12 Days in Scotland
Apr 15th, 2010, 06:32 PM
#1
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12 Days in Scotland
My wife and I will be visiting Scotland in late April/early May and have the rough iterniery below. Please give some suggestions and comments.
Day 1 Arrive in Glasgow at 2pm and will walk around near our hotel by the Queen Street Station.
D2 Do the recommended 1 day walk
D3 Pick up our car and head towards Loch Lomond and end up at Strontian so that we could take the car ferry to Mull at Lochaline the next day.
D4 A day in Mull with ferry trip to Olna. Leave Mull in the evening for Fort William for our B&B.
D5 Tour around Fort William and to stay in a Fort Augustus B&B.
D6 Tour Loch Ness and travel to Fort George for our B&B.
D7 Tour Ft. George, Cawdor Castle and then head towards John O'Groats for the night.
D8 Take the Maxi Tour to Orkney for the day. I n the evening drive to Helmsdale for the night.
D9 Drive down to Stirling, visiting attractions on the way. Staying in a Guesthouse at Bridge of Allan.
D10 Drive to Edinburgh and visiting Falkirk Wheel and Linithgow Palace on the way. Check in a hotel near the castle. Return rental car.
D11 and D12 Do the 2 days recommended walk around the old and new city.
D13 Take bus from St. Andrew Bus Station to Buchanan Bus Station and connect with the Airlink(747) to Glasgow Airport for home.
D14 Arrive home in Singapore.
It is pretty tight schedule but that is all the time that we can spare!
Day 1 Arrive in Glasgow at 2pm and will walk around near our hotel by the Queen Street Station.
D2 Do the recommended 1 day walk
D3 Pick up our car and head towards Loch Lomond and end up at Strontian so that we could take the car ferry to Mull at Lochaline the next day.
D4 A day in Mull with ferry trip to Olna. Leave Mull in the evening for Fort William for our B&B.
D5 Tour around Fort William and to stay in a Fort Augustus B&B.
D6 Tour Loch Ness and travel to Fort George for our B&B.
D7 Tour Ft. George, Cawdor Castle and then head towards John O'Groats for the night.
D8 Take the Maxi Tour to Orkney for the day. I n the evening drive to Helmsdale for the night.
D9 Drive down to Stirling, visiting attractions on the way. Staying in a Guesthouse at Bridge of Allan.
D10 Drive to Edinburgh and visiting Falkirk Wheel and Linithgow Palace on the way. Check in a hotel near the castle. Return rental car.
D11 and D12 Do the 2 days recommended walk around the old and new city.
D13 Take bus from St. Andrew Bus Station to Buchanan Bus Station and connect with the Airlink(747) to Glasgow Airport for home.
D14 Arrive home in Singapore.
It is pretty tight schedule but that is all the time that we can spare!
Apr 15th, 2010, 07:21 PM
#2
From about Ft William onwards IMO there are several problems and the plan falls apart a bit.
Some random comments --
• Ft William is a dump -- really is. I wouldn't stay there personally.
• Then the next night is just up the road in Ft Augustus. You are going to pack and move just 30 miles?
• From Day 7 on it gets really difficult. Ft George is massive and just walking around the basics will take the best part of 3 full hours -- most likely more. Cawdor will take about 2 hours if you spend any time in the gardens. And I'd assume you'd also want to see Culloden. Then Cawdor to J 'o Groats is about 140 miles and at least 3.5 or 4 hours drive
• Helmsdale to Bridge of Allan is about 200 miles and probably 6 hours w/o any sightseeing or stops. You wouldn't have time to see many sites enroute. Dunrobin castle, lots of fabulous scenery, etc. Then Stirling Castle alone is a 2.5 hour stop -- but you probably wouldn't get there before it closes for the day.
"<i>It is pretty tight schedule but that is all the time that we can spare!</i>" It is more than tight -- it is looooong hours in the car several days. And all the one-night stands just slow things up even more -- extra packing/unpacking/checking in/checking out. You likely won't be out and on the road until after 9:00-9:30 most mornings.
And you have made no allowance for possible bad weather.
You are going to some truly amazing places -- the only problem is, there are too many of them and they are too far apart IMO.
Some random comments --
• Ft William is a dump -- really is. I wouldn't stay there personally.
• Then the next night is just up the road in Ft Augustus. You are going to pack and move just 30 miles?
• From Day 7 on it gets really difficult. Ft George is massive and just walking around the basics will take the best part of 3 full hours -- most likely more. Cawdor will take about 2 hours if you spend any time in the gardens. And I'd assume you'd also want to see Culloden. Then Cawdor to J 'o Groats is about 140 miles and at least 3.5 or 4 hours drive
• Helmsdale to Bridge of Allan is about 200 miles and probably 6 hours w/o any sightseeing or stops. You wouldn't have time to see many sites enroute. Dunrobin castle, lots of fabulous scenery, etc. Then Stirling Castle alone is a 2.5 hour stop -- but you probably wouldn't get there before it closes for the day.
"<i>It is pretty tight schedule but that is all the time that we can spare!</i>" It is more than tight -- it is looooong hours in the car several days. And all the one-night stands just slow things up even more -- extra packing/unpacking/checking in/checking out. You likely won't be out and on the road until after 9:00-9:30 most mornings.
And you have made no allowance for possible bad weather.
You are going to some truly amazing places -- the only problem is, there are too many of them and they are too far apart IMO.
Apr 15th, 2010, 08:57 PM
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Thank you Janisj for a real fast response. Perhaps I have been too ambitious!
What if I skip Ft. William and go straight to Ft. Augustus for D4 and use the extra day at Ft George.
Maybe also spend one more day between Helmsdale and Stirling and cut one day off Edinburgh?
Much obligh!
What if I skip Ft. William and go straight to Ft. Augustus for D4 and use the extra day at Ft George.
Maybe also spend one more day between Helmsdale and Stirling and cut one day off Edinburgh?
Much obligh!
Apr 15th, 2010, 09:39 PM
#4
You're very welcome. Yes, those two changes would help a LOT.
Edinburgh is one of my favorite cities on Earth, but looking at your plans it does seem you are more into the wild scenery and the north. Edinburgh is small enough that you can see a lot of it in a relatively short time. So while it would be great to have several days there, you can see the castle, Royal Mile, Holyrood and other bits in the 1.5 days it looks like you'd have.
Plus you won't be quite as exhausted when you get there
Edinburgh is one of my favorite cities on Earth, but looking at your plans it does seem you are more into the wild scenery and the north. Edinburgh is small enough that you can see a lot of it in a relatively short time. So while it would be great to have several days there, you can see the castle, Royal Mile, Holyrood and other bits in the 1.5 days it looks like you'd have.
Plus you won't be quite as exhausted when you get there
Apr 16th, 2010, 06:38 AM
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Apr 16th, 2010, 11:45 PM
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I have also gotten other comments and have adjusted below. Is this a better schedule?
Day 1 Arrive in Glasgow at 2pm and will walk around near our hotel by the Queen Street Station.
D2 Do the recommended 1 day walk
D3 Pick up our car and head towards Loch Lomond and end up at Strontian so that we could take the car ferry to Mull at Lochaline the next day.
D4 A day in Mull with ferry trip to Iona. Leave Mull in the evening for Fort Augustus for our B&B.
D5 Travel from Fort Augustus to John O’Groats (3HR 30M)
D6 Take the Maxi Tour to Orkney for the day. I n the evening drive to Helmsdale for the night.
D7 Drive to Ft. George, Cawdor Castle and Cullden. Stay at B&B nearby.
D8 Drive to tour Uruaqurt Castle & Loch Ness and travel to Perth for our B&B.
D9 Drive down to Stirling, visiting attractions on the way. Staying in a Guesthouse at Bridge of Allan.
D10 Drive to Edinburgh and visiting Falkirk Wheel and Linithgow Palace on the way. Check in a hotel near the castle. Return rental car.
D11 and D12 Do the 2 days recommended walk around the old and new city.
D13 Take bus from St. Andrew Bus Station to Buchanan Bus Station and connect with the Airlink(747) to Glasgow Airport for home.
D14 Arrive home in Singapore.
Day 1 Arrive in Glasgow at 2pm and will walk around near our hotel by the Queen Street Station.
D2 Do the recommended 1 day walk
D3 Pick up our car and head towards Loch Lomond and end up at Strontian so that we could take the car ferry to Mull at Lochaline the next day.
D4 A day in Mull with ferry trip to Iona. Leave Mull in the evening for Fort Augustus for our B&B.
D5 Travel from Fort Augustus to John O’Groats (3HR 30M)
D6 Take the Maxi Tour to Orkney for the day. I n the evening drive to Helmsdale for the night.
D7 Drive to Ft. George, Cawdor Castle and Cullden. Stay at B&B nearby.
D8 Drive to tour Uruaqurt Castle & Loch Ness and travel to Perth for our B&B.
D9 Drive down to Stirling, visiting attractions on the way. Staying in a Guesthouse at Bridge of Allan.
D10 Drive to Edinburgh and visiting Falkirk Wheel and Linithgow Palace on the way. Check in a hotel near the castle. Return rental car.
D11 and D12 Do the 2 days recommended walk around the old and new city.
D13 Take bus from St. Andrew Bus Station to Buchanan Bus Station and connect with the Airlink(747) to Glasgow Airport for home.
D14 Arrive home in Singapore.
Apr 17th, 2010, 08:41 AM
#9
Days 5 & 8 - Ft Augustus will take more than 3.5 hours. (Hint: If you use on-line mileage calculators, you generally have to add 25% to 40+% to the drive times.) I'd count on 4 hours minimum and 4.5 more likely. On Day 5 you will drive along the full length of Loch Ness and pass right by Urquhart Castle w/ plenty of time to stop and visit.
There's no need to take that route back south on Day 8. You can make better time and not retrace your route if you take the A9 down to Perth.
There's no need to take that route back south on Day 8. You can make better time and not retrace your route if you take the A9 down to Perth.
Apr 17th, 2010, 09:31 AM
#10
Meant to add -- by taking the more direct A9 down to Perth you'd have time to visit Culloden in the AM and then places like Killiecrankie/Dunkeld/Falkland Palace on the way to Perth.
Your day 7 will be pretty full w/ just the drive down from Helmsdale and seeing Ft George and Cawdor. So hitting Culloden the next morning and then heading south will simplify things a bit.
Your day 7 will be pretty full w/ just the drive down from Helmsdale and seeing Ft George and Cawdor. So hitting Culloden the next morning and then heading south will simplify things a bit.
Apr 19th, 2010, 10:31 PM
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After thinking long and hard I have re-schedule D4 to D8. Here goes:
D4 Fort William to Ft Augustus visiting Inverlochy Castle, Neptune Staircase, Commando Momorial. Stay at Ft. Augustus.
D5 Ft. Augustus to Ft George visiting Urquhart Castle, Culloden and Ft. George. Stay at Ft George.
D6 Ft. George to Kingussie visiting Cawdor Castle, Spynie Palace, Elgin Cathedral. Stay at Kingussie.
D7 Kingussie to Perth visiting Ruthven Barracks, Dunkeld Cathedral and St Serf's Church & Dupplin Cross. Stay at Perth.
D8 Perth to Stirling visiting East Chapel Tullibardine, Dunblane and Stirling Castle. Stay at Stirling.
D4 Fort William to Ft Augustus visiting Inverlochy Castle, Neptune Staircase, Commando Momorial. Stay at Ft. Augustus.
D5 Ft. Augustus to Ft George visiting Urquhart Castle, Culloden and Ft. George. Stay at Ft George.
D6 Ft. George to Kingussie visiting Cawdor Castle, Spynie Palace, Elgin Cathedral. Stay at Kingussie.
D7 Kingussie to Perth visiting Ruthven Barracks, Dunkeld Cathedral and St Serf's Church & Dupplin Cross. Stay at Perth.
D8 Perth to Stirling visiting East Chapel Tullibardine, Dunblane and Stirling Castle. Stay at Stirling.
May 12th, 2010, 01:16 AM
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We just came back from an enjoyable 12-day holiday in Scotland. We wished that we could have it longer. Nevertheless, we will be back.
On the whole we managed to visit all the towns/cities we planned - missing one or two attraction because of closing times. The driving was not too bad.
The B&Bs that we used were of good quality and the 2 Fraser Suites in Glasgow and Edinburgh were of high quality and we had a very comfortable stay.
The weather was also kind to us as we had only 2 short wet days.
We like to express our gratitude to all that helped us in the planning and your suggestions certainly saved many a day!
Ray
On the whole we managed to visit all the towns/cities we planned - missing one or two attraction because of closing times. The driving was not too bad.
The B&Bs that we used were of good quality and the 2 Fraser Suites in Glasgow and Edinburgh were of high quality and we had a very comfortable stay.
The weather was also kind to us as we had only 2 short wet days.
We like to express our gratitude to all that helped us in the planning and your suggestions certainly saved many a day!
Ray
May 12th, 2010, 09:02 PM
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Hi hopingtotravel,
I did not drive in Glasgow or Edinburgh besides picking/returning the rental. Those short hours driving to our hotel in Edinburgh was very worrying because a lot of roads were reserved for buses/taxis and also those closed while undergoing upgrading. We keep bumping into bus lanes and had to ask for directions many times! On the last occasion a cop told us to take a shortcut thru a one-way street and turned a blind eye!
In the countryside we encountered many single carriageway roads where drivers has to exercise curtesy in giving way. Personally I think it goes a long way in inculcating social tolerance and respect in its people! Scots, on the whole are nice people and is always willing to help in giving directions and total strangers have no qualms in saying hello to me!
My wife and I have decided to go back in the near future!
I did not drive in Glasgow or Edinburgh besides picking/returning the rental. Those short hours driving to our hotel in Edinburgh was very worrying because a lot of roads were reserved for buses/taxis and also those closed while undergoing upgrading. We keep bumping into bus lanes and had to ask for directions many times! On the last occasion a cop told us to take a shortcut thru a one-way street and turned a blind eye!
In the countryside we encountered many single carriageway roads where drivers has to exercise curtesy in giving way. Personally I think it goes a long way in inculcating social tolerance and respect in its people! Scots, on the whole are nice people and is always willing to help in giving directions and total strangers have no qualms in saying hello to me!
My wife and I have decided to go back in the near future!
May 13th, 2010, 07:04 AM
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Thanks Raypffong, I recall in 1998 we got lost a lot in Edinburgh!
On the singletrack roads: we have been on some I think in Cornwall and Ireland. Don't mind being courteous, just hopefully don't want to have to back a long way if there is a cliff on the edge.
On the singletrack roads: we have been on some I think in Cornwall and Ireland. Don't mind being courteous, just hopefully don't want to have to back a long way if there is a cliff on the edge.
May 13th, 2010, 09:26 AM
#16
htt: The single tracks in Scotland are easier than those in Cornwall IMO. few if any really blind curves, few stone walls/hedgerows, and lots of well signed passing places. Many of the single tracks in Scotland are through pretty open countryside.
May 13th, 2010, 10:32 AM
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Sorry, I hadn't read your response and just asked this on other thread. Yes the stone walls in Cornwall looked pretty unforgiving; luckily we didn't graze any.
So basically, they are slow but not necessarily dangerous, I'm assuming.
So basically, they are slow but not necessarily dangerous, I'm assuming.
May 13th, 2010, 11:08 AM
#18
I don't find them dangerous at all. And in some places they aren't all that slow either. When you are in open countryside you can sometimes see far ahead and can zip right along. But w/ all the open range land/animals and some twisty turns, they are generally slower than other roads.
