GoAway

I'd like some comments on this itinerary, if you would, please. We haven't booked anything yet except the flights.

Arrive Glasgow (from East Coast US) on Wednesday early (flight arrives at 6 am)

Glasgow for Wednedsay and Thursday, knowing that we won't be able to do much except recover from the flight on Wednesday. We won't have any trouble figuring out how to amuse ourselves in Glasgow -- there's more there than we'll have time for. Plus, in general we aren't "city" people.

Friday am pick up the car and drive to Oban / Fort William / Glencoe area. We don't have any specific details here, except that we were considering a day trip to Mull / Iona (either self-drive or the Bowman's coach tour). Otherwise, just general sightseeing, driving / meandering around. (I'm considering Clachaig Inn, if it's not too far out of the way for a day trip to Mull.)

Monday drive to Uig, Skye, either via the ferry at Mallaig or over the bridge at Kyleakin. Going by ferry would give us the chance to drive the route that the Jacobite train would take from Fort william to Mallaig, but would cost us a ferry ride. We were considering doing the train ride as a day outing but the dates just wouldn't work. (I'd just as soon do this route, I think our travel partners are thinking dollars and pounds and the cost of the ferry, and are leaning the other way - even knowing that this is Cal-Mac's Hopscotch 13 route.) We've been to Skye before but wish we could spend more time here, but also don't want to take away from the time we spend in the Outer Hebrides.

Tuesday, take the ferry to Isle of Harris, and spend the next several days on Harris and Lewis.

Saturday, take the ferry from Stornoway to Ullapool and stay somewhere in the area or maybe a little bit south. Again, meandering / general sightseeing, although Inverewe Gardens is on the short list.

On Monday, drive back to Glasgow to drop of the car and a one-night stay in / near Glasgow before flying home on Tuesday.

We have spent two short weeks in Scotland before, flying in and out of Edinburgh and staying in the Highlands near Aviemore for a week, and splitting the remaining week between Skye and the Borders area. So, although we are leaving out big chunks of Scotland for this trip, some of them we've seen before.


** Specific questions that I'm struggling with:

When we arrive at Tarbert, can we stay nearer to Stornoway for the entire time (to make it easier to get the morning ferry to Ullapool) or would we be better off starting out near Tarbert then moving to Stornoway for a couple of days? I feel like we're already doing a lot of bed-hopping, but I'd like to balance that against too much backtracking when driving.

Will we be able to find a launderette somewhere on Harris/Lewis?

When we arrive in Ullapool, should we head closer to Poolewe to access the gardens? Although we'd like to drive north of Ullapool, I think our choice is either do that and drop the gardens, or see the gardens. We wouldn't have much time to spend there if we stopped on our drive from Ullapool to Glasgow, would we?

Thanks!!! I'm sure I'll have more questions!

sheila

Hmm. I DO like it when people get off the endless triangle!

I've not been to Lewis and Harris (so how do I deserve an opinion, I hear you say), but I think Harris deserves more than being driven through en route to Stornoway. It's got the hills and the beaches. So, in a nutshell, I'd opt for at least one night in Harris. I was about to recommend Scarista House, when I saw a piece on the Virtual Hebrides site. Have a look there for other options

There are at least 2 laundrette in Stornoway.

I think you're right with your Sutherland options. Either go north or go south. Although if you get yourself on the main road at Inverness you're only four hours from Glasgow

historytraveler

I agree with Shelia regarding Scarista House. Take an earky ferry to Trabet travel along the east route ( Golden Road) The landscape is extremely rugged and very different from the western side of Harris. Stop at Rodel for a look at St. Clement's Church.You could then stay at Scarista House worth the trip by itself.The next day continue on to Lewis. You'll do a small bit of back tracking up to Tarbet, but this is unavoidable if you want to see both Harris and Lewis. You can do a loop tour (A858 ending up in Stornoway) and catch the major sites on Lewis...Callanish, Arnol Blackhouse Museum and Doune Carloway Broch.

historytraveler

Sorry...earky ferry to Trabet should be early ferry to Tarbet!

Gee I hate it when I do that.

historytraveler

Double sheesh...It's Tarbert not Tarbet.

Ashjen

Hi I signed on to get information on my upcoming trip to Scotland but then I saw your question and couln't resist throwing in my two bits. I agree with others, on my last trip we also drove thru Harris in a hurry from Uist to Lewis. It is one of my greatest regrets as we skimed past totally unique moonscape type topography. What I really wanted to say is do anything you can to keep Inverewe gardens on the schedule. On our trip I dragged my husband through many gardens and I was very tempted that day to drop Inverewe but it is a stunning example of design, maximizes the unique space and environment it is in and also had lots of blossoms and we were there in Sept also. Kevin also really enjoyed the visit. If you like gardens and decide to take the ferry to skye, which I would highly rec. It is an amazing drive through some very interesting old forest and on the Skye side it drops you beside Armadale, the clan MacDonald center, that has AMAZING gardens with great views of the mainland. It makes me giddy just thinking about it.