Advice on Scotland
Apr 25th, 2004, 10:20 AM
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Advice on Scotland
After spending about 10 days in England, my wife and I and our 2 kids will spend about 6 days in Scotland (6 full days, flying on the 7th day from Glasgow). We are thinking about spending 2 days in Edinburgh and at least 2 days around Inverness and Loch Ness. With our limited time, what else should we see before arriving in Glasgow the night before we depart? We would like to find some of the most beautiful natural sites, as well as castles and ruins. We like to walk, so if you have any great walks you would recommend, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Steve
Steve
Apr 25th, 2004, 10:31 AM
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Here is a starter for 10-
Day One- Edinburgh to St Andrews
The Forth Rail bridge is worth driving past. The estuary of the Forth widens to superb beaches (with wonderful links golf courses behind them) and in Fife you have St Andrew's, home of golf (and the beach where they filmed the opening sequences of Chariots of Fire). To get there you go past Loch Leven, where Mary, Queen of Scots was kept imprisoned on one of the islands.
If you want to play golf, and you can?t play at the Old Course, there are courses all the way up through Fife. Amongst the best are Elie, Lundin Links, Ladybank and Crail
The Fife Coastal path provides masses of walking opportunities
Day 2 - Dundee to Tomintoul
Cross the Tay Bridge to Dundee, then cut across country to Glamis (castle) then go on to Blairgowrie where you pick up the A93 to Glenshee, and down to Braemar and Deeside. This is where Lizzie Windsor has her summer place, much beloved of American tourists. It's also in a beautiful location and therefore worth the visit. Just at Crathie, which is where you will find Balmoral, if you're daft enough to want to, there's a sign to Royal Lochnagar distillery. (old Scottish joke- How deep is Lochnagar? Ha, ha, ha...it's a mountain!!! Well, it's funny if you're five). It's not the best whisky in the world but there's no such thing as a bad malt and it does a good tour.
Come back onto the A93 and continue east a few miles till you see signs pointing left to Tomintoul. Take that road and go over Gairn Shiel to Corgarff then turn left towards Cockbridge and up over the Lecht to Tomintoul.
By now, you have crossed two of Scotland's highest roads, and it's not yet tea time. There's a very good whisky shop in Tomintoul (much better than the tourist trap on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh) and, incidentally, there is also a very good wood carver right next door. I would suggest staying here.
Walks available- to the top of a Munro at the Cairnwell; round the Linn of dee or up Glen Lui at Braemar; anywhere at the Lecht
Day 3, Tomintoul to Drumnadochit (but not in a straight line).
Go back on your tracks a bit and follow the road down to Dufftown. Here you will find Glenfiddich distillery. Still not my favourite dram, but probably one of the best sellers in the world and almost certainly the best tour.
Follow the road down to the Spey at Aberlour (or Charlestown of Aberlour, to give it its Sunday name). You are right in the heart of Speyside, on the Whisky Trail. If you want to see more, almost every second distillery is open to the public. If you have a favourite, ask at one of the tourist offices if they do a tour and just go along. The Macallan is probably the best Speyside whisky, but Aberlour itself is a good second. Follow the river to Grantown then go up to Nethy Bridge on the south bank. Outside Nethy Bridge you will find Abernethy Forest and Loch Garten, which is a huge nature reserve and is worth stopping at, to see the Ospreys.
Drive on to Aviemore, close your eyes so you miss it (a travesty of 1960s planning) and go straight up to Inverness on the A9. Spend a little time in Inverness and either spend the night here or (my choice) set off down Loch Ness towards Drumnadrochit, and find somewhere to stay on the loch side.
The Speyside Way affords amaple walking opprotunity as does the forest at Abernethy, or Rothiemurchus or Loch Morlich.
Day 4- Loch Ness to Port Appin.
Get up early and drive quickly down the Loch and the rest of the Great Glen to Fort William. Climb Ben Nevis. Look at the view. Climb down again. It?s said that there are 2 routes- one easy, and one a bit tougher. Either is an achievement. If you are not going up the hill, I would suggest a quick drive down Loch Linnhe to Corran, and catch the ferry to Ardgour on the west shore at Morvern. Drive along to Strontian (where they first discovered strontium) have lunch, then go back again.
Drive down to just south of Ballachulish. There is, on the coast off the main road, a little village called Port Appin. If you can afford it, stay the night in the Pierhouse (c£70 per head). If you can't, find a B&B and have supper there. The mixture of the food, ambience and location are next to unbeatable. The Aird?s Hotel is very highly rated for food too.
And you can cross to Lismore and walk down to the brochs and back
Day One- Edinburgh to St Andrews
The Forth Rail bridge is worth driving past. The estuary of the Forth widens to superb beaches (with wonderful links golf courses behind them) and in Fife you have St Andrew's, home of golf (and the beach where they filmed the opening sequences of Chariots of Fire). To get there you go past Loch Leven, where Mary, Queen of Scots was kept imprisoned on one of the islands.
If you want to play golf, and you can?t play at the Old Course, there are courses all the way up through Fife. Amongst the best are Elie, Lundin Links, Ladybank and Crail
The Fife Coastal path provides masses of walking opportunities
Day 2 - Dundee to Tomintoul
Cross the Tay Bridge to Dundee, then cut across country to Glamis (castle) then go on to Blairgowrie where you pick up the A93 to Glenshee, and down to Braemar and Deeside. This is where Lizzie Windsor has her summer place, much beloved of American tourists. It's also in a beautiful location and therefore worth the visit. Just at Crathie, which is where you will find Balmoral, if you're daft enough to want to, there's a sign to Royal Lochnagar distillery. (old Scottish joke- How deep is Lochnagar? Ha, ha, ha...it's a mountain!!! Well, it's funny if you're five). It's not the best whisky in the world but there's no such thing as a bad malt and it does a good tour.
Come back onto the A93 and continue east a few miles till you see signs pointing left to Tomintoul. Take that road and go over Gairn Shiel to Corgarff then turn left towards Cockbridge and up over the Lecht to Tomintoul.
By now, you have crossed two of Scotland's highest roads, and it's not yet tea time. There's a very good whisky shop in Tomintoul (much better than the tourist trap on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh) and, incidentally, there is also a very good wood carver right next door. I would suggest staying here.
Walks available- to the top of a Munro at the Cairnwell; round the Linn of dee or up Glen Lui at Braemar; anywhere at the Lecht
Day 3, Tomintoul to Drumnadochit (but not in a straight line).
Go back on your tracks a bit and follow the road down to Dufftown. Here you will find Glenfiddich distillery. Still not my favourite dram, but probably one of the best sellers in the world and almost certainly the best tour.
Follow the road down to the Spey at Aberlour (or Charlestown of Aberlour, to give it its Sunday name). You are right in the heart of Speyside, on the Whisky Trail. If you want to see more, almost every second distillery is open to the public. If you have a favourite, ask at one of the tourist offices if they do a tour and just go along. The Macallan is probably the best Speyside whisky, but Aberlour itself is a good second. Follow the river to Grantown then go up to Nethy Bridge on the south bank. Outside Nethy Bridge you will find Abernethy Forest and Loch Garten, which is a huge nature reserve and is worth stopping at, to see the Ospreys.
Drive on to Aviemore, close your eyes so you miss it (a travesty of 1960s planning) and go straight up to Inverness on the A9. Spend a little time in Inverness and either spend the night here or (my choice) set off down Loch Ness towards Drumnadrochit, and find somewhere to stay on the loch side.
The Speyside Way affords amaple walking opprotunity as does the forest at Abernethy, or Rothiemurchus or Loch Morlich.
Day 4- Loch Ness to Port Appin.
Get up early and drive quickly down the Loch and the rest of the Great Glen to Fort William. Climb Ben Nevis. Look at the view. Climb down again. It?s said that there are 2 routes- one easy, and one a bit tougher. Either is an achievement. If you are not going up the hill, I would suggest a quick drive down Loch Linnhe to Corran, and catch the ferry to Ardgour on the west shore at Morvern. Drive along to Strontian (where they first discovered strontium) have lunch, then go back again.
Drive down to just south of Ballachulish. There is, on the coast off the main road, a little village called Port Appin. If you can afford it, stay the night in the Pierhouse (c£70 per head). If you can't, find a B&B and have supper there. The mixture of the food, ambience and location are next to unbeatable. The Aird?s Hotel is very highly rated for food too.
And you can cross to Lismore and walk down to the brochs and back
Apr 25th, 2004, 08:49 PM
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My favorite place in Scotland is Threave Castle. It is south of GFlasgow so it would be a good place to see on your way up from England. Do a search and I'm use you will find several descriptions of the castle.
Apr 26th, 2004, 01:57 AM
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You haven't left much time to see Glasgow! You would want to see the town - with the besting shopping in Scotland - and the amazing City Chambers, the West End(coffee recommended at Tinderbox), the University and Kelvingrove Park, the Cathedral, the Provand's house, the Burrell Collection in Pollock Country Park, and I would definitely not miss the House for an Art Lover which is nearby. maybe you should plan to arrive earlier in the day . . .
Hope you have a great trip, Scotland is a lovely place
Hope you have a great trip, Scotland is a lovely place
Apr 27th, 2004, 01:10 PM
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In my opinion, Sheila's travel ideas would be a nightmare for children unless they are older.As for spending 280 pounds for a night for 4 people in a hotel, that is a Scottish rip-off. Spend more than two days in Edinburgh. Doing the castle alone could be a whole day for 2 kids. In your time in England, will you have done York? If not, do it. It is great for children and adults.
Apr 28th, 2004, 06:06 AM
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almcd, FYI children don't pay the full rate at the Pierhouse and those under 2 yrs old are free. However, it is unclear whether the Pierhouse has rooms large enough for a family of 4. Also, Sheila, the standard room rate for summer according to the website is 62.50 GBP per person.
(I guess I did good getting a lake-view room for 2 for 85 GBP!)
Anyway, the Pierhouse website is
http://www.pierhousehotel.co.uk/page8.html
(I guess I did good getting a lake-view room for 2 for 85 GBP!)
Anyway, the Pierhouse website is
http://www.pierhousehotel.co.uk/page8.html
May 8th, 2004, 07:18 AM
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Thank you for your responses and I apologize for not responding earlier. We were traveling and don't go online when we do. Sheila, I really appreciate the time you took to create an itinerary. I agree that my children will have had enough of big cities and will love the countryside, but does this itinerary pretty much require lodging in a different town every night? If so, it sounds like it may be worth the trouble.
We would love any lodging suggestions you may have. We hope to stay in the £120 - 140 range.
Also, are there other castles or sites in these areas that we shouldn't miss? We will have an extra day that we can spend either in the Highlands or in Glasgow? Any other suggestions?
Thank you so much for your help.
Steve
We would love any lodging suggestions you may have. We hope to stay in the £120 - 140 range.
Also, are there other castles or sites in these areas that we shouldn't miss? We will have an extra day that we can spend either in the Highlands or in Glasgow? Any other suggestions?
Thank you so much for your help.
Steve
May 8th, 2004, 07:43 AM
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Steve
You COULD do the first day from the Edinburgh base. the rest need you to move.
£120etc for what? All of you? per person?
there are thoosands of castles and sites. Fix and route and I'll fill in some blanks. The stress in the route I sent is at the end. You could stretch that over two days (with a push from a single base), or you could go and spend the day in Glasgow, which is a great city in its own right.
You COULD do the first day from the Edinburgh base. the rest need you to move.
£120etc for what? All of you? per person?
there are thoosands of castles and sites. Fix and route and I'll fill in some blanks. The stress in the route I sent is at the end. You could stretch that over two days (with a push from a single base), or you could go and spend the day in Glasgow, which is a great city in its own right.
May 14th, 2004, 09:17 AM
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Sheila:
With a total of 5 days, would your itinerary or a modified itinerary give us time to see Glencoe and Isle of Skye? Are there places you would pass on to see these other areas? We would have 5 full days, arriving in or near Glasgow the evening before we fly out.
With a total of 5 days, would your itinerary or a modified itinerary give us time to see Glencoe and Isle of Skye? Are there places you would pass on to see these other areas? We would have 5 full days, arriving in or near Glasgow the evening before we fly out.
May 15th, 2004, 12:13 PM
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Hello Steve (and Sheila),
Sheila helped me two years back when we (also with two kids) did 9 days in Scotland. By the way, what are the ages of your kids? Ours were 16 and 12 at the time.
We went from Glasgow up to the Isle of Skye including Eilean Donan Castle, then on to Inverness (Sheila recommends staying outside of Inverness) and we did the touristy, but still fun Loch Ness exhibits and Castle Urquhart. In Edinburgh, the castle is a big part of a day and we also stayed at two castle hotels outside of Edinburgh. We also saw Tantallon Castle while were near Edinburgh. (My kids seemed to like castle ruins more than castles that have been restored.)
While we went on to other places in Europe after Scotland, both kids loved the start of our trip in Scotland the best!
Sheila helped me two years back when we (also with two kids) did 9 days in Scotland. By the way, what are the ages of your kids? Ours were 16 and 12 at the time.
We went from Glasgow up to the Isle of Skye including Eilean Donan Castle, then on to Inverness (Sheila recommends staying outside of Inverness) and we did the touristy, but still fun Loch Ness exhibits and Castle Urquhart. In Edinburgh, the castle is a big part of a day and we also stayed at two castle hotels outside of Edinburgh. We also saw Tantallon Castle while were near Edinburgh. (My kids seemed to like castle ruins more than castles that have been restored.)
While we went on to other places in Europe after Scotland, both kids loved the start of our trip in Scotland the best!
