Five months until our next Scoland adventure!
Mar 18th, 2008, 11:46 AM
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Five months until our next Scoland adventure!
My twin sister, brother-in-law and I will be leaving Thursday, July 31 for our next excellent adventure. My poor brother-in-law, having to put up with the two of us! He and my husband (who doesn't like to travel, therefore won't be on this trip), learned long ago that it takes a special person to put up with a twin!
We fly from Philadelphia to Glasgow, arriving Friday morning, where we'll pick up our rental car and I'll re-educate myself on driving on the other side of the road. We'll drive to Comrie to a B&B. We were in Comrie in 2005 and look forward to returning to this attractive village. We'll probably go back to Drummond Castle Gardens on Saturday, because it will be nice to see them in August (we saw them in the month of May). We will then head for our self-catering rental in Dunblane. Sunday's plans include the Bridge of Allan Highland Games.
On Wednesday we have tickets to the Edinburgh Tattoo, but for the rest of the week we can take our time visiting the Border Abbeys or anything else that takes our fancy.
Saturday we drive through the Highlands on our way to a self-catering rental on Skye in Portree. Our plans for the week mostly include driving around amazed at the scenery. I'd like to visit Fingal's Cave if possible.
On Friday we'll drive to a B&B in Helensburgh prior to our flight home on Saturday.
I am SO looking forward to Scottish food (yes - I LIKED haggis), the pubs, the scenery and the people!
We fly from Philadelphia to Glasgow, arriving Friday morning, where we'll pick up our rental car and I'll re-educate myself on driving on the other side of the road. We'll drive to Comrie to a B&B. We were in Comrie in 2005 and look forward to returning to this attractive village. We'll probably go back to Drummond Castle Gardens on Saturday, because it will be nice to see them in August (we saw them in the month of May). We will then head for our self-catering rental in Dunblane. Sunday's plans include the Bridge of Allan Highland Games.
On Wednesday we have tickets to the Edinburgh Tattoo, but for the rest of the week we can take our time visiting the Border Abbeys or anything else that takes our fancy.
Saturday we drive through the Highlands on our way to a self-catering rental on Skye in Portree. Our plans for the week mostly include driving around amazed at the scenery. I'd like to visit Fingal's Cave if possible.
On Friday we'll drive to a B&B in Helensburgh prior to our flight home on Saturday.
I am SO looking forward to Scottish food (yes - I LIKED haggis), the pubs, the scenery and the people!
Mar 18th, 2008, 01:36 PM
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Don't know if you're asking advice or not. But that drive from Dunblane to Portree sounds a bit long. Do you plan to take the ferry or go over the bridge at Kyle of Lochalsh? I'd do the ferry and the Road to the Isles (Fort William to Mallaig) at least one way.
Likewise the drive from Portree to Helensburgh is longish. And Helensburgh isn't a terribly attractive place to stay.
It does sound like you'll have a lovely long time to relax and sightsee in between the long drives.
Likewise the drive from Portree to Helensburgh is longish. And Helensburgh isn't a terribly attractive place to stay.
It does sound like you'll have a lovely long time to relax and sightsee in between the long drives.
Mar 19th, 2008, 04:58 AM
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Sheila,
Fingal's Cave is more a wish list type of item than anything else at this point. Further research is required!
Mimar - I agree the trip to Helensburgh from Portree is rather long, but this was a compromise with my brother-in-law who saw nothing wrong with driving from Portree to Glasgow the day we fly home on a 3:30 p.m flight! No thank you! As far as Dunblane to Portree, since we have no specific plans for that day we plan on just taking our time and enjoying the ride. Since you seem knowledgeable, how long do you think it will take?
Fingal's Cave is more a wish list type of item than anything else at this point. Further research is required!
Mimar - I agree the trip to Helensburgh from Portree is rather long, but this was a compromise with my brother-in-law who saw nothing wrong with driving from Portree to Glasgow the day we fly home on a 3:30 p.m flight! No thank you! As far as Dunblane to Portree, since we have no specific plans for that day we plan on just taking our time and enjoying the ride. Since you seem knowledgeable, how long do you think it will take?
Mar 19th, 2008, 06:50 AM
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I can't say how long the drive will take. Perhaps some of the Scottish experts will chime in.
We did a driving trip in this area last spring. Planning it drove me crazy as there were gross differences in estimated drive times from the online mapping sites. I used multimap (which I love for England), the AA, and the Royal Automobile Club. But I can't remember who ended up most right. Drive times are much longer than you would expect for the distance because some of the roads in he north are one lane only (that's one lane total with pullouts). You can get stuck behind a slow-moving lorry. Plus of course we stopped along the way.
We did a driving trip in this area last spring. Planning it drove me crazy as there were gross differences in estimated drive times from the online mapping sites. I used multimap (which I love for England), the AA, and the Royal Automobile Club. But I can't remember who ended up most right. Drive times are much longer than you would expect for the distance because some of the roads in he north are one lane only (that's one lane total with pullouts). You can get stuck behind a slow-moving lorry. Plus of course we stopped along the way.
Mar 19th, 2008, 07:27 AM
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Mimar - thanks for your response. I don't mind the long, slower drives as I don't plan to be in a huge rush to get anywhere (probably a good attitude), so driving there and stopping at sites will be half the fun, plus I enjoy driving (U.S. or U.K. - doesn't matter!).
Mar 19th, 2008, 09:18 AM
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www.theaa.com and www.viamichelin.com can give you decent estimates of driving time. However, remember that you'll be stopping and oohing and aahing on the way 
Sounds like you'll have a grand time! I'll be there the month before, from June 13 to July 6 - in a big circle from Edinburgh, Orkney, Skye, Mull and Stirling.
Fingal's Cave is one of the sites I'm planning on visiting, it's on the Isle of Mull.
Sounds like you'll have a grand time! I'll be there the month before, from June 13 to July 6 - in a big circle from Edinburgh, Orkney, Skye, Mull and Stirling.
Fingal's Cave is one of the sites I'm planning on visiting, it's on the Isle of Mull.
Mar 19th, 2008, 09:48 AM
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GreenDragon - I seem to remember getting information from you before I visited Scotland the first time in 2005.
You'll have to post a trip report so I can get some ideas before I head over!
You'll have to post a trip report so I can get some ideas before I head over!
Mar 19th, 2008, 09:51 AM
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Yup, I went in 2000, but just for about 5 days. I get 23 days this time I will definitely write a trip report - whether it will be up before you leave is a maybe. Perhaps without pictures yet - it takes a while to go through 4500 pics! I figure since I took 3000 pics on my trip to Ireland (16 days) I will take about 4500 on a 23 day trip.
I will definitely write a trip report - whether it will be up before you leave is a maybe. Perhaps without pictures yet - it takes a while to go through 4500 pics! I figure since I took 3000 pics on my trip to Ireland (16 days) I will take about 4500 on a 23 day trip.
Mar 19th, 2008, 04:05 PM
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Twina49:
Sounds like you guys are planning a great trip. My family and I were in Scotland this past spring for two weeks. We stayed in Bridge of Allan for tow nights. The games sound fun. You are going to love Skye. We spent three nights on Skye and it was not enough. It is one of the most beautiful places on earth. We loved it! I get a little homesick for Scotland just writing this, so please do a trip report.
All the best,
d1
Sounds like you guys are planning a great trip. My family and I were in Scotland this past spring for two weeks. We stayed in Bridge of Allan for tow nights. The games sound fun. You are going to love Skye. We spent three nights on Skye and it was not enough. It is one of the most beautiful places on earth. We loved it! I get a little homesick for Scotland just writing this, so please do a trip report.
All the best,
d1
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