FACS

Of these 11 scenic drives, do you have one you especially loved AND which of these could be combined for a 2 week visit? http://www.globalgrasshopper.com/des...scenic-drives/
Any other must sees? We like mountains, lakes, small towns and preferably not too narrow roads.

janisj

I've been to every one of those areas and all are gorgeous.

For convenience/practicality, a group that could be lumped together easily would be the Lake District, Peak District, Northumberland and the Dales. That would be a REALLY terrific 2 week trip. Flying in/out of Manchester.

ALL on the list are worthwhile but are spread far apart.

OR you could spend the two weeks in Scotland and do those two plus any number of other glorious drives.

FACS

Thanks janisj, I'm leaning toward Scotland. We spent a day in Edinburgh and Kirkwall, Orkney and would like to go back and see more of Scotland. I love visiting Castles and Churches also. I found these gorgeous photos http://www.stevecarter.com/photos.htm
and thought maybe we could incorporate one of these areas, but would it be too far from the above mentioned Glen Coe and Highlands scenic drives? Thanks for your time.

hetismij2

Maybe you would enjoy the NC200 in Scotland as part of your trip. You needn't do it all of course as it is a loop, but the loop takes about 5 days to do.

http://www.northcoast500.com/home.aspx

janisj

In two weeks - and just in Scotland -- you could do say 3 days in the far northwest (generally west of Inverness and north of Torridon), 3 days on Skye, 3-ish days in Aberdeenshire and the Castle Trail area, 3 days in the Trossachs, and a couple of days in Edinburgh.

The exact order could be juggled -- but one option could have you flying into Inverness, collecting a car and a big loop. Or into Edinburgh > Trossachs > Skye > the NW, > Aberdeenshire. Fly out of Aberdeen.

Torridon: http://www.ancosshieldaig.co.uk/wp-c...g-Scotland.jpg

Skye: http://paradiseintheworld.com/wp-con...-mountains.jpg

Trossachs: http://pre07.deviantart.net/6b8c/th/...16-d5t8iv4.jpg

http://www.filmapia.com/sites/defaul...e%20Priory.JPG

Castle Trail/Aberdeenshire: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...tle_cloudy.jpg

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...(pro_view).jpg

FACS

janisj- Wow thanks! We would be going the last 2 weeks of June and it is the same price whether flying RT to Inverness or into Edinburgh and out of Aberdeen. What are your thoughts? Would there be a car rental drop off charge if we flew into different airports?

hetismij2-thank-you for the route suggestion, is it anywhere near the regions suggested above?

janisj

June is a FABULOUS time for this sort of trip. It will be daylight very very late (and very early too). Like sunset around 10:30 PM and sunrise about 4 AM. While the castles and have regular opening hours, the scenery never closes So you can tour around into the late evening hours.

As for which flights . . . you could do well either itinerary. Me personally would probably fly into EDI and out of ABZ.

The you could start in Edinburgh car-less for a couple of days then the Trossachs > Skye > the North/Northwest > Aberdeenshire, fly out.

I haven't generally had any drop off charges (though did a couple of times). Try autoeurope.com and see what the various option total . . .

FACS

PS
I just checked and I we can go RT to Glasgow for the same price, without a 5 hour LHR layover- that would be doable, right?

FACS

PPS
Non-stop to Glasgow and leave from Aberdeen with 3 1/2 hour layover at LHR is another option.

janisj

>>Non-stop to Glasgow and leave from Aberdeen with 3 1/2 hour layover at LHR is another option.<<

That would complicate things just a bit -- trying to fit Edinburgh into your loop. But without Edinburgh, GLA > the Trossachs > Skye > the NW > Aberdeenshire, fly out would be a terrific itinerary.


>>I just checked and I we can go RT to Glasgow for the same price, without a 5 hour LHR layover- that would be doable, right?<<

That would work best IF you wanted to stay a night or two in Edinburgh. GLA > train to Edinburgh/2-ish nights car-less in Edinburgh. Pick up a car and then > Aberdeenshire > the NW > Skye > the Trossachs > GLA

Both work - just depends on the Edinburgh bit.

FACS

janisj, In our limited travel previously in Scotland Greenock and Inverness the roads seemed wider and less scary than rural Ireland where we have driven previously. Would your above suggested regions of Scotland be overall less rock wall shoulders and bumping side mirror driving?

janisj

>> In our limited travel previously in Scotland Greenock and Inverness the roads seemed wider and less scary than rural Ireland where we have driven previously. <<

That is my experience as well. I find in general the driving in rural Scotland is a lot easier than in many parts of Ireland. NOT that you won't find narrow roads, you will. Or rock walls. But 'generally' the roadways are less 'confined'.