Highlights of Ireland & Scotland — Self-Launched Solo Version
12 days · Ireland & Scotland
Cosmos charges £1,790
No-markup version: ~£1,450 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Cosmos' 12-day coach tour from Dublin to Edinburgh, rebuilt for independent travellers. You'll cover the same ground — Dublin's Trinity College and St Patrick's, Kilkenny and Waterford, Blarney Castle, Killarney and the Ring of Kerry, the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren, Galway, Sligo, Derry's walls, the Giant's Causeway, Belfast, the Cairnryan ferry to Scotland, Glasgow, Glen Coe, Ben Nevis, Loch Ness, Culloden, Pitlochry, St Andrews and Edinburgh Castle — but using public buses, trains, a foot passenger ferry and budget guesthouses/hostels instead of a 50-seat coach and 3-4* hotels. Slightly faster pace in places, far more freedom, roughly a third of the price.
Day-by-day
Arrive Dublin — Guinness & the Liberties
Dublin, Ireland
Land at Dublin Airport and take the 747/Airlink or Dublin Express bus into the city centre (~£7). Check into a hostel or budget guesthouse around Temple Bar, Smithfield or Stoneybatter. Spend the afternoon wandering the Liberties and, if you're keen, self-book a Guinness Storehouse ticket online in advance (from ~£22, cheaper off-peak; pre-booking beats the walk-up queue). Evening: find a trad session in a pub away from the Temple Bar tourist strip — The Cobblestone in Smithfield or Toner's on Baggot Street are where locals actually go, and a pint is ~£6.
🚌Dublin Express / Airlink 747 bus from airport (~£7)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Dublin city centre (~£30/night)
- →Guinness Storehouse self-guided visit (pre-book online)
- →Walk the Liberties and St Patrick's Cathedral exterior
- →Evening trad music session in a local pub
Dublin — Trinity College, Georgian Squares & Book of Kells
Dublin, Ireland
Walk the city on foot: O'Connell Street, then south past Trinity College (book the Book of Kells + Long Room ticket online from ~£16, timed slots sell out), St Stephen's Green and the red-brick Georgian squares of Merrion and Fitzwilliam. Optional evening: a self-booked Taylors Irish Cabaret show (~£50) is the budget-friendly version of the tour's optional dinner cabaret. Otherwise eat well cheaply — a full Irish breakfast or a coddle in a pub runs £10-14.
🚌On foot; Dublin is very walkable
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Dublin city centre (~£30/night)
- →Trinity College & Book of Kells (pre-booked timed ticket)
- →Georgian Dublin walking route (Merrion Square, Fitzwilliam Square)
- →Optional: Taylors Irish Cabaret evening show
Dublin → Kilkenny → Waterford → Tramore
Tramore, Co. Waterford
Take the early Irish Rail train from Dublin Heuston to Kilkenny (~£15, 1h40). Spend the morning on Kilkenny's medieval mile — the castle, St Canice's Cathedral and the round tower. Then bus (Bus Éireann/Kennalys, ~£7) down to Waterford: the Viking Triangle, Reginald's Tower and the House of Waterford crystal factory are all walkable. Sleep in Tramore, the seaside town 20 minutes from Waterford, where a B&B is far cheaper than a Waterford city hotel. Evening: walk the promenade, then a pint with a local musician in one of Tramore's pubs.
🚌Irish Rail Dublin–Kilkenny (~£15) + bus Kilkenny–Waterford (~£7) + local bus (~£3)
🛏Budget B&B or guesthouse, Tramore (~£35/night)
- →Kilkenny Castle & medieval mile walk
- →Waterford Viking Triangle and Reginald's Tower
- →Tramore beach promenade at sunset
Tramore → Cork → Blarney → Killarney
Killarney, Co. Kerry
Bus to Cork (~£10, 2h from Waterford). Drop your bag at the bus station lockers and take the local 215 bus to Blarney (~£4 return), then climb to the Blarney Stone and wander the castle gardens (adult ticket ~£20, book online). Continue by Bus Éireann from Cork to Killarney (~£14, 1h30). Killarney has Ireland's best-value hostels — check into one on New Street or High Street. Evening: Killarney's pubs are packed with live music; a pint is ~£5.50.
🚌Bus Waterford–Cork (~£10) + local bus to Blarney (~£4) + Bus Éireann Cork–Killarney (~£14)
🛏Hostel dorm, Killarney town centre (~£28/night)
- →Blarney Castle & Stone (pre-booked entry)
- →Cork city centre stopover
- →Live music in a Killarney pub
Killarney — Killarney National Park, Ross Castle & Ladies View
Killarney, Co. Kerry
Hire a bike in town (~£15/day) and cycle the Muckross loop through Killarney National Park: Muckross House and Abbey, the lake shore and Ross Castle, all free to view from outside. If you'd rather be driven, a shared Ring of Kerry day tour from Killarney costs ~£40 and hits Ladies View, Moll's Gap and the Skellig-view coastline — book via GetYourGuide or direct with a local operator. Jaunting cars (horse-drawn) run about £20-25 return to Ross Castle if you fancy the tour's optional ride. Evening: a €10-15 pub dinner beats the €60 castle banquets the coach tour upsells.
🚌Bike hire (~£15) or shared tour minibus (~£40)
🛏Hostel dorm, Killarney town centre (~£28/night)
- →Cycle or walk Muckross loop & Ross Castle
- →Optional shared Ring of Kerry day tour
- →Optional jaunting car ride to Ross Castle
Killarney → Adare → the Burren → Cliffs of Moher → Galway/Sligo
Co. Sligo
Early Bus Éireann bus to Limerick (~£14), then the 343 local bus through Adare (thatched cottages and a quick stop) and up the coast to Doolin (~£12). From Doolin the Cliffs of Moher are a 1-hour cliff walk away, or the 350 bus stops at the exhibition centre (£8 entry, cheaper than a coach package). Carry on via the 350 through the Burren's limestone pavement to Galway (~£12). If you only have one night, sleep in Galway — but to mirror the tour, push on to Sligo by train from Galway (~£18, 3h) and check into a town-centre hostel or B&B.
🚌Bus Killarney–Limerick (~£14) + 343/350 coastal buses (~£24) + Irish Rail Galway–Sligo (~£18)
🛏Hostel or B&B, Sligo town (~£30/night)
- →Cliffs of Moher (self-guided cliff walk from Doolin)
- →The Burren limestone landscape
- →Adare heritage village stop
- →Optional quick Galway Latin Quarter walk
Sligo → Derry → Giant's Causeway → Belfast
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Cross the border on the Aircoach/Translink buses: Sligo to Derry (~£18, 3h). Walk Derry's intact 17th-century city walls (free, superb views) and the Bogside murals. Then Translink's Causeway Rambler 402 from Coleraine, or a shared minibus from Derry, reaches the Giant's Causeway (~£10-14; the visitor centre is £14 but the stones themselves are free to walk). Finish by train or Goldliner bus to Belfast (~£10). Belfast hostels in the Cathedral Quarter are excellent value (~£28).
🚌Bus Sligo–Derry (~£18) + Causeway Rambler / shared minibus (~£14) + train or bus Derry–Belfast (~£10)
🛏Hostel dorm, Belfast Cathedral Quarter (~£28/night)
- →Derry City Walls & Bogside murals (free)
- →Giant's Causeway (UNESCO, free to access the stones)
Belfast → Cairnryan ferry → Alloway → Glasgow
Glasgow, Scotland
Morning in Belfast: the Titanic Quarter and the free Ulster Museum if time allows. Then take the bus to Cairnryan (~£12) for the Stena Line foot-passenger ferry to Scotland (~£30, 2h15). From Cairnryan, the 358/Stena coach runs to Ayr/Glasgow (~£12). Break the journey at Alloway to see the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum (free entry to the cottage museum, small charge for the exhibition). Arrive Glasgow late afternoon; check into a hostel around Merchant City, exactly where the Cosmos tour stays but for a fraction of the price. Evening: Glasgow's West End bars and the free Kelvingrove area.
🚌Bus Belfast–Cairnryan (~£12) + Stena ferry (~£30) + coach Cairnryan–Glasgow (~£12)
🛏Hostel dorm, Glasgow Merchant City (~£30/night)
- →Titanic Belfast quarter (exterior walk)
- →Stena Line Irish Sea ferry crossing
- →Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, Alloway
Glasgow → Rannoch Moor → Glen Coe → Fort William → Loch Ness → Culloden
Inverness / Culloden area, Scotland
The big scenic day. Cheapest option is the Citylink coach from Glasgow to Fort William (~£20, 3h) along Loch Lomond and over Rannoch Moor into Glen Coe — sit on the right for the best views. From Fort William, Ben Nevis is visible from the town; a low-level walk to the foothills is free and easy. Continue by Citylink coach to Inverness via Fort Augustus and Loch Ness (~£18). Base yourself in Inverness rather than the tour's Strathspey hotel — hostels from ~£25. If you have time, the local bus out to Culloden Moor battlefield (~£5 return, site free) covers the tour's included Culloden visit.
🚌Citylink coach Glasgow–Fort William (~£20) + Citylink Fort William–Inverness (~£18) + local bus to Culloden (~£5)
🛏Hostel dorm, Inverness (~£25/night)
- →Glen Coe & Rannoch Moor viewpoints from the coach
- →Ben Nevis foothills walk at Fort William
- →Loch Ness shoreline at Fort Augustus
- →Culloden Battlefield (free entry to the site)
Inverness → Cairngorms → Pitlochry → St Andrews → Edinburgh
Edinburgh, Scotland
Take the train or Citylink coach south through the Cairngorms to Pitlochry (~£20, 2h) — the fish ladder and dam are a pleasant free stop. Continue to Perth, then the stagecoach bus to St Andrews (~£10, 1h15): walk the Old Course, the ruined cathedral and the windswept West Sands beach, all free apart from the golf. From St Andrews, the X59/X60 bus crosses the Forth into Edinburgh (~£12, 2h). Arrive in Edinburgh by evening — hostels in the Old Town or Tollcross are ~£30-35 (a lot busier and pricier in August; book ahead).
🚌Coach/train Inverness–Pitlochry (~£20) + bus Pitlochry–St Andrews (~£10) + X59 bus St Andrews–Edinburgh (~£12)
🛏Hostel dorm, Edinburgh Old Town (~£33/night)
- →Cairngorms National Park scenery from the coach/train
- →Pitlochry dam & fish ladder
- →St Andrews Old Course and cathedral ruins
- →Forth Bridges from the bus
Edinburgh — Castle, Royal Mile & New Town
Edinburgh, Scotland
Edinburgh Castle entry is ~£21 (book a timed slot online, it sells out) and includes the Crown Jewels and Stone of Destiny. Below it, walk the Royal Mile and dip into the free National Museum of Scotland. If you prefer a guided intro, a self-booked Old Town walking tour on GetYourGuide is ~£15-20 and a good substitute for the tour's included local guide. Optional evening: a self-booked Scottish show with haggis, bagpipes and dancing (~£45-55) if you want to replicate the tour's optional Scottish evening, or just a cheap pub supper in Rose Street.
🚌On foot; Lothian buses ~£2 flat fare if needed
🛏Hostel dorm, Edinburgh Old Town (~£33/night)
- →Edinburgh Castle & Crown Jewels (pre-booked)
- →Royal Mile & free National Museum of Scotland
- →Optional Old Town guided walking tour
- →Optional Scottish dinner show with bagpipes & haggis
Depart Edinburgh
Edinburgh, Scotland
Last morning in Edinburgh — a free walk up Arthur's Seat for the best skyline view, or the Botanics, before heading to the airport. The Airlink 100 bus to Edinburgh Airport is ~£5.50, tram ~£7.50.
🚌Airlink 100 bus to airport (~£5.50)
🛏None (departure day)
- →Optional Arthur's Seat sunrise hike (free)
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. Cosmos
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Cosmos | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,450 | £1,790 |
| Duration | 12 days | 12 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £340 per person (19%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Cosmos-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,450
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.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Highlights of Ireland & Scotland — Self-Launched Solo Version cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,450 per person for 12 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 Cosmos?+
Yes — Cosmos charges around £1,790 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,450 — a saving of roughly £340 (19%) per person.
How long is the Ireland & Scotland trip?+
This itinerary runs 12 days, covering 12 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, budget, backpacker 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?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.