B&B's & scenic drives in Scotland
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B&B's & scenic drives in Scotland
My husband and I will be spending 10 days in Scotland in June. We are not interested in touristy outings, but would like some advice on any particularly beautiful spots of scenery, or things we absolutely should not miss. Also, we would like to stay at friendly, unique, cozy B&B's. If there are any suggestions, I would appreciate it.
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We were in Scotland in September and we found the drive along the lochs to be beautiful. There are quite a number of B&B places in the area. We also loved the Isle Of Skye. We stayed at The Skeboost House on Skye. I believe they have a web site. Sheila, from Scotland offered a great many good suggestions for travel routes on this site. We loved Skeboost. It is a former large hunting lodge on the island. I will look the info on this and correct spelling and post for you.
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My favourite drive in Scotland was the Wester Ross Coastal Trail which we took from Inverness to Plockton and then went on to Skye. From Inverness we drove in the direction of Ullapool, then turned off onto the Wester Ross Coastal Trail after stopping for a look at Measach Falls in the Corrieshalloch Gorge. The trail hugs the coast through Aultbea, Gairloch and Loch Carron and we stayed at a lovely B & B in Plockton called Tigh-Na-Fhaing. Right on the shore and lovely people.<BR>Have fun in Scotland, one of my favourite places in the world.<BR>Rosemary
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I have made a number of folders of notes on Scotland, which I will send if you e-mail me [[email protected]]<BR>They include some good websites.<BR>
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Almost all of Scotland is gorgeous, especially the Highlands, but anywhere along the West Coast is spectacular. One of my favorite areas is actually north of Ullapool. Very desolate and uninhabited. That said one of the most beautiful views/hikes I have taken almost anywhere was in the Quirang on Skye on a clear day overlooking the entire mountain range on the mainland. There is a wonderful guidebook called "Scotland, the Best" which provides you with ranked lists of the best things to do and see in Scotland, including views, drives, hikes, glens, mountains, etc. etc. I like wildlife viewing and would make a concerted effort to visit any of the puffin breeding islands or to go up one of the lochs on a seal watching ride. Some people may think that is touristy, but my idea of touristy is the coach stop in Glen Coe to listen and take pictures of the bagpipers... That's not to say that Glen Coe isn't stunningly beautiful, and should be considered one of the "must-see's" but the bagpiper thing is a bit cheesy for my tastes. B&B's are all over. Once you get a better rough itinerary sorted out, I'm sure you will be able to get tons more specific advice from this forum. That said, when we go, my husband and I tend not to book B&B rezzies in advance, but just show up and find a place on the day. Very rarely have had any problems doing that, and always have managed to find some place or other (even when we left it waaaaay too late... we have some great stories of Scottish hospitality but too long for this note) but other people don't like the feeling of not having everything planned. Enjoy, Scotland is one of the most beautiful parts of the world.
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Personal tastes come into this a great deal. MY absolute favourite places for beauty areBR><BR>The area round the Ring of Brogar in Orkney.<BR><BR>Durness and Scourie in Sutherland; Pollochar on South Uist.<BR>The Cuillins on Skye (absolutely top of the list-stunning)<BR>Gairloch and Poolewe in Wester Ross<BR>Abernethy in the Cairngorms<BR>The East Neuk of Fife<BR>Loch Tay in Perthshire; the river Tay round about Dunkeld.<BR>The Sound of Mull,<BR>Tobermory<BR>The beaches on Islay<BR>Eyemouth<BR><BR>If there is anything more specific I can help with, come back to me. I don't do B&Bs, sorry.
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trvlgrl: Isn't Scotland he Best terrific! I have worn out two and am on my third copy. Peter Irvine also writes a column for the Scotsman newspaper with more detailed "Bests"<BR><BR>Sabrina: "the drive along the lochs to be beautiful. There are quite a number of B&B places in the area" Huh - what area? There are hundreds of lochs all over Scotland. Just which ;ochs/B&B area were you talking about??<BR><BR>amcquiggan: You've received lots of great info. But do understand - almost every corner of Scotland have particularly beautiful spots, great drives and "Musts". Obviously with only 10 days you will only get to a few. <BR><BR>Some of my favs are most anyplace on Skye, ditto Mull, St Abbs head, the Falls of Dochart and Loch Tay, the Trossachs, ANYPLACE along the NW coast, Glen Coe/Rannoch moor. <BR><BR>But there are hundreds of others. So look at a map of Scotland and pick 3 or 4 areas in relatively close proximity (i.e.: Skye, the NW/Gairloch, Glen Coe, Loch Tay/Dochart). You simply do not have time to see/do it all so go for quality, not quanity.
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Sheila-<BR>could you perhaps provide more of your views on the Mull/Tobermory area you mentioned? I'm going to be married in Tobermory in Sept. and will spend 4 days on the Isle of Mull and I've never been there so I'm looking for any thoughts from those who have.<BR>Thank you
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emjoy: I am not Sheila -- but I have been to Mull several times. In some ways I actually prefer Mull to Skye. The scenery is less dramatic - but the beaches are absolutly gorgeous. The beach at Calgary Bay is all white sand and HUGE. Another beautiful beach is along Ardalanish Bay near Uisken. Going over to Iona, and a 1/2 day boat trip from Fionnphort to Staffa and Fingal's cave should not be missed. Be sure to visit Duart Castle (more interesting and a prettier setting than Torosay). And of course Tobermory with the pastel bldgs (similar to Portree but much smaller) is lovely.
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I spent a few days on the Isle of Arran off the west coast of Scotland, and I'd go back in a minute. Good hiking, decent golf (scenery was better than the courses, but still fun.), as well as Scotland's newest distillery. Wildlife every where. We went in September, so it wasn't very crowded.
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Here's another vote for Orkney, And if you are up on the northwest coast, we lucked into a ranger tour of the dunes at Balnakeil at sunset - and that was one of our best experiences. Don't miss the Isle of Skye - we stayed at Rowan Cottage near Elgol - beautiful views, but it is remote. We also had a lot of fun on a day in the Kilmartin Valley. We went in September and the only time we saw tourists was in Edinburgh!
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I'm not as great a fan of Mull as Janis is emjoy, but Tobermory is one of my favourite villages. It's just lovely, a curved rainbow round the bay, nice shops, nice people, nice bars.<BR><BR>I like the inland glens and Carsaig for walks. And Ulva is nice, with the odd ferry you call with a wooden board.
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Janis - "The Best" really is the best for Scotland (though I liked it when he used Celtic crosses rather than the stars he uses now...). I didn't realise he also writes a regular piece for the Scotsman - I'll have to check it out. <BR><BR>Emjoy - Congratulations in advance! Mull is lovely. If you want to explore the island a bit and not just stay the whole time in Tobermory, there is a great place called the Dovecote which has wonderful food and some lovely rooms. And it's near Calgary Bay (the wonderful beach Janis mentioned) and some spectacular scenery. Very romantic. Mull is such a pretty island! I wish I were there right now!<BR><BR>amcquiggan - Janis has good suggestions to try to help you narrow your plans. Also, how are you getting to Scotland? Where are you flying in to/out of? That might help you decide where to go. Also, think about what you like to do. If you plan to go for hikes or other excursions, like a boat trip, that will probably mean you will need to stay at least 2 nights in that area (i.e. get there one night, go for hike next day, stay there that night, then move on next day). Good luck and just remember, it's hard to go wrong no matter where you go in Scotland (though I would probably give Fort William a miss...)
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