LaVerne

My two sisters and I will be traveling to Great Britain at the end of June. We have about 12 days. We would like to go to Edinburgh, Inverness, and Isle of Skye before going down to London. I need to be in Oxford by July 2 and have to be back in the U.S. by July 8. That gives us about 6 days in Scotland and 6 days in the London area. Are we trying to do too much? Should we rent a car to drive to Inverness or take a train? <BR>We've even considered just staying in southern England for the entire trip. We're running out of time in making this decision. I'd appreciate any comments. Is it easy to get around on the train system? Thanks. I've read the message board and have already gotten some help. <BR>LaVerne

Karen

I would definitely stay the whole 12 days down south....there is so much to do everywhere. Stay 5 days in London then go out and stay in the Oxford area, rent a car and drive around anywheere and everywhere. The little B roads in the Cotswolds really get you into the local areas and are so interesting. Also, of course, you can see stately mansions, churches, gardens and wander through cemetaries...the scenery is so beautiful.

diane

If you haven't been to Scotland or won't be back anytime soon, I'd say don't miss it. It has incredible beauty in the Highlands, and the people are some of the nicest to be found. Edinburgh has a lot to offer with it's most interesting history and sights. <BR> <BR>I've been to Scotland four times and never get tired of the beauty of it.

Ben Haines

Fodors <BR> <BR>I'm afraid I don't know whether you should go to the one country, Enmgland, or the two.But if you do go to Scotland you certainbly should not use valuable time in driving, but should book now by phone with a credit card two night journeys in sleeping cars, northbound and southbound. . In your limited time I don't think you can fit in the Isle of Skye. So your choice might be London Euston 2110, Inverness 0837, Inverness 0635 (buffet car train), Edinburgh 1013, Edinburgh go to bed 2300, leave 2355, London Euston arrive 0658, but don't budge: leav the train at 0755. A cheaper way is to book sleepers both ways between London anmd Edinburgh, and on arrival at Edinburgh to take the next train, the 0940, to Inverness, arrive 1312. <BR> <BR>The phone number for these bookings is ++44 8457 225 225, seven to seven Greenwich Mean Time. <BR> <BR>Please write I can help further. Welcome to Britain <BR> <BR>Ben Haines, London <BR> <BR>

Sheila

LaVerne <BR> <BR>I'm slightly confused about what it is you're doing. Where are you flying into? Scotland or England? What day do you arrive. 6 days in Scotland is ample to allow you to touch base in Edinburgh, Inverness and Skye- most of your compatriots seem only to want about 10 minutes in each place. <BR> <BR>If it's a straight 6 days, starting in the south, I would take 2 days in Edinburgh (having arrived by train) I wouldn't get the sleeper, because the fast trainnow is only about 4 hours and I would travel during daylight because there's a lot to see. <BR> <BR>After Edinburgh take the train to Inverness. In itself it doesn't merit much time- half a day or so?- then hire a car for the more rural bit. Notwithstanding Ben's otherwise excellent advice, there is a lot to see off the rail line. Wander down Loch Ness, cross to Skye and then go back down the west coast, maybe even to glasgow and get the train south from there. <BR> <BR>Let me know if I can help further.

LaVerne

Thank you all so much for the responses. It's helping me to get organized. I think we'll fly into Edinburgh, spend time in Scotland( we'll see if we think we can get in Isle of Skye) and then take a train back to London. We'll fly in June 24 (Edinburgh)and then I have to be in Oxford on July 2. I'm meeting my daughter there. We'll have from July 2 until July 7 to be in the London area. We'll fly out of London(July 7). Places to stay in London or Oxford would be helpful. <BR>Thanks again, <BR>LaVerne

frank

You have time to see Skye, but I would skip Inverness, unless you want to change trains there - the line from Inverness to the Kyle of Lochalsh is beatiful, but it's a dogleg to Skye by train.Please note you can make this a circular train journey by leaving Skye from Armadale on the ferry to Mallaig (nice journey) then getting the train to Glasgow (change at Fort William). <BR>Glasgow to Edinburgh is 45 mins (express from the same station you arrive at - Queen Street)& you could see some of Glasgow. <BR>This route allows you to see more of the dramatic parts of the Highlands, which are in the West. <BR> There are also many bus tours to Skye, which include a few nights in a hotel - look in an Edinburgh newspaper,you can organise one in a few minutes. <BR> Skye : stay in Portree (biggest town) in the Cuillin Hills Hotel, or (rurally) <BR>the Flodigarry Hotel (near Staffin) or the Skeabost Hotel.(Skeabost)

Sheila

LaVerne <BR> <BR>Based on this:- <BR> "I think we'll fly into Edinburgh,spend time in Scotland( we'll see if we think we can get in Isle of Skye) and then take a train back to London.We'll fly in June 24 (Edinburgh)and then I have to be in Oxford on July 2." <BR> <BR>I would do something like the following- <BR> <BR>June 24th Edinburgh <BR>June 25th Edinburgh <BR>June 26th Edinburgh <BR>June 27th- Train to Inverness; hire car, potter about then drive to the west (if you can get someone to give you a hire car in Kyle of Lochalsh do what Frank said and take the train- unless you definitely want to see Inveness about which I feel the same as Frank) <BR>June 28th- Skye <BR>June 29th- leisurely drive south along the west coast, then to Glasgow. Ditch car <BR>June 30th- day in Glasgow. Sleeper to London. <BR>June 1st- day in London <BR>June 2nd train to Oxford. <BR> <BR>An alternative for the Scottish bit would be to drive from Edinburgh to Skye and then to Inverness, and get the sleeper to London from there. What do you think?

Sheila, Frank, Ben, Karen

Thanks for all the information. We'll look at going over to Glasgow and then to Skye. I'll get some input from my sisters about Inverness. I think I prefer to take the train because I'm not too confident about driving on the OTHER side of the road, although a lot of people seem to rent cars. Ben, thanks for all the train times and phone number. I'll be making our reservations shortly, as soon as I get with my sisters. <BR>Thanks.

Tony Hughes

I take it you realise you cannot fly into Edinburgh direct from outside of Europe, yes? In most case you either make a stop in England, Germany, The Netherlands or France first.

LaVerne

I think we're looking at a connecting flight from Brussels. We may even look at flying into Manchester and going north from there. Our plans got a little muddled because the tour we were going to take fell through, so now I'm just going to plan the trip myself. <BR>Will Manchester be a better bet? I don't want to start in London because it seems so far to go. <BR>Thanks.

Tony Hughes

It's all relative I suppose. London is 400 miles from here (Edinburgh), Manchester is 250 BUT either can be done in a day if required.

Cathy

Thank you to all of you for some very useful advice so far. Regarding car rentals, is it easy/common to rent the car in one city, such as Mallaig, and then return the car to Glasgow? In the U.S., it is generally expected that the car will be returned to where you picked it up. Also, I am going to Britain for three weeks, August 5 to 25, and have not confirmed an itinerary yet. I know it is crowded and I need to make reservations soon, but my travel mate and I have not narrowed down our itinerary. We would like to keep some of it decide-as-we-go. Will it still be possible to find reasonably priced BBs a day ahead of arrival? <BR> <BR>Many thanks for all of the wonderful info. <BR>Cathy in Boston

Sheila

Cathy <BR> <BR>In principle it's quite easy to rent a car one place and return it another. But maybe not Mallaig. Describing it as a City is a bit of a stretch. MAKE SURE beofre you go that you have a rental confirmed for there. I would expect it to be posible but a small local company not one the multis that can arrange collections from elsewhere. <BR> <BR>As to B&Bs,it slightly depends on your itinerary ( I know, chicken and egg) but you are at the top of the season and whilst this is not as good as expected if anywhere is key, I would suggest you book ahead at least that day. Tourist Information Centres can do that for you.

frank

Car hire - large companies have depots all over so you can drop off the car in most places , small companies are half the price but don't offer this facility. <BR>Mallaig is a small community & unlikely to have such facilities (but has good bus & train connections to Glasgow), Glasgow does & Glasgow airport does.(the airport is 15 mins drive from Glasgow centre, near Paisley. <BR>Booking ahead on your first night is advisable - you'll be to tired to care where you sleep!Tourist informaion centres in most towns & at all ferry ports can arrange local accomodation - they charge a small fee. <BR>Much of rural Scotland is represented on the net - the more remote, the more likely you are to find it.

Amik

Just back from Scotland/London. <BR>You are probably getting tons of info already. <BR>2 things: <BR>Rent a car in Britain, ONLY if you are a well EXPERIENCED DRIVER! Driving on the left side of the road is very confusing and difficult (see ather postings on this matter)! <BR>And if you are looking for an Edinburgh B&B, we were staying at a real charming one. E-mail me and I'll get you the info. The folks at Fodor's don't like when we sound like advertising... <BR>Amik.