Hi, Raggytash - I thought of flying to Belfast and then on to Edinburgh, but I couldn't get good connections from rural California to Belfast. It's a 2-plane flight from here to Edinburgh, 4 to Belfast. So, I think I'm best to take an EasyJet once I arrive in Edinburgh...but even a bus and ferry isn't a bad idea.
When I lived in Berlin 1972-73, I vowed never to drive in Europe. Relying on public transportation has been a good discipline for me, and has many benefits.
But on the other hand, I'm driving from California to Detroit in a week and intending to make a Blue Highways adventure of it. Driving is the only way to travel in the U.S., except in certain cities.
-Joe-