Let’s go travelling through three fascinating Celtic countries: Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland. We’ll cross the rugged beauty of the Scottish Highlands, explore the mysterious landscapes of Northern Ireland and experience the lively pub scene of Ireland. Be inspired and discover the hidden treasures along our Celtic road trip route.
Day 1: The Celtic road trip begins: Welcome to Scotland!
Our road trip through three Celtic countries began at 4am! A flight to Amsterdam and then on to Edinburgh brought us to the charming capital of Scotland. Arriving in Edinburgh New Town, we settled into a cosy café before setting off to explore the city. Later we collected our van from Indie Campers, went shopping and finally parked in a park outside the city. After packing up the van we enjoyed our dinner under the Scottish sky.
Day 2: Edinburgh's history
Despite the freezing cold in the van in the morning, we started the day full of energy. After a short train ride into the city, we explored the majestic Edinburgh Castle, immersed ourselves in the city’s history, learned all about the famous Black Dinner and explored old prisons.
This was just the start of an eventful day that took us to some of the city’s most iconic locations, including the Milkman Cafe, Greyfriars Kirkyard and The Elephant House, where J.K. Rowling brought the world of Harry Potter to life. In the evening we returned to the New Town and rounded off the day with a delicious dinner before catching the Park and Ride back to our van and making our way to Dalwhinnie.
I don’t think either of us thought we would enjoy Edinburgh as much as we did. We are both absolutely thrilled and have fallen in love with Edinburgh’s old town!
Day 3: On the trail of Nessie
A beautiful sunrise greeted us on the third day of our Celtic journey as we made our way to Dalwhinnie Distillery and officially started our souvenir collection with our first whisky glass. After a short drone flight, we continued to Fort Augustus and the famous Loch Ness, where unfortunately Nessie did not make an appearance. Our journey continued to the stunning Isle of Skye where we were able to admire the beauty of Kilt Rock, Mealt Falls and Lealt Falls. The evening gave us a chance to see the Northern Lights, which we couldn’t capture with the naked eye, but with our cameras as the starry sky twinkled above us.
Too bad we did not see Nessie…
Day 4: Magical scenery and Scottish sheep
We set off early in the morning for the Old Man of Storr and had a wonderful walk through almost unspoilt countryside. The weather was fantastic and the views were beautiful all the way! We continued on to Quiraing where we were greeted by a strong wind before exploring the magical Fairy Glen and the majestic Neist Point. On the way back, we encountered many sheep on the roads before heading back into the vastness of Scotland. This day of our Celtic journey was marked by many encounters with the unique beauty of Scotland’s natural world and the charming people who crossed our path.
The walk to the Old Man of Storr is just beautiful! Not too long, not too strenuous and highly recommended! The weather was perfect, we even got a little sunburn on our cheeks! Fairy Glen was also very cute, but we thought it would be bigger!
Day 5: In love with Highland Cows
Day five started off relaxed, taking our time to visit the nearest distillery and explore the picturesque Fairy Pools. The walk was super relaxing and the many little waterfalls were beautiful to admire! Along the way we met many friendly locals and of course the famous Highland Cows. Our journey continued to Fort William, where we once again enjoyed the adventure of wild camping and ended the evening with a cosy games evening surrounded by the majestic beauty of the Scottish Highlands.
Day 6: Letter received – off to Hogwarts
A day full of iconic places awaited us, starting with a visit to the Glenfinnan Viaduct, better known as the setting for the Hogwarts Express scenes in the Harry Potter films. We were actually all alone at the top! I couldn’t take my eyes off the viaduct and couldn’t stop imagining the Hogwarts Express! After a bit of shopping and a drive through the stunning scenery of Glencoe with the Lagangarbh Hut, we drove past Loch Lomond and spent the night in Cairnryan, ready for the onward journey to Northern Ireland.
As a big Harry Potter fan, I was super excited!!!
Day 7: Off to new shores: Crossing the sea to Northern Ireland
Early in the morning, we boarded the ferry to Northern Ireland – the second Celtic country. Once there, we immediately made our way to the Dark Hedges, an impressive avenue of trees that seemed to transport us into a world of fairy tales and legends. We strolled under the shady trees, impressed by the majestic beauty of this mysterious place known from Game of Thrones. Our journey continued to the Old Bushmills Distillery and finally to the impressive Giants Causeway, a unique formation of basalt columns that captivated us with its natural beauty. The day ended with a short stop at Dunluce Castle and an overnight stay in Bushmills.
Day 8: Where the Titanic was built
We continued our Celtic journey and reached Belfast, where we admired the imposing Belfast Castle from the outside. From there, we explored the bustling streets of Belfast, passing historical sights and cosy pubs. The city surprised us with its diversity and charm as we strolled through the streets and soaked up the atmosphere. A walk around the city took us to various sights such as the Grand Opera House, the famous Titanic Museum and H&W’s Samson and Goliath cranes. After an eventful day, we continued our journey and crossed the border into Ireland, the third Celtic country, where we headed for the first campsite of our trip.
Day 9: From Jameson to Temple Bar
The day began with a balancing act over several puddles on the way to the bus station in Dublin. We then enjoyed a walk through the charming streets of the Irish capital, exploring the vibrant atmosphere of Temple Bar and the historic sights of Christ Church and Dublin Castle. Our journey continued to the Jameson Distillery, where we were introduced to the secrets of Irish whiskey and were able to discover the different flavours and nuances during a tasting session. Invigorated by this visit, we made our way past the Guinness Brewery to Trinity College, where we enjoyed the fascinating Book of Kells Experience and marvelled at the impressive Old Library. The day ended with a visit to the legendary Temple Bar, where we enjoyed the colourful bustle of Guinness and live music. On the way back to the campsite we enjoyed a relaxing walk along the river.
The atmosphere in the Irish pub was fantastic! Everyone was in a good mood, clapping, singing and swaying and we literally fell in love with the Irish vibe. Of course, Irish folk music was played in the van for the next few days!
Day 10: The journey is the destination!
After completing our van duties, we travelled from Ireland back to Northern Ireland and took a very rough ferry across to Scotland. After the ferry and a short drive we finally arrived in Kilmarnock where we did some shopping and spent the night on the edge of the forest enjoying the peace and quiet.
Phew, that ferry was a pain in the neck.
Day 11: Flying taxi in Glasgow
The eleventh day of our journey began with a leisurely drive to Glasgow, where we set off to explore. The city streets were bustling and full of energy as we strolled through the neighbourhoods and soaked up the unique atmosphere. Our first stop was a cosy café, followed by a stroll along Buchanan Street, past the historic buildings and modern artworks, such as the Flying Taxi, that characterise the city.
Our route took us to the Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery, where we enjoyed the exhibitions and experienced the diversity of Glasgow’s art scene. We then made our way to the Clydeside Distillery, where we met some super nice salespeople. We then wandered around the streets of Glasgow before heading back to the van. We eventually made our way to Edinburgh, where we parked the van back at our starting point.
Typical for us: “We can walk and then take the bus back”. And of course we walked both ways – and ended up in a deserted exhibition centre.
Day 12: A little bit of Ireland in Scotland
Our last day in Edinburgh began with a cosy breakfast, interrupted by curious squirrels. With a touch of melancholy, we set off to explore the familiar streets of Edinburgh one last time. Our first stop took us to the Johnnie Walker shop, where we bought some souvenirs. We visited the Holyrood Distillery and bought our last, and therefore seventh, glass of whisky before heading to Holyrood Palace for one a last look at the royal residence.
We enjoyed the colourful hustle and bustle of the city and the festive atmosphere of St Patrick’s Day. In the evening we rounded off the day with a games evening and enjoyed the time together in our cosy van before settling down for our last night in our familiar spot.
Day 13: A journey to three Celtic countries comes to an end
It was hard to say goodbye as we dropped our van off at Indie Campers and made our way to the airport. With many unforgettable memories in our luggage, we made our way home from this exciting journey through three Celtic countries, full of gratitude for the adventures we were able to experience and full of anticipation for the journeys that lie ahead of us.
Our Celtic journey was an unforgettable experience full of breathtaking scenery, cultural highlights and warm encounters. We are grateful for every moment and look forward to the next adventure.
