Looking for travel suggestions. My husband and I are traveling to Scotland for the Military Tatoo in August. We are planning on a nine day trip - which includes travel time. Our tickets to the Tatoo are for a Thursday evening. We do not have airline tickets yet - therefore we are very open to starting or ending our trip in Edinburgh.
We would like to also inlude Isle of Syke and Kyle Lochalsh.

So.... any tips on airlines ( we'll be flying out of Boston) - accommodations, etc. would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

With your new info and adding to what I posted to your other thread . . . .

OK - since you don't yet have your air tickets I would plan on flying into Edinburgh on Tues or Wed and stay there until Friday. That way you are recovering from the jet lag w/o driving. A BIG advantage. And you don't want a late night event the day you arrive - could just be too exhausting.

Then on Friday pick up a rental car - There are really 3 good ways you could do this: in central Edinburgh; out at Edinburgh Airport which is a cheap/short shuttle bus ride from the city center; or even take the train to somewhere like Inverness and pick up the car there.

If you did take the train to I'ness you could then spend the rest of your time touring south and west through some amazing country including Glen Carron, Lochalsh, Skye, Glencoe then through the trossachs/Stirling and back to Edinburgh airport to drop the car and fly out.

I would plan on at least 2 days on Skye but your 9 days only allows 7 days for touring (you'll lose 2 days traveling to/from Scotland). If that includes 3 days in Edinburgh you are pretty limited in how much you can manage.

So you might cut Edinburgh to 2 days/nights (arrive on Wed) and squeeze out an extra day for the west.

Went to opening day of the Military Tattoo in 1998.

In a word it was OUTSTANDING!

You don't day where you are coming from but I would never go to Scotland without taking a run through the Lowlands. The area around Melrose has so many lovely old castles and it's such a beautiful area.

On the East coast we really enjoyed Glamis Castle (the childhood home of the Queen Mother) beyond that you will have lots of suggestions for the Highland areas where everyone seems to want to go now. I totally agree it's rugged and beautiful but I'd never want to have gone to Scotland and missed out on the Lowlands......they really are beautiful.

Timlin: You are right about the Lowlands/Borders and east coast being really lovely, and for another trip they are excellent suggestions. However, since the OP has a total of just <b>7 days</b> and wants to go to Edinburgh, Skye and the west coast, there simply isn't time to see places in the opposite direction.

Great information. Unfortunately we are limited on our length of stay - therefore will have to focus on the west coast.

Any addtional tips on accommodations or attractions for Edinburgh and the Highlands ?
Keep the ideas coming ! This is very helpful.

Book your accommodation in Edinburgh *as soon as possible* : it gets very booked up during in August &amp; many places impose a 3 night minimum stay. If you give us an idea of your budget we can make some suggestions.

What date are your Tattoo tickets booked ?

Continental fly direct from Newark (I think) to Edinburgh; otherwise you'll need to take a connecting flight from Heathrow : I've no idea but maybe it would be easier for you to change in the US ?

I am also going to Edinburgh in August, for the Fringe (my son is performing in an a cappella group and maybe a play also)and Tattoo.

I'd love to get some information from those in the know about the area of Edinburgh that would be convenient for the Fringe events and not too far from the Tattoo (accommodations).

In addition, looking to find out what other destinations are relatively close to Edinburgh - I'm particularly interested in lakes, highlands, and historical sites. And are any of them reachable by bus or train?

This will be my third trip to the UK, but I'm still leary of driving.

All of the above postings are filled with great ideas. I would encourage you not to skimp on your time in Edinburgh. There is lots to see there and in August the town is alive with the festivals ( 5 to be exact). We lived there several years ago and try to go back each year to the festival. It's an experience not to be missed. But you must get a place to stay now. For the person going to see their son at the festival, if you are going to be there for more than a week I would recommend considering renting a flat. On the edfringe.com website there is a bulletin board for flat rentals. For a shorter stay there is a nice inexpensive generic place close in called the Premier Travel Lodge City Center Lauriston. Do not go to any other Premeir Travel Lodges in Edinburgh. If that is already booked there are many other hotels and many many B&amp;B's. My recommedation is to be close in,don't bring your car- there is NO place to park - and walk. Edinburgh is a fabulous city to walk around in. In addition to the festivals and the Tattoo, don't miss the castle, the Holyrood Palace, the National Gallery of Scotland, the Musuem of Scotland, Gladstones Landings,Royal Mile, if you like gardens the Royal Botanic Garden (a bus ride from the center) and the Princes Street Gardens. Our favorite out of the way restaurant is Sweet Melindas 11 Roseneath St. on the other side of the Meadows. All restaurants require evening reservations during August. Our favorite guide for all of Scotland is &quot;Scotland the Best&quot; it's organized in an unusual fashion but once you get it, it's always had the best advice. You are going to have a wonderful trip where ever you go!