Help! My sweetie & I are planning a trip to Scotland in late July/early August for 7-10 days, and I'm overwhelmed by the options. Here's what we know we want: walking & hiking all day without seeing too many other people, dramatic landscapes, a few (ruined?) castles, Skye, the Highlands, and a daytrip to Edinburgh. I'd really like to be based in one or two places (the smaller and less touristy the better), so we're not packing & unpacking every day. We're planning on hiring a car. Any suggestions would be most appreciated. Thanks!

If you want a really off the wall suggestion for at least part of it, why don't you go to Knoydart?

http://82.112.119.125/knoydart.html

You can only get to it by boat or on foot and iot has a pub with rooms and a few self catering places and some of the best remote walking in the country.It certainly has dramatic landscapes. Out the front windows you will be looking at Skye. I don't think there are any castles

You get there from Mallaig, which is he ferry port for Skye, so, if you spent a few days there and went back to Mallaig, it's a hop skip and a jump to go on to Skye itself. For the avoidance of doubt it's in the Highlands.

For the second bit, I'd be inclined to suggest either Torridon, which I love, or Glen Affric or Glen Mullardoch.

Both of teh latter are stunning, within striking distance of castles, and are surrounded by big mountains.

Torridon is spectacular. The climbing (which is what we call hiking) is quite challenging. Given the rest of your agenda, I'd do the Edinburgh day at the start or the finish. All of these places are too far from Edinburgh for a day trip. If you come close enough to Edinburgh for a day trip, you'll lost the solitude.

Thanks, these places are just what I was looking for!
Now, these are the logistics that make me crazy: If we fly into Edinburgh and spend a day or so there, is it too far to drive to Glen Affric in a day? If it is, do you have suggestions about where to stop? What about on the return loop, from Mallaig to Edinburgh? Or, would it be easier to fly into Glasgow and head for Skye, then Kyondart, then Glen Affric and back?

My son stayed in Edinburgh one year for a few days, then on to Glasgow, overnight, then the next day to the Aran Islands.
There are ruins, cliffs, amazing & definitely dramatic scenery and very nice people.
He said that when he walked for what seemed miles without seeing anyone, a post man came along and gave him a ride~
Whatever you decide on, I hope you post back after you return and tell us about it. I long to visit Scotland~

It is not too far to drive to Glen Affric in a day from edinburgh. It's a good 4 hours in the car, maybe.

You can also do Mallaig to Edinburgh in a day. Logistically, it does make more sense to do this the other way round and go ina nd ou of Glasgow. Also, if I were doing this, I'd take the train to Mallaig, and arrange to hire a car from there, after the Knoydart bit.

There is ana rticle about walking in Knoydart in today's "Scotsperson"

http://news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=656742004

I think you have to register but after that it's free.

If you are thinking of following Scarlett's advice, you might want to have a couple of drinks first and work out if she means the Irish Aran Islands, or Arran in Scotland.

Scarlett, you KNOW I have invited you regularly and constantly. If you're this befuddled, it's time you made the trip so you still have the marbles to remember it afterwards. LOL!

Sheila, I have had bronchitis and have a perfectly good reason for befuddlement~
I meant Aran Scotland...but it is an island!
And I remember the invitation, it is getting the Yankee up and out that is proving to be a challenge!

It's Arran with 2 "r"s, mo ghraidh. My advice is , promise him whisky

As it happens, there was also an enticing article about Knoydart in Saturday's Guardian travel supplement (and there's a nice photo on the website):
http://travel.guardian.co.uk/saturda...236620,00.html

Even though Knoydart looks dreamy, I think we'll save it for the next trip. How does this itinerary look (for weird reasons, we're flying into Edinburgh and out of Glasgow)?

Day 1 arrive Edinburgh early afternoon
Day 2 explore Edinburgh
Day 3 drive to Glen Affric (visit castle/s)
Day 4 Glen Affric (hiking)
Day 5 drive to Skye
Day 6 Skye
Day 7 Skye
Day 8 train to Glasgow
Day 9 fly out of Glasgow

Any ideas about which castles to see on the way to Glen Affric, or while we're based in G.A.? We'd like to see Urquhart, but other than that, we're open to suggestions.

Thanks!

Poor old Knoydart. That's the first time I've recommended it too

OK. Castles en route- Elcho, Huntingtower, Blair Atholl, Cawdor, Urquhart and Erchless.

that's not them all; just a smattering