csb_mich

I posted previously with our Scotland trip plan

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35021553

and got good suggestions. I realize I didn't link it to the UK keyword like I thought I had. So, reposting here, but have basically turned it around and looking for any further advice.

1st 4 nights still in Edinburgh (27-30 Sept).

1 Oct: Pick up car, drive to Stirling to see at Doune Castle at least. Drive to Helensburgh (A811 route?) to Hill House (since it doesn't open until 1:30). Drive to Inveraray to stay the night (George Hotel if available).

2 Oct: See Inveraray Castle. Drive through Kilmartin Glen/Kilmartin Museum. Head to Port Appin to spend night at the Pier House, with dinner.

(aside: is the dinner, bed & breakfast rate that some hotels have generally a good deal?)

3 Oct: Drive to Skye, going by Castle Tioram, then ferry from Mallaig. Hopefully have afternoon on Skye itself. Stay in Portee?

4 Oct: Tour Skye in the am, before leaving via the bridge, then heading to Craigellachie to spend the night there (how realistic is this?)

5 Oct: Tour Balvenie Distillery in the am (only a 10 am tour on Fridays), See Cawdor Castle, head down to Pitlochry to spend the night. (can someone please explain how to pronounce 'Pitlochry' for me???)

6 Oct: See Blair Castle, Drive to Stirling Castle, then onto Edinburgh for our last night.

A couple of those days look to be pretty long, but how far am I stretching it?

(this trip planning thing sure is time-consuming!)

Christina

csb_mich

Replying to myself here...

I think I've decided on the Atholl Arms hotel in Blair Atholl instead of Pitlochry for the night of the 5th. Will be more convenient for Blair castle the next day. (assuming they have a room available)

Oh, and I found a pronounciation for Pitlochry on a Trip advisor forum, but still don't think I'll be able to get it out right!

csb_mich

No one cares to share their opinions on my plan or answers to my questions?

janisj

just a quick comment right now - will try to come back w/ more later.

I don't understand driving to Stirling/Doune and on to Helensburgh, and then 6 days later going back to Stirling to tour the castle.

I might cut Edinburgh back to 3 nights -it is a pretty compact city and you can see a lot in a few days. Then you'd have an extra day to "play with" and add time near Stirling/the Trossachs or on Skye.

twk

I'll bite.

Just curious--have you been to Scotland before? Kind of an interesting choice to drive right by Glen Coe, but to bypass it for Inveraray and Kilmartin, if I'm reading your itinerary correctly.

twk

Ok, that posted before I was ready.

Anyway, if you took Janis's suggestion and lopped a day off, you might consider staying two nights at Appin, and taking a day to do Glen Coe/Rannoch Moor.

I kind of understand going back to catch Stirling on your way to Edinburgh. Frankly, there are enough similarities between the castles in Edinburgh and Stirling that if you are pressed for time at the end, you could skip Stirling on the way back or not, just depending on how things are going. Seeing Stirling Castle hard on the heels of Edinburgh Castle might seem a little repetitive.

csb_mich

Yes, those were some concerns/thoughts I had as well.

I didn't think we'd have time to do both Stirling Castle & Doune castle on the way to Helensburgh (and Hill House comes so highly recommended). So thought we would focus on Doune that time.

I didn't see how to fit Glen Coe in; seemed out of the way if we really wanted to go to Helesnburgh. (no, we haven't been to Scotland before)

I've bounced around the idea of only 3 nights in Edinburgh also, but we don't get in until mid-late afternoon (3:30-4pm), so our first day is very short. Also I thought leaving on Monday might be better (except for rush hour issues).

I've also considered doing a day trip to Stirling from Edinburgh (could take the train, right? since we won't have the car yet).

And twk, you had it right; we were including the option of skipping Stirling castle at the end if time didn't permit.

thanks again!
Christina