whitemtns

My fiancee and I are planning our honeymoon to scotland later this summer(Aug.) and had a question. We have the majority of our trip planned as far as accommodations go. We are spending a few days in Edinburgh, then traveling up to Glencoe by way of stirling to spend a few days hiking and exploring the highlands. From there we are going to skye for a few days to take in the sights of the island(again, hiking and outdoor stuff is a priority, but open to pub, historic site, and other suggestions). Now the big question. Someone suggested going over the pass to applecross. We have one day after skye, after which we have to head back to Edinburgh to catch the Tattoo and the flight home the following day. So: Applecross looks really beautiful, remote(which I enjoy) and we have a tentative reservation at a nice place. The catch is we would have to wake up the next morning and make the approximately 6 hr. drive back to Edinburgh(which I am not averse to if it is worth the trip). Anyone been there? Is it worth the trip, or should I look somewhere else and spend the last day driving a bit less? If not, does anyone have any suggestions for must see(or at least noteworthy) places we should go that you could do in a day? Thanks for reading!

janisj

Applecross to Edinburgh will take more than 6 hours -- 7 hrs would be making good time in August. There are lots of slow vehicles (caravans, motorhomes and such).

But even IF you could do it in 6 hours -- that is six FULL hours behind the wheel + stops, meals, etc. Applecross is beautiful -- but so are many other parts of Scotland. And many that would be a LOT more convenient to getting back to Edinburgh.

Portree to Applcross to Edinburgh is about 475 miles and a good 12.5 hours -- not such a great idea w/ just 2 days to do it.

whitemtns

Thanks for the more in depth advice about the length of drive. Seeing it that way makes it an easier decision. Any thoughts about a good place to check out with about a day and a half's time? Not too many restrictions on what type of place(other than something that is more on the route back to Edin.), we are interested in just about anything. I liked the idea of the remote and scenic nature of applecross, but as you said, i'm sure there are other places like it. I'm also slowly coming to terms with the fact that I can't see it all in 10 days It's not easy! Any suggestions are appreciated! Thanks again

janisj

How about Loch Tay? You could hike on Ben Lawers, see the Falls of Dochart/Killin, and the thatched houses (yep -- thatched cottages in Scotland) in Fortingall.

http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.u...ers/index.html
http://walking.visitscotland.com/mun...och/ben_lawers
http://tinyurl.com/3qyhcsn
http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/killin/killin/

janisj

Meant to add --you could come in from the west through Killin and leave through Aberfeldy and jump on the A9 down to Edinburgh.

This will take you through Glencoe and Crianlarich like your route out to Skye - but the backtracking isn't too bad.

janisj

jeeze -- I didn't mean to hit post.

If you didn't want to retrace your steps -- you could take the A86 across from Spean Bridge and then down the A9 and hit Loch Tay from the east.

whitemtns

Ben Lawers looks great! Thanks so much for the ideas. At this point I've got to toss around a few ideas with my fiancee, see what she wants to do as well. That is just the kind of thing I had in mind, though. Thanks again for the ideas, I'll probably be posting on here again at some point-but I've got some wedding planning in the meantime!

sheila

I love Loch Tay, but I have another suggestion for you.

As I understand it you have a day to mess around before high tailing it to Edinburgh.

Why not come off Skye on the ferry to Mallaig and come east on the Road to the Isles
http://www.road-to-the-isles.org.uk/
as far as Arisaig.

If you like remote, you could do a lot worse than the Ardnamurchan peninsula.

http://www.ardnamurchan.com/

How you finish the day is, of course, up to you, but you have the options of coming out of Ardnamurchan and crossing Loch Linnhe at the Corran Ferry- maybe staying somewhere like Port Appin?- or hopping the little ferry from Lochaline to Mull and then Craignure to Oban.

It would take you 3 1/2 hours to drive from Port Appin to Edinburgh the next day; and about 3 hours from Oban.

Ackislander

Sheila knows whereof she speaks. This is a great idea.

Or maybe I just think so because I am in love with all those places!

whitemtns

Hmmm. These all look great. All these suggestions are leading to endless searching online. And none of it is disappointing, guess we chose the right place to take a trip! I don't think I can go wrong with any of these places. I do like the look of Ardnamurchan. Thanks again!