ktstel

Hi All,

Enjoy your expertise. Have read various posts on Scotland, but have 3 questions (trip in last week of August).

Is Edinburgh />Stirling>Coast Fife to Stonehaven/Aberdeen a good single day with time for stops?

From Aberdeen, we'd like to do a bit of the whiskey trail and end up for the night near Ben Nevis...doable? wise?

Last question, we're landing in Heathrow @ 2:00. Will we have time to go through customs, collect our bags and make a 4:30 flight to Edinburgh?

As always, thanks for your insight and help

Read more: http://www.frommers.com/community/fo...#ixzz1LxcynrBW

BigRuss

As for the third, are you on the same airline or a code share (e.g., American and BA)? If so, you should be able to check your bags to Edinburgh when you check in at your non-European airport to fly to LHR. If not, 2.5 hours should be ok, but know your terminals -- which one you're coming into and which one you're connection is in.

Preliminary to your other questions: (1) have you looked at a map? (2) do you have an understanding of the roads in Scotland?

As for the first, that's a long day with a lot of jumping around -- you go northwest from Edinburgh to Stirling then east and north to Fife and further north to Aberdeen. Stirling Castle should take 2-3 hours minimum. Reconsider.

As for the second, Ben Nevis is almost completely across the country from Aberdeen and around various hills and lakes. After a full day on the whisky trail (there's no whiskey made in Scotland, only whisky), you'll have a long drive to the other side of the Highlands to reach Ft. William area. Reconsider.

alanRow

Is Edinburgh />Stirling>Coast Fife to Stonehaven/Aberdeen a good single day with time for stops? - it's 5 hours of non-stop driving

From Aberdeen, we'd like to do a bit of the whiskey trail and end up for the night near Ben Nevis...doable? wise? - it's 4 hours non-stop driving

we're landing in Heathrow @ 2:00. Will we have time to go through customs, collect our bags and make a 4:30 flight to Edinburgh? - Too many variables, separate tickets, terminals, airlines, luggage checked through, day of week.

When are you flying - last full week of August means arriving whilst the Tattoo, Festival Fringe & International Festival are on, the last partial week of August means the International Festival is on. In the former accommodation is costly and may mean minimum number of night's stay, the latter is less expensive

If you aren't in Edinburgh for festivals why not start your trip in Aberdeen and make your way south from there returning the car either at Glasgow or Edinburgh. You could even take the Caledonian Sleeper from London

janisj

That isn't doable in a day. Stirling Castle alone takes 2 or 3 hours. The Fife villages about the same, and St Andrews maybe 4 hours minimum. Dunnottar castle at least 2 hours-- and all of those don't include the drive times. The drive is nearly 200 miles an easily 6 hours. That is two VERY full days worth and impossible in one day.

As for the 'whiskey' trail -- you'd have to go to Ireland for that. Now, if you actually mean the Whisky Trail (no <B>E</B OK - Aberdeen to say Grantown on Spey to Ft William is 160 miles and nearly 5 hours just car time - w/o stops of any kind.

You really are planning some loooong driving days. That isn't usually a great way to see Scotland.

janisj

I didn't see alanRow's post -- agree w/ all of it (except I think he is a tad optimistic w/ the drive times -- it being August and all, and w/ caravans to get stuck behind) . . .

Ackislander

I don't always agree with BigRuss, but I do on this.

From Aberdeen to Speyside to Inverness to Ft William is a 180 miles with a lot of traffic. Google says it is 4.5 hours but I wouldn't believe that.

Assuming you are going back to Edinburgh on the trip, go to Stirling on the way back.

janisj

Oh - yeah --if you also wanted to include Inverness -- you are well over 6 hours. My 160 miles was just Aberdeen to Grantown to Fort William.

amelie

Edinburgh to Aberdeen non-stop is 3 hours to 3.5 hours. I've driven it over 10 times.

ktstel

Thanks to everyone for your input and advice. We've shortened and tightened our itinerary, dropped the coastal route and feel much better about what we have planned now.

Thanks to all!