melodyesch

We are in the beginning planning stages of a 12 - 13 night trip to Scotland (not including travel) at the end of June/beginning of July of 2015. The time of year is flexible, so would welcome any opinions on the best timing. We will fly from US to Manchester and train to Edinburgh. This first night is considered travel and not included.

Here is a rough plan of what we want to see for this trip. In addition to the highlights I've listed, we're interested in scenic areas, short nature walks and local shopping. I would like to spend at least 2 nights in each locale. We've been to Inverness, down to Loch Ness and Urqhardt Castle. We're really just hitting some of the highlights we had to skip on our last trip.

Edinburgh (2 additional nights). We have been before so just revisiting.
Stirling Castle (have been to Wallace Monument, but had to skip Stirling last time)
Balmoral Castle Tour - optional
Aviemore (for the Steam Train - optional)
Culloden Battlefield
Glenmorangie Distillery near Tain (maybe a night at Glenmorangie House)
Tain (it looked like a nice place to shop and visit).

But then here is where we go off the rails. My DH wants to go then to Islay to the Kilchomen Distillery. So there is the logistics of getting down there and where to stay in between.

From Islay to Glascow (not touring Glasgow, just dropping of the car and taking the train back to Manchester).

So, can someone take a look at our wish list and make some recommendations of how to break this trip up and what areas to stay in along the way?

Thanks!

sparkchaser

What's wrong with Glasgow? Lots of great pubs there.

When you go to Culloden, are you planning on overnighting in Inverness?

melodyesch

Nothing wrong with Glasgow. It's just not on our list for this trip.

We could overnight in Inverness or continue onto Tain, which isn't that much farther north.

janisj

Just two quick comments now (hard to multi task when the 49ers are on )

1) I would look into flying into Edinburgh - IMO flying directly up to EDI from LHR would be faster/easier than taking the train from MAN. But not a big difference either way.

2) >>Balmoral Castle Tour - optional<<

Balmoral isn't all that much. One only gets to enter the ballroom, not the castle itself. But the rest of Deeside has a lot to recommend (scenery, the Castle Trail, etc)

indy_dad

I'll let janisj and others sort out your specific questions. We've been on two separate one-week trips to Scotland (plus another shorter one to Edinburgh) and have enjoyed them all. You are combining bits of both (and including some places we haven't been to). Perhaps my TR and blog will provide some ideas. Good luck.

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