My sister and I will be visiting Scotland for the first time in May. We are so excited but are looking for suggestions concerning the first draft of our itinerary. We plan to say at HILTON Hotels as much as possible so we can use the point system. We love to hike and have heard such great things about The Isle of Skye and hope to spend a few days there. Of course we want to see a proper castle and historical sites. Any recommendations on driving routes and timing, things to see (or not to see), where to stay on The Isle of Skye and Glencoe/Oban would greatly be appreciated. Thank you so much!
Scotland May, 2013
Edinburgh – Dunkeld - Isle Of Skye - Glasgow
Tuesday, May 14th – Arrive In Edinburgh
Day 1 Tuesday Edinburgh – Stay The Night
Hilton Hotel (Points)
Day 2 Wednesday Edinburgh – Stay The Night
Rosslyn Chapel/Whitburn Church – Family History
Day 3 Thursday Drive To Dunkheld - Hilton (60 Miles 2hrs) - Stay The Night
See sights along the way
Day 4 Friday Dunkheld Hilton – Stay The Night
Day Trip – to Oban (90 miles one-way)/Glencoe Loop
Day 5 Saturday Dunkheld Or Aviemore – Stay The Night
Day Trip
Day 6 Sunday Drive To Mallaig Ferry To Isle Of Skye (170 Miles 4hrs) – Stay The Night
Day Trip
Day 7 Monday Isle Of Skye – Stay The Night
Day Trip
Day 8 Tuesday Drive To Glasgow (200 Miles 5hrs)
Day 9 Wednesday Leave for London
Another option would be to stay only 2 nights in Dunkeld and 3 on the Isle of Skye or 2 nights in Dunkeld, 2 in Skye and 1 near Glencoe to break up the drive from Skye to Glasgow.
We might need to cut one day so we can leave for London on Tuesday. Which place would be best to cut?
First trip to Scotland - Please review my itinerary?
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Been to Scotland many times. I would cut out the trip to Glasgow, it's not the highlight of Scotland, in my opinion, very industrial and big city atmosphere, air polution, etc. Isle of Skye better.
"Of course we want to see a proper castle and historical sites."
The country is lousy w/ 'proper' castles and historical sites - you couldn't avoid seeing many of them even if you wanted to
the Hilton at Dunkeld is VERY nice.
I know you want to stay @ Hiltons where possible --- but I wouldn't waste a night up at Aviemore when everything else you want to see is towards the west.
And while there are some neat things in Glasgow, w/ your short time frame, I wouldn't stay there either.
Your Dunkeld/Glencoe/Oban/Dunkeld day would be a killer. You are talking probably 7 hours drive time w/o any stops. And more if you do a true loop and don't back track.
So instead of staying over in Glasgow, consider this:
From Mallaig go to Glencoe, then down to Oban, then cut across to Loch Lomond and stay the night anywhere from Luss to Balloch. To Luss will be about 4-ish hours car time. And from Luss to GLA is less than 45 minutes.
We stayed 3 nights on Skye a few years ago at the "Peinmore House by Portree" B&B and would stay again. Lovely country house just outside Portree. Also, if you like folk music, check out Sandy Bell's pub in Old Town Edinburgh.