rajshiv

We (my aunt,my husband and myself) are going to Edinburgh from 6th May-9th May. We are taking the Ryan air flight to Glasgow Prestwick airport. We reach at 9:40 in the morning on 6th and depart at 20:35 on 9th MAy.

My husband and I have been to the highlands area before for a week, but haven't been to Edinburgh. However this is my aunt's first visit to Scotland.

Ideally we would like to spend 2 full days in Edinburgh and take my aunt for a day trip to either a castle/ into the highlands. She likes castles and stunning scenery. I really needed our help in deciding where can we go for the day trip. We can't hire a car as we don't have valid UK driving license.

Another thing that I needed help with was accommodation. I was looking for an apartment in Edinburgh. I have shortlisted some options...our main criteria is easily accessible to the main sights and easy to get to from Glasgow. Also it should be convenient for us to take the day trip and back. Also we would be on a budget and if we can get something within 80-90 pounds /night, we would be really happy.

http://www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/p458056

http://www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/p437023

http://www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/Sco...ans/p64596.htm

http://www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/Sco...ans/p70137.htm

http://www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/p415586

I would really like feedback on these apartments and also on the best possible itinerary for us. This trip is a last minute decision and I would really like to book things as quickly as possible. I really appreciate the help that I have always got here. Thanks a lot!

alihutch

For info. Glasgow Prestwick is a 45 minute train journey from Glasgow. If you aren't stopping in Glasgow at all ( a waste IMHO) you then need to transfer from Central Station to Queen Street Station (a 5-10 minute walk or there is a free bus transfer) to take the train to Edinburgh, which takes 50 mins.

rajshiv

Thanks a lot alihutch. What that means is that to get from Glasgow Prestwick to Edinburgh we will take about 1hr 40 mins...is that right? Can you please tell me how to book the train/bus tickets for this portion of the journey and how much would it approximately cost?

Also do you think we can take the day trip on our first day/ last day of the trip and go from their straight to the airport if it takes lesser time? Would Mull/Oban be easier to visit directly from Glasgow? We haven't booked our accommodation in Edinburgh so we could stay for a night in one of these places and then move the next morning to Edinburgh. Will it make more sense?

Thanks again...

alihutch

Buy the ticket on the train from Prestwick.....you will get a discount with your boarding cards and will be able to buy a ticket on to where you want....

You won't have time for a visit to Mull/Oban on your arrival/departure day(Oban itself not that interesting)check out http://nationalrail.co.uk/ for train times and fares...and use Google maps for relative locations.
TBH given your short visit, Glasgow might be a night too far, although you could spend a few hours in the city centre on your way to Edinburgh.

rajshiv

How about taking a day tour? I was just looking at the visit scotland site and they have a day trip from Glasgow/ Edinburgh to Oban and Western Highlands:

http://www.scottishtours.co.uk/tourp...6&departfrom=1

We could take this tour starting from Edinburgh on our last day and get off in Glasgow at 5:00pm. Our flight is only at 20:35...so we will have enough time to get to the airport.

Do you think that taking the Lochness tour from Edinburgh is a better option?

rajshiv

Any feedback on the aprtments would be greatly appreciated. I have the flight booked for the 8th of May from London to Glasgow and back on 11th May. Should I book the three nights in Edinburgh and think about doing a day trip from there or stay one night some where else (like Fionnphort / Inverness?)

Please help me decide. For our day/ couple of days out of Edinburgh we are basically looking for stunning scenery.

Any feedback on the partments would be immensely helpful.

unclegus

http://www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/p437023
this one is without doubt the best located of the apartments,all the rest are a fair walk away and bus ride away from the main sites.
This apartment is also only a 5 minute walk from the train station (all uphill I'm afraid).

rajshiv

unclegus thanks a lot. I have just written to the. 5 mins uphill is fine I believe. The apartment looks ok...and is well within our budget, so I think if the owner gets back to me with a positive answer we will take it.

Just wondering if I should book it for three nights or two...depending on what tour we take.

BigRuss

Take your auntie to Stirling Castle.

BigRuss

And Uncle Gus is right -- that apt he linked is in an outstanding location.

As I remember, though, everything in Edinburgh is uphill. ;-)

janisj

"<i>We can't hire a car as we don't have valid UK driving license.</i>"

One does not need a UK license to hire a car. Otherwise no foreign visitors could ever drive in the UK. Do any of you have a driver's license from your home country/state? If so you can rent a car.

If it was me, I'd take the trains from Prestwick to Edinburgh and stay 2 nights. Then collect a car out at EDI on the morning of May 8 (take an airport bus to EDI).

You'd have all day on the 8th and 9th to see things by car. Then drop it at Prestwick before flying out. You do not have time for Mull/Iona. But you could stay somewhere like Callander on May 8. That is an area of lovely scenery, Stirling and Doune Castles, Inchmahome Priory, Loch Lomond and Loch Katrine.

On the afternoon of the 9th start your drive down to Preswick and see sites along the way.

Now --if you REALLY can't rent a car-- stay the full time in Edinburgh and take one day coach trip out into the countryside.

rajshiv

Thanks a lot for all your responses. BigRuss we are trying to decide which tour to take. However from what little I have seen, most tour groups offer a stop over at the Stirling castle on their way back from the highlands day tour.

janisj your plans seems perfect, however we REALLY can't get a car. We live in the UK and have been here for more than a year. It means that either we have a current UK license, or we can't legally drive. So public transport really is our only option. What day trip into the countryside would you recommend for stunning scenery?

I have already written about the apartment...am waiting for a response.