Scotland & Ireland 2026

Matthew & Emma · October 2–11

Published

October 2, 2026

departing rdu in

--days

--hrs

--min

--sec

rdu → dub · fri oct 2, 8:25 pm

Itinerary

Pick a day to see what’s on.

itinerary = FileAttachment("itinerary.json").json()

typeIcon = ({
  "flight":   "🛫",
  "arrival":  "🛬",
  "food":     "🍽️",
  "drinks":   "🍺",
  "hotel":    "🛎️",
  "sight":    "📍",
  "activity": "🎭",
  "shop":     "🛍️",
  "drive":    "🚗",
})

html`
<ul class="nav nav-tabs" role="tablist">
  ${itinerary.map((d, i) => `
    <li class="nav-item" role="presentation">
      <button class="nav-link${i === 0 ? ' active' : ''}"
              data-bs-toggle="tab"
              data-bs-target="#itin-panel-${i}"
              type="button" role="tab"
              aria-controls="itin-panel-${i}"
              aria-selected="${i === 0 ? 'true' : 'false'}">
        ${d.emoji}&nbsp;${d.date}
      </button>
    </li>
  `).join("")}
</ul>
<div class="tab-content mt-3">
  ${itinerary.map((d, i) => `
    <div class="tab-pane fade${i === 0 ? ' show active' : ''}"
         id="itin-panel-${i}" role="tabpanel">
      <div class="itinerary-day-header">
        <span class="itinerary-day-emoji">${d.emoji}</span>
        <span class="itinerary-day-title">${d.date} — ${d.city}</span>
      </div>
      <div class="itinerary-timeline">
        ${d.items.map(item => `
          <div class="itinerary-item itinerary-type-${item.type}">
            <div class="itinerary-time">${item.time}</div>
            <div class="itinerary-dot"></div>
            <div class="itinerary-content">
              <span class="itinerary-icon">${typeIcon[item.type] ?? ""}</span>
              ${item.website ?
                `<a href="${item.website}" target="_blank" rel="noopener"
                    class="itinerary-link">${item.text ?? ""}</a>`
                : `<span class="itinerary-text">${item.text}</span>`}
              ${item.detail ?
                `<span class="itinerary-detail">${item.detail}</span>`
                : ""}
              ${item.needsBooking ?
                `<span class="itinerary-needs-booking">Needs Booking</span>`
                : ""}
            </div>
          </div>
        `).join("")}
      </div>
    </div>
  `).join("")}
</div>
`

Flights

flights = FileAttachment("flights.json").json()

html`
<div class="boarding-grid">
  ${flights.map(f => `
    <div class="boarding-pass">
      <div class="bp-stub">
        <div class="bp-airline">Aer<br>Lingus</div>
        <div class="bp-flightno">${f.flight}</div>
      </div>
      <div class="bp-body">
        <div class="bp-route">${f.fromCode} <span class="bp-arrow">✈</span> ${f.toCode}</div>
        <div class="bp-cities">${f.from} → ${f.to}</div>
        <div class="bp-times">
          <div><div class="lbl">Depart</div><div class="val">${f.depart}</div></div>
          <div><div class="lbl">Arrive</div><div class="val">${f.arrive}</div></div>
          <div><div class="lbl">Duration</div><div class="val">${f.duration}</div></div>
        </div>
        <div class="bp-foot">
          <span class="bp-date">${f.date}</span>
          <a class="bp-track" href="https://www.flightradar24.com/data/flights/${f.track}"
             target="_blank" rel="noopener">Track status ↗</a>
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>`).join("")}
</div>
`

Note

Track links only go live within ~24h of each flight. Aer Lingus’s Dublin–Edinburgh hops (EI 3253/3254) are short-haul; if a tracker page is empty, try a quick search for the flight number instead.

Accommodations

Tap any photo to zoom; use the arrows to flip through each stay.

accommodations = FileAttachment("accommodations.json").json()

html`
<div class="trip-grid">
  ${accommodations.map((h, i) => `
    <div class="trip-card">
      <div id="lodge-car-${i}" class="carousel slide" data-bs-interval="false">
        <div class="carousel-inner">
          ${h.images.map((src, j) => `
            <div class="carousel-item${j === 0 ? ' active' : ''}">
              <a href="${src}" class="glightbox" data-gallery="lodge-${i}">
                <img src="${src}" class="trip-card-img" loading="lazy" alt="${h.name}">
              </a>
            </div>`).join("")}
        </div>
        ${h.images.length > 1 ? `
        <button class="carousel-control-prev" type="button" data-bs-target="#lodge-car-${i}" data-bs-slide="prev">
          <span class="carousel-control-prev-icon" aria-hidden="true"></span>
        </button>
        <button class="carousel-control-next" type="button" data-bs-target="#lodge-car-${i}" data-bs-slide="next">
          <span class="carousel-control-next-icon" aria-hidden="true"></span>
        </button>` : ``}
      </div>
      <div class="trip-card-body">
        <div class="trip-card-dates">${h.dates}</div>
        <h3 class="trip-card-name">${h.name}</h3>
        <div class="trip-card-loc">${h.location}</div>
        <div class="trip-card-room">${h.room}</div>
        <ul class="trip-card-amenities">${h.amenities.map(a => `<li>${a}</li>`).join("")}</ul>
        <div class="trip-card-meta">
          <span class="trip-card-phone">${h.phone}</span>
          <a class="trip-link" href="${h.website}" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Website ↗</a>
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>`).join("")}
</div>
`

Dining

diningData = FileAttachment("dining.json").json()

Reservations

html`
<div class="trip-grid">
  ${diningData.firmed.map((r, i) => `
    <div class="trip-card">
      <div id="dine-car-${i}" class="carousel slide" data-bs-interval="false">
        <div class="carousel-inner">
          ${r.images.map((src, j) => `
            <div class="carousel-item${j === 0 ? ' active' : ''}">
              <a href="${src}" class="glightbox" data-gallery="dine-${i}">
                <img src="${src}" class="trip-card-img" loading="lazy" alt="${r.name}">
              </a>
            </div>`).join("")}
        </div>
        ${r.images.length > 1 ? `
        <button class="carousel-control-prev" type="button" data-bs-target="#dine-car-${i}" data-bs-slide="prev">
          <span class="carousel-control-prev-icon" aria-hidden="true"></span>
        </button>
        <button class="carousel-control-next" type="button" data-bs-target="#dine-car-${i}" data-bs-slide="next">
          <span class="carousel-control-next-icon" aria-hidden="true"></span>
        </button>` : ``}
      </div>
      <div class="trip-card-body">
        <div class="dining-row">
          <span class="trip-card-dates">${r.day} · ${r.city}</span>
          <span class="dining-time${r.anniversary ? ' is-anniv' : ''}">${r.time}</span>
        </div>
        <h3 class="trip-card-name">${r.name}</h3>
        <div class="dining-cuisine">${r.cuisine}</div>
        ${r.anniversary ? `<div class="dining-anniv-flag">🎉 Anniversary dinner</div>` : ``}
        <div class="trip-card-meta" style="border:0;padding-top:0;justify-content:flex-start;gap:1rem;">
          <span class="trip-card-phone">${r.phone}</span>
          ${r.michelin ? `<a class="trip-link" href="${r.michelin}" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Michelin ↗</a>` : ``}
        </div>
        <div class="menu-btns">
          ${r.menus.map(m => `<a class="menu-btn" href="${m.url}" target="_blank" rel="noopener">${m.label}</a>`).join("")}
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>`).join("")}
</div>
`

Other possibilities

{
  const cities = Object.keys(diningData.possibilities);
  return html`
  <ul class="nav nav-tabs" role="tablist">
    ${cities.map((c, i) => `
      <li class="nav-item" role="presentation">
        <button class="nav-link${i === 0 ? ' active' : ''}" data-bs-toggle="tab"
                data-bs-target="#poss-${i}" type="button" role="tab">${c}</button>
      </li>`).join("")}
  </ul>
  <div class="tab-content mt-3">
    ${cities.map((c, i) => `
      <div class="tab-pane fade${i === 0 ? ' show active' : ''}" id="poss-${i}" role="tabpanel">
        <table class="poss-table">
          <thead><tr><th>Place</th><th>Type</th><th>Notes</th></tr></thead>
          <tbody>
            ${diningData.possibilities[c].map(p => `
              <tr>
                <td class="poss-name">${p.name}</td>
                <td class="poss-type">${p.type}</td>
                <td>${p.notes}</td>
              </tr>`).join("")}
          </tbody>
        </table>
      </div>`).join("")}
  </div>`;
}

Drives

drives = FileAttachment("drives.json").json()

Rental car

html`
<div class="car-card">
  <a href="${drives.car.image}" class="glightbox" data-gallery="car">
    <img src="${drives.car.image}" alt="${drives.car.vehicle}">
  </a>
  <div class="car-card-body">
    <h3>${drives.car.vehicle}</h3>
    <div class="car-card-co">${drives.car.company} · ${drives.car.location}</div>
    <div class="car-card-grid">
      <div><div class="lbl">Pick-up</div><div class="val">${drives.car.pickup}</div></div>
      <div><div class="lbl">Return</div><div class="val">${drives.car.return}</div></div>
      <div><div class="lbl">Phone</div><div class="val">${drives.car.phone}</div></div>
    </div>
    <div class="car-card-note">${drives.car.notes}</div>
  </div>
</div>

<div class="drive-summary">
  ${drives.days.map(d => `<span class="pill">${d.date}: <b>${d.total}</b></span>`).join("")}
</div>
`

Day-by-day routes

html`
${drives.days.map((d, di) => `
  <div class="drive-day">
    <div class="drive-day-title">${d.date} — ${d.title} <span class="total">${d.total}</span></div>
    <ul class="nav nav-tabs" role="tablist">
      <li class="nav-item" role="presentation">
        <button class="nav-link active" data-bs-toggle="tab" data-bs-target="#d${di}-overall"
                type="button" role="tab">Overall</button>
      </li>
      ${d.legs.map((leg, li) => `
        <li class="nav-item" role="presentation">
          <button class="nav-link" data-bs-toggle="tab" data-bs-target="#d${di}-leg${li}"
                  type="button" role="tab">${leg.from} → ${leg.to}</button>
        </li>`).join("")}
    </ul>
    <div class="tab-content mt-3">
      <div class="tab-pane fade show active" id="d${di}-overall" role="tabpanel">
        <iframe class="drive-map" src="${d.overallMap}" loading="lazy"
                referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe>
        <ul class="drive-notes">${d.notes.map(n => `<li>${n}</li>`).join("")}</ul>
      </div>
      ${d.legs.map((leg, li) => `
        <div class="tab-pane fade" id="d${di}-leg${li}" role="tabpanel">
          <div class="drive-leg-meta">
            <div><div class="lbl">Distance</div><div class="val">${leg.distance}</div></div>
            <div><div class="lbl">Drive time</div><div class="val">${leg.duration}</div></div>
          </div>
          <iframe class="drive-map" src="${leg.map}" loading="lazy"
                  referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe>
          <ul class="drive-notes">${leg.notes.map(n => `<li>${n}</li>`).join("")}</ul>
        </div>`).join("")}
    </div>
  </div>`).join("")}
`

Dublin

Places

Temple Bar — Historic cultural quarter, good for a first-night wander
Guinness Storehouse — Book tickets in advance
Long Room & Book of Kells — Trinity College; also book ahead
Dublin Castle — Free to walk the grounds
Marsh’s Library — Hidden gem, oldest public library in Ireland (1707)

Edinburgh

Neighborhoods & Walks

Stockbridge — Right by the hotel. Cobbled streets, Georgian terraces, the Sunday market
Dean Village — 10-min walk from Stockbridge along the Water of Leith; very photogenic
Circus Lane — Quick detour from Stockbridge; best for photos
Royal Mile — The backbone of Old Town; do it at least once
Victoria Street — Curved, colorful street; the Harry Potter / Diagon Alley one

Sights

Edinburgh Castle — Book tickets online. Consider the Afternoon Tea add-on
The Vennel Viewpoint — Free, underrated, best castle photo angle in the city
Palace of Holyroodhouse — Bottom of the Royal Mile; royal residence
National Portrait Gallery — Free; good for a slower morning

Shopping

Tron Kirk Market — Converted church market
Stills Gallery — Photography prints; good for a keepsake
Museum Context — 3 floors of magical merchandise (Harry Potter-adjacent)

Dining ideas for Edinburgh live in the Dining section above.

Isle of Skye

Getting there

You’re self-driving from Fort William via Eilean Donan and the Skye Bridge — see the Drives section for legs and timings. Leave Skye by early afternoon on Sat Oct 10 so the return isn’t in the dark.

Sights

Old Man of Storr — ~20 min north of Portree; the classic Skye hike/photo
Kilt Rock & Mealt Falls — Roadside viewpoint, easy stop
The Quiraing — Otherworldly landslip landscape (longer detour)
Fairy Pools — Crystal pools below the Cuillins (west side; longer drive)

Drink & Experiences

Isle of Skye Distillers — Tasting room in Portree
Untethered Skye — Experiences & guided activities

Skye dining ideas are in the Dining section above.

Practical Notes

Visas & Entry

Ireland — US citizens don’t need a visa for short stays, but Ireland is not in the Schengen Area. Confirm requirements before travel.
Scotland / UK — No visa required for US citizens for stays under 6 months. You may need to show proof of onward travel at the border.

To Do Before Departure

Book Guinness Storehouse tickets
Book Book of Kells / Long Room tickets
Confirm The Oval Bar reservation (Dublin)
Confirm the 2026 Jacobite steam-train schedule (West Coast Railways)
Book a Skye dinner (Sea Breezes / Scorrybreac fill up fast)
Download offline maps for Dublin, Edinburgh & the Highlands
Check Enterprise pick-up paperwork (license, credit card)

{
  // Re-bind GLightbox to the dynamically rendered gallery images
  accommodations; diningData; drives;
  setTimeout(() => {
    if (window.GLightbox) {
      if (window._tripLightbox && window._tripLightbox.reload) window._tripLightbox.reload();
      else window._tripLightbox = GLightbox({ selector: ".glightbox" });
    }
  }, 300);
  return html`<span style="display:none" aria-hidden="true"></span>`;
}