The Scots-Irish Trail
Millions of Americans descend from Lowland Scots who settled in Ulster in the 1600s and sailed for America in the 1700s. This journey follows their road, from the Borders and Galloway to Ulster and the emigrant port of Derry, returning to Edinburgh.
Who this journey suits
- Americans with Scots-Irish or Ulster Scots roots
- Families tracing a surname
- Guests who value story over sightseeing
The pace, honestly
Six bases in thirteen days, most for two or three nights, and no day with more than about three hours of driving. Room for research, kirkyards and unplanned stops.
Highlights
- Border reiver country and the great abbeys
- Robert Burns's Dumfries
- Records at PRONI in Belfast
- The Ulster American Folk Park
- Derry's walls and emigrant quays
An example route to show what is possible. Yours will be built around your places, dates and pace, and confirmed in your personal itinerary and quote.
The route
Driving times are approximate, exclude stops, and depend on season and conditions.
- Day 1
Arrive in EdinburghScotland
Met at the airport and taken to your hotel.
Overnight: EdinburghOn the road: Airport transfer only.
- Day 2
Edinburgh and the recordsScotland
The Old Town, with the option of the ScotlandsPeople Centre to search Scottish records.
Overnight: EdinburghOn the road: None.
- Day 3
The Scottish BordersScotland
Melrose Abbey and the country of the Border reiver families.
Overnight: Scottish BordersOn the road: About 1½ hours.
- Day 4
To Dumfries and GallowayScotland
Robert Burns's Dumfries and Caerlaverock Castle.
Overnight: Dumfries and GallowayOn the road: About 2 hours.
- Day 5
GallowayScotland
Family places, kirkyards and the Galloway coast.
Overnight: Dumfries and GallowayOn the road: Your choice.
- Day 6
Across to Ulster
From Cairnryan to Belfast, as settlers crossed four centuries ago.
Overnight: BelfastOn the road: About 1½ hours plus the crossing.
- Day 7
BelfastNorthern Ireland
PRONI for family research, and Titanic Belfast.
Overnight: BelfastOn the road: None.
- Day 8
The Ulster American Folk ParkNorthern Ireland
The story of emigration from Ulster to America, then on to Derry.
Overnight: Derry~LondonderryOn the road: About 2¼ hours, plus the museum.
- Day 9
DerryNorthern Ireland
The complete 17th-century walls and the emigrant quays.
Overnight: Derry~LondonderryOn the road: None.
- Day 10
Donegal and GlenveaghIreland
A day across the border to Glenveagh Castle and the wild Atlantic edge.
Overnight: Derry~LondonderryOn the road: About 2 hours in total.
- Day 11
The Causeway Coast to BelfastNorthern Ireland
The Giant's Causeway on the way back to Belfast.
Overnight: BelfastOn the road: About 2½ hours, with stops.
- Day 12
Back to Edinburgh
The morning ferry and the drive to Edinburgh for a final evening.
Overnight: EdinburghOn the road: About 2¾ hours plus the crossing.
- Day 13
Journey ends
Transfer to Edinburgh Airport.
Overnight: Journey endsOn the road: Short.
Make it yours
- Research your surname before you travel
- Add Glasgow and the Clyde
- Add Dublin at the end
Worth knowing
- The Cairnryan–Belfast ferry (about 2¼ hours) is booked in advance with your vehicle; your guide travels with you both ways.
- Research visits (ScotlandsPeople, PRONI) need booking ahead and work best with family details sent in advance.
Typically included
- Route planning around the places you choose, your pace and your dates
- Your own private driver-guide and vehicle, in Scotland and Ireland
- The Cairnryan–Belfast ferry for you and your vehicle
- Accommodation researched, reserved and confirmed
- Airport meet on arrival and transfer on departure
- Reservations and entries agreed in your itinerary
- One point of contact before and throughout your trip
Not included
- International flights
- Travel insurance, which we strongly recommend
- Meals and drinks not listed in your itinerary
- Personal expenses and gratuities
Price
Every journey is quoted personally, because the places, season, hotels and size of your party change the cost significantly. Your itinerary and quote come together.
Google reviews
What our guests say
“I chose Lindsay’s Highland Tours because they were willing to take us to my grandfather’s hometown in Scotland plus so much more! We made a comfortable trip through the Highlands seeing castles, golf courses, historical sites and movie…”
“My son has gotten into genealogy and we discovered that we both have a large percentage of Scottish heritage. His paternal great grandmother was born in Scotland and he started to show interest in traveling to see “where he’s from”.”
“We just returned from our tour and cannot say enough about how wonderful it was! We went to celebrate my husband’s 50th birthday and explore his Scottish roots.”
150+ five-star reviews · Read them on Google
Questions about this journey
What does Scots-Irish mean?
Lowland Scots, often Presbyterian, who settled in Ulster from the early 1600s, many of whose descendants emigrated to America in the 1700s.
Make the Scots-Irish Trail your own
Open this route in the trip builder with its places already chosen. Add, remove and tell us about your party, and we'll send your personal itinerary and quote.
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