Solo Travel in Ireland, whether or not you go independently or be part of a tour for half or your whole journey, is fantastic and an amazing choice for individuals who are new to touring alone.
I’ve beforehand shared with you the way 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 a couple of fascinating 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 lovely, plump, juicy blackberries. As lengthy as you are not on non-public property, you are welcome to assist your self. Just be conscious 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 courses in quite a few completely different nations. It’s one in every of 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 study to bake bread. In reality, that wasn’t even my favourite a part of the category. Before the category began, Mary took us for a drive round city, mentioning 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 advised us about their lives, their city, their enterprise. We talked about books and movies and world occasions, and, since there is no getting round it anyplace, the impression 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 attempt all the pieces the nation is understood for. One of these issues is certainly 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 attempting 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 a little bit 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 day-after-day. At residence, this might have been purpose sufficient to cancel any deliberate actions that required me to go away 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 way 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 properly. When in Rome…er, Ireland!
And you already know what? When you look again in your journey, you do not even keep 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 bunch, there’ll at all times be somebody useful to take your picture, as I did right here, in entrance of Ireland’s oldest pub. It additionally means you can cowl much more floor and incorporate smaller, extra out-of-the-way locations together with the massive locations. And with another person taking good care of the main points, your whole time could 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 during which clotted cream and jam ought to be utilized to fresh-baked scones. Unfortunately, not everybody agrees on what that’s. It could depend upon the place you grew up. Apparently, Queen Elizabeth was within the jam first, cream on prime camp. Others insist on the other order. I dressed this scone earlier than I used to be advised what I ought to do, so I simply obtained fortunate.
7. MoLI Is More than Just a Museum.
The Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI) is now one in every of my favourite museums anyplace. Not only for the incredible reveals or the attractive constructing, however for the truth that guests are inspired to truly sit and browse.
There are a number of seating areas the place you’ll be able to settle in and browse your personal guide or select from a group supplied for you. If that is not sufficient, there’s a beautiful cafe on the underside flooring that opens out onto a courtyard the place you’ll be able to get pleasure from your meals and browse. And if that is not sufficient, past the patio you can 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, steered issues to see and do whereas I used to be visiting, and advised me tales about their lives, all over the place I went. But I additionally made this little pal whereas sitting on a patio having a cup of tea and a scone. At residence, it will have been shortly 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 doubt {that a} dominant characteristic of the Irish panorama is the numerous shades of inexperienced. What I did not count on was to be shocked by the shades of blue. Admittedly, this could solely be attainable on sure days and I solely skilled one in every of 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