barbara313

The trip was absolutely magnificent…exceeded any and all expectations. We had a couple days of rain/mist/fog when we first arrived, but after that it was partly to mostly sunny skies. Here’s where we went/what we did, and a link to a few pictures (the pictures do have captions at the bottom):

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLan...localeid=en_US

Edinburgh – May 10-11 – 2 Days
Edinburgh Castle
Royal Mile
Palace of Holyroodhouse
The Scott Monument

The Borders – May 12 – 1 Day
· Jedburgh Abbey
· Melrose Abbey
· Dryburgh Abbey
· Scott’s View
· Abbotsford House
· Smailholm Tower

Callander/Trossachs – May 13-15 – 3 Days
· Stirling Castle
· National Wallace Monument
· Ben A’an Hike
· Glen Lyon
· Loch Achray/Katrine Scenic Drive
· Bracklinn Falls
· Killin – Falls of Dochart
· Inchmahome Priory
· Doune Castle
· Achray Woods Hike
Kilchurn Castle (on way to Oban)

Mull/Iona – 5/16-5/17 – 2 Days
· Tobermory
· Duart Castle
· Iona Abbey/Nunnery
· Staffa - Fingal’s Cave

Glen Coe – 5/18 – 1 Day
· Glen Etive

The Road to the Isles – 5/19 – 1 Day
· Mallaig Silver Sands of Morar
· Glenfinnan Monument
· Viaduct Hike

Isle of Skye - 5/20-5/22 – 3 Days
· Lealt Falls
· Kilt Rock
· The Fairy Glen
· Cruise Loch Coruisk
· Dunvegan Castle
· Old Man of Storr
· Eilean Donan Castle (on drive to Drumnadrochit)
· Plockton (“)

Inverness/Drumnadrochit – May 23-24 – 2 Days
· Glen Affric
· Loch Affric Circuit Hike
· Clava Cairns
· Culloden
· Pluscarden Abbey
· Urquhart Castle

Everything was just amazing…I can’t say there was anything we did that I wished we had done something/gone somewhere differently.

My most favorite day was probably Iona/Staffa, with Glen Affric and Glen Coe/Glen Etive coming in at a close second and third. Definitely a trip of a lifetime, and I would absolutely jump at the chance to go back. Definitely a country/people that leave footprints on the soul…

ACCOMMODATIONS – we stayed in 28-35 GBP pppn B&Bs.

Edinburgh: May 10-11
Glenlivet House (2 thumbs up)

Callander: May 12-14
Roslin Cottage (1.75 thumbs up)

Oban: May 15&17
Glenburnie Hotel (1.75 thumbs up)

Mull: May 16
Staffa House; Fionnphort (2 thumbs up)

Glen Coe: May 18
Strathassynt Guest House; Ballachulish (1.67 thumbs up)

Portree: May 19-21
Ben Tianavaig (2 thumbs up)

Drumnadrochit (just south of Inverness): May 22-23
Glen Rowan Guest House (2 thumbs up)

joebear

Thanks for posting where you stayed....bookmarking hoping to return soon.

robbylea

Oh my goodness, your pics are amazing! It makes me miss Scotland so much! Thanks so much for sharing.

noe847

Thanks so much for posting a report, Barbara. I love your photos. You saw two of my favorite places in Scotland; I'm glad Glen Affric worked out for you. Your captions cracked me up!

Based on your pictures, I've added some things to my list for the next time in Scotland, but we had to cancel our August trip, so I don't know when it will be...

Kaneohe

Great pix! Did you use public transport or did you have a car?

kenav

When on Mull - how did you get to Iona and Staffa? How long did it take?

vivi

Loved the photos. I was in Scotland May 17-23 on a spur of the moment trip and just love love loved it. Now I want to explore more!

Wasn't it great to see all those flowers blooming in late May?! The bulbs had already peaked here at home about 6-8 weeks ago so it was like a replay!

janisj

barbara313: I remember your posts when you were planning this and it looks like you managed to fit everything in and then some.Sounds (and looks) like you had a fabulous time. Your photos are breathtaking. I recognized every one.

Aren't you glad you didn't listen to that odd post saying Mull wasn't worth bothering w/

Even w/ all the awesome scenery on Staffa, Mull, Skye, Glen Affric etc - my favorite place is probably Inchmahome. Not as dramatic for sure, but maybe my favorite picnic place in all of Scotland.

Yelpir

Thanks for your report, Barbara, and especially for the info on the B&Bs. We will be visiting a lot of the same places as you did and researching accommodation can be exhausting.

Did you book all your accommodation in advance or did you look for it as you went along?

I have not yet had a chance to view your pictures as the site is very busy and keeps timing out on me. I will try to find a quieter time to view them.

barbara313

Kaneohe - aside from the two days we were in Edinburgh, we rented a car. It worked out well, as we rode a few double-decker buses while in the city, sat up top and practiced driving on the other side of the road. Once we had the car, it took maybe a day or so to get comfortable with it. Only one brain fart, where I pulled out on the right side - but we were in the middle of nowhere, so no animals/people were harmed in the process! We also had a GPS - I couldn't imagine doing this type of trip without one. Never led us astray.

Kenav - we took the ferry from Oban to Mull (Craignure), and then drove to Fionnphort. That drive took about an hour - it's just about all single-track. Then we took a boat tour that took us to Staffa first, and then dropped us off at Iona. Here's the outfit we used: http://www.staffatrips.f9.co.uk/
The trip out to Staffa took about 45 minutes. Then took a CalMac boat back to Fionnphort from Iona at the end of the day. That trip took maybe 10-15 minutes.

Yelpir - I did book all of the accommodations in advance - received a few recommendations from folks on this site, which was really helpful. I saw many B&B's with vacancy signs - it just depends on when and where.

We really did luck out as far as the weather and the flowers in bloom. Who knows if everything would've left such an impression if seen in rain/overcast skies.

There just aren't enough adjectives to describe the beauty that is Scotland...

barbara313

Janis - A few people have asked what my favorite place was of the entire trip. If I had to pick just one thing, and that's quite a tall order, it would have to be Inchmahome. We saw a number of historical places/buildings/castles/etc, but none spoke to me like the ruins of this priory. It really is an idyllic location. And to think it originally made my "optional" list on the itinerary! Sacre bleu!

Noe - your recommendations for Glen Affric were spot on. It just had it all...beautiful waters, mountains (some still with snow-caps), pines, birches...just fantastic scenery. I was only supposed to do an out-and-back of the Circuit hike (my mom was waiting back at the car park, although she did walk a few of the shorter hikes around there). So I didn't want to keep her waiting. But a mile or two into the walk I knew I'd never forgive myself for not doing it in its entirety. Hence, the running. Although I did stop here and there, well, mostly for pictures, but just to take it all in. Brought tears, even...

tod

Hi Barbara,
Thanks for the report & photos which are truly beautiful! My DH & I were there just a week before you and could not believe the tropical weather either! It was our first trip to Scotland and couldn't been better.
How was the scramble over those boulders to get to the top to see the puffins?!!
I will post a trip report later.

amelie

Great photos!

And I'd heard about the nice weather. My in-laws were visiting us in Ohio from Scotland and unfortunately we had below average weather the entire month they were here (May), and back home they were having above average temps. Go figure.

semiramis

Wonderful Photos!
Unfortunately this now means that I will have to go back to Scotland for my next trip to the U.K!

LCBoniti

What amazing photos! And you saw puffins!

We are planing a visit to Scotland in May'09. I really hope to see puffins and we have planned two nights on Mull so we can go to Iona and Staffa.

I hope we have the weather you did! (But I won't plan on it )

janisj

LCBonti: If you are in Fife, another great place to see puffins is on the Isle of May. Boats go from Anstruther Harbor. They limit the number of visitors and you really get free run of the whole island as long as you stay to the paths. All sorts of sea birds including hundreds of Puffins up close and personal. Plus 3 light houses and abandoned cottages and such.

LCBoniti

Janis, you did mention this to me on another thread. We are (probably) concentrating on West Scotland this trip. However, I have your notes in my files for our follow-up trip(s).

Thank you for your response. I am enjoying lurking and have been gathering much information. I really appreciate your insight and good advice and the time you take to answer questions. I'm sure I'll have lots of them as time goes on.

barbara313

About the puffins...it was a matter of being at the right place at the right time. Right after we docked at Staffa, our "boat captain" took us up to the top via some stairs. We then walked to the other end of the island, and saw a whole flock of puffins out in the water. The rest of the folks on the boat continued walking around the top, but we sat down and saw the puffins coming closer to shore (but still in the water). So we decided to stay put (mostly because my mom didn't want to do any further walking). And then the strangest thing happened - a few started doing some "fly-bys". And then they started landing right by where we were sitting. Turns out a few nests were right by where we were. And I can understand why they're so hyped up...they are absolutely adorable!

Nikki

Beautiful! I'm planning a trip to Scotland this summer and I want a guarantee that I will come back with pictures like yours.

noe847

I want to see more of your photos! And I know you have lots more