Thanks, janisj. You're right, of course.

One more place has come to mind. (Promise? Who made a promise?) Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness.

Edinburgh walking tours:

http://www.stuckonscotland.co.uk/edi...ost-tours.html

soogies: What is the name of the place you recommend to stay in in York. We will be there is late May.

Or if anyone else has a recommendation, I would appreicate it.

Wow, Thank you all so much!

Sue878 -

We stayed in a lovely 2 bedroom flat. It also has two very nice bathrooms, which is hard to find at this price. Here's the link:

http://www.holidaylets.net/properties/19105

The owner, Keren, was wonderful to deal with. She takes Paypal so transactions were easy. The flat is a 5 minute walk from the train station and located on a quiet side street. I would definitely stay there again.

Thanks soogies, I'll check it out.

If you tire of the Edinburgh city centre hoof it or bus it down to the docks where the QE2 is moored and open for tours (I hope i did not get the boat mixed up)

Or hop the train for a short ride to Sterling and its famous castle standing sentinel over BraveHeart country

Or train to St Andrews, a smashingly lovely old seaside town with the famous Old Course for golf and other courses and a famous university - when Prince William studied i believe. Part of the highlight of this trip is when the train (or bus) crosses the famous cantilevered Firth of Forth bridge.

QE2? nope . . . . . One would have to go to Dubai to see the old girl.

Perhaps you mean the Royal Yacht - not even close to the same thing . . . . . . .

Dear CherylNBob,

I had a chance to look through your suggestions and thank you so much for taking the time. I guess I'll have a litte less time, since we are staying in York for 7 nights. We'd take a train to Edinburgh on Monday and probably leave on Friday back to London for a couple of days until we leave Monday. I'm still not sure if we should go for that short a-time. I'm trying to keep things at a leisurly pace so that my husband can enjoy it (dementia) and I won't get too tired. Lake District is still an alternative. I opted for 7 nights York because I thought we could do some outings (going to the coast, Yorkshire moors and dales, etc.) So many decisions.

Thank you

Hi MoniIlse,

You're VERY welcome. I love to share my thoughts about this great city. I want everyone to enjoy it like I have.

Considering your desire to keep things leisurely, you can certainly streamline my suggestions. The bus tour into the Highlands is relaxed. And perhaps break the High Street into two parts and combine with the double-decker bus.

I hope your reluctance to make it a short visit will not mean you will bypass Edinburgh. You really CAN make it a memorable visit in three days even. My first time there was two full days and two partial (travel) days. And I was hooked! I had to come back.

Good luck, and God bless.

Bob

Dear CherylNBob,

We are going to Edinburgh for 4 nights. I love the Scottish accent already, just taking the the fellow who runs the B&B.

Thank you

Don't miss the Scottish national food - Fried Mars Bars

If you're 60 or over BritRail Passes have senior rates in first class passes and if you compare these per day rates to the cost of a flexible first class ticket you will find them to be great bargains for the wide-ranging travel you envision.

And there is a world of difference between classes on mainline British trains (not much on local ones however) that you will be taking. Much much bigger seats and always with your own table for the usual complimentary beverages and snacks (take Virgin Trains you may get a full blown meal free) - and the key item in 30 annual trips on a BritRail Pass i have never, never not found empty seats - unlike Standard class (2nd cl) where you should make a reservation to be guaranteed a seat - esp two together. But in first class you will always IME find two seats with a window and an aisle with a table in between. And empty seats IME where you can put your luggage - in 2nd class you may have to wedge your luggage under the seats or lean over someone to hoist it into the overhead and often full luggage racks.

a world of difference and the senior discount makes it a great deal IMO

In Edinburgh the TIC Centre on top of Waverly Station, has info on several mini-bus and coach tours that take you thru the famnous Scottish Highlands, west and north of Edinburgh - to places like fabled Loch Lomond for what they offer they always seemed reasonably priced.

Day Coach Tours Excursions from Edinburgh
Edinburgh day Tours mini bus Loch Ness & Legends Tour ... Saints and Sinners Tour Loch Ness, Glencoe & the Highlands Tour ... 1 day tour that visits Loch Lomond, Wallace Monument and Rob Roy country in the Trossachs. ...more info ...
http://www.scotland.org.uk/tours_day...gh_minibus.htm

...Part of the highlight of this trip is when the train (or bus) crosses the famous cantilevered Firth of Forth bridge.,,

The bus will be crossing by the road bridge, I hope.

Yes and from the road bridge you can see the famous train bridge even better - but thanks for the correction - i never went by road and posted that without thinking if they were one or the same - crossing the Firth of Forth is the highlight and the glimpsing the famous bridge also.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forth_Railway_Bridge

And to see the railway bridge gloriously illuminated after dark is surrealistic experience - hop the train to the station right before the train tracks over the bridge for a neat view - just a short train ride from Edinburgh Waverly or Haymarket stations.

Thank you for your wonderful suggestions.

En route to/from Edinburgh you could also stop by the fabled Lake District (on West coast rail line to London) or the equally fabled Borders area of Scotland with famous monasteries and abbeys in ruins in the Melrose area.

I got off the train at Berwick-on-Tweed and took buses to the three most famous abbeys - an interesting town in its own right - on the sea and venue of some fortified bastions.

But you can also take a bus from Edinburgh to the Borders Area and Melrose - neat town with a famous abbey and then bus to the other two nearby - nice day trip.