Solo Travel in Ireland, whether or not you go independently or be part of a tour for half or your entire journey, is great and an ideal choice for many who are new to touring alone.
I’ve beforehand shared with you ways I spent my solo time in Dublin, in addition to a day-by-day account of my time on the Green with Envy: Ireland by Design tour by Globus. Now, I’d prefer to share just a few attention-grabbing issues I discovered alongside the way in which, from Dublin to Westport, from Kylemore to Galway, and from the Aran Islands again to Dublin.
1. Wild Blackberries Grow Everywhere.
On the aspect of the highway in Connemara, on Inis Mór, and in hedgerows everywhere in the nation, there are bushes of those stunning, plump, juicy blackberries. As lengthy as you are not on non-public property, you are welcome to assist your self. Just be aware of the thorny branches.
Blackberry season normally falls round late August. I used to be there on the finish of September and so they had been nonetheless flourishing.
2. You Learn So Much More than a Recipe When You Take a Cooking Class.
I’ve taken cooking lessons in quite a few completely different international locations. It’s one in all my favourite issues to do after I journey to a brand new vacation spot. On this journey, I discovered to bake Irish soda bread and scones from The Irish Soda Bread Way, a baking class in Westport. This was one of many Choice Touring choices on the Globus tour.
But I did not simply be taught to bake bread. In truth, that wasn’t even my favourite a part of the category. Before the category began, Mary took us for a drive round city, stating areas of curiosity. And although the baked items had been scrumptious, the very best a part of the day was chatting with Mary and Carmel over tea and scones in Carmel’s residence. They informed us about their lives, their city, their enterprise. We talked about books and movies and world occasions, and, since there is not any getting round it wherever, the affect of the pandemic.
It was a lot extra than simply baking.
3. There Is No Shame in Drinking Your Whiskey in a Cocktail.
If you solo journey Ireland, you may wish to strive every part the nation is thought for. One of these issues is unquestionably whiskey. On a earlier journey to Ireland, I tasted whiskeys in a number of cities, from a number of distilleries and couldn’t discover the magic in it. Each time, I felt I used to be making an attempt to pressure myself to get pleasure from it–as a result of I actually did wish to like it–but it surely by no means labored.
On this journey, I attended a category at Roe & Co Distillery the place we every made a cocktail custom-designed to our palate. Finally, I discovered the key (for me) to loving whiskey! I simply wanted so as to add just a little one thing to reinforce it.
4. Rain Is Not a Problem in Ireland
When I checked the climate forecast previous to my journey, it predicted rain practically each day. At residence, this might have been purpose sufficient to cancel any deliberate actions that required me to depart the home. In Ireland, you do not even give it a second thought. On the rainiest day of the journey, I spent an hour meandering by means of the gardens at Kylemore Abbey, then went on a strolling meals tour in Galway. Every inch of me was moist, my hair was a frizzy, terrible mess, my footwear had been muddy–and I barely seen.
Locals take it in stride, so vacationers should as effectively. When in Rome…er, Ireland!
And you already know what? When you look again in your journey, you do not even bear in mind the rain.
5. A Group Tour Can Be a Great Option for a Solo Traveler in Ireland
For starters, when you journey with a gaggle, there’ll at all times be somebody helpful to take your picture, as I did right here, in entrance of Ireland’s oldest pub. It additionally means that you may cowl much more floor and incorporate smaller, extra out-of-the-way locations together with the large locations. And with another person taking good care of the small print, your entire time might be spent exploring and having fun with Ireland.
6. There Is a Right Way to Dress a Scone.
Yes, you learn that proper. There is an accurate order through which clotted cream and jam needs to be utilized to fresh-baked scones. Unfortunately, not everybody agrees on what that’s. It might rely on the place you grew up. Apparently, Queen Elizabeth was within the jam first, cream on high camp. Others insist on the other order. I dressed this scone earlier than I used to be informed what I ought to do, so I simply acquired fortunate.
7. MoLI Is More than Just a Museum.
The Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI) is now one in all my favourite museums wherever. Not only for the unbelievable reveals or the attractive constructing, however for the truth that guests are inspired to really sit and skim.
There are a number of seating areas the place you may settle in and skim your individual guide or select from a set supplied for you. If that is not sufficient, there’s a pretty cafe on the underside ground that opens out onto a courtyard the place you may get pleasure from your meals and skim. And if that is not sufficient, past the patio you’ll find the Readers Gardens, with extra areas for studying and contemplation among the many greenery. You may even sit close to the tree the place James Joyce had his commencement picture taken.
8. It’s Not Just the People Who Are Friendly When You Solo Travel in Ireland.
You’d be onerous pressed to discover a friendlier lot than the Irish. Locals gave me instructions after I was confused, instructed issues to see and do whereas I used to be visiting, and informed me tales about their lives, all over the place I went. But I additionally made this little good friend whereas sitting on a patio having a cup of tea and a scone. At residence, it will have been rapidly shooed away, however right here, we fortunately shared the desk for a couple of minutes, till it turned clear that I used to be not sharing my scrumptious fresh-baked deal with.
9. It May Be Famously Green, But the Blue!
There is little question {that a} dominant characteristic of the Irish panorama is the numerous shades of inexperienced. What I did not anticipate was to be shocked by the shades of blue. Admittedly, this might solely be doable on sure days and I solely skilled one in all them on this journey. But when the solar shines and the skies are clear, there may be nothing just like the Irish blues.
Thank you to Globus for sponsoring my journey on their Green with Envy: Ireland by Design tour. All experiences and impressions are my very own, and Solo Traveler maintains full editorial management over all content material.
Last up to date: seventh January, 2023