Need Help with Scotland Itinerary
May 30th, 2006, 05:54 AM
#1
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Need Help with Scotland Itinerary
We will be in Scotland for 4 days in July with kids, 7, 11 and 15. We are flying into Prestwick airport, south of Glasgow and renting a car. We are thinking about driving to Skye with stops at Neptune's Staircase near Fort William, Glenfinnan Monument (to see the viaduct) and Eileen Donan castle. We initially thought we would spend a lot of time on Skye, but we are not into rigorous climbing. We are de-emphasizing Edinburgh because our kids will have already seen enough old cities in Europe. Any suggestions? Is is worth taking the West Highlands train, or is the drive just as good?
May 30th, 2006, 08:35 AM
#3
OK - there was plenty of discussion of the train/car options on one of your other threads.
The train is great - but it just doesn't work w/ your time frame. Plus you can't stop at places like Neprtune's staircase and Glenfinan (don't bother w/ touring Eilean Donan -- the best part is the view from the outside)
Not sure what you mean by "<i>We initially thought we would spend a lot of time on Skye, but we are not into rigorous climbing</i>". I don't climb anything mure strenuous than a 6 ft ladder to clean out my rain gutters. There is more than enough to fill a week or more on Skye w/o climbing anything. If you want to avoid the cities you could spend all you time on Skye and not nearly see it all.
Just one comment about Edinburgh though - you may have seen lots of old cities by the time you get there - but it is still worth a visit if just for the Castle. And since you are flying out of EDI, it makes sense to spend your last day/night there.
The train is great - but it just doesn't work w/ your time frame. Plus you can't stop at places like Neprtune's staircase and Glenfinan (don't bother w/ touring Eilean Donan -- the best part is the view from the outside)
Not sure what you mean by "<i>We initially thought we would spend a lot of time on Skye, but we are not into rigorous climbing</i>". I don't climb anything mure strenuous than a 6 ft ladder to clean out my rain gutters. There is more than enough to fill a week or more on Skye w/o climbing anything. If you want to avoid the cities you could spend all you time on Skye and not nearly see it all.
Just one comment about Edinburgh though - you may have seen lots of old cities by the time you get there - but it is still worth a visit if just for the Castle. And since you are flying out of EDI, it makes sense to spend your last day/night there.
Jun 4th, 2006, 12:21 PM
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Stay- depends on budget and what sort of place you like. Can you give us some clues?
Eat- well the Three Chimneys is officially the bee's kness, but there are lots of other nice places too. Again, what style do you like and what budget?
Walk- the Quiraing; round Loch Brittle; take a seal boat from Elgol and walk round Loch Coruisk.
Music- the Isles Inn in Portree does stuff; so does the Sligachan; and you can get details of dozens of places from this site:-
http://www.skyelive.com/
the BBC's Travellin' Folk site also does listings
Eat- well the Three Chimneys is officially the bee's kness, but there are lots of other nice places too. Again, what style do you like and what budget?
Walk- the Quiraing; round Loch Brittle; take a seal boat from Elgol and walk round Loch Coruisk.
Music- the Isles Inn in Portree does stuff; so does the Sligachan; and you can get details of dozens of places from this site:-
http://www.skyelive.com/
the BBC's Travellin' Folk site also does listings
Jun 5th, 2006, 05:08 AM
#6
Sheila, Thanks for the Skyelive site. However, at present they say "due to circumstances beyond our control" they are presently updating the site, with apologies. You can E-mail them for information.
But, here is one place in Portree where there is Gaelic and Scottish music:
http://website.lineone.net/~trotternish/skyescene.html. My wife and I will most probably go there.
By the way, how does one pronounce ceilidh, is it "kay-lee"?
Three weeks until our trip! I've been keeping an eye on the weather, seems to be warming up a bit now. There was still fresh snow on the Cuillins in late May.
But, here is one place in Portree where there is Gaelic and Scottish music:
http://website.lineone.net/~trotternish/skyescene.html. My wife and I will most probably go there.
By the way, how does one pronounce ceilidh, is it "kay-lee"?
Three weeks until our trip! I've been keeping an eye on the weather, seems to be warming up a bit now. There was still fresh snow on the Cuillins in late May.
Jun 5th, 2006, 06:54 AM
#8
Thanks noe847. While we're at it, how about "Portree"? 
It looks like Fodors parsing algorithm did not handle the link to that Portree ceilidh properly. It does not like the tilde ~.
It's worth going trying to go the site as they have some links there about the music, but here is the venue.
* GAELIC & SCOTTISH SONGS * FIDDLERS * CLARSACH * BAGPIPES *
* HIGHLAND DANCING * AUDIO-VISUAL WELCOME TO SKYE *
in TIGH NA SGIRE (Portree, Isle of Skye)
at 8.00 pm
MAY 2005 Monday 23rd, Wednesday 26th and Monday 30th
JUNE 2005 every Monday and Wednesday
JULY 2005 every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
AUGUST 2005 every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (except Wednesday 3rd)
It looks like Fodors parsing algorithm did not handle the link to that Portree ceilidh properly. It does not like the tilde ~.
It's worth going trying to go the site as they have some links there about the music, but here is the venue.
* GAELIC & SCOTTISH SONGS * FIDDLERS * CLARSACH * BAGPIPES *
* HIGHLAND DANCING * AUDIO-VISUAL WELCOME TO SKYE *
in TIGH NA SGIRE (Portree, Isle of Skye)
at 8.00 pm
MAY 2005 Monday 23rd, Wednesday 26th and Monday 30th
JUNE 2005 every Monday and Wednesday
JULY 2005 every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
AUGUST 2005 every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (except Wednesday 3rd)
Jun 5th, 2006, 07:53 AM
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The emphasis is on the "tree". It comes from the gaelic Port Righ- Port of the King.
However, it's worth going to the Skyelive site anyway and clicking through the venues list; even tho' it's not properly up and running just now.
However, it's worth going to the Skyelive site anyway and clicking through the venues list; even tho' it's not properly up and running just now.
