What to See and Do in the British Isles

The British Isles, today composed of Ireland, Scotland, England, and other small nations, are rich in history and have a major place in European history, ancient and modern. In fact, England is home of London, which is often considered one of the “big three” cities of the world along with New York City and Tokyo, but there is more to the British Isles. Scotland and Ireland have proud and distinct heritages and distinctions, and a person planning a vacation to Europe may be interested in getting a vacation package to these fascinating nations. All inclusive Ireland tours, for example, may include historic castles, neolithic ruins such as grave cairns, and more, and a castle tour in Scotland is always a fine idea. The people of Ireland and Scotland may be welcoming to guests, and a vacation package to these nations can make for a memorable trip. How can someone get their hands on a vacation package to these nations and make the most of it?

The Nations

Ireland and Scotland are hardly rural backwaters. Today, they are busy and vibrant places to live or visit, and cities like Dublin can be a lot of fun for tourists, along with the countryside and medieval or neolithic ruins. Dublin, as Ireland’s capital, is also the biggest city there and has a population of 495,781 people. And as of 2011, Ireland ranked 119th in the world’s population, with about 4.58 million people as of 2011. This is much smaller than the populations of nearby nations like Germany or France, but Ireland is known for its rich heritage and other attractions. This is an island nation, and North Ireland shares the landmass to the north. As an independent nation, meanwhile, Ireland is the third largest island in Europe, and it has about 32,595 squire miles of land and around 3,000 miles of coastline, including the famous Giant’s Causeway.

Scotland, meanwhile, is part of the main island and shares a border with England, which famously includes the ruins of Hadrian’s Wall, built in the Roman days to block attacks from the Pictish Celts. Today, Scotland has a similar population size as Ireland, and is known for its natural beauty and rustic heritage, from the Highlands to the Shetland Islands and the Inner and Outer Hebrides. Some parts of this nation, like Ireland, strongly retain their medieval and ancient Celtic heritage; that is, the people who lived there before the Anglo-Saxons and later the Normans, which can be a real attraction for tourists who want to see something authentic and exotic. In fact, Ireland and Scotland’s people often work hard to keep their Celtic heritage alive with festivals, music, art, and more. This can be thrilling for a tourist to see, and it’s something that no other part of the world can offer. To see all this, a person will need their vacation package and other paperwork ready to visit these fascinating islands.

A Vacation Package to the British Isles

The landmass that includes England, Ireland, the Isle of Manx, and others is the British Isles, a geographical term independent of geopolitical lines. Visiting this part of Europe can be a lot of fun, but the paperwork should be ready. An American tourist, for example, is advised to have his or her passport ready, and book a flight in time to cross the Atlantic Ocean. Some times of the year, such as spring, may be popular for visiting, so a person may have to plan far ahead and set up his or her vacation package months in advanced to get an opportunity to visit. Another option is to simply visit during the off season, which is a strategy that some tourists or vacationers take for visiting anywhere, from Hawaii to Australia.

A vacation package to Ireland and Scotland may include guided tours, for example, of famous castles and neolithic ruins (there were people on the British Isles even before the Celts arrived). Tours can also include Irish breweries, such as for Guinness, and a tourist in Scotland may also play a few rounds of golf at the nation’s many golf courses. After all, golf was invented in Scotland about 500 years ago. A tourist may love to play a round in the sport’s homeland.