea & scones (~£25)
- →Donegal town evening
Donegal → Derry walls → Giant's Causeway → Belfast
Derry/Londonderry & Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland
Take the bus from Donegal to Derry (~£10, 1h45). Join a Derry walking tour of the 400-year-old walls — either the free Derry City Tours tip-based walk or a booked Bogside murals tour (~£10–15). Then head to the Giant's Causeway: the easiest independent route is the Ulsterbus 402/ Coleraine connection or, much simpler, a Causeway Coast day tour departing Derry (~£35–45). The Causeway itself is free to visit (Visitor Centre £14 optional). Continue by train/bus Coleraine → Belfast (~£10–12, 1h30). Check into a hostel near Queen's Quarter or Cathedral Quarter.
🚌Bus Donegal–Derry ~£10; Causeway day tour ~£40; train Coleraine–Belfast ~£11
🛏Belfast hostel dorm (e.g. Global Village or Vagabonds) — ~£22–28/night
- →Derry city walls walking tour (~£12)
- →Giant's Causeway (free; visitor centre £14 optional)
- →Bogside murals
Belfast: Titanic, distilleries and the Black Taxi tour
Belfast
Morning at Titanic Belfast Experience (~£22 online) plus the Titanic Distillery tasting (~£15–20) in the old pump-house — both in the Titanic Quarter, a 15-minute walk from Central Station. Afternoon: a Black Taxi political murals tour booked direct with a driver (~£35–45 per couple, or ~£20 sharing) covers the Shankill/Falls history the Trafalgar Local Specialist covers. Evening: fish and chips in the Cathedral Quarter (~£12) and a pint in the Duke of York or the Sunflower.
🚌Walking + occasional bus (~£3)
🛏Belfast hostel dorm — ~£22–28/night
- →Titanic Belfast Experience (~£22)
- →Titanic Distillery tasting (~£18)
- →Black Taxi murals tour (~£22 shared)
Ferry across to Scotland — Glasgow
Belfast → Glasgow
Walk or bus to Belfast Port and take the Stena Line or P&O fast ferry to Cairnryan (~£30–38 foot passenger, 2h15), then the connecting coach to Glasgow (Stena Plus bus ~£10–15 extra, 1h45) — or the cheaper longer route via the ferry + ScotRail from Stranraer. Arrive Glasgow and check into a hostel near George Square or the West End. Evening: free wander of George Square, Glasgow Cathedral and the Clyde, or a pub night in the West End (Ashton Lane) rather than the £37 guided city evening.
🚌Stena/P&O ferry Belfast–Cairnryan ~£34 + coach to Glasgow ~£12
🛏Glasgow hostel dorm (e.g. Euro Hostel or Glasgow Youth Hostel) — ~£25–32/night
- →Irish Sea ferry crossing
- →George Square & Glasgow Cathedral (free)
- →West End pub evening
Scottish Highlands, Glencoe and Loch Ness
Glasgow → Highlands → Newtonmore/Inverness
Book a Highlands day tour from Glasgow (GetYourGuide/Timberbush/Rabbie's, ~£55–70) covering Loch Lomond, Glencoe, Fort William and a Loch Ness stop — this replaces both the scenic coach drive and the Loch Lomond boat trip. If you'd rather stay independent, take the West Highland Line train Glasgow → Fort William (~£30, 3h50 — one of the world's great rail journeys) and a local bus up the Great Glen. Overnight in a Highlands hostel or bunkhouse around Newtonmore/Kingussie or Inverness (~£25–30).
🚌Highlands day tour ~£60 or West Highland Line train ~£30 + local bus
🛏Highlands hostel/bunkhouse, Newtonmore or Inverness — ~£26–32/night
- →Loch Lomond
- →Glencoe
- →Loch Ness viewpoint
- →Ben Nevis views at Fort William
Highlands → St Andrews → Edinburgh
St Andrews & Edinburgh
Travel south by Citylink coach or ScotRail via Perth to St Andrews (~£20–25, 3h). See the Old Course's famous 18th hole for free, plus the ruined cathedral and West Sands beach. Continue by bus to Edinburgh (~£12, 1h30) — the X59/Stagecoach route is cheap and scenic. Check into a hostel in the Old Town or near Haymarket. Evening free — or catch a cheaper grassroots trad session in a Sandy Bell's-type pub rather than the £62 Scottish show.
🚌Coach Highlands–St Andrews ~£22; St Andrews–Edinburgh ~£12
🛏Edinburgh hostel dorm — ~£28–38/night (book early, summer is brutal)
- →St Andrews Old Course 18th hole (free)
- →St Andrews Cathedral ruins (~£6)
- →West Sands beach
Edinburgh: Castle, Royal Mile and Holyrood
Edinburgh
Self-guided day along the Royal Mile: Edinburgh Castle (~£21 online, includes Crown Jewels and Mons Meg), the Royal Mile itself, and the Palace of Holyroodhouse (~£20, or free to view the exterior and abbey ruins). Add a free walking tour (tip ~£10) for the Old Town/New Town history a Local Specialist would give. Optional extras: Rosslyn Chapel by bus 37 (~£10 return + £10 entry) or the Royal Yacht Britannia in Leith (~£20). Farewell pint on the Royal Mile or in Leith.
🚌Walking; Lothian buses ~£2 per trip
🛏Edinburgh hostel dorm — ~£28–38/night
- →Edinburgh Castle (~£21)
- →Royal Mile (free)
- →Palace of Holyroodhouse (~£20)
- →Free walking tour (tip ~£10)
Depart Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Breakfast at the hostel, then the Airlink 100 bus or tram to Edinburgh Airport (~£5.50–6.50, 30 mins). If your flight is late, drop your bag at the hostel and do the Arthur's Seat sunrise hike (free, 1h up) or the National Museum of Scotland (free) before heading out.
🚌Airlink 100 bus or tram to Edinburgh Airport ~£6
🛏—
- →Arthur's Seat hike (free, optional)
- →National Museum of Scotland (free, optional)
Self-launched vs. Trafalgar
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Trafalgar | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,055 | £3,280 |
| Duration | 11 days | 11 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,225 per person (68%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Trafalgar-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,055
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Highlights of Ireland & Scotland: Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,055 per person for 11 days in Ireland & Scotland. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Trafalgar?+
Yes — Trafalgar charges around £3,280 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,055 — a saving of roughly £2,225 (68%) per person.
How long is the Ireland & Scotland trip?+
This itinerary runs 11 days, covering 11 day-by-day stops through Ireland & Scotland.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, hiking, budget trip through Ireland & Scotland, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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