Please let me know what you think of our Scotland itinerary. I was deciding between Iverness and Skye and have chosen Skye based on the postings on this site. Also, can someone tell me how long it will take to get from Edinburgh to Skye? I can't find an exact figure - I assume we will make a few stops along the way - any suggestions?
Day 1: Explore Edinburgh - stay the night
Day 2: Travel to Skye - stay the night
Day 3: Enjoy Skye - stay the night
Day 4: Travel to Fort William - stay the night
Day 5: Travel back to Edinburgh - Depart
Thank You!
Scotland: Experts Wanted to Confirm Itinerary
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For 5 days, I would just stay in Edinburgh and do day trips--unless you have done Edinburgh.
For me, you are doing too much driving in too short a time. Perhaps you do not mind that, but I would.
By the way, I have been to Scotland 3 times and love it. You will have a great time whatever you do AND I still have not been to Skye but it is still on the list.
Inverness, by the way, is no big deal but Culloden Battlefield is nearby and worth seeing.
Some points:
Are you driving or taking trains/buses? Taking buses around Skye is time consuming so you will have a harder time seeing much of the isle.
If day 1 is also your travel day to Scotland, you will have less than 1 full day for Edinburgh.
there is no reason to stay in Ft William - there is even less to do than in Inverness.
If you must go to Skye (which is wonderful) you would be using your time better to stay two nights in Edinburgh, take and early AM train to Mallaig and ferry to Skye (or drive to Skye), stay 2 nights, take early AM train back to Edinburgh and depart.
What time is your flight out of Edinburgh? If it is in the early afternoon then stay only one night on Skye and get back to Edinburgh the evening of day 4
Hi,
Fort William is no must.
Skye and Edinburgh are both OK.
If you rent a car and if you arrive on a "decent" daytime (morning till early afternoon), I would head straight to Skye and do Edinburgh at the end.
This means the following schedule:
day 1: arrival and continuation to skye, night 1 in skye
day 2: see skye, night 2 in sky
day 3: daytrip to edinburgh, maybe with visit of other interesting spot, night 1 in edinburgh
day 4: visit edinburgh, night 2 in edinburgh
day 5: edinburgh and departure.
We are planning to rent a car and drive to Skye - I am wondering how long this will take. To be honest, we are not crazy about driving long distances. How long is the travel time if we take the train and ferry? That might be better for us. Do we need a car on Skye?
The reason for Fort Williams was to brake up the trip on the way back - but please let me know if that is not necessary.
We actually are arriving in Edinburgh the night before Day 1 so we will have a full day. I would like to hear more about day trips from Edinburgh or maybe a quieter place to stay just a few hours outside.
Ok - based on your new info. Stay the first 2 nights in Edinburgh. Don't try to drive to Skye directly upon arrival - it is a long drive.
- arrive Edinburgh at night, spend the night
- day 1 - tour around Edinburgh, spend the night
- day 2 - pick up rental car early AM and drive via Glen Coe, Ft William and Mallaig to Skye ferry, spend the night on Skye.
- day 3 - tour around Skye, spend the night on Skye
- day 4 - Take Kyle bridge to mainland and either drive all the way to Edinburgh or stay somewhere like Callander or Doune (near Stirling)
- Day 5 - back to Edinburgh and depart.
This is a doable itinerary - but it is a lot of driving for such a short visit. If you just want to see a bit of Skye you could spend every night except one in Edinburgh. on day 2 or 3 take an early morning train to Mallaig and ferry to Skye. Use the local Skye buses to see a little of the Isle and the next day take the ferry/train back to Edinburgh for the last 1 or 2 nights.
(no matter which way you decide to go, there is no reason to stay in Ft William.)