I am reading a lot about Scotland and having difficulty in selecting the best option for a 3-4 day trip out of Edinburgh in July. I am helping my daughter plan their honeymoon and they do not really want to drive, so also looking at options for train or bus to an interesting town with options of day trips from there. Not hiking, but beautiful scenery, wildlife perhaps, May be convinced to hire a car for those few days if absolutely necessary. But there is so much to see. How do we choose one area??? As always, any suggestions will be much appreciated.

>>But there is so much to see. How do we choose one area???<<

This won't help much -- but just choose. There is no 'wrong' region to explore. Not having a car will definitely limit where they can see wildlife/remote scenery.

There are great small group tours offered by Rabbies, but that may not be what they want for a honeymoon. They are 16 or fewer passengers though so not massive buses.

For a honeymoon I'd personally want to stay in a nice resort-type place in a very scenic area (Cameron House, Forest Hills, Craigendarroch, Kilconquhar, someplace like that) where there are the amenities of a hotel but individual accommodations in cottages/condos with amazing scenery all around.

But one would absolutely need a car for any of those.

Thanks Janisj for the suggestions. I will check them out. Still would appreciate suggestions for the one area to concentrate on...hopeless I know!

As I said there is no 'BEST' area. Maybe get a guidebook or two and study up.

I have been in every corner of Scotland (most multiple times) and honestly, there are scenery and wildlife all over.

You want me to tell you one -- OK -- stay at Craigendarroch on Deeside, explore the Castle Trail, the central highlands, the coast, Dunnottar, etc.

Or . . . Stay at Forest Hills and explore all of the Trossachs (Waterfalls, lochs, Doune Castle, Inchmahome, etc.)

But a car would be imperative.

If I take what you said about, "options for train or bus to an interesting town with options of day trips from there.", then an answer is possible that fits your criteria.

https://www.rabbies.com/en/scotland-...1T8hoCoyHw_wcB

Here are some others:
http://www.goscotlandtours.com/tour-...arch_Departure

So they could take a train to Inverness to begin with and then do some 1 day or longer tours from there. The only downside might be being part of a group as janisj has said.

Honeymoon brings up certain cliched pictures in some people's minds. Just what your daughter and son-in-law-to-be have in mind would affect what would suit them. If they've been living together for 6 years and are 35 years old for example, their viewpoint would probably be very different from a couple who are in their early 20s, were high school sweethearts and have lived separately without 'conjugal' relations until they marry.

The first couple are far less likely to have 'romantic' ideas about what constitutes the perfect homeymoon. It may be just another vacation to them really. The second couple may want to stay in a fairy tale castle and never leave their room. In which case, where they go is irrelevant. LOL

Thanks dogeared. I was originally focusing on the Inverness area, mainly because I read it is an amazing train ride (but I believe there are many of those!), and I am trying to convince them to take a car for a few days, but no decision yet. I don't think they are interested in joining a tour. Now I am looking around Oban/ Fort William. They are in their late thirties and my daughter is a photographer...so they are interested in the beautiful scenery, quaint villages, people. I also looked at Janisj's suggestions but they are leaning towards a smallish boutique type hotel with character and charming (romantic) rooms.
All suggestions will be welcome.

Not many 'boutique' hotels in rural areas. There are nice B&B's and castle hotels and a few upscale 'country house' hotels.

Here are some on Skye (which has unbelievable scenery/photo ops)

http://www.hotelintheskye.co.uk
http://eileaniarmain.co.uk
http://www.duisdale.com
http://www.skeabosthotel.com

The train ride to Inverness isn't especially 'special' -- nice mountain scenery. If you want a scenic train ride it is the one from Glasgow to Ft William to Mallaig where one catches the ferry to Skye.

BUT they would want a car on Skye -- there are a couple of garages that do rent cars locally

You might also have a look at the Isle of Eriska Hotel. I've not stayed there but it's been in my travel notes for some time. It's a very nice resort style hotel which offers a lot of activities so once there no need for a car. From Glasgow it's about a 3 hour train journey to Connell Ferry and from there you might be able to arrange a taco for the short drive to the hotel. Here's there website. www.ersika-hotel.co.uk

I will warn you that places get booked very quickly at the more popular places in Scotland so one should do so ASAP if there's some place particular you want to stay.

<i> 3-4 days outside Edinburgh - probablywithout a car
Posted by: KatPen on Apr 14, 17 at 5:59am</i>

I suggest a trip to Rosslyn Chapel. It is a short bus ride from downtown Edinburgh, and it is fascinating.

What did I say? Arrange a taco for the short ride to hotel? Now that was definitely not my error but spell check. Of course, I meant one could arrange for a taxi from Connel Ferry for the ride to hotel. No tacos in that part of Scotland as far as I know.

BTW, Rosslyn Chapel is a excellent half day trip from Edinburgh, either by bus or taxi. There are a number of possibilities for day trips via bus/ train from Edinburgh if that's of interest.

Well if you keep moving the goal posts KatPen, you aren't going to get very far.

Let's go back to basics. What's the budget? A car for the flexibility of stopping to take photographs etc. but without having to drive is easy to do. You hire a car and driver, problem solved. http://www.highlandchauffeurdrive.com/

They can't have their cake and eat it too. If they don't want to do organized day tours etc. then they need a car.

Boutique hotels are also not really a problem if they stay where those are to be found. Normally, for Inverness I would suggest the Rocpool Hotel but I'm guessing when you say with 'character and charming(romantic) rooms', you probably mean what in the UK would be called 'twee'. The Rocpool is more elegant than twee and you can't do better for dining than the Albert Roux restaurant there. http://rocpool.com/

If twee it must be, then I would suggest the Bunchrew House or the Culloden House.

http://cullodenhouse.co.uk/gallery

http://bunchrewhousehotel.com/luxury...ion-inverness/

Now, you tell us if the budget will handle a car and driver rental and one of those hotels. If it will, you have no problem. If it won't, you need to get the criteria in line with the reality of the budget.

Fascinated by the word "twee". Even though I am of antipodean origin, I had to look it up!
No time now for long reply but I will look into all suggestions over the weekend. Keep them coming...

I am thoroughly enjoying checking out all the hotels in this hotel group!! great post, Dogeared! Thank you. Hope to go one day!

Sorry, I just realized I spelled the hotel's name incorrectly. Here is the corrected website.
www.eriska-hotel.co.uk