Stay overnight in Inverness.
Friday: long train ride to London.

Either Caledonian Sleeper overnight train or easyJet flight - both from Inverness.

You could have also considered starting in Inverness and working towards Edinburgh which would have given you more, and shorter, travel options.

Oh - your boys probably won't be allowed into any distilleries

And if you already haven't heard of it - www.seat61.com

See if this helps for some ideas (though we had a car). We covered much of what you are proposing . . . but took 8 days. Skye is beautiful but you might not have enough time to fit everything in on this trip.

http://ukfrey.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/scotland-highlands.html

We did take our kids to Talisker on Skye, btw.

We did Edinburgh on a separate trip:

http://ukfrey.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/edinburgh.html

Thanks so much! The Caledonian Sleeper looks like a great option. I have to phone direct to book for the kids, though. I wonder how far in advance I need to reserve? Do you think I could wait and book it when we arrive in Scotland?
indy_dad, I loved seeing your photos and commentary of your trip!! Thanks for sharing that. It really helps to see what you did and what your kids liked. I think we will have to go for the Isle of Skye based on those pictures. It looks magnificent! Stirling Castle also looks like a lot of fun for everyone.

Hello
We run a B&B in Spean Bridge on the West Highland Line so may be able to help a little.

The train line to Mallaig is very scenic and you will be crossing the Harry Potter viaduct on the normal diesel train but I am not sure if it has the same drama and excitement. You can feel the excitment build even as passengers wait for the steam train to pull in to the station and of course it toots its whistle and then it does that unmistakeable chugging sound. There is a bagpiper at Glenfinnan. If you are thinking about it have a look at their website as booking is essential.

Be aware that on trains in the UK there is not much luggage space.

Double check your Crianlarich bus to train changeover as its just a small village with not much to do. I think the bus does go all the way to Fort William on the summer timetable and the bus goes through scenic Glencoe which the train does not. Note there is nothing at Rannoch Moor just a railway stop and I don't think there is a public road.

Renting car in Skye definitely need to book that and check if you can leave it somewhere other than where you got it. Most of the Highland hire cars have to be taken back to the place you got them. There are buses from Armadale to Portree and maybe you could hire a car or bikes there.
Your Thursday seems ok just check that your train will arrive in Inverness in time for a boat trip on Loch Ness. It about a mile from the station to the boat place.

So travel light, be prepared for missed connections and thanks for coming to Scotland.

Well, there is an excellent B&B , Moor of Rannoch Hotel, at Rannoch Moor.

You can hire a car for Skye and arrange to pick it up at Armadale ferry terminal and drop it off in Kyle of Lochalsh before catching the train to Inverness.

The option of staying in Oban would give you easy access to Mull, Iona, Staffa and possibly some of the other isles such as Colonsay depending on your timing/daily schedule and trips can easily be done via Cal Mac ferries and Bowman coaches.

Don't try to include both Mull area and Skye...too much.

With your schedule I would forget about Stirling Castle. Visit Edinburgh Castle instead. This means you can take the train from Edinburgh to Mallaig via Glasgow Queen Street, an easy change. This will help in getting your money's worth from your rail passes, and avoid the awkward switch from bus to train at Crianlarich which could prove a real hassle.

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