We have chance to ferry(7:00 am) to Troon from Larne on a Monday in October and return on Thursday ferry(10:00 am) or possibly 20:20pm ferry. We would like to drive our car north, pass up Glasglow for now and head to suggested areas for 2 1/2 days of sightseeing. After reading the advice for driving times, not sure whether Oban and Mull would be good. We could go to Pitlochry if that is suggested for our first Scotland trip. We will be able to return in the future since we are living in ROI. Would really appreciate your suggestions. I hope I have done this all correctly!

Depends on what you like. Beautiful, serene landscapes, relaxed place? Stay on Mull. More shopping and touristy stuff? Go to Oban or Fort William. Hiking? Into the mountains for you.

OK - there is a lot to see right there in Ayrshire and the SW w/o going north at all. Culzean Castle, Arran, Crossaguel abbey, Robert Burns sites, and tons of sites/scenery in Dumfries/Galloway. Plenty to fill more than 3-4 days, and you'd be near the ferry for your return trip.

But if you want to head north - then Monday head up into the Trossachs W/NW of Stirling (Callander, Lake of Menteith, Queen Elizabeth Forest Park). Tuesday day drive up through Glencoe and then down to Oban for the night. Wed morning a ferry to Mull. Spend the night on the isle and explore Mull and Iona.

Thurs drive back down to Troon - but this would have to be the 20:20 sailing.

If you have to take the morning ferry - then I'd skip Mull/Oban. I'd spend Wed night along Loch Lomond and get an early start to get back to Troon.

But again - there really is a lot to see right around Troon w/o traveling nearly so far.

If you want country I would take the ferry across to Dunoon from Gourock, explore the Cowal peninsula, spend the night at Creggans Hotel on Loch Fyne 9You will need to bbok this). Either eat there or at the Loch Fyne Oyster Bar, the original one, Both have great food.
You could then either go down the west side of Loch Fyne to visit Inverary and the Crinan canal or head up to Glencoe. If you go to Glencoe stay the night somewhere like Appin, then visit Oban, the distillery tour if you are into whisky, the chocolate shop if you are into chocolate, lots of good restaurants around. Head back along Loch Awe towards the Cowal again.
If you want to base yourselves in one spot have a look at www.lochfyneshore.co.uk/ and enquire whther it is free for the time you require. It is lovely cottage - very comfortable and a great base for that area.

I was going in the same direction as hetismij, but you could do it by taking the ferry back to Arran and then north to Tarbert, landing you smack bang in teh middle of glorious Argyll without masses of tedious South West and Glasgow conurbation to get through.

yes - I agree hetismij has laid out a good route. That whole part of the country is really gorgeous.

I have been poring over the map and quidebook and still have homework to do after learning from the map that there must be a cut off from summer to winter for the Troon ferry. I called to make sure the ferry would be running to Troon in October. They did not indicate on the website that the ferry there would end. It does and the change of port will be to Cairnryan. We are debating, not knowing the area, on making it to Arran for part of the trip and then exploring the Southwest part until sailing time again or to stay in the southwest as first suggested. We really wanted to go north of Glasgow but may have to wait until next year to more thoroughly visit the areas you suggested and beyond. Can anyone shed more light? I really appreciate the immediate feedback and will save the suggestions for next May and June about Glencoe. If we do Arran, does anyone know ferry times there? Thanks for the help!

I forgot to say that we love beautiful and not touristy.

W/ that info - you really should stay to the west and south of Glasgow. But there is much more than enough to fill your short visit.

here is the Arran timetable http://www.calmac.co.uk/winter-timet...an-brodick.gif

We really appreciate the information. I accessed the website and find that valuable in the planning. If we don't do that trip this month, it will be helpful for the other trips. It sounds like the south area may have to be our focus for a first try. Thanks for the direction.

Hello,

I will be flying to Glasgow in two weeks, from the States, to attend a wedding in Troon.

It's going to be at a very nice hotel at 2:30 pm, with about 100 people in attendance. I know that the father of the bride will be in his dress kilt, etc.

What is the proper attire for a mature woman? Are any colors "off limits"? Black, red?

Please write quickly!

Hi
These days no colours are really off limits for weddings although I would avoid all black (too funereal) or white (Bride's colour) Remember to join in the Scottish Country Dancing if they do this as its great fun and you'll soon pick up the moves. I hope you have a great time in our beautiful country.

I was at quite a posh wedding yesterday, and the dress code was pretty varied. The mature lady might want to wear a hat, although I discovered that "fascinators" are all the rage.

Your husband going? Will he hire a kilt?

Buttonholes are also very popular- if he's wearing a kilt his should be a thistle.

I did a wee web browse and found these on a photographer's site. This looks pretty typical to me.



http://www.chriswright-photography.co.uk/samples/