Road Trip through Scotland
Jun 9th, 2015, 08:29 PM
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Road Trip through Scotland
We would be taking a road trip through Scotland this September. We will be 4-6 people and are looking at a 10 day trip plus minus a day or two.
Should we drive from Manchester to Edinburgh via lake district or take the Moffat - Selkirk route ( one of the most scenic drives in Scotland i have been told )
Then from Edinburgh we will be driving to Oban and we are lost what or where to go from there.
People have suggested to stay in Fort William and make day trips to the Isle of Skye as Portree is an expensive place and hotels to stay are quite few.
Inverness is another place we have been told is nice.
Are the Northern highlands ...( Ullapool, Durness, Thurso etc ) worth a visit or not.
Our final stop from Oban will be Aberdeen and we have a week from reaching Oban to reaching Aberdeen.
So what we can do from Oban is still a question mark ? any suggestions ?
We are on a budget trip and do not want to see the typical touristy places or attractions.
Should we drive from Manchester to Edinburgh via lake district or take the Moffat - Selkirk route ( one of the most scenic drives in Scotland i have been told )
Then from Edinburgh we will be driving to Oban and we are lost what or where to go from there.
People have suggested to stay in Fort William and make day trips to the Isle of Skye as Portree is an expensive place and hotels to stay are quite few.
Inverness is another place we have been told is nice.
Are the Northern highlands ...( Ullapool, Durness, Thurso etc ) worth a visit or not.
Our final stop from Oban will be Aberdeen and we have a week from reaching Oban to reaching Aberdeen.
So what we can do from Oban is still a question mark ? any suggestions ?
We are on a budget trip and do not want to see the typical touristy places or attractions.
Jun 9th, 2015, 08:59 PM
#2
>>Then from Edinburgh we will be driving to Oban and we are lost what or where to go from there.<<
OK -- if you don't know where you want to go from there . . . why did you pick Oban?
>>People have suggested to stay in Fort William and make day trips to the Isle of Skye as Portree is an expensive place and hotels to stay are quite few. <<
I would not pay any attention to those 'people'. Ft William is not a base for exploring Skye. Ft William to Portree takes 3 hours each way so a very difficult day trip. If one wants to explore Skye they need to stay ON Skye or possibly in Plockton or Kyle of Lochalsh.
Oban and Skye are on the complete opposite side of the country from Aberdeen, and Oban itself while certainly OK, is not a 'must' by any means.
Do you plan any time in Edinburgh? That would make a huge difference which route you take and what parts of Scotland you can visit.
>>We are on a budget trip and do not want to see the typical touristy places or attractions.<<
Ok -- what sort of budget do you have for nightly accommodations? And sorry, but what do you mean by <i>typical touristy places or attractions.</i> ??
Scotland doesn't have many 'touristy' places if you mean schlocky attractions (except for a Nessie Exhibition on Loch Ness). But the country is absolutely FULL of major attractions that every tourist wants to see. I guess I just don't get what you are looking for or trying to avoid.
Would you consider Stirling Castle, or Skye, or Gelnfiddich Distillery, or the Old Course, or the Falkirk Wheel, or Glencoe to be "touristy"?
OK -- if you don't know where you want to go from there . . . why did you pick Oban?
>>People have suggested to stay in Fort William and make day trips to the Isle of Skye as Portree is an expensive place and hotels to stay are quite few. <<
I would not pay any attention to those 'people'. Ft William is not a base for exploring Skye. Ft William to Portree takes 3 hours each way so a very difficult day trip. If one wants to explore Skye they need to stay ON Skye or possibly in Plockton or Kyle of Lochalsh.
Oban and Skye are on the complete opposite side of the country from Aberdeen, and Oban itself while certainly OK, is not a 'must' by any means.
Do you plan any time in Edinburgh? That would make a huge difference which route you take and what parts of Scotland you can visit.
>>We are on a budget trip and do not want to see the typical touristy places or attractions.<<
Ok -- what sort of budget do you have for nightly accommodations? And sorry, but what do you mean by <i>typical touristy places or attractions.</i> ??
Scotland doesn't have many 'touristy' places if you mean schlocky attractions (except for a Nessie Exhibition on Loch Ness). But the country is absolutely FULL of major attractions that every tourist wants to see. I guess I just don't get what you are looking for or trying to avoid.
Would you consider Stirling Castle, or Skye, or Gelnfiddich Distillery, or the Old Course, or the Falkirk Wheel, or Glencoe to be "touristy"?
Jun 9th, 2015, 11:20 PM
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I am going to suggest that if you fly into Manchester you not rent a car until the end of your trip or rent by the day at a couple of spots along the way. Taking trains and busses will be more expensive than renting a car, but renting a vehicle for 6 people will also be expensive. The roads are narrow, and the driver will miss the scenery, which is pretty much what there is to see. There are large roadless or almost roadless areas where two points that are quite close together take a very long drive to connect.
I would take a train from Manchester to Glasgow and the West Highland Railway to Ft William or Mallaig. Ft William is a grey Victorian and Edwardian trading town that is now a center for mountain climbing, either Ben Nevis or Glen Coe. If you stop for the night, you can rent a car next day or take a tour of Glen Coe.
If you take the train on to Mallaig, you can take a ferry on to Armadale in Skye (though perhaps only the next day -- there are B&B's in Mallaig. I would aim for a bus to Portree, where the tourist office found us good accommodation. You might rent a car there to tour the island or take a tour. There are in fenced cattle and sheep so this may require care.
Next day I would take the bus to Kyle of Lochalsh and take the train through the Great Glen to Inverness. The highway is narrow and the scenery spectacular. The driver should get to enjoy it. Inverness is a boring modern city, and I might try to avoid staying there unless I wanted to visit the battlefield at Culloden. But I would probably go on to Aberdeen.
Aberdeen is a interesting port, very busy still for North Sea oil with a pleasant city centre. I would rent a car here to drive up to Braemar through the lovely scenic valley. You can then drive through the mountains to Edinburgh on an inland route. You could also drive or take the train down the east coast to Edinburgh via St Andrews.
You do not want the car in Edinburgh if you are stopping for a couple of nights. It is a wonderful city but the traffic is dreadful and parking very difficult. I would drop the car at the airport and take the tram into the city.
When you are ready to go back to Manchester, you can rent a car and drive by one of many scenic routes.
Summary: you will need a biggish vehicle on narrow roads and the driver never gets to see the scenery but it is likely to cost less than train.
I would take a train from Manchester to Glasgow and the West Highland Railway to Ft William or Mallaig. Ft William is a grey Victorian and Edwardian trading town that is now a center for mountain climbing, either Ben Nevis or Glen Coe. If you stop for the night, you can rent a car next day or take a tour of Glen Coe.
If you take the train on to Mallaig, you can take a ferry on to Armadale in Skye (though perhaps only the next day -- there are B&B's in Mallaig. I would aim for a bus to Portree, where the tourist office found us good accommodation. You might rent a car there to tour the island or take a tour. There are in fenced cattle and sheep so this may require care.
Next day I would take the bus to Kyle of Lochalsh and take the train through the Great Glen to Inverness. The highway is narrow and the scenery spectacular. The driver should get to enjoy it. Inverness is a boring modern city, and I might try to avoid staying there unless I wanted to visit the battlefield at Culloden. But I would probably go on to Aberdeen.
Aberdeen is a interesting port, very busy still for North Sea oil with a pleasant city centre. I would rent a car here to drive up to Braemar through the lovely scenic valley. You can then drive through the mountains to Edinburgh on an inland route. You could also drive or take the train down the east coast to Edinburgh via St Andrews.
You do not want the car in Edinburgh if you are stopping for a couple of nights. It is a wonderful city but the traffic is dreadful and parking very difficult. I would drop the car at the airport and take the tram into the city.
When you are ready to go back to Manchester, you can rent a car and drive by one of many scenic routes.
Summary: you will need a biggish vehicle on narrow roads and the driver never gets to see the scenery but it is likely to cost less than train.
Jun 10th, 2015, 01:13 AM
#4
Why are you flying into Manchester if your time is to be spent solely in Scotland, or is this not the start of your trip? If it is, try for a flight into Glasgow or Edinburgh and save a lot of time and mileage.
You mention, Aberdeen and Inverness, but I don't believe that either are really worth a long drive to see, unless you have a different reason to go there. I'd give both a miss on this trip. Fort William is not, as janis says, a base for day trips to Skye.
From Glasgow, head up to the ferry at Oban and go across to Mull and stay in Tobermory. Visit Iona while you're there. From Mull go north to Skye and stay in Portree, ferry from Mallaig or drive over the Skye Bridge. Then head back towards Edinburgh, maybe via Glencoe and stay overnight in Callendar, then into Edinburgh for the balance of your holiday.
This is one of several possible routes depending on the type of thing you want to see-battle sites, castles, countryside?
You mention, Aberdeen and Inverness, but I don't believe that either are really worth a long drive to see, unless you have a different reason to go there. I'd give both a miss on this trip. Fort William is not, as janis says, a base for day trips to Skye.
From Glasgow, head up to the ferry at Oban and go across to Mull and stay in Tobermory. Visit Iona while you're there. From Mull go north to Skye and stay in Portree, ferry from Mallaig or drive over the Skye Bridge. Then head back towards Edinburgh, maybe via Glencoe and stay overnight in Callendar, then into Edinburgh for the balance of your holiday.
This is one of several possible routes depending on the type of thing you want to see-battle sites, castles, countryside?
Jun 10th, 2015, 03:46 AM
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Photos and TRs from two Scottish trips that might give you some ideas...
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-and-kilts.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-july-2012.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-and-kilts.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-july-2012.cfm
Jun 10th, 2015, 06:12 AM
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Thanks Janis,
we picked Oban as it is supposed to be known for its sea food and is a quaint coastal town.
regards Portree it did get tough to look for hotels and i shall look into your suggestions.
we do plan on spending 2 days in Edinburgh at the begining of our trip.
And as far as our budget goes, we are maxed out at 100 pounds per night per room with bed and breakfast.
And I'm sorry but what i meant by touristy is places you would visit on a group tour which do get crowded. Like Madame Tussauds in London which when we visited was totally crowded and we did not enjoy it.
we picked Oban as it is supposed to be known for its sea food and is a quaint coastal town.
regards Portree it did get tough to look for hotels and i shall look into your suggestions.
we do plan on spending 2 days in Edinburgh at the begining of our trip.
And as far as our budget goes, we are maxed out at 100 pounds per night per room with bed and breakfast.
And I'm sorry but what i meant by touristy is places you would visit on a group tour which do get crowded. Like Madame Tussauds in London which when we visited was totally crowded and we did not enjoy it.
Jun 10th, 2015, 06:26 AM
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Ackislander,
Thank you for such a detailed reply.
However, we did look into trains but found them to be very expensive which is why a car trip seemed a choice. Renting a car is working out to be 300-400 pounds for the entire 2 week trip depending on the size of the car.
And like Janis suggested we will look at Lochalsh as a place to visit.
Our last stop will be Aberdeen and from then onto Manchester. thanks again
Thank you for such a detailed reply.
However, we did look into trains but found them to be very expensive which is why a car trip seemed a choice. Renting a car is working out to be 300-400 pounds for the entire 2 week trip depending on the size of the car.
And like Janis suggested we will look at Lochalsh as a place to visit.
Our last stop will be Aberdeen and from then onto Manchester. thanks again
Jun 10th, 2015, 06:37 AM
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Rubicund,
We are flying into Manchester only because we have to drop off our daughter to sheffield for undergrad studies and that is the closest airport. And Aberdeen to meet family.
Since you and Ackislander both have suggested, probably ill give Inverness a miss and look at staying at Isle of Skye.
Our main idea is to enjoy the wonderful sights and scenery that Scotland has to offer and not making it a rushed trip through all towns where you do not really see anything. Thanks again.
We are flying into Manchester only because we have to drop off our daughter to sheffield for undergrad studies and that is the closest airport. And Aberdeen to meet family.
Since you and Ackislander both have suggested, probably ill give Inverness a miss and look at staying at Isle of Skye.
Our main idea is to enjoy the wonderful sights and scenery that Scotland has to offer and not making it a rushed trip through all towns where you do not really see anything. Thanks again.
Jun 10th, 2015, 07:04 AM
#10
>>And I'm sorry but what i meant by touristy is places you would visit on a group tour which do get crowded<<
Group tours go to most/all of the same places as individual travelers. Most castles, viewpoints, etc. But <u>other than Edinburgh in August</u> no place in Scotland gets Madame Tussauds-type crowded.
Oban is an OK town w/ a ferry port and some restaurants/hotels -- but not 'quaint' nor meriting crossing the whole county to see.
W/ Edinburgh and Aberdeen as the only musts I see -- and about 10 days I personally would not try to squeeze in Oban and Skye. I'd visit the Borders, Edinburgh, Fife for St Andrews and the Fishing Villages, Deeside for castles and lovely Scenery and end up in Aberdeen
Group tours go to most/all of the same places as individual travelers. Most castles, viewpoints, etc. But <u>other than Edinburgh in August</u> no place in Scotland gets Madame Tussauds-type crowded.
Oban is an OK town w/ a ferry port and some restaurants/hotels -- but not 'quaint' nor meriting crossing the whole county to see.
W/ Edinburgh and Aberdeen as the only musts I see -- and about 10 days I personally would not try to squeeze in Oban and Skye. I'd visit the Borders, Edinburgh, Fife for St Andrews and the Fishing Villages, Deeside for castles and lovely Scenery and end up in Aberdeen
Jun 11th, 2015, 01:17 AM
#13
An alternative target to visit
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-in-orkney.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-in-orkney.cfm
Jun 11th, 2015, 06:46 AM
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If you're on a budget, look at staying in B&Bs. However, I'm not up to date on finding B&Bs in the UK. I think the Undiscovered Scotland web site is still useful. Dating back 8 or 10 years, my resources were the AA page (theaa.com), smoothhound.co.uk, Alastair Sawday, and Karen Brown. And the local tourist offices.
Jun 21st, 2015, 06:52 AM
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Me, I'd do Moffat - Selkirk- Edinburgh. I don't know what time you will get in, but, given you have a child to deposit, I'd stay overnight and get a good start in the morning. The drive time, from the airport is about 5 hours, and, assuming the next two days in Edinburgh, get rid of the car and do the city on foot or by bus and tram. You could, in fact, do the journey by train, which would, obviously, be more relaxing, but would lost the experience of a pretty drive.
Stay in a Premier Inn or somewhere like that, in the City Centre. They should come in budget.
Pick up your car and then Oban's a fine enough place to visit; more for its location than its own charm. It does have a couple of really good seafood restaurants, and a distillery, and the route there is beautiful. There are lots of hotels of ancient charm, and I'm sure you'll find somewhere in budget.Count on a full day to get there.
Portree is expensive itself, but there are other places to stay on Skye. Really, if you want to do it, do it, but don't commute to it. You will easily find somewhere in budget. Do not, under any circumstances, stay in Fort William
Inverness is a bit like Oban. Not charming in itself, but in a super location. The North coast is totally unlike anywhere else in Scotland, but I'd be inclined to suggest EITHER Skye OR Durness, just because of time restraint.
If you took a day to get to Skye (there is a lot en route) and two days on Skye, that would leave you with 2 days for the Cairngorms and 2 days on the Moray coast, before you hit the Granite City. I'm assuming you can do a day trip up through Deeside and Donside from here.
How does that sound?
Stay in a Premier Inn or somewhere like that, in the City Centre. They should come in budget.
Pick up your car and then Oban's a fine enough place to visit; more for its location than its own charm. It does have a couple of really good seafood restaurants, and a distillery, and the route there is beautiful. There are lots of hotels of ancient charm, and I'm sure you'll find somewhere in budget.Count on a full day to get there.
Portree is expensive itself, but there are other places to stay on Skye. Really, if you want to do it, do it, but don't commute to it. You will easily find somewhere in budget. Do not, under any circumstances, stay in Fort William
Inverness is a bit like Oban. Not charming in itself, but in a super location. The North coast is totally unlike anywhere else in Scotland, but I'd be inclined to suggest EITHER Skye OR Durness, just because of time restraint.
If you took a day to get to Skye (there is a lot en route) and two days on Skye, that would leave you with 2 days for the Cairngorms and 2 days on the Moray coast, before you hit the Granite City. I'm assuming you can do a day trip up through Deeside and Donside from here.
How does that sound?
