Category: Western Europe

We did this day tour during a trip to Italy in April 2022.

This was a day trip from Milan, Italy. This is one of the most popular day trips to Swiss alps from Milan. The fascinating journey takes you along the UNESCO World Heritage route of the RhB (Rhaetian Railway).”

We had booked this trip in advance (few weeks before), through Viator.

For 2 adults and 1child (10 years old), we paid 302.5 Euros. The Tour commentary was in English and Spanish.

This was one of the beautiful day trips that we had ever done.

Milan to St. Moritz in Air-conditioned coach:

The trip was conducted by Zani Group. The trip started from Milan Visitor Centre – Zani Viaggi (Largo Cairoli, 18, 20121) around 7.15 AM (we had not opted for Hotel pickup/drop option).

The Zani Group is a collection of multiple companies operating in the tourism and transport sector. It has 2 tourist centres in Milan. You can check out in their website to book directly aswell.

https://www.zaniviaggi.com/tour/swiss-alps-bernina-red-train-and-st-moritz-full-day-trip/

We were staying in Novotel Milano Linate Aeroporto which was a bit far from the pickup point. As the start time was 7.15 AM, we took a taxi from the hotel to Milan Visitor Centre and paid around 30 Euros.

As it was a fully packed day trip (almost 13 hours trip), the tour company started the trip on time. One family lost the bus as they reached the pickup point 5 minutes late. They had to ideally hire a taxi and chase the bus and managed to onboard the bus later after a few kilometres. So, ensure to reach on time.

Route plan: Milan Visitor Centre (Milan, Italy) to St. Moritz (Switzerland) in air-conditioned bus. Journey time is approximately 3 hours (around 170 kms)

St. Moritz to Tirano (Italy) in Bernina Express (the most thrilling part of the journey)

Tirano station to Milano in Bus (same bus in which we went to St. Moritz).

We had a tour guide who accompanied us throughout the trip. An audio unit was also provided during the start of the journey and the same had to be given back upon return.

Enroute, the bus to St. Moritz from Milan, the bus stopped at a cafeteria named ‘Moreschi’ (https://www.moreschichiavenna.it/) for some time in order for the tourists to have some refreshments. Clean restrooms were also available within the building complex.

The route towards St. Moritz is very scenic with lot of photography options. They don’t have any other stops before St. Moritz. There was no cross broder checking (immigration check) during the trip.

Enroute you can also see the St. Moritz lake.

Just as the mountains above St. Moritz draw skiers in the winter, the lake below is the focus of attention for many summer visitors.

After reaching St. Moritz, the guide gave clear instructions around:

1. Places to see
2. Restaurant options for having lunch
3. Return trip details like where and when to come back and so on.

Then, we were left alone to explore the beautiful city of St. Moritz at our own pace.

St. Moritz, Switzerland:

St. Moritz is a luxury resort town with a small lake in the middle of the Alps, with cableways to viewpoints and glaciers. It has hosted the Winter Olympics twice.

The magnificent view from St. Moritz embraces the mountains from Piz Languard in the east to Piz Julier in the west.

There are plenty of places to see and visit around St. Moritz.

In a day trip like this, you will get around 3-3.5 hours and that is more than enough time to stroll through the streets, have a lunch from some restaurant, take some beautiful photographs and grab some Swiss souvenirs and chocolates.

After seeing a few places within the city, we went to the following places:

a) Laderach to buy some chocolates:

b) Wega to buy some souvenirs

c) Galleria Caspar Badrutt to do some shopping

d) Coop to buy some snacks

Return Journey –> St. Moritz to Tirano in Bernina Express (Train Start time :13:48)

We were asked to be back at Railway station at 1:30 PM. The station is sightly at a lower elavation compared to city. There is a series of escalator that will help you to reach station easily.

The train took approximately 2 hrs 15 minutes to reach Tirano station.

(NOTE: The second-class train ticket was already booked by the tour agency, So we just had to follow the guide to the right coach (remember to reach back the station on time that is specified by the guide, else you will loose the train). There were no specific seat numbers. We could sit in any of the available seats in that coach)

Operated by Rhaetian Railway (launched in 1920), the Bernina Express, passes through the Bernina Alps of Switzerland and down into northern Italy. This is a narrow gauge train.

On the highest railway tracks in Europe and the steepest in the world, the Bernina Express takes its passengers on a unique journey through a large number of tunnels and bridges.  

(The actual train route is Chur (Swiss city) –> St. Moritz (Swiss city) –> Torino (Italian city). The overall journey is 4 hours (144 Kms) one way, which has 55 tunnels and 196 bridges)

The Bernina Express train winds up the mountain from an altitude of 2253 to 429. The views were very scenic. You will certainly love this train journey.

Between St. Moritz  and Tirano the train runs round the famous Brusio Spiral Viaduct (single track viaduct), where most of the classic Bernina Express publicity photos are taken. It consists of a 360-degree spiral that enables the train to change the elavation. However, the viaduct is not a feat of engineering only, but an object of beauty. Nine elegant arches with a span of 10 meters made using local stones blend in seamlessly with the surroundings.

Bernina train is a voyage through nature;  from the palm trees and apple orchards of Tirano, passing chestnut trees and forests of fir and larch on the way.

Tirano Railway station to Milan in Air-conditioned coach:

The same bus in which we went to St. Moritz was waiting for us at the Tirano station to take us back to Milan.

The journey time was approximately 2 hrs 15 min (167 Kms).

Enroute, they stop at a restaurant ‘Bracere Tirano’ (https://www.labrace.it/en/)  for refreshments. Clean restrooms were also available within the building complex.

We reached back Milan city centre late evening (around 7PM).  Had our dinner from a restaurant in city centre and went back to our hotel Novotel Milano Linate Aeroporto in a cab (paid 30 Euros)

The trip mentioned above was operated by the tour company Zani Viaggi.

The service provided by Viator / Zani Group was excellent and well orgaized.

In some other companies itinerary, you might find them going from Tirano to St. Moritz in Bernina express and return back by air conditioned coach.

In case if you want to avoid all these tour companies and plan the trip by your own, that is also a possibility and might work out cheaper aswell.

How to book this entire trip by yourself.

(NOTE: You MUST confirm and obtain any visa requirements prior to border crossing. All visa requirements are the sole responsibility of the traveller)

It’s better to book the train tickets well in advance.

Always look out for the related railway websites to get a clarity on the timings and rates.

Onward Journey:

You can book Milan to Tirano train here –> https://www.trenord.it/

Book the 06:20 -09:05 Train

Have your breakfast at/near Tirano station

Leave the Tirano train station and walk across the square to the Bernina station.

And book the Tirano to St. Moritz here –> https://shop.rhb.ch/en/bernina-express

Book the 10:06-12:35 Train (33 Euros)

NOTES:

1) The Bernina express train coaches are designed in a way that you get great views, as they have large panoramic windows. So please feel free to book any seat.

2) You can plan for a second class ticket one direction and a first class ticket in the opposite direction.  (First class tickets are costlier).

In second class, there are 4 seats (2+2) in a row and in the first class, there are only 3 seats (1+2). The seats are more comfortable (leather) and bigger in first class and there are chances that the first class will be less crowded.

The first-class coach is at the last. So, you get to enjoy seeing the train itself traveling through the mountain.

3) There are rest rooms available within the coaches

4) Seat Reservation is mandatory in Bernina express.

5) Children under 6 can travel free. Children aged 6 to 16 pay half the fare.

6) There are special seats available on the Bernina Express for passengers with impaired mobility who cannot leave their wheelchair

7) Dogs are allowed on the Bernina Express and do not require a reservation. Depending on the size of the dog, a dog ticket is required. Please check their website for details.

8) On the Bernina Express, you can use the InfoT(r)ainment free of charge on your own smartphone.

9) There is also a Bernina express bus available from Tirano to Lugano. It’s a 3 hours / 90kms journey and does not operate in Winter. Please check the company website to know more details.

You can spend 3 – 3.5 hours in St. Moritz.

Have your lunch at St. Moritz. Multiple restaurants and café shops are available.

Return Journey:

You can book Tirano to St. Moritz here –> https://shop.rhb.ch/en/bernina-express

Book the 16:14 – 18:39 Train (33 Euros)

Have your dinner at/near Tirano station

And book the Tirano to Milan train here –> https://www.trenord.it/

Book the 19:56 – 22:40 Train (remember that there is another train at 18:56 aswell)

Total train ticket cost for one side per person is around  : 12 + 33 = 45 Euros

Both sides might come around 90 Euros (45+45)

Whereas tour operators might charge you around 139 Euros.

So, you can easily save around 49 Euros per person for the entire trip.

Other things that you might miss when you plan the above train trips are:

1. Commentary by the guide (& audio device)
2. One side journey in Bus (the route is also scenic)
3. Refreshment options (as Bus stops at proper restaurants in both journeys)

Summary:

Bernina Express is without doubt one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world. You can certainly include this 1-day trip into your itinerary, if your budget and time permits. Ofcourse this will be a time bound tight full day journey, but it is worth the money and time.

If you have more days in hand,  please try out the entire Chur to Tirano via St. Moritz and think about staying one night at St. Moritz.

There is also another popular route operated by Glacier express, which is a direct train connecting railway stations of the two major mountain resorts of Zermatt and St. Moritz via Andermatt in the central Swiss Alps.

Clare is a county in western Ireland with terrain ranging from rolling countryside to craggy Atlantic coastline. Clare is the seventh largest of Ireland’s 32 traditional counties in area and the 19th largest in terms of population.

In this blog, I would like to cover a one-day trip that we did in June 2023, to County Clare.

We started our journey from Saggart, Dublin Ireland around 7:30 AM and returned by around 9:00 PM.

We took the following route. Its approximately 6.5 hour’s drive and 550 Kms.

[Apart from the driving time, you would also need time for sightseeing, refreshments and so on. So, you should certainly consider minimum around 13 hours for the entire journey].

Now let’s get into more details about the various stop overs:

1.Kinvarra: (Google map : Harbour House, The Quay, Dungory West, Kinvarra, County Galway)

From Saggart we started at 7:30 AM, it took around 2 hrs 15 minutes to reach Kinvarra.

Kinvara or Kinvarra is a sea port village in the southwest of County Galway, Ireland. Its a picturesque coastal village on the shores of Galway Bay.

You can also visit Dunguaire Castle enroute (not marked in the above map).  It was told that this castle was build in 16^th Century.

Another place that can be covered is Traught Beach. Its not mentioned in the above map and we have not visited aswell.

Approximate time that you can set aside for this destination: 30 minutes

2. Linnalla Irish Ice cream parlour: (Café Linnala):

Kinvarra to Linnalla –> 15 Minutes

This was a surprise stop over in this trip. I managed to see people mentioning about this place, when I was searching in internet to prepare an itinerary for county Clare.

Situated on the stunning Flaggy Shore along Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, Bríd Fahy and her husband Roger run Linnalla Ice Cream is one of the few farmer owned and operated ice cream parlours in Ireland.

I would certainly recommend this place. The route to the cafe is quite scenic with tonnes of photography options. You should certainly visit this place to experience the beauty of the place and of course to have few scoops of ice creams aswell.

In google map, this is shown as a ‘unnamed road’ and we will get confused if we are on the correct route. But you can blindly follow google maps and it will take you to the correct destination.

There are enough parking space available near the café and there is also a very clean restroom available within this café.

If you have time, there is a nice walkway near to the café and there are few slides and swings for the little ones aswell.

Visit their website for more details (like opening times and so on)

Approximate time that you can set aside for this destination: 45 minutes (includes time for having ice cream aswell, the time doesn’t include the walking trail)

3. Fanore Beach:

Linnalla to Fanore –> 45 Minutes

The route from Linnalla to Fanore is quite scenic (will cover a lot of costal route aswell)

The small coastal village of Fanore is located where the Caher River enters the Atlantic Ocean on the edge of the world-famous Burren region.

Fanore Beach (holds a blue flag status) is a stunning sandy beach. There is a good view of the Burren from the beach.

During the summer months, the beach is lifeguarded. Don’t forget to check out the beach’s noticeboard for more information. This beach is popular for walkers, swimmers and surfers.

There is a surfing school available with equipment for hire at a reasonable cost.

There’s a large car park right next to Fanore Beach, however, it can be easy to miss when you’re driving the coast road (the scenery is incredible), so make sure to keep an eye out for the parking signs.

Was told that there are Jellyfish in this beach, but we never saw one. Its good to be a bit careful especially if you have dogs or kids with you.

There seems to be laws in place which needs to be taken care of:

• Dog-owners are required to clean up their dog poops in a public place such as public roads, footpaths, parks and beaches. Failure to do so can result in an on-the-spot fine of €150.
• Horse riding and dogs are prohibited between 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. during the summer season.
• Motorised watercraft, surfing and the use of canoes and kayaks is prohibited in close proximity to swimmers.

Approximate time that you can set aside for this destination: 30 minutes

4. Doolin Pier Point:

Fanore to Doolin pier –> 30 Minutes

NOTE: Its better to have lunch enroute or near to Doolin Pier. We brought lunch from Home and had the same at the car parking.

Doolin Pier (also known as Ballaghaline Quay) is situated in the Wild Atlantic Way. Doolin is the home of traditional Irish music. Its a nice walk down to the pier, but they’re not great for getting down to the sea itself as there’s no seashore here. Its more like a rocky beach here.

This is not a beach for swimming. But it is a beach for amazing views, listening and watching the waves crash, enjoying the sun, and admiring the dazzling geology of the coastline.

I believe the Sunset view from here will be excellent. There are high chances that you will find some Dolphins here. The pier has well maintained restrooms.

There is also lot of parking space available, and the rates are nominal (1 Euro for 0 – 2 Hours).

You have Ferry Services (operated by Doolin Ferry) from here to Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher (closed during winter). Check their website for more details –> https://www.doolinferry.com/

We took the cliffs of Moher Ferry (2 PM). The total ferry travel time was around 45 – 50 minutes. Its better to book this ticket in advance (few days or week) so that you can avoid last minute surprises like tickets sold out and so on.

Ticket Rates: Adults (28 Euros), Senior Citizens (26 Euros) , Children 5-15 years (15 Euros).

The Cliffs of Moher is one of Ireland’s most popular visitor attractions. People say that until you see them from the ferry, you haven’t really seen them at all. I would also agree to that statement. Its indeed a great view of the cliffs from the ferry.

It is hard to take in their magnificent heights until you see them from sea level. The people walking along the trail high above appear no larger than ants!

The ferry has 2 decks. The upper deck is open and the lower deck is a closed one (except few seats at the back of the ferry). If its raining, you will get exposed to rain if you are sitting in the upper deck or at the back side of the ferry (in the lower deck) as they are open to sky.

One other issue with the open part in the lower deck is that water will splash on your face and head during high tide. There is a commentary available in the ferry, but sometimes (no, most of the times) it is not clear.

The entry route to the ferries is clearly marked. You will have to wait in a queue before boarding the ferry. If you are behind in the queue, there are chances that you might not get a seat in the upper deck. Please note that the ferry has toilet facilities aswell.

There is no requirement to wear life jackets as the ferry is large and high off the sea.  You are allowed to take your own refreshments.

Approximate time that you can set aside for this destination (Doolin Pier) for photography and lunch: 45 minutes.

Also, you would need another 50 minutes to 1 hour for the ferry trip.

5. Cliffs of Moher:

The initial 2 km or so from Doolin Pier to Cliffs is a challenging one with very narrow and steeper roads. It might take 15 minutes to reach the cliffs from the pier.

One of the important things to be noted is that we need to take tickets to visit the cliffs. The price varies based on the time of the day. Its 7-10 Euros (For adults). For Children up to 12 years, it’s a free ticket.

Admission includes secure car parking, wi-fi, access to all areas including O’Brien’s Tower and the interactive Cliffs exhibition.

If you book online (at least one day in advance), you will get tickets at the discounted price.

Its always better to look into their website https://www.cliffsofmoher.ie/ to see more details like opening hours.

This is one of the most famous destination in the entire scenic wild Atlantic way. The cliffs run for around 14 kms and at some places, it rise to a maximum height of 214 metres (702 feet) above the Atlantic Ocean. It ranks one among the most visited tourist sites in Ireland, with around 1.5 million visits per annum.

You can also visit the Cliffs of Moher visitor’s center (opened in 2007).  This state-of-the-art underground visitor centre features various interactive exhibits, images and displays that can be enjoyed by people of all age groups. There are some restaurants and public toilets available within this center.

There’s also a observatory tower called O’Briens Tower.

The parking area is huge. But you will have to walk a long distance to reach the cliffs from the parking area (Private vehicles).

There are safety barriers which prevents visitors from going near the cliff. However, if you keep walking away from the Visitor’s center, the barrier ends. So be a little careful and dare not to go near the edge. Already many have lost their life here.

Being one of the busiest attractions in Ireland, you are bound to find visitors all year round, however July and August are the peak months.

Approximate time that you can set aside for this destination: 2 hours

NOTE: If you have time limitations and can cover Cliffs of Moher only through one of the two options (land or sea), My personal recommendation would be to see it from Land as it gives you to real beauty of this wonderful and ginormous landscape. However if you have people with mobility/walking issues in your group, its good to opt for the sea option as they can sit back and see the cliffs from a ferry (without much walking).

6. Lahinch Beach:

This is the last stop over in this trip

Cliffs to Lahinch Beach : 15 Minutes

This is also a sandy beach will stretches around 1Km or so.

This beach (Lifeguarded) is known for surfing, sea kayaking, kite surfing and so on.

There are also several surf schools in the area, so whether you’re a seasoned pro or a beginner, you can grab a board and catch a wave.

There seems to be laws in place which needs to be taken care of:

• Dog-owners are required to clean up their dog poops in a public place such as public roads, footpaths, parks and beaches. Failure to do so can result in an on-the-spot fine of €150.
• Horse riding and dogs are prohibited between 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. during the summer season.
• Motorised watercraft, surfing and the use of canoes and kayaks is prohibited in close proximity to swimmers

Approximate time that you can set aside for this destination: 30 minutes

Further before heading to Dublin, in  case if you would like to have a dinner, this can be a ideal place as there are many restaurants in this locality.

This concludes the various stops in this trip.  We returned to Saggart, Dublin which was approximately 250 Kms and 2 hours 45 minutes (reached back around 9PM)

I had to do the trip to county Clare in a day and hence had to purposefully avoid few other interesting places in County Clare.

If you have time, I will strongly recommend spending minimum 2 days (&1 night) in County Clare. There are plenty of accommodation options available within the county.

Few other places that you could explore are:

The Burren National Park

Kilfenora Cathedral

Doolin Cave

Poulnabrone Dolmen

Aillwee Cave // Birds of Prey centre

Doonagore Castle

Caherconnell Stone Fort

Leamaneh Castle

Lough Inchiquin

Clare Heritage Centre

Cliffs of Kilkee

Corkscrew Hill

Loophead cliffs/peninsula

Aran Islands

Black Head cliffs

Bridges of Ross

Corcomroe Abbey (Sunset)

Scattery islands

Shannon ferry from Clare to Kerry

There are many walking trails aswell, within county Clare.

Hope you enjoyed reading my blog. I would like you to try out this itinerary and let me know your comments!

Waterford is a county in Ireland. It is in the province of Munster and is part of the Southern Region.

From its vibrant city life to its rural charm and stunning coastline, County Waterford have something for everyone.

In this blog, I would like to cover a one-day trip that we did in July 2023, to County Waterford.

We started our journey from Saggart, Dublin Ireland around 8:30 AM and returned by around 8:30 PM.

We took the following route. Its approximately 6 hour’s drive and 450 Kms.

[Apart from the driving time, you would also need time for sightseeing, refreshments and so on. So, you should certainly consider around 12 hours for the entire journey].

Now let’s get into more details about the various stop overs:

1. Kilkenny Castle (Kilkenny, Ireland’s Medieval City):

This castle has been rebuilt, extended, and adapted to suit changing circumstances over a period of 800 years. Kilkenny Castle is open to visitors all year round.

If you wish to see the castle in detail, its better to book a tour (self-guided or guided) in advance. Tickets can be found in https://heritageireland.ie/visit/places-to-visit/kilkenny-castle/

The adult ticket price is around 12 Euros and student price is around 6 Euros.

Other features include 50 acres of rolling parkland with mature trees, a formal terraced rose garden, woodlands, and a man-made lake, which were added in the nineteenth century.

The toughest challenge you will face with this first destination is ‘Parking’.

There is parking exactly in front of the castle, but slots are limited.

In case if you find something even 400-500 meters away from the castle, grab that without a further second thought.

As this is old city, you should certainly spend some time walking around the streets to explore more.

(NOTE: We did not go inside the castle but saw it from outside and explored few streets within the city centre)

Approximate time that you can set aside for this destination: 45 min

2. Mahon Falls:

If you follow the above route, you would ideally be passing through the various sections of Comeragh Drive and Nire valley drive.

The Comeragh Mountains stretch from the coast near Dungarvan as far as Clonmel and this is one route that has spectacular views.

During the Comeragh Drive, you must stop at the ‘MAGIC ROAD’. The magic road is located close to Mahon Falls. A small road, located off the beaten track, where if you stop the car and let the handbrake off, the vehicle will magically roll uphill.

NOTE: Not sure why, I could not figure out this magic road enroute Mahon Falls.

Also, we did not take the walking trail to reach near Mahon Falls.

Mahon Falls is an 80m waterfall situated in the Comeragh Mountains near Lemybrien, Co. Waterford.  The waterfall can be seen from far, but you might have to walk around 20+ minutes (from car park) if you really want to see it from near.

There is a very nice restaurant (Cooney’s Yard) enroute the Mahon Falls. On your way back from the falls, you can have lunch from this restaurant (please note that there are not many restaurants available in this route). We just had coffee and hot chocolate and the rate seems to be nominal. There is enough parking space aswell.

There are clean toilets available, so getting down here for a lunch would be a right time for a biological break aswell.

As the route is quite scenic, you might love to have short breaks for capturing some moments in your Camera. Approximate time that you can set aside for this destination and enroute photography: 1 hour.

As per this itinerary, you can spend around 45 Min for Lunch time.

3. Bunmahon Beach:

Bunmahon Beach is a stretch of sandy beach located on the southeast coast of Ireland in Bunmahon, County Waterford. This beach is slightly off the R675 (one of the most scenic coastal routes in Ireland)

It is backed by sand dunes and is popular with surfers and for canoeing and kayaking.

Swimming at Bunmahon Beach is only suitable for experienced swimmers. The high waves are dangerous. In fact, Bunmahon Beach can be one of the most dangerous beaches on this part of the coast.

The beach is manned by lifeguards during the summer months and has been awarded Blue Flag status. 

There is a caravan park, modern outdoor play park and basketball court located directly behind the beach.

The dedicated parking space is quite limited, but I have seen people parking on both sides of the different nearby roads.

COPPER COAST UNESCO Global geopark (one of the 3 Geoparks in Ireland) is few meters away from this beach. You can also explore the park if you wish to do so.

The area used to be mined for copper and this section of the coast being known as the “Copper Coast”.

NOTE: We have not gone to the Geopark.

Approximate time that you can set aside for this destination: 20 min

NOTE: We took lunch from home and had that near the parking area in Bunmahon Beach.

4. Kilmurrin Cove / Beach:

This is a nice viewpoint over this beach, with a decent parking lot facility.

For extra picturesque views walk a bit uphill on the farmland and enjoy the view from there! 

Kilmurrin Beach is an expansive stretch of golden sand that’s perfect for a day out with friends and family. The beach was the location for a stunning piece of sand art created by environmental artist Sean Corcoran, measuring 120ft in height and 200ft wide, higher than Dublin’s Liberty Hall. The artwork was created to encourage people around Ireland to ‘Keep Discovering’ as the country reopens once again.

Kilmurrin Beach is surrounded by two rocky headlands that shelter the soft, powdery sand, leaving the water still and clear, creating perfect swimming conditions.

Approximate time that you can set aside for this destination: 20 min

R675 Route is one of the most scenic coastal routes in Ireland.

5. Annestown Beach:

This place is not mentioned in the above map.

There are many beaches in the R675 route. The one that we visited after Kilmurrin was Annestown beach.

Annestown Strand is in Annestown, County Waterford and is an attractive bathing place. It is popular with surfers and swimmers alike.

There is a dedicated parking space available but there is a height clearance restriction to enter the car park.

Approximate time that you can set aside for this destination: 10 min

6. Newtown Cove / Beach:

Newtown is a small, sheltered cove with a stony beach, with easy access for swimmers by the slipway or ladder.

The water is very clean generally with good visibility. This place is popular during summertime. There is a lot of parking space available, and this place is nearby metal man statue.

The Metal Man statue stands on one of three pillars near Newtown Cove.

It was constructed as a maritime beacon after the tragic loss of over 350 lives after HMS Seahorse sank back in 1816.

Dressed in traditional British sailor clothing, the Metal Man is on private land with the entrance to the monument blocked due to dangerous cliffs. However, you can see the figure from various points along the coast. 

Approximate time that you can set aside for this destination: 20 min

7. Station House, Kilmeadan  (WSV Railway):

The Waterford Suir Valley Railway starts from this station and ends at this station (journey time is approximately 50 minutes).

This is a heritage narrow gauge railway whihc runs along 10 kilometres of the abandoned Waterford Dungarvan line. We were told that this is Ireland’s longest narrow-gauge railway.

I had my son with me during the trip and hence this place was picked as one of the destinations in this trip. Kids would love this train journey.

There is enough car parking space available in front of this station. The car park and train’s starting point (Kilmeadan) are very near to each other (just a few metres).

There is also a toilet facility and a café shop (Whistlestop Cáfe) available within the station.

Try to book online in advance, if you plan to visit this place as sometimes the seats get filled faster.

I had done an online booking in the WSV website ( https://www.wsvrailway.ie/) a day prior and have opted for the 4PM trip (last trip of the day). By picking 4PM slot, you will get enough time to cover all the places mentioned above in the route map.

Enroute, the train stops at a station for a minute or so. On the left side, watch out for the cormorants resting on the ruins of Kilmeadan Castle and get a glimpse into Mount Congreve Gardens . Make a wish when you see the fairies in the Magic Wood.

NOTE:

1. There are different slots available like 11 AM, 12 Noon, 1 PM, 2 PM, 3PM and 4 PM (last slot)
2. There are 8 small compartments available. Enclosed compartments can hold 12 people and partially open compartments can hold 8 people.
3. You will get better views (River Suir) if you sit on the left-hand side. The right side has view only to the walking track (part of Waterford greenway)
4. If you plan to take photos/videos, I suggest booking a partially open compartment as its quite open (the enclosed ones have fully closed windows).
5. The carriages are wheelchair accessible.

8. Dunmore East / Dunmore Harbour:

Dunmore East is a popular tourist and fishing village in County Waterford, Ireland.

The harbour is one of the five designated National Fishery Harbours and has the second highest figure for fish landings after Killybegs.

Tourism in Dunmore East is supported by boating and sailing facilities, holiday homes, traditional pubs, a golf course, and several hotels.

This place can potentially be a good place for you to have your Dinner.

We tried some Fish and Chips from ‘Fish shop’.  The food was economical and good (taste wise and Quantity wise)

Approximate time that you can set aside for this destination (including Dinner):  1 Hour

9. Waterford City Centre:

This place is not mentioned in the above map.

If you are following the above map, you will be passing through Waterford city centre enroute Dublin.

Waterford is the oldest and the fifth most populous city in the Republic of Ireland.

Waterford, Ireland’s oldest city is believed to have been established by the Viking Ragnall (the grandson of Ivar the Boneless) in 914 AD.

Incase if you didn’t have your dinner from Dunmore, this place would be another great option.

Parking can be a problem if you decide to park your car and explore the city by foot.

Waterford is renowned for its exciting festivals and events such as the West Waterford Festival of Food.

This concludes the destinations in this trip.  We returned to Saggart, Dublin which was approximately 150Kms and 1.5 hours.

I had to do the trip to Waterford in a day and hence had to purposefully avoid few other interesting places in Waterford.

If you have time, I will strongly recommend spending 2 days (&1 night) in County Waterford.  There are plenty of accommodation options available within the county.

Few other places that you could explore are:

Waterford crystal Factory, Medieval Museum, Bishops’ Palace

COPPER COAST UNESCO Global geopark

Dungarvan (Davitts Quay),

Tramore Beach

Lismore castle garden

Ardmore Beach

Ardmore farm & Mini Zoo

Goat Island, Ballynamona

Copper Coast Sea Kayaking

Hook Lighhouse

There are many walking trails within county Waterford:

Waterford Greenway

The Mahon Falls Walk

The Coumshingaun Loop Walk

The Ardmore Cliff Walk

The Ballysaggartmore Towers Walk

The Anne Valley Walk

The Dunmore East Cliff Walk

There are also different surfing schools within Waterford that offer lessons for novice surfers and first timers, so don’t worry if you’ve never tried surfing before. If you fancy trying your hand at a bit of surfing, this is an ideal place.     

Hope you enjoyed reading my blog. I would like you to try out this itinerary and let me know your comments!

Victor’s way is an Indian Sculpture Park located in County Wicklow, near Dublin, Ireland. It is a 22-acre park surrounded by lush green forest and typical Irish countryside. The park also has some open green fields, ponds and several small lakes.

We followed the below route:

The entire route is quite scenic.

We had spent some time at the Cloghleagh Bridge and at the Lough Tay Viewing point (and Guinness Lake) before reaching Victor’s way.

Cloghleagh Bridge:

This lovely Single arch bridge (over Shankill River) is surrounded by woodland and is adjacent to a quaint church. It’s a beautiful quiet place surrounded by shady trees, with small waterfalls and large flat rocks. There is also a Walking Trail available here.

Lough Tay Viewing point (and Guinness Lake):

The lake is located along the Sally Gap drive and you’ll be treated to magnificent views of its inky black water. The Guinness Lake, as it’s known, is situated within a private estate, but it can be viewed from above from several viewing points along the Sally Gap.

Victor’s way:

You can either book online or pay as cash (10 Euros for Adults) for the tickets. I have not seen any ticket counter as such. There is a small slot where you deposit the money. When we visited, there was a person available near the car park to collect the cash. I don’t remember them giving us any printed tickets or so.

There is enough parking space available within the park.

The entry to the Victor’s Way is an unusual opening, with two ladies on either side. It is known as Victoria’s Gate and the opening represents the birth canal. The birth canal in other words is the one through which we came through into this world. It’s the first journey we ever make in life, and at this point our world becomes so much bigger.

The birth canal here represents being born again and entering into the park, with all the worries of the world left behind on the other side.

The park was known as Victoria’s Way until 2015, when it was closed by the owner who felt that too many day-trippers were coming into the park for fun activities (for parents & children). It was reopened in 2016 as Victor’s Way with new age restrictions as it was designed as a garden for over 28’s year old only.

Although the park won’t suit everyone’s taste, it’s one of the unique things to discover in Ireland. If you’re looking to escape from your busy daily life, then a trip to the peaceful Victor’s Way Park might just be what you need. In addition, it was created for those between the ages of 28 to 60 years old.

It is indeed a great place for a relaxing walk. You can easily spent a good hour or two, walking around the sculpture gardens and it’s best to follow the arrows to guide you through the different areas. There are lot of sculptures (lot of Indian/Hindu deities aswell) within the campus. Some statues appear stunningly beautiful in their black granite.

Seems that many of the sculptures here were directly carved in Mahabalipuram, India.

Please note that this place is not intended for Family Fun (like other parks). This is more of a meditation park.

There is a lot of walk around. So please plan accordingly if you have small kids or elderly people within your group.

Its always better to check their website for the opening season/timings. Please note that this is not open throughout the year. Also, I believe they don’t encourage pets.

Website: https://victorsway.eu/

The Irishman Victor Langheld designed and created the park. Victor also stays within the campus. So there are high chances that you might see him somewhere within in the park.

One of the most famous sculpture here is The Ferryman’s End.

The Ferryman’s End represents the icon of burnout, is set in algae covered waters.

     The ferryman ferries himself and others from ‘this shore’ to the ‘other shore’ (and where the grass is always greener). In other words, he/she ferries from here (meaning sameness) to there (meaning difference) and so from death to life. (Courtesy: https://victorsway.eu/sculptures/ferryman.htm)

(Note: One personal comment. Don’t underestimate the size of this sculpture after seeing the images in Internet. It is relatively small and is set in algae covered waters)

There is a craft shop onsite selling Indian made products. The interesting thing is that there is nobody available within the shop for selling the items. All items have the amount details mentioned in that. If you liked any item, just check the price, and deposit the money in a small box (Honesty Box) kept at the entrance.

We visited Howth in August 2021.

Howth is in the outer suburb of Dublin, Ireland. The district as a whole occupies the greater part of the peninsula of Howth Head, which forms the northern boundary of Dublin Bay, and includes the island of Ireland’s Eye.

Its stunning location surrounded on three sides by the Irish Sea makes it a favourite with tourists.

One of Dublin’s oldest working harbours, Howth has been a fishing village and port since at least the 14th century.

We took the Public transport (Luas) from Saggart to Connolly (Last stop of the red line)

Other Travel Options:

1. You can get the 31 number bus that will take you to the Howth Harbour. Or you can take the 31A number bus which goes through Howth Village to Howth Summit. Both buses leave from the same location, Eden Quay (just off O’Connell Street).
2. If you are coming from downtown Dublin, follow the R807 road along the coastline. This road will turn into R105 and this will lead you to downtown Howth. It is about 18km and might take about 30 minutes depending on traffic.

Connolly luas (Tram) and the dart (train) stations are quite near to each other.

The Dart station is in the first floor and you can take lift/escalator from the Luas Platform to reach there.

If you are interested, you can use Leap Travel Card. More detail about Leap Visitor card can be found here:

https://about.leapcard.ie/leap-visitor-card

If atall you don’t have leap cards, you can buy it from the shops within or nearby the Luas/Dart stations.

You can touch off your leap card in the machine provided at the entry. Don’t forget to do that at the exit aswell.

Connolly station:

There are around 7 platforms in Connolly (+ 2 Platform for Luas).

The train timing and Platforms are clearly marked in the boards. So you don’t have to panic and there are even sign boards clearly indicating the platform number.

The dart train from Connolly to Howth would take around 30 minutes. Trains are available at regular intervals.

If you are visiting Howth using you own car, there ae plenty of parking space available near to the dart station.

There are multiple trails available in Howth. It’s worth to note that many of these trails get busy over the Weekends / Public holidays.

In the beginning of the cliff paths, there are clear indications of the various paths like Green, Blue, Red, Purple and so on. But there are high chances that you miss the actual path (as colour codes are missing at many places, enroute)

All Trails website will give you a rough idea about the various options.

https://www.alltrails.com/ireland/county-dublin/howth

We had gone with the Cliff walk from the dart Station towards the Howth Summit (Howth head Cliff Walk-lower cliff walk). The distance is around 6 Kms (walking time of 1.5-2 Hours approx)

NOTE: If you have more time, you can try Black Linn Loop Walk that goes through Ben of Howth (highest peak of the peninsula). From the summit, you might get a full 360 degree view overlooking the entire peninsula, Howth Castle, Howth village and so on.

Another option is the Bog of Frogs Loop Walk, which follows the coastline for 12km.

If you are taking the Howth Summit route, the best way is to take Google search option to look for Howth summit (as the destination) . The good thing with that destination is that you can take a Return Bus either to Dublin city centre or back to the ‘Howth’ Dart station.

 The beginning of the cliff walk is relatively very steep.

But you have some parking space available at the end of the steep.

Enroute the way to  the cliff parking, you can also visit Balscadden Bay Beach.

NOTE: When you walk past the village towards Howth Head, walk up the hill until you reach a little gate, behind which there is a set of quite steep steps, that lead you down to this beach.

Please note that the path is quite narrow there is no fence available throughout the cliff walk. So please be careful if there are small children in your group.

The view throughout the cliff walk is excellent. There are tonnes of photography options throughout the walk.

Near to the Summit, you can also see a path going down to the Baily Lighthouse (the last lighthouse in Ireland to be automated). This cottage-style, 13-metre tall lighthouse sits out on the cliffs with a stunning view over the Irish Sea. Baily (built in 1917) is one of Ireland’s most photographed lighthouses on the eastern coastline.

In this trip, we did not go to the Lighthouse.

NOTE: If you really dont have the energy / time for a 6Km walk, you can drive till the Howth Summit and walk down the Baily lighthouse.

Just check out for sign bus board (near the summit) from where you can get the return bus (H3) back to Howth beach or the Dublin City Centre.

There is also enough Car parking space available near the summit.

Compared to the Main Howth City centre, the summit has relatively less number of restaurants/shops.

After the cliff walk, we took the bus back to the Howth beach (Bus H3, which goes to city center via Howth Beach), got down the bus at Howth beach stop and went to the Ferry / Bay area to take a boat service to Ireland’s Eye.

Currently uninhabited, Ireland’s Eye was once home to a monastery, established around 700 AD.

Ireland’s Eye can be visited every day during the summer months and on weekends / bank holidays only during the rest of the year.

There are different companies that are operating ferries here.

A 45 minutes TO and FRO trip to the Ireland’s eye will cost around 25 Euros/person.

We had taken the service of a company named ‘Howth Cliff Cruises’. (http://howthcliffcruises.ie/)

NOTE: I have read in many places that we can get down at the Ireland’s eye and walk around. You can visit the Martello Tower aswell. Landing on the island is at the discretion of the captain depending on weather conditions. Since we had take a evening ferry, such an option was not available for us.

This is a great boat trip, something that should not missed during your journey to Howth. You will see a lot of birds and probably seals, during this journey.

During the return journey in boat, you would also get a chance to see the Howth Harbour Lighthouse from different angles.

NOTE: There are options available to walk down the Howth Pier to see the Lighthouse at a closer distance.

After the boat trip, we returned back to the Howth Dart station and further to the Dublin city centre.

Howth is a very safe destination. Coast guard security is also present at important points.

If you are looking for some food options, there are multiple options available.

We had tried ‘The Bloody Stream’ and the service/food quality/menu items were really good.

Also there are a few Indian restaurants like ‘Okra Green’ in Howth. Due to a tight schedule with a limited time, Personally I did not try any items from Okra.

You need to spend around 6-7 hours to complete the itinerary/places , that I mentioned here.

NOTES:

1.Please note that there are many other places to see like Howth Castle, St. Mary’s Abbey, Howth Market, Howth Village, National Transport Museum, Hurdy Gurdy Vintage Radio Museum and so on.

2.There are some limited accomodation options available like ‘King Sitric’.

Dunluce Castle is a medieval Irish Castle located on a clifftop along the Causeway Coast in County Antrim and is quite near to the Giant’s Causeway UNESCO site. It is about 1 hour drive from Belfast.

Address: 87 Dunluce Road, Bushmills, Co. Antrim, BT57 8UY, Ireland

The scenery in this part of County Antrim is simply spectacular, and Dunluce may be ONE of the most photographed castles on the island of Ireland.

We happened to visit Dunluce castle as a part of the day drip from Dublin to Northern Ireland. The Tour was organised by Wild Rover Tours, which is a Dublin-based family business who arrange tours throughout Ireland.
The normal itinerary for this tour includes Giants causeway, Belfast City and Carrick A Rede Rope Bridge. Carrick A Rede Rope Bridge was closed for maintenance and wildrover group arranged Dunluce castle as an alternative. Entry tickets to Dunluce castle was also included in the package.
We highly recommend this day trip with Wild Rover Tours. They tried everything possible to make this trip a memorable one. The guide and the pilot were very friendly and supportive.

Details : https://wildrovertours.com/activity/giants-causeway-belfast-city-carrick-a-rede-rope-bridge/

Ideally, there are multiple ways to reach this place:

• Train:

You can get trains (Derry Direction) from Belfast Lanyon or Great Victoria Street Train station. You will reach a station (around 1.45 hours) named Coleraine. From there you can hire a taxi (around 15 min)

• Bus:

You can get bus 218a from Great Victoria Bus station to Coleraine Bus Stand. From there you can hire a taxi (around 15 min)

• Car:

This might be the most preferred means of travel as the route is very scenic. (around 1.25 Hours)

Take the M2 motorway / A26 Combination from Belfast.

The route towards Dunluce Castle from Belfast city is quite scenic.

Please note that there are very less parking (means really less 😊) options available near Dunluce castle.

The castle stands mostly in ruins today, but the walls and remains of some of the buildings can still be seen. This castle was mainly built out of local basalt stone, known for its strength and durability.

There is a path beside the castle which takes you down towards the sea. As the title says there are 109 steps which was fine going down a little challenging on the way back.

Dunluce Castle has been a location for many movies like Game of Thrones.

Its also said that the castle was once owned by Winston Churchill.

This castle is a great place to enjoy the history of Ireland and to take in the beautiful scenery of the land.

There is a huge history behind this place. So its worth spending some time in google (Key word 😊 : MacQuillan family ) , if you are really interested to know that.

Points worth to note:

• Opening hours:
  • February to November : Daily 9.30am to 5pm.
  • December/January : Daily 9.30am to 4pm.
  • Last admission 30 minutes before closing.
  • Adult 18+ Years – £6 per ticket
  • Child 5-17 Years – £4 per ticket
  • Child Under 5 – Free

• It is excellent for visitors of all ages.
• Restrooms are available.
• There is a little gift shop available.

The closest town is Bushmills, home to the world-famous Old Bushmills Distillery.

The tour company had guided us for lunch to a restaurant named ‘The Giants Barn’, which was just 8 minutes drive from the Dunluce Castle.  

This restaurant is also located in a very scenic location.

Some places nearby:

• Bushmills Distillery (around 10 minutes’ drive)

This is the oldest whiskey distillery in the world.

• Few of the Antrim coast attractions like Giants Causeway, Carrick-a-rede, Ballintoy Harbour and so on

• Portrush Beach

SUMMARY : Dunluce castle is a great tourist destination and you should never miss this place if you are preparing a Northern Ireland or County Antrim itinerary.

“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.”– Andre Gide.

Luxembourg also known as the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is a country in the western part of Europe. Its bordered by Belgium, France and Germany. Languages like French and German are spoken in addition to its native language Luxembourgish.

The capital city named as Luxembourg City is one of three official capital cities of the European Union (along with Brussels and Strasbourg).

Some Facts about Luxembourg:

1) Second richest country in the world (After Qatar).

2) One of the safest nations in the world.

3) Many of the restaurants here have the largest variety of wine in their menu.

4) Half of the residents of Luxembourg are foreigners.

5) UNESCO certified the city of Luxembourg, a world heritage site.

6) June 23 is one of the most important days in the Luxembourgish Calendar (Grand Duke of Luxembourg’s birthday).

7) It’s one of the founding members of the European Union.

We visited Luxembourg in August 2019 and it was a short trip of 2 days.

I would certainly recommend you to take a 1 day ‘Luxembourg Card’ (2/3 days card is also available). I had taken a Family card which is valid for around 2-5 Persons and costs around 28 Euros. I managed to buy this card from the Hotel that I stayed. Many of the museums and other places are free with this card. You get access to around 60 places free of cost with this card. You are also entitled to get a free booklet along with this card which provides all the details about the attractions. Another advantage of this card is that you can travel in the public transport (inside city and outskirts).

I would also recommend the hotel ‘Park inn by Radisson’.

It is conveniently located in the city centre (near to Main Bus terminal/Railway station).

The public transportation is excellent. Bus ticket costs around 2euros /Hour.

Bus 16 would take you from Airport (Findel Airport) to the city center (Gare de Luxembourg). You can take the bus directly from the main entrance of the airport. Normally you will have to take the bus ticket from the ticket vending machine which is available in all the main stops. Seems you can’t get the ticket directly from the bus driver.

I would like to provide you a one-day full itinerary that would help you to cover most of the important places here. We covered this place on the second day which was mostly a walking tour and the Starting point was ‘Parkin inn By Radisson’ hotel (around 9:30-9:45 AM).

1) La Passerellee Bridge:

This bridge is a great spot to get your first view of Luxembourg City. The city is really two levels. The upper level is the old town, a maze of pretty streets, restaurants, museums, and great places to go shopping. In the lower part of the city you will find more restaurants and bars, houses, plus gardens and canals that are very picturesque.

2) Luxembourg National Museum of National History: (Free entry with Luxembourg card) (Opens @10AM)

If you are interested in Natural history and so on, this would be a good place for you.

This Museum covers all traditional subjects through its collections from the fields of botany, zoology, Biology and so on.

More details here  → https://www.visitluxembourg.com/en/place/museum/national-museum-of-natural-history-natur-musee-luxembourg

3) Neumünster Abbey:

This is a public meeting place and cultural centre and is very near to the Natural History museum. This wonderful historic Abbey has been beautifully renovated and is now used as a cultural center, hosting musical events, a charming cafe, and a gallery that has excellent art exhibitions of local and international artists.

4) Grund:

This is a must-see place /surrounding in Luxembourg. The Grund is in the valley below the centre of Luxembourg City on the banks of the Alzette River.

This place really is a photographer’s dream as it can be photographed from above as well as from below once you get to explore its beautiful streets.

The Grund is one of the oldest parts of the city, and arguably one of the prettiest.

5) Bock Casemates: (Entry free with Luxembourg Card)

The Bock Casemates is a fortification that protected the city for many centuries. Its rocky cliffs stand on the bank of the river Alzette. There are complex underground tunnels in the Bock called Casemates. With the total length of 23km, they were used for protection and housed military personnel and supplies during the war. It’s a UNESCO’s world heritage site since 1994. The Casemates are open to the public from March to October.

There is also a city Train ride available in this place. Personally, I have not explored this, so not sure about it.

6) Chemin de la Corniche:

Also known as the “most beautiful balcony of Europe”. From here you can see the image found in most postcards of the city. The view is simply spectacular!

7) Musée national d’histoire et d’art Luxembourg: (Free entry for all)

The National Museum of History and Art, abbreviated to MNHA, is a museum located in Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg. It is dedicated to displaying artworks and artefacts from all epochs of Luxembourg history.

The museum has a large archaeological collection, particularly of objects discovered during the various excavations.

More details here –> https://www.mnha.lu/

8) Lëtzebuerg City Museum: (Free entry with Luxembourg Card)

This place can be skipped if you are running short of time.

The Luxembourg City History Museum illustrates the thousand-year history of the City of Luxembourg with both permanent and temporary exhibits.

The museum consists of two parts: the floors below the entrance level illustrate the city’s evolution from an economic, social, political, architectural and town planning point of view, whereas the upper levels are reserved for temporary exhibitions.

9) Grand Ducal Palace:

This is the official residence of Grand Duke of Luxembourg and where he performs most of his duties as head of state.

More details here –> https://www.visitluxembourg.com/en/place/castle/palace-of-the-grand-dukes

There is also a Chocolate house just opposite to Grand Ducal Place.

10) Cathédrale Notre-Dame:

The cathedral’s one-of-a-kind ceiling is one of the most characteristic images of the capital. The bells have a special sound that is played as a song. It’s worth being close to the cathedral to listen to the bells/song

11) Place de la Constitution:

This is a memorial to the Luxembourgers who died during world war 1. Now it symbolizes freedom for the Luxembourg people.

More details here –> https://www.luxembourg-city.com/en/place/monuments/place-de-la-constitution

12) Adolphe Bridge:

The Adolphe Bridge is a double-decked arch bridge in Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg. The bridge provides a one-way route for road traffis. Its upper deck carries two lanes of road traffic, and two pedestrian footpaths. Its lower deck, opened in 2018, suspended beneath the upper deck carries a dedicated bidirectional bicycle path, with access provided for pedestrian use.

13) Place d’Armes:

The Place d’Armes is a square in the center of town. The square is lined by restaurants, hotels, and small shops. You will also find common chains like ‘Mc Donald’s’ in this square.

By now you would have covered 5+ Kms by walk. Obviously, you will be tired as well.

From here, you have a couple of options.

1) If you are ready for a shorter walk again, you can proceed to Pfaffenthal Lift

Pfaffenthal Lift:

The new glass elevator connects the “Pescatore” park located in the city centre to the Pfaffenthal area at the bottom of the Alzette valley. The ride in the glass elevator features sweeping views (71m high) for pedestrians and cyclists alike. Using the elevator is free of charge.

The elevator is running every day from 6 in the morning until 1 o’ clock at night.

More details here: https://www.luxembourg-city.com/en/place/monuments/panoramic-elevator-of-the-pfaffenthal

Some nearby places that you can check are:

Villa Vauban – Museum of Art of the City of Luxemburg,

Grand Theatre of the City of Luxembourg

Casino Luxembourg

Or else, you can also explore the other attractions which are slightly away from the city center and can easily be accessed using Public Transport (free of cost with the Luxembourg card)

One suggestion here will be the Luxembourg American Cemetery Memorial:

The cemetery consists of 17 acres of manicured lawn surrounded by 33.5 acres of woods.

Or probably you can try visiting Place de l’Europe /European Convention Center Luxembourg (ECCL).

Ideally you should plan for a 2-3 days itinerary for Luxembourg (one day can be planned for a trip to Trier, Germany)

Another day, you can plan some trip outside the city like:

Mullerthal:

This is also called as Luxembourg’s ‘Little Switzerland’, which hides some of the best places to visit in Luxembourg. First stop should be charming Echternach, the oldest city in Luxembourg.

Mullerthal is more of a walking trail. Be prepared to walk a lot.

More details here –> https://www.visitluxembourg.com/en/what-to-do/nature-tours/hiking-luxembourg/mullerthal-trail

Please note that there is no direct bus from Luxembourg city center to Mullerthal and one side journey will be around 1 hour by bus.

Nature and Castle Line (Hop on Hop off):

During the trip you will discover the beautiful nature of Luxembourg with its impressive rocks and castles.

The ticket price is around 24Euors/Adult

More details –> https://www.viator.com/tours/Luxembourg-City/Sightseeing-Hop-on-Hop-off-Nature-and-Castle-Line/d36689-174227P1

PARC Merveilleux:

This is around 40 Minutes in Bus from the main city centre.

It is an amusement park just east of Bettembourg in the south of Luxembourg. Designed above all for children, the park has a wide range of attractions including exotic birds, animals in their natural habitats, a pony ranch, a miniature railway, children’s self-drive cars, adventure playgrounds, scenes from fairy tales, a restaurant and a cafeteria. The park is open every day from Easter to early October.

Schueberfouer:

We also got a chance to see the Luxembourg Carnival.

The big traditional fair in Luxembourg, called ‘Schueberfouer’ in Luxembourgish, attracts around two million visitors every year, making it one of the largest events in the region and a much-anticipated occasion to meet with friends and family

In 2019, it was the 679^th edition of this event. (23^rd Aug – 11^th Sep)

Details Here –> https://www.visitluxembourg.com/en/facts-about-the-schueberfouer

Additional Tips:

1) The souvenir shops are little less in Luxembourg city, so grab the one which you like and don’t wait till the last day expecting that you might find better shops with cheaper rates.

2) Some bus stops won’t show long distance bus details/timings in the display board, but these long-distance bus numbers will be marked clearly somewhere inside the Bus stop itself.

3) People are very friendly, and you can always take their help if you need some directions. Most of the people also speak English.

4) There are some tourist office available near few main attractions, from where you can get all the required information.

5)There are chains like Burger King available in the city centre. There are also some other options like the kebab shops from where you can manage to have your food.

“We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.”– Anonymous.

We did a 2 days road trip to Wales (Southern Part of Wales) in August 2019.

Wales is a destination with so much to offer in terms of activities, history, railways and beaches.

Every corner has something interesting to discover. It doesn’t have the fame or glory of England or Scotland, but it’s loaded with just as many treasures. Wales’s destination tend to be lesser-known to the general traveling population.

We started our trip from Nottinghamshire (in Britain) in the morning.

The distance from Nottinghamshire to Wales was around 161 miles (covered in 2.50 Hrs)

Brecon Mountain Railways:

The first destination that was covered on Day 1 was the ‘Brecon Mountain Railways’.

Starting point of the journey was Pant Station (Timings – 10.30Am, 12.15Pm, 2PM, 3.45Pm).

Tickets can be purchased directly from the Pant station and the ticket price was around Adult 15 GBP, Kids (2-15) 6.25 GBP.

You can also book your tickets online here : https://bookings.bmr.wales/(S(0u3i4kf5yskooxfh3krgmnd3))/booking.aspx

All trains travel nonstop from Pant to Torpantau. All returning trains from Torpantau stop at an intermediate station in Pontsticill, where you can visit the Lakeside Cafe, admire the view or go for walks alongside the reservoir, there is also a children’s play area.

Passengers can stay longer at Pontsticill and get a different train back to Pant station. The entire trip was around 2 hours (including the 20 minutes tea break at Pontsticill).

You can also see the Workshops in the Pant station, where these locomotives are repaired.

In this entire trip, you will get a chance to travel behind a vintage Steam Locomotive.

I felt that the tickets are overpriced (15 £/Adult) because you don’t have a lot to see enroute. If you have not travelled in such a steam engine driven train, this trip might be interesting for you.

One thing to admit is that train and compartments are well maintained and is very clean.

Cardiff Bay:

Later we went to Cardiff (capital of Wales)

The distance to Cardiff from Brecon Mountain will be around 37 minutes/27 miles.

Cardiff is beautiful, conveniently connected by transportation, highly walkable, and feels like a small town while having the amenities of a larger city.

Cardiff Bay is often described as one of the most successful redevelopment projects in the United Kingdom.

Cardiff Bay is supplied by two rivers (Taff and Ely) to form a 500-acre freshwater lake around the former dockland area south of the city centre. It’s an excellent place where you will get lot of options to capture some really nice photos.

If you want to explore Cardiff’s coastline, there’s no better way than a boat. Cardiff Bay is where all the boat trips head out from.

Many of the boating here in the Bay close by 5:15 Pm-5:30 Pm. So, it is advisable to reach here no later than 4:30 Pm.

There are many adventure/kids’ activities available near to the main bay area.

Millennium Centre:

The Millennium Centre is possibly one of the newest landmarks in the city to see! Best yet, there’s so much to do inside, especially if you want to explore the creative side of the city.

It’s a 2,500-capacity venue that can host massive bands, comedians and touring theatre shows.

The national assembly of Wales (named Senedd) is also located here and its near to the Millennium Centre.

We had booked our stay in Cardiff (Clive Road Flat 5, Cardiff, Wales CF5 1HG, United Kingdom) and stayed in this place for 2 nights.

Quick review of the accommodation:

We stayed in the ground floor and the room was quite clean.

This house is in a Residential area

You can find a Fish and chips shop near by

There were no much pans/pots for cooking.

Second day was a fully packed trip where we had to cover a lot of places.

Some places that we explored were:

Strumble Head Lighthouse:

This is very nice place, not much explored.

You need to be a good driver, as the roads are quite narrow, and you might encounter one or another vehicle from the opposite direction. You won’t get permission to get inside the light house.

The present lighthouse was erected in 1908.

There is enough parking space available near the lighthouse, but no shops / Toilets available in that region.

The area is known as the Pencaer Peninsula, although it isn’t actually a peninsula. Bordered on two sides by the sea and on the inland side by a line of low hills, it does give the feeling of being cut off.

Porthgain:

Porthgain was once a small commercial harbor used for exporting stone from the nearby quarry but is now a popular spot for tourists and locals. If you don’t have a car, you can reach Porthgain by taking the Strumble Shuttle coastal bus service. Porthgain has a couple of restaurants, art galleries, and it’s a great spot for launching kayaks. There are also public toilets available in this place.

The harbour was used as a location for the filming of the comedy ‘Their Finest’ starring Gemma Arterton, Bill Nighy and Sam Claflin.

On the left of the harbour the large brick buildings built into the cliff face are the hoppers used to store crushed granite (of different sizes) before shipment. The hoppers are now a scheduled monument, as Porthgain was designated a conservation area in 1987. Their only use now is as store for the local fishermen who still successfully fish for crab & lobster.

Abereiddy:

We did not explore much here, and we didn’t like this beach (Black sand). It was very much crowded.

The car park overlooks the beach and fills up quickly in summer. There is also a parking fee.

We did not visit the Blue Lagoon aswell.

Seems this is a popular spot for coasteering and quite a popular bathing place for families.

Saint Davids / St Justinian’s Lifeboat Station / Haverfordwest / St. Justinians:

You can take a boat trip to Ramsey Island from St Justinian’s Lifeboat Station.

This boat trip would be my first recommendation in case if you have very limited time to spent in Wales.

Situated on the spectacular coastline of south-west Wales and close to Britain’s smallest city, St Davids Lifeboat Station has been launching lifeboats since 1867.

The boat starts from a place which is a 10 minutes’ drive from the main town. You can buy your tickets from the main town and drive down to this place. There is enough parking/ toilet facility available near by the boat station (There is a small parking fees).

You need to climb up/down a lot of steps to reach near the boat.

There are a couple of companies operating boats here. Please check for the ticket price in all the such shops. There is always a scope to bargain (to a small extend)

We took Thousand islands Adventure trip (Jet Boat) which last for around 1 hour. They took us along the bays and caves around Ramsey Island.

More details here –> https://thousandislands.co.uk/thousand-islands-adventure/

If you are lucky enough, you will get chance to see a lot of seals during this trip.

This trip will help you to get some stunning views of the sea / caves/ seals / Sea Birds and so on.

There are many shops in the main town and a couple of paid parking grounds / slots as well.

You will find a lot of snack shops in the main town. We tried Crabs Oggie. It was very costly (4.5£/Piece). We personally did not like the Crab Oggie at all. My suggestion would be to buy 1 piece and taste it before buying in large numbers.

Bombay Brasserie (Indian Restaurant):

As always, we started our search for an Indian restaurant to have our Lunch, Infact it was quite a very late lunch that day.

Our search took us to ‘Bombay Brasserie’.(Vine Rd, Johnston, Haverfordwest SA62 3NZ, United Kingdom).

Eventhough the food delivery took some time, I would certainly admit that the fact that the food here was extremely tasty. Staff was friendly and welcoming.I would certainly recommend this place.

There is also a Fuel station and a Hotel (for accommodation) nearby to this restaurant.

Stackpole Quay (in Pembrokeshire):

Pembrokeshire county is full of gorgeous small towns with rich, unique history. It’s also home to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, which is Britain’s only coastal national park.

You can walk from Stackpole Quay to Barafundle bay.

The tiny harbour at Stackpole Quay on Pembrokeshire’s south coast is used by fishing boats and pleasure craft. Just inland from here is a National Trust tearoom and the parking area which is nearest to beautiful Barafundle Bay.

Tenby Beach (in Pembrokeshire):

Tenby is one of the favourite sea-side town in Pembrokeshire. Traditionally a historic fishing town, this colourful coastal town has now become one of the region’s best-loved places. This alone makes it one of the best places to visit on a Welsh road trip.

Tenby overlooks two islands, the closest of which is St. Catherine’s. This island can be reached by foot at low tide. The harbour, North Beach and South Beach are all worth a visit.

Other places that we missed in this Southern wale’s trip are:

Barafundle Bay
Skrinkle Haven
Bronwydd Arms Station (Gwili Railway)
Kidwelly Castle
Gover peninsula
Barry Island
Big Pit Mining Museum
Cardiff Castle
Cardiff National Museum
Castell Coch
St Davids Cathedral
Whitesands Beach
Merchant Seafarers’ Memorial
St. Catherine’s Island in Tenby

NOTES:

1. You can see a lot of sign boards in ‘Welsch’ language, but everyone speaks English. As part of efforts to protect Welsh language and culture, the Welsh language was placed on equal footing with English in 1993. As a result, Welsh is taught in schools and all government signs are in both English and Welsh. Some Welsh are more comfortable speaking Welsh; others are more comfortable speaking English. That said, today everyone speaks English.

2.We did not find much of Souvenir shops from where we could collect some souvenirs/fridge magnets. It’s advisable to buy one, as soon as you find it anywhere on your trip.

3. Please note that in this entire trip, we completely avoided the Northern Wales, due to time limitations. Northern Wales also have many beautiful places like Snowdonia National Park and so on.

“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” – Andre Gide

We spent 4 days in Scotland during the month of July in 2019. One day each in Edinburgh (pronounced by most Scottish people as “Edinbra”) and Glasgow and 2 days in Scottish Highlands. It was a complete road trip along with my Brother-in-Law and his family. If you really want to explore the beauty of Scotland, my personal recommendation would be to try a road trip. Renting a car will be the best option.

Scotland might be a small country, but there are tonnes of places here that will astonish you.

There are beautiful landscapes, no matter which part you are in.

Scotland is full of experiences that can make your trip an unforgettable one. If you’ve been dreaming about visiting Scotland for a long time, I’m sure that you will have a long bucket list to see and do.

Scotland is one of the most scenic and beautiful countries in the world. Obviously one of the most beautiful countries that I had visited in my life.

I would like to share my Scotland Experience with you. I believe this would help you to finalise your itinerary. Considering the number of places that we have been to, I believe 4-6 days would be a good option.

Day 1:

Edinburgh Castle / Miles Road:

The city of Edinburgh is one of the top places to visit in Scotland and Edinburgh Castle is a must see.

Perched high on an old volcano overlooking the city of Edinburgh, is Edinburgh Castle. One of Scotland’s most popular tourist attractions, the castle is home to the Crown Jewels and the Stone of Destiny. You can get a pretty great view of the city without paying for entrance. Now it’s the country’s most popular tourist attraction, drawing around 1.5 million people a year.

Encircled by 7 hills, both the city’s old and new towns are UNESCO World Heritage sites, with the famous Royal Mile framed by Edinburgh Castle and the splendid Holyrood Palace. Edinburgh is the birthplace of Harry Potter.

This gorgeous city is built atop not one but two extinct volcanos.

Edinburgh’s Royal Mile is the heart of Scotland’s historic capital.

We had explored Edinburgh in Red line of the Hop-on-Hop-off.

Hop On Hop Off has 3 routes in Edinburgh:

Red line (covers the castle, Miles Road, Dynamic Earth and so on)

Green Line

Blue Line

More details here: https://www.hop-on-hop-off-bus.com/edinburgh/edinburgh-hop-on-hop-off-tour_5121?

Considering the price and the places that are covered, I believe Bright tours would be a better option compared to Hop on Hop off Red line. (Adult – 10£, Child – 6 £)

More details here: https://www.firstgroup.com/bright-bus-tours

There are so many options for food. We personally had tried ‘Nandos’ and it was quite nice.

In Edinburg, we stayed in Lochend Serviced Apartments.

Day 2:

1) Three Bridges:

From here, you could see the spectacular view of the 3 bridges (distinct types) quite near to each other:

The Forth rail Bridge (1890)

The forth Road Bridge (1964)

Queensferry Crossing (2017)

The Forth Bridge is a cantilever railway bridge across the Firth of Forth in the east of Scotland, 9 miles west of Edinburgh City Centre. It is considered as a symbol of Scotland and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was designed by the English engineers Sir John Fowler and Sir Benjamin Baker

Due to its distinctive red colours and huge proportions, it is one of Scotland’s most recognisable landmarks.

More Details here : https://www.thethreebridges.com/

2) Loch Lomond:

Loch Lomond is Scotland’s largest lake and is surrounded by greenery. If you want to have more fun, then hire a seaplane and cruise over the loch or hire a jet ski and take it to the lake.

There are lot of paid parking and paid toilets available in this place.

During our visit, we felt like the number of visitors were a lot more compared to the boats that were available for service. Due to the same reason, we decided to skip the Loch Lomond boat trip.

If you really want to stay somewhere near Loch Lomond, I would personally suggest Duck Bay Hotel.

We had a short tea break there, the surroundings and environment are simply superb.

More details here: https://duckbay.co.uk/

3) Fort William (Small Town):

Enroute to Ben Nevis range is Fort William.

It is not so much exciting as a town, but rather for its surroundings.

This is where the famous West Highland Way ends and where the highest mountain range of the UK begins: The Ben Nevis Range.

It takes only 15 minutes to drive from Fort William to the car park of the Nevis Range.

4) Ben Nevis Range:

Towering 1,344m over neighbouring Fort William, the soaring peak of Ben Nevis is not only Scotland’s highest point, but the highest mountain in the UK.

There is a cable car (Mountain Gondola) available to reach the Top most point of the Range. However, the last stretch is closed through out the year (except winter time).

The Mountain Gondola has become an amazing visitor attraction, allowing visitors to enjoy the scenic ride and absorb the stunning views and clear mountain air.

More details here: https://www.nevisrange.co.uk/

We stayed in a 2bhk luxury caravan (Caolasnacon Caravan & Camping Park) that night and it was an amazing experience.

Day 3:

1) Commando Memorial:

The Commando Memorial is a monument in Lochaber, Scotland, dedicated to the men of the original British Commando Forces (World War II)

2) Bridge of Oich:

The Bridge of Oich is a taper principle suspension bridge, designed by James Dredge, across the River Oich near Aberchalder in Highland, Scotland.

The bridge opened in 1854 and was used to take the main road traffic over the river until 1932.

Aberchalder Swing Bridge is also in the same spot.

3) Fort Augustus:

Fort Augustus is a settlement in the parish of Boleskine and Abertarff, at the south-west end of Loch Ness, Scottish Highlands. Its economy is heavily reliant on tourism.

4) Caledonian Canal:

The Caledonian Canal connects the Scottish east coast at Inverness with the west coast at Corpach near Fort William in Scotland. The canal was constructed in the early nineteenth century by Scottish engineer Thomas Telford.

Please check with the officials and understand the timings when the Locks will be opened. Before the lock opening, the swing bridges will also be opened. This is indeed an amazing view and should not be missed.

There are lot of parking available near the Canal and lot of restaurants as well.

We found a small ‘fish and chips’ shop (Canalside Take Away) to be the most economical.

5) Loch Ness (Popularly known for Loch Ness Monster):

It is a large deep Fresh water loch in Scottish Highlands.

Scotland’s most well-known lake, or loch, is an impressive 23 miles long. On its shores, you’ll see picturesque villages, mountains and the ruins of Urquhart Castle. Look closely and you could be rewarded with a sight of the Loch Ness Monster!

This is the second largest Loch after Loch Lomond. There is a cruise option in this Loch. If you have missed a boating in Loch Lomond, you can very well try this as an alternative option.

More details here: https://www.jacobite.co.uk/

The depth of this Loch is around 200 plus metre. Loch Ness is known as the home of the Loch Ness Monster (also known as “Nessie”), a cryptid, reputedly a large unknown animal.

The existence of such a monster sea animal is still a debatable topic, as of today.

Whatever may be the debates, everything here (from Souvenirs to Cruise trip) is been sold in the name of this Lochness Monster.

6) Isle of Skye:

The Isle of Skye, or the isle of mist, is everything you’ve ever imagined it to be.

It’s rugged scenery and brooding mountain ranges are commonly featured in films and television series.

Despite being popularly famous for its natural beauty, the Isle of Skye would never leave you disappointed. From the scenic mountains to the water that surrounds you, there’s nowhere to look that isn’t gorgeous. Truly awesome place and a must-see place in your Scotland Itinerary.

It may seem like a long drive to get there, but by adding in scenic pitstops along the way, you can turn the journey into a sightseeing adventure.

Skye Bridge is the gateway to the Isle of Skye. Continue A87 through Kyle of Lochalsh and cross the Skye Bridge (there is no toll to cross the bridge).

In case if you would like to have some Indian Cuisine, there is a Restaurant named ‘Taste of India’ after a short distance from the Skye bridge.

We stayed in a 2bhk luxury caravan (Caolasnacon Caravan & Camping Park) that night and it was an amazing experience.

Day 4:

Highland cows:

While these aren’t wild, many visitors to Scotland will want to see a highland cow during their trip. As they are usually kept in fields, they can be spotted most often between April and October.

Falkirk Wheel:

The Falkirk Wheel is well worth a visit.

My personal suggestion will be to just see the Falkirk Wheel in action and avoid the boat trip.

You can take a boat ride which will take you to the Upper Canal using Falkirk Wheel. This includes a ticket. But if you are running short of time, you could easily skip.

There are lot of parking available in this region and there is a parking charge involved.

More details here: https://www.scottishcanals.co.uk/falkirk-wheel/

The Kelpies:

The Kelpies tower of the Forth and Clyde canal near Falkirk and are the largest equine sculptures in the world. They stand over 30 meters high and weigh in at over 600 tonnes.

The Kelpies pay tribute to the working horses of Central Scotland who used to pull barges along the canals. They are truly magnificent sculptures.

This is one of Scotland’s most photographed man made attractions. Its worth to spend some time here.

Guided tours are available where you also get the opportunity to experience the statues from the inside. There is a visitor centre (open daily between 10 am and 5 pm) which has a gift shop and a restaurant. Paid parking is also available.

River side museum, Glasgow:

On our way back to Birmingham, we passed through Glasgow. It’s not a clean city compared to its other counterparts in Scotland.

There is a car Museum (River side museum), which is free of cost.

Riverside Museum is Glasgow’s award-winning transport museum. With over 3,000 objects on display there’s everything from skateboards to locomotives, paintings to prams and cars to a Stormtrooper.

Kids would love this place.

More details here: https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/museums/venues/riverside-museum

Other Ways to explore Scotland:

Scenic train ride (Jacobite – Hogwarts Express (For Harry Potter Fans))

Scotland is not only beautiful from the roads. Some of the best views can only be seen from aboard a ferry or a train! Iconic train lines, like the West Highland Line which runs through the isolated landscape of Rannoch Moor and crosses the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct between Fort William and Mallaig.

You can book your tickets here: https://westcoastrailways.co.uk/jacobite/jacobite-steam-train-details.cfm

Tour Operators:

In case if you don’t want to drive, you can try public transport or tour operators like Rabbies.

More details about Rabbies tours : https://www.rabbies.com/en/scotland-tours/from-inverness

When to visit Scotland:

Scotland is a destination that is worth visiting all year long, but the summer months, from June until August, attract the most visitors, marking peak season. July and August are on average the warmest months of the year, which coincides with the peak season for tourism and summer holidays.

Scotland is renowned for being a wet country and the rains can sometimes spoil your trip especially when you are exploring the Highlands of Scotland.

As the weather is changeable, you could encounter all four seasons in one day, regardless of which month you come to Scotland. Therefore, while considering what to wear, we recommend always having a few layers with you, especially wind and rain proof layers!

Some other Tips:

1) No drinks while driving:

There are strict alcohol limits for drivers, but it’s impossible to say exactly how many drinks this equals – it’s different for each person. Any alcohol in your body can adversely affect how you drive.

The current limits are:

22 mcg of alcohol in 100 ml of breath (the ‘breath limit’)

50 mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood (the ‘blood limit’)

67 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of urine (the ‘urine limit’)

2) Across Scotland, there are challenges with the network connectivity.
So, it will be a good option to keep a map handy with you and don’t completely depend on google maps in your phone.

3) Careful with Midges:

To some people, midges can be a night mare or a serious nuisance.Midges didn’t leave us either..

Mosquito/Midges Head net can save you here. Some options below: https://outdooradventurestore.ie/product/midge-mosquito-head-net?gclid=CjwKCAjwwvfrBRBIEiwA2nFiPTEUL_MtR1Sqtd4XGcFSgnrKhcN5TR9Qio1KmzBL6uAz2yhxbztU5BoC2p0QAvD_BwE

There might be many other names still missing from the above list.

If you really have more time, I would suggest you explore further places.

I have mentioned some places below:
Edinburg Zoo
Edinburg Ghost tours
Mull of Galloway
Fairy pools, Skye
Corryvreckan whirlpool
Cairngorms National Park
Rosslyn chapel
Finnich Glen
Holy Isle
The Ring of Brodgar
Staffa
St Kilda
Luskentyre beach
Distillery (like The Edradour – Kids below 12 are not permitted)
Smoo Cave of Scotland
Inverness
Isle of Lochalsh

“We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.” – Anonymous

Typically, we see animals in zoo and many of us don’t feel comfortable with the way animals are kept inside the cages. But here in WMSP, the animals (like camels, zebras, antelope, rhinos and many others) are given freedom to roam around and they indeed have plenty of free space to move.

Ticket Cost:

It will be good to visit the park website to know the Park opening days.

You can buy the tickets on line as well (which gives you some discount) : https://web.wmsp.co.uk/tickets/index.php

Adults (16-64) : 24 £
Children (3-15) : 19 £
Concessions (Senior 65+ and Students) : 22 £
Under 3’s : Free
Animal Food : 3.50 £
Guide Book : 5 £
You can buy tickets in the park itself and all major card types are accepted here.

Seems the ticket price includes a free return trip, which is a great option. Please see more details here : https://www.wmsp.co.uk/free-return-ticket/

However, once you’ve got into the safari park, there are a lot of hidden costs, in case if you want to do everything the park has to offer.