Scotland Highlands Help

Old Jul 30th, 2016, 12:14 PM
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Scotland Highlands Help

My husband and I are thinking of spending a long week in Scotland in September - hopefully 9-10 days. I'm struggling a bit with which area to visit. Hoping JanisJ, Gardyloo and others might have some opinions.

1. Interested in coastal or island areas with water views, natural beauty, hiking, possibly golf and fishing, whisky, good dining. Would like a relaxing romantic trip versus checklist of places. Castles not necessary - unlikely to tour any.

2. Not interested in moving about a lot or long driving days except perhaps at the beginning and end. Or one long driving day in the middle. We will be flying out of JFK so I'm assuming to Edinburgh but we've spent time there already and want to head to country right away.

3. Would prefer one - three "Country House Hotels" as a base with activities nearby rather than moving around to numerous smaller places.

4. Will "stalking" be an issue for September in terms of limiting hiking?

Things that look interesting so far: Mull, Eriskay, Skye.

Hope I'm not sounding too naive, and thank you in advance for suggestions.
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Old Jul 30th, 2016, 12:43 PM
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No doubt the experts will chime in, but some years ago my wife and I spent a week on Skye, and then a few days in Plockton. We thought it was fantastic, like wandering around inside a landscape painting the entire time.

It was July, cold, wet and windy, romantic weather! The wind kept the midges down.

We were mostly in Portree on Skye, but had meals at or near these places which might be what you are looking for:
http://www.hotelintheskye.co.uk/
http://www.the-tables.co.uk/

I did a couple of full day hikes: Blaven on Skye and Five Sisters of Kintail in Lochalsh. Apparently no stalking issues on either, but there are tons of lesser options if that's more hiking than you want.

Skye had all your requirements and more. Thinking about it makes me want to return!
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Old Jul 30th, 2016, 12:43 PM
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Skye, and go here at least once:
http://threechimneys.co.uk

Three Chimneys has lodging, too, but we didn't stay there.
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Old Jul 30th, 2016, 12:50 PM
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"1. Interested in coastal or island areas with water views, natural beauty, hiking, possibly golf and fishing, whisky, good dining. Would like a relaxing romantic trip versus checklist of places."

For your interests -- Mull and Islay will tick the boxes.

I'd split the time 50/50 between the two plus a day/night on the Kintyre Peninsula for http://www.machgolf.com. . . .


Skye is great, but for Whisky it has to be Islay -- so Mull/Islay and a day/night on the mainland.

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Old Jul 30th, 2016, 01:02 PM
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Thanks all - this is a big help!
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Old Jul 30th, 2016, 01:07 PM
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elberko - I may not come back if Mr. Gruezi takes me to three chimneys - it looks like paradise!
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Old Jul 30th, 2016, 01:12 PM
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Three Chimneys is wonderful -- but unfortunately Skye doesn't fit a lot of the wish list.
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Old Jul 30th, 2016, 01:13 PM
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It was, gruezi! We celebrated DH's 60th birthday there.
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Old Jul 30th, 2016, 01:18 PM
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Janis - is it the whisky or golf that is missing?
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Old Jul 30th, 2016, 01:20 PM
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> is it the whisky or golf that is missing?

I thought it had both, but Talisker is definitely an acquired taste!
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Old Jul 30th, 2016, 01:50 PM
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Mr. Gruezi is a fan of Lagavulin but I don't know if he needs to actually visit where it is made. I'll need to discuss that with him. We are not big on guided tours unless the setting or tasting is somehow special. When we went to Sonoma last year we were a bit bored after the first few wineries.

Mr. Gruezi is in general a tricky traveler - gets bored easily (little interest in scenery) and misses his sports. But he's determined he wants to hike with me in the rain I'm not convinced but hope springs eternal. We'll be celebrating his 59th birthday and our 29th wedding anniversary.
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Old Jul 30th, 2016, 01:51 PM
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He just told me three chimneys is fully booked until October
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Old Jul 30th, 2016, 01:57 PM
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Yikes!

I had no trouble finding whisky anywhere in Scotland, and decided to try a different one with every meal. Talisker was the winner for me.

We toured 4-5 distilleries, and enjoyed noting the differences and similarities of different size operations. I know that wouldn't appeal to everyone.
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Old Jul 30th, 2016, 02:01 PM
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I know a lot of people do enjoy the tours. But I think one would be all my husband would be interested in and I would be fine with zero. But it would be a good foul weather plan I think and I'm easy about going along for the ride (and drink)!
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Old Jul 30th, 2016, 03:24 PM
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One good think about whisky tours - the driver can have those wee samples of the water of life!
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Old Jul 30th, 2016, 06:12 PM
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> Talisker was the winner for me.

It's wonderful that they distill Scotch for all tastes! We like Speyside and enjoyed our tour of Glen Moray, on the other side of Scotland.
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Old Jul 30th, 2016, 06:46 PM
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yo Gruezi...I don't do lounges so I haven't caught many of your posts even on Europe, Asia, or US or SA. I'm not as attentive as I was back in my hay days/ Happy to see you are on the boards again. I recall you living in Switzerland at one time.

I don't do TR's (working deadlines with my publishers are all the writing I do)but I share pics for many locations to familiarize the poster. I've made several auto trips to England, Scotland Ireland and Northern Ireland.(see Scotland and some Wales on one of my trips which included the Highlands) See below.

Best wishes and happy to know you're still on Fodors! You had two(?) teenage girls if my old mind can recall. Where are they now?
Stuart Tower
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Old Jul 30th, 2016, 06:55 PM
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https://picasaweb.google.com/stuartt...LakesAndWales# Gru, you'll see some Highland pics, also some photos of 1980's visits. First visit to UK was in 1970's
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Old Jul 31st, 2016, 04:28 AM
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No advice from me. I've only doe one distillery tour, and that was more than enough for me, but I am not a whisky lover. DH, who knows and loves whisky, enjoyed it but is of the been there done that don't need to go again opinion. He'd rather drink it than see it made.

A shame about the Three Chimneys.

I hope you have a wonderful trip wherever you decide to go, happy birthday to MrG and happy anniversary to you both.

We'll be celebrating our 41st somewhere in Brittany I expect. Hopefully we will set off for all points west mid August. We have to be back home September 20th for a hospital appointment on the 21st so the earlier we go the better really, even though it will still be high season and be crowded.
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Old Jul 31st, 2016, 06:05 AM
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Hi Stu - nice to "see" you here! I'll look forward to seeing your photos. Yes, you remember correctly that we spent 4 years in Switzerland. We've now been back more years than we were away. I believe you helped me plan a WWII trip with my older daughter. She went on to study Political Science and Middle Eastern Studies at Wellesley and then worked on the Hill for Senator Blumenthal for a few years. She's headed to grad school for Middle Eastern studies this fall. The younger one just graduated nursing school and started a nurse residency program at Georgetown hospital this week. I also returned to school when we came back from Switzerland and am now a psychiatric NP. My best regards to you and yours!
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