Antesfan

After a lot of research on this board and through a few good books - we think we have it all set - our dream honeymoon! The car is rented and all B&Bs are booked. To give you a little about us - we're early 30s, get up early and love to drive. We're going mostly for castles, country and regimental museums (have to keep the Mr. happy!)

Day 1 - Land Gatwick, head out to Bath for the night
Day 2 - pick up rental, head for Conway Wales, tour North Wales/Snowdonia
Day 3 - tour North Wales, riding
Day 4 - head for Keswick Lake District
Day 5 - Keswick
Day 6 - head for Oban, tour Oban
Day 7 - Oban or MAYBE Mull & Iona
Day 8 - head for Nairn via Eilean Doonan (way out of the way we know), Loch Ness and up to Nairn
Day 9 - covers a lot of ground - Stones near Forres, Glenfiddich, Fyvie, bypass Aberdeen, Stonehaven (castle) to Rattray for the night
Day 10 - Glamis Castle, Perth, Scone Palace, Aberfeldy, hotel in Pitlochry
Day 11 - Stirling & Falkirk
Day 12 - Edinburgh
Day 13 - Rosslyn Chapel, Floors, over to Bamburgh (good friend lives near) Stay in Belford
Day 14 - Holy Isle or Metro Center
Day 15 - the long drive...Belford to Bath
Day 16 - drop off rental, train into London
Day 17 - London
Day 18 - Fly home

I've spent a good amount of time on the RAC website reviewing driving directions as well. I can't wait! I'll post a full review when we get back.

Thanks to all Fodorites for their posts!

bettyk

Good luck! That's a very ambitious itinerary. I have a feeling that you might not get to do all you hope but will look forward to reading your report when you get back.

Flutist

The roads in N. Wales, especially around Snowdonia, are extremely narrow and winding, with blind curves and slate walls on both sides. We drove from Edinburgh-Lake district-N. Wales with a midsize Volvo automatic and ended up trading it in for a smaller Vauxhall manual. My husband was glad we had the smaller car in N. Wales when we saw the roads! If you decide to drive out to Harlech Castle, go up the hill in first gear (the hill has a 20% upgrade, it's scary.) Some of the lake district country roads were also narrow.

Edinburgh is a delightful, walkable city. We were there for 3 days and it wasn't enough. Good luck!

Antesfan

Thanks for the feedback - we have an peugot automatic and don't plan on seeing that many places in the north of wales. We're staying in Conway and plan on going to one or two castles on one day and riding in Snowdownia another.

These are just ideas and we are more than willing forgo things should we find we are biting off more than we can chew! lol!

ukfriends

Hi yes this is a lot of driving
if you have not driven in the uk before
you may find it a bit trying the other drivers are not as polite as they are in the states so it can be a little stressful at times but i realy hope you have a wonderful time here
good luck

gmin

Hello,

Please reconsider bypassing Aberdeen. It is a beautiful city with plenty to keep you busy--the Provost's House, the Mercat Cross area, the harbor, King's College and the list goes on. It is a very"real" city and a fun place to walk downtown, as the downtown is a very lively shopping area. Have fun wherever you go.

Ani

How exciting! My husband and I, also in our early 30's went to SCotland last year and N. Wales and England the year before. You do have an ambitious itinerary, but we did also and di quite nicely. In one day in N. Wales we visited Conwy, Caernarfon, Beaumaris castles and then stopped at one of Llewellyn's ruins on the way back to Betws-Y-Coed. We didn't feel rushed at all. Have a great time!

Judyrem

Hi Antesfan, Maybe we will pass somewhere there ;-). We are leaving Tues...going to Chester/1 night, Betws-Y-Coed/4 nights, Windermere/2 nights, Haltwhistle/ 2nights, York/4nights,Manchester(really Chatsworth) 1 night. I would stay longer but DH can only be away for 2 weeks, go figure!

P_M

We are tossing around the idea of a driving trip to England/Wales/Lake District next spring, so I will eagerly await your trip report. Have a blast!!

flanneruk

1. Thank you for describing your itinerary in English. There's an infuriating - and illiterate - linguistic "correctness" creeping onto this board which uses Welsh for the castle towns of North Wales. You're absolutely right to refer to 'Conway' rather than the modish 'Conwy'.
2. Holy Island vs the Metro Centre really should be a no-brainer. British malls are, all of them, overcrowded and unpleasant, with little available that you won't find at Gatwick in the hours beetween checkin and takeoff, or at Edinburgh or Bath. Holy Island is one of a handful of centres of these islands' first gift to the world: the preservation of monastic Christianity during the Dark Ages. And, as long as you plan your way round the tides properly, a great deal better for your sense of well-being than an endless hike past Carphone Warehouses.

bettyk

If it fits into your schedule, please consider driving between Crieff and Aberfeldy across the Sma' Glen. It was one of the most scenic parts of our trip to Scotland in May.

ternstail

On day 7 it would be a shame to stay in Oban and not go across to Mull and Iona. You can buy a combined ticket at the ferry terminal that gives you passenger fare on the ferry and a bus ride to Iona so you don't even have to take your car across. You would still have time to see what Oban has to offer before and after the ferry trip. We did this last June and were even able to visit Staffa in addition to Iona.

SiobhanP

I haven't posted my trip yet but I am just back from a week in scotland and the last leg was in Oban. Do go to Mull and then Iona but keep in mind the combined trip was 2 ferrys and an hour bus ride. You also do not stop to see anything in Mull which is what I really wanted to do. I am always fascinated byt peoples lives living on smaller islands (I live on a big one myself in Ireland ). I liked Iona but felt 3 hours was way too long I did the main sights in an hour. Funny I thought there was very little mention of the Book of Kells which I thought would be an inyteresting aspect of the place.

In Oban for food there were a few places one place NO NOT eat in is called "the reservation" with an american Indian theme. It was Vile and a total rip off! Outside of town is a marina with a place called the Wide Mouthed Frog. It seemed newely decorated and is a lovely bar and the restaurant looked very good. We ate at the reservation earlier and were sorry we did not eat here.

There were 2 Indian places and we chooses the rtackiest looking one which was also cheaper...it was really good compared to what I have had in Dublin. Cobra beer and the works! I can't eat much as it fills me upand the poor waiter looked dejected taking my dish away as if I did not like it. They were really nice. This was on the main street through Oban near the cinema. I will post some names in my report when I sift through my receipts.
We stayed in the Roseneath guest house, a four star B&B for 50 euro for both of us per night. Lovely man who runs it with his wife. Beware he offers you a shot of whiskey when you check in. We had a good laugh with him as he comes to Ieland for Rugby with friends each year.

Enjoy

Antesfan

Thank you to everyone who has posted!

to address a few comments above:

I've been to the UK a number of times to visit a good friend and have driven around much of the northeast of England so I'm not to worried about driving. We also plan on picking up an "L" at a petrol station to give us a little extra edge...

The only reason we are bypassing Aberdeen is we don't think an hour or two would be enough time so we're going to do it for the next trip...unless we find we have time on this one. My husband really wants to see the Gordon Highlanders museum.

Regarding the Holy Isle vs Metro Center, that's all based on what our friends that live in Belford want to do. She has said we are going to dinner on the Holy Isle. That's all I know.

We are taking the drive between Crieff and Aberfeldy! I'm looking forward to it!

For dinner in Oban, The Studio has been recommended a number of times and we'll definately but The Reserve on the "avoid" list - thank you!

Again - thank you to everyone for your tips and suggestions, we're printing this and taking it with us!

don76

Antesfan
You have planned a very ambitious itinerary.
We depart on 22 September for Manchester airport arriving in the AM and driving 85 miles to York for 3 nights .
Then,like Judyrem above, we spend 2 nights at Haltwhistle, then 2 nights at Jedburgh and 4 nights in Edinburgh. We then head south for 4 nights at Keswick, 3 nights at Betws-y Coed ,2 nights in Chester and the back to Manchester, turn in the car and fly home the next morning.
If you haven't done so already I would suggest you log onto 'via michelin' or 'Mappy' and print out a map showing the distances and travel times between each of your B&B's. I print mine out and keep the maps in a separate travel folder to keep in the rental car.
For example your first day of travel,Bath to Conway, will be 216 miles taking 3 hr- 49 min. and believe me those English miles are a lot longer than California miles! That is a lot of driving for your 2nd day in England.
Enjoy your trip and your honeymoon.

Judyrem

Wow Don, we will be in York(Sept24-28)! How very strange!!!! We are staying at the Royal York Hotel...sort of fell into that one, but that is a whole differant story! Where are you staying in York? You are doing a the opposite circle than us . We have been to Edinburgh before and loved it...thought to go back, but not enough time this time there. Where are you staying in Haltwhistle (Center of Britain Hotel)? And Betys (Henlly's Courthouse)? We did the British AA map thing and it was quite excellent...so far;-). I printed all the direction out too! Boy, are they detailed, yes? Take care and maybe we will bump into each other..;-).

don76

Judyrem
That is a coincidence.
I note that you will be staying at the Royal York. That is a bit upscale for my thin wallet.
We will be lodging. at the Beech House Hotel on Bootham Terrace where the poor folks stay!
We are staying at the Saughy Rigg farm in Haltwhistle and the Camellia Lodge in B-y-C across the Ponty y Pair bridge. This will be my 5th visit to B-y-C While you are there I recommend you take the train to the top of nearby Mt Snowden. It's a fun trip with lots of memorable shots of the passing trains if you have a video camera.
If we bump into each other in York I am the old guy(age 76) thats hogging the best viewsites in the Cathederal.
I notice you depart on the 14th.
We will be right behind you heading out from San Diego , unless Delta goes belly up in the mean time.
Enjoy your trip.

peels4

You must not skip Holy Island! I lived just outside of Newcastle until I was 11 and have since spent many vacations in the area. Holy Island is on my "not to be missed list" Don't forget the mead...

melr

flanneruk:

'There's an infuriating - and illiterate - linguistic "correctness" creeping onto this board which uses Welsh for the castle towns of North Wales.'

Actually, Conwy (not ConwAy) is the official name for the town -- in both Welsh and English (look at your map). It's been called Conwy since I can remember, by the local people at least. Unfortunately the English prefer to put an 'a' into the name because they're not sure how to pronounce a 'y' followed by a 'w'. But thanks for correcting me. I always suspected I was illiterate - and now I know why.

Judyrem

Don, we got a good rate 77GBP, that we had to prepay...no backing out on that one. Would have rather stayed at the Four Seasons B&B,,but could not get a refund. Wow the 5th time to Betws!!! that is wonderful! You are majorly good travlers IMO. Any restaurant recs? Patrick said the Ty Gwyn was very good. Any others? I think we are going to hike Mt. Snowden,,,we are avid hikers. If you see a mid fiftyish couple in a mini, lost on the back roads, that would be us...have a great trip. FYI, we are going on Delta too.