I'll just comment on the Scotland bits for now.

• Driving from MAN to Edinburgh immediately upon arrival is risky at best. That is a nearly 5 hour drive after an overnight flight. W/ the quality of some of your accommodations, perhaps you are flying in 1st or business class which helps. But even so it can be very problematic driving w/ jetlag.

• >>June 8 - Drive to Inverness via St. Andrews. Stop at sites along the way. Lodging: Castle Stuart<<

You won't have much chance to stop enroute. Even w/ just 2.5 hours in St Andrews, which is seriously inadequate, you are talking about 8 hours to Castle Stuart.

• From the Spoons to Cameron House is more than 5 hours car time (and 6 hours wouldn't be unusual) without a single stop - basically an all day drive.

Basically you have some HUGE drives through glorious countryside w/ virtually no time to stop and enjoy any of it. I haven't stayed at Castle Stuart, but have stayed a couple of times at Cameron House and you will love it (but really have no time at all there)

I now see you have two threads going which may get very confusing since posters to one may not see the responses on the other one.

Aren't there fast trains from Manchester to Edinburgh? If so, take one. You don't need a car in Edinburgh and shouldn't want one either - it's a real b*tch to drive in the capital of Tartanland.

Big Russis right - you can take a train from Manchester to Edinburgh -- you'd get there faster than driving, and get there safer than driving. And give you at least a couple of extra hours in the city.

Then collect a car as you leave Edinburgh and start your trek . . .

<<Aren't there fast trains from Manchester to Edinburgh?>>

certainly are - direct from the airport to Edinburgh in 3 1/2 hours
www.nationalrail.co.uk

You are planning the ring of Kerry from Tralee?? Why? Killarney or Kenmare are on the doorstep.

I love Ballynahinch its a great place but a long way from The cliffs of Moher and even Galway.

Driving from Killarney to Ballynahinch can take you past the Cliffs and Galway and would be a great base for the Connemara.

I would consider putting Kilkenny and Waterford on the back burner and flying into Cork airport which is 1/2 hour from Kinsale. Doing that you could break the journey from Killarney to Ballynahinch maybe drive round Dingle and see more of Clare than 1/2 mile of tourist cliff.

The train from Manchester to Edinburgh is a great suggestion. I checked the prices and they are very reasonable. thanks.

I am looking into flying into Cork and skipping Kilkenny and Waterford at the suggestion of Tony2phones.

I was considering Tralee because of the nightlife and possible local musical culture.

Is Galway worth a stop? We want to experience nature as well as the Irish culture, ie music, pubs and dance.

Killarney would tick all nightlife boxes that Tralee would tick and more. Galway would be worth a night or Ennis breaking the journey between Killarney and Ballynahinch using Ennis would give time to pass the Cliffs on Moher and Burren on the way before Galway and the N59. For the Connemara leg these links might be helpful?
http://ireland.activeboard.com/t50055177/n59-galway-route/ & http://goo.gl/maps/iSQcB

Could we revise our terminology.

If it is direct, it isn't fast.

I regularly drive Manchester to Edinburgh in 3 hours.

I wouldn't do it after a transAtlantic though, why not fly into Edinburgh amd then onto Dublin?

I would spend more time on the west coast of Scotland unless you have a reason to visit Inverness/ At Andrews.

Tony2phones
Do you have any opinion on Muckross park Hotel & Cloisters for lodging for a couple of nights

ttandy,

We stayed in the Killarney Lodge (Guest House) and enjoyed it.

Here are our Ireland and Scotland trips if that helps:

http://ukfrey.blogspot.co.uk/2011/08/ireland.html

http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/scotland-trossachs-skye-and-loch-ness-an-indydad-trip-report.cfm

Muckross park Hotel, very nice well over my pay scale these days. Whilst you are likely to meet a couple of local in the bar at Ballynahinch (not too much else locally) the Park is a little exclusive.

Dickie-Gr

I am using Skymiles and it gets too complicated to fly Delta into Edinburgh, while they have a direct flight from Atlanta to Manchester.

Tony2phones
is there a really nice place to stay instead of Muckross and Ballynahinch that would have great dining and nightly entertainment and afternoon pubs close by.

I have taken that flight a couple of times, great service between two of the most friendly places on earth!

Very similar cities in many ways.

Try to get a boat trip out and about in the Inner Hebrides, beautiful scenery and plenty of seaside.

Sealife that should be !

Dreaded iPhone correction function.