Exploring Scotland & Ireland: Self-Launched Edinburgh to Dublin
13 days · Scotland & Ireland
Collette charges £4,109
No-markup version: ~£807 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 13-day run from Edinburgh across the Highlands to Glasgow, over the Irish Sea to Belfast, up the Causeway Coast to Derry/Donegal, and south to Dublin. Same castles, distilleries, lochs and coastlines as the Collette coach tour — but on public transport, hostel dorms and budget guesthouses, with activities booked yourself through GetYourGuide, Klook or direct. Expect roughly 70-75% cheaper than the guided original, with total freedom over pacing and no 42-person coach group. Costs are approximate backpacker/budget rates in GBP and assume dorm beds or shared budget rooms, supermarket/cheap eats plus a few pub meals, and advance-purchase rail and ferry tickets.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Edinburgh
Edinburgh, Scotland
Land at Edinburgh Airport and take the Airlink 100 bus (about £5.50 one-way, 30 min) or the tram (£7.50) into the city centre. Check into a hostel or budget guesthouse near the Royal Mile. Spend the evening easing off jet lag with a wander up the Royal Mile and a cheap pub dinner. Pick up a Scottish Citylink/ScotRail app and a GetYourGuide booking for tomorrow.
🚌Airlink 100 bus from airport to city centre, ~£5.50
🛏Castle Rock Hostel or Safestay Edinburgh (dorm or budget twin)
- →Evening walk along the Royal Mile
- →Pub dinner in the Old Town
- →Book Edinburgh Castle ticket online
Edinburgh Castle & Old Town
Edinburgh, Scotland
Pre-book Edinburgh Castle online (£21, timed entry) and see the Scottish Crown Jewels and Stone of Destiny. Walk the Royal Mile down to Holyrood Palace and the Scottish Parliament, then climb Arthur's Seat (free) for the classic panorama. Optional afternoon: Rosslyn Chapel by local bus 37 (£9 entry). Evening: a free walking tour (tip-based, ~£10 tip) to get the city's history in context.
🚌Lothian buses day ticket ~£5
🛏Castle Rock Hostel or Safestay Edinburgh
- →Edinburgh Castle entry (£21)
- →Royal Mile walking route
- →Arthur's Seat hike (free)
- →Optional Rosslyn Chapel by bus 37
St Andrews & on to Inverness
St Andrews to Inverness, Scotland
Take an early train or bus from Edinburgh to Leuchars/St Andrews (Stagecoach bus X59/X60, ~£10, or rail to Leuchars + bus). See the Royal and Ancient Clubhouse and walk the Old Course and West Sands beach. Then travel north: train from Leuchars to Inverness via Dundee/Perth (advance rail ~£30-40, 3-4 hrs) or a Citylink coach. Settle into an Inverness hostel.
🚌Bus Edinburgh–St Andrews ~£10; rail St Andrews area–Inverness ~£30-40
🛏Inverness Youth Hostel or Black Isle Hostel (budget dorm/twin)
- →Old Course and Royal & Ancient Clubhouse
- →West Sands beach walk
- →Inverness riverside evening
Loch Ness & Urquhart Castle
Inverness / Loch Ness, Scotland
Local bus 919/917 from Inverness to Urquhart Castle (£7-8 day return) along the loch. Explore the castle ruins (Historic Scotland entry £12, or use an Explorer Pass if doing multiple sites). Book a short Loch Ness cruise independently via GetYourGuide (£16-20). In the evening, join a traditional ceilidh night at a local pub in Inverness — many host free or cheap live folk music several nights a week.
🚌Bus 919 Inverness–Urquhart Castle return ~£14
🛏Inverness Youth Hostel or Black Isle Hostel
- →Loch Ness cruise
- →Urquhart Castle ruins
- →Traditional ceilidh/pub folk session
Whisky Distillery & Glencoe to Glasgow
Highlands to Glasgow, Scotland
Book a Highland whisky distillery tour independently — Glen Ord near Inverness or, en route west, the Ben Nevis or Oban distilleries (tours £10-20 with tasting). To see Glencoe en route, either take a Citylink coach Inverness–Glasgow via Fort William (which passes Glencoe, ~£25-30, 5 hrs), or join a one-day small-group Highlands/Glencoe tour from Glasgow or Inverness (£45-60). Arrive Glasgow and check into the west end.
🚌Citylink coach Inverness–Glasgow via Glencoe ~£28
🛏Glasgow Youth Hostel or a west-end budget guesthouse
- →Highland whisky distillery tour & tasting
- →Glencoe valley viewpoints
- →Evening in Glasgow's west end
Glasgow City Day
Glasgow, Scotland
Do a free (tip-based) walking tour of central Glasgow covering George Square and the industrial heritage, or self-guide with a map. Visit Glasgow Cathedral (free) and Provand's Lordship (free), the city's oldest house. Explore the Burrell Collection or Kelvingrove Art Gallery (free). Evening: pint and live music in an Ashton Lane or Merchant City pub.
🚌Subway day ticket ~£4.30; city buses ~£2 a trip
🛏Glasgow Youth Hostel or west-end budget guesthouse
- →Free walking tour of Glasgow
- →Glasgow Cathedral & Provand's Lordship
- →Kelvingrove Art Gallery (free)
- →Live music pub evening
Ferry to Belfast
Glasgow to Belfast
Take the train from Glasgow Central to Ayr or to Cairnryan for the ferry, or the convenient Citylink/Stena Line rail-sail connection Glasgow–Belfast via Cairnryan (about £35-45 combined, 5-6 hrs). Alternatively fly Ryanair/easyJet Glasgow–Belfast cheaply if booked early. On arrival, walk the Cathedral Quarter and have dinner in a traditional pub (try a Belfast bap and a pint).
🚌Rail & sail Glasgow–Belfast ~£40
🛏Vagabonds Belfast or Global Village Hostel (dorm/twin)
- →Ferry crossing over the Irish Sea
- →Cathedral Quarter wander
- →Traditional Belfast pub dinner
Belfast Exploration & Titanic Quarter
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Start with a self-guided or free walking tour of Belfast's historic neighbourhoods, including the Cathedral Quarter and the Falls/Shankill political murals (black-cab political tours from ~£15 if you want the guided version). Afternoon: the Titanic Experience (£24, book online) and the Titanic Quarter, or the free Ulster Museum. Evening: dinner in a local restaurant in the Queen's Quarter.
🚌Glider/bus day ticket ~£4
🛏Vagabonds Belfast or Global Village Hostel
- →Belfast historic neighbourhood walk
- →Titanic Experience (£24)
- →Ulster Museum (free)
- →Optional black-cab political tour
Giant's Causeway & Derry
Causeway Coast to Derry
Book a one-day Causeway Coast tour or, cheaper, use public transport: train Belfast–Coleraine (advance ~£12), then the Causeway Rambler bus 402 to the Giant's Causeway (££ return) and along the coast. See the hexagonal stones (free, or £13 for the visitor centre). Continue by train to Derry/Londonderry (~£8). Evening: walk the medieval walls (free) and grab a pub dinner with traditional Irish music.
🚌Rail Belfast–Coleraine–Derry ~£20; Causeway Rambler bus ~£8
🛏Derry budget hostel/guesthouse (e.g. Derry Hostel or Saddler's House)
- →Giant's Causeway (UNESCO)
- →Causeway Coast railway journey
- →Derry medieval walls walk
- →Traditional music pub evening
Donegal Castle & Donegal Town
Derry to Donegal, Ireland
Cross the border south into County Donegal. Take a local bus or shared taxi from Derry to Letterkenny/Donegal Town (£8-12, approx 1.5 hrs). Visit the restored 15th-century Donegal Castle (£5). Wander Donegal Town, the Diamond and the quays, and enjoy an evening in a local pub with a trad session. Base here or in Donegal Town centre.
🚌Bus/coach Derry–Donegal Town ~£10
🛏Donegal Town budget hostel/guesthouse
- →Donegal Castle visit
- →Donegal Town exploration
- →Trad music pub evening
Countryside, Farm & Cider to Dublin
Donegal to Dublin
If you want the Glenshane Country Farm experience, book it independently (sheepdog demonstrations and lunch — check current rates, roughly £25-35). Cider fans can detour to an Irish cider farm for a tasting before continuing. Then travel to Dublin: express coaches (Bus Éireann/Expressway) from Donegal or Derry to Dublin run several times daily (~£20-28, 3.5-4.5 hrs). Check into a Dublin hostel.
🚌Expressway coach to Dublin ~£24
🛏Generator Dublin, Abbey Court Hostel or budget guesthouse (dorm/twin)
- →Optional Glenshane farm & sheepdog demo
- →Optional cider farm tasting
- →Evening settling into Dublin
Dublin City & Farewell
Dublin, Ireland
Take a free (tip-based) walking tour of Dublin covering O'Connell Street, the Georgian townhouses and Trinity College. Visit St Patrick's Cathedral (£8) and walk through Phoenix Park (free, with the deer). Optional: a Guinness Storehouse ticket with a pint (£26, book online) or a local pub lunch. Farewell dinner in a Temple Bar-adjacent local restaurant or cheap, excellent Dublin pub.
🚌Dublin Bus/Luas Leap card ~£5-6
🛏Generator Dublin or Abbey Court Hostel
- →Free walking tour of Dublin
- →St Patrick's Cathedral
- →Phoenix Park
- →Optional Guinness Storehouse
- →Farewell dinner
Departure from Dublin
Dublin, Ireland
Depending on flight time, take the Dublin Express or Aircoach to Dublin Airport (~£8, 25-40 min). If you have a morning to spare, hit the Chester Beatty or the National Gallery (both free) before heading out. End of the self-launched Edinburgh-to-Dublin run.
🚌Aircoach/Dublin Express to airport ~£8
🛏N/A (departure day)
- →Free morning museum option
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. Collette
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Collette | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£807 | £4,109 |
| Duration | 13 days | 13 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £3,302 per person (80%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Collette-style trips? Check them out here.~£807
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 Exploring Scotland & Ireland: Self-Launched Edinburgh to Dublin cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £807 per person for 13 days in Scotland & Ireland. 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 Collette?+
Yes — Collette charges around £4,109 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £807 — a saving of roughly £3,302 (80%) per person.
How long is the Scotland & Ireland trip?+
This itinerary runs 13 days, covering 13 day-by-day stops through Scotland & Ireland.
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, city-breaks, slow-travel trip through Scotland & Ireland, 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.
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