A Magical United Kingdom & Ireland Road Trip (Full Circle)

Trip Length: 21 Days / 20 Nights

Trip Type: Quiet Heritage — Story, Nature, Villages & Coasts

Best For: Story- and nature-seekers; couples, families, creatives

Best Seasons: Spring–Autumn (skip deep winter for easier driving & ferries)

Getting Around: Rental car + ferries (Scotland ↔ Northern Ireland; Ireland → Wales)

✨ Introduction – The Story Behind the Journey

This full-circle road trip threads together the Isles’ oldest stories and wildest edges — moors and markets,castles and cliffs, tea by rain-flecked windows and music by firelit pubs. Move with a cozy countryside pace, pause for cultural moments in the cities, and let the land do the talking.

Trip Overview

Route (Clockwise): London → Cotswolds → Bath & Stonehenge → Lake District → York → Alnwick → Edinburgh → Scottish Highlands (Jacobite Train) → Ferry to Belfast → Causeway Coast → Galway → Cliffs of Moher → Athlone (Sean’s Bar) → Dublin → Ferry to Wales (Snowdonia/Conwy) → Cotswolds stop → London.

Journey Pace: Cozy countryside days with cultural city pauses.

Highlights: Afternoon tea in London, Harry Potter Studios, Stonehenge, Cotswold village walks, Lake District lakeside hike, York’s medieval lanes, Alnwick Castle (film magic), bagpiping lesson in Edinburgh, Jacobite “Harry Potter” train over the Glenfinnan Viaduct, Giant’s Causeway, traditional music, Cliffs of Moher, Sean’s Bar in Athlone, Welsh castles and peaks, and a farewell dinner at London’s oldest restaurant.

🗺️ Itinerary at a Glance

Day	Destination / Title	Theme
1	Arrive London – River & Rules	Land & Orient
2	London – Museums & Afternoon Tea	Art & Ritual
3	Harry Potter Studios (Leavesden) – London Eve	Story & Wonder
4	London → Cotswolds Villages	Stone & Slow Time
5	Cotswolds Wander – Village Walks	Hedges & Honeycomb
6	Bath & Stonehenge Day	Georgian Grace & Ancient Circle
7	Cotswolds → Lake District	Fells & Water
8	Lake District	Lakeside Hike & Literature
9	Lake District → York	Minster & Medieval Lanes
10	York → Alnwick → Edinburgh	Castles & Capital
11	Edinburgh – Bagpiping Lesson & Old Town	Sound & Story
12	Edinburgh → Fort William	Highland Roads
13	Jacobite Steam Train (Glenfinnan)	Cinema & Scenery
14	Cairnryan Ferry → Belfast	Crossing & Culture
15	Causeway Coast (Giant’s Causeway)	Basalt & Atlantic
16	Belfast → Galway	Poems & Pubs
17	Cliffs of Moher Day	Edge & Awe
18	Galway → Athlone (Sean’s Bar) → Dublin	Oldest Pub & Capital
19	Dublin – Literature & Music	Pages & Pints
20	Ferry to Wales → Snowdonia/Conwy	Peaks & Walls
21	Conwy → Cotswolds Stop → London	Circle Complete

🌞 Day-by-Day Journey

Day 1 – Arrive London: River & Rules

Settle into a central base. Stroll the Thames Embankment at dusk. Classic dinner at Rules (est. 1798) — a living slice of culinary history.

Day 2 – Museums & Afternoon Tea

Choose one or two: British Museum, V&A, or National Gallery. Pause for afternoon tea. Evening wander in Covent Garden or along the South Bank.

Day 3 – Harry Potter Studios (Leavesden)

Drive or transfer to Warner Bros. Studio Tour. Return to London for a twilight walk across Westminster Bridge and backstreets of Soho.

Day 4 – London → Cotswolds

Pick up rental car; drive to the Cotswolds (2–3h). Check into a stone cottage or B&B. Golden-hour village stroll and pub dinner.

Day 5 – Cotswolds Wander

Walk between villages (e.g., Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold, Lower Slaughter). Tea break, antique shops, honey-stone lanes.

Day 6 – Bath & Stonehenge

Morning in Bath: Roman Baths, crescent streets, bookshops. Afternoon detour to Stonehenge. Return to your Cotswolds base.

Day 7 – Cotswolds → Lake District

Drive north (4–5h). Settle by Windermere, Grasmere, or Keswick. Lakeside sunset walk.

Day 8 – Lake District

Choose a moderate fell hike (weather aware). Visit Dove Cottage or Beatrix Potter’s Hill Top. Cosy pub fire after dinner.

Day 9 – Lake District → York

Drive to York (2–3h). Explore the Minster, Shambles, and city walls. Chocolate shops and a ghost walk if you fancy.

Day 10 – York → Alnwick → Edinburgh

Stop at Alnwick Castle (film connections & gardens). Continue to Edinburgh (3–4h total driving). Evening Calton Hill view.

Day 11 – Edinburgh: Bagpiping & Old Town

Morning bagpiping lesson or demonstration. Royal Mile, St Giles’, closes and wynds. Sunset from Arthur’s Seat or Dean Village ramble.

Day 12 – Edinburgh → Fort William

Scenic drive through the Highlands via Glencoe. Overnight in Fort William; plan tickets for tomorrow’s Jacobite train.

Day 13 – Jacobite Steam Train

Ride the heritage line to Mallaig, crossing the Glenfinnan Viaduct (cinema magic). Fish & chips by the harbour; return by evening.

Day 14 – To Northern Ireland: Cairnryan → Belfast Ferry

Drive to Cairnryan (2–3h) and board the ferry to Belfast (~2h15). Belfast murals, Titanic Quarter, or C.S. Lewis Square nod to Narnia.

Day 15 – Causeway Coast

Day trip to Giant’s Causeway, Dunluce Castle, Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge (seasonal). Coastal café stop; return to Belfast or stay on the coast.

Day 16 – Belfast → Galway

Longer driving day via Sligo or direct motorways (allow 4–5h+). Check into a B&B near the Latin Quarter; trad session in a pub.

Day 17 – Cliffs of Moher

Drive to the Burren and Cliffs of Moher. Coastal walk (watch edges and weather). Return via Doolin for music.

Day 18 – Galway → Athlone → Dublin

Stop in Athlone for Sean’s Bar — often cited as Ireland’s oldest pub. Continue to Dublin; evening in Temple Bar side streets (beyond the busiest bits).

Day 19 – Dublin: Literature & Music

Trinity College (Book of Kells), Grafton Street buskers, museums. Pint and live music to close the night.

Day 20 – Ferry to Wales → Snowdonia/Conwy

Ferry Dublin–Holyhead (~3.5h). Drive to Conwy walls or into Snowdonia for a valley walk. Welsh inn dinner.

Day 21 – Conwy → Cotswolds Stop → London

Scenic return across England with a Cotswolds lunch stop. Drop car and close the circle in London.

🌿 Local Wisdom & Harmony Touches

Cobblestones & Chats: Walk the lanes; say hello; ask for a story — locals love to share.

Tea Time: Keep a thermos for lay-bys and viewpoints; journal while the kettle sings.

Left-Hand Driving: Narrow lanes and hedgerows — unhurried speeds and early starts are your friends.

Ferries: Pre-book Cairnryan↔Belfast and Dublin→Holyhead; arrive early for check-in queues.

Weather: Layers, waterproofs, and sturdy footwear — the Isles’ charm includes shifting skies.

🏡 Stays & Lodging Style

Stone cottages and village B&Bs in the Cotswolds

Lakeside inns in the Lake District

Historic townhouse or boutique stay in Edinburgh

Coastal B&Bs on the Causeway Coast or in Galway

City-center apartments in London and Dublin

🚗 Getting Around & Key Times (approx.)

London → Cotswolds: 2–3h

Cotswolds → Bath: 1–1.5h

Bath → Stonehenge: ~1h

Cotswolds → Lake District: 4–5h

Lake District → York: 2–3h

York → Alnwick: ~2h

Alnwick → Edinburgh: 1.5–2h

Edinburgh → Fort William: 3–4h via Glencoe

Cairnryan → Belfast ferry: ~2h15 (driving Edinburgh→Cairnryan ~2.5–3h)

Belfast → Giant’s Causeway: ~1.5h

Belfast → Galway: 4–5h+

Galway → Cliffs of Moher: ~1.5h

Galway → Athlone: ~1h

Athlone → Dublin: ~1.5h

Dublin → Holyhead ferry: ~3.5h

Holyhead → Conwy: ~1h

Conwy → London (with Cotswolds stop): 5–6h total driving

🎒 Packing with Intention

Layers (wool or fleece), rain jacket, waterproof boots, warm hat, gloves (shoulder seasons), adapter (Type G), reusable cup/thermos, daypack, small first-aid kit, journal & pen.

🌅 Reflection & Closing

On these roads, nature and heritage walk hand in hand. May the moors, music, and sea-winds leave you nostalgic in the best way — quietly changed, deeply connected, and already dreaming of the next chapter.

Live Wild. Create With Intention. Tell Stories That Matter.

A pre-traveled, pre-curated journey by Harmony in the Wild — Greg & Jena Pomeroy.