We would like to take a day trip from Edinburgh to Stirling, Bannockburn ( maybe on the return) Callendar or Aberfoyle. We have already explored Edinburgh on a previous trip but we are in Edinburgh for a couple of days before we fly home to Oz and want to see Stirling Castle and a bit of the highlands (even a small bit) before we go. Next trip will be in the highlands going down into England. Is there any advise on what else to see etc?
Appreciate your opinion.

Deb

We're going to do this day tour from Edinburgh:

http://www.rabbies.com/scottish_tour...our.asp?lng=en

Maybe looking over their itinerary will give you some ideas.

I would think you'd struggle to do justice to Stirling Castle AND take in the Trossachs.

Linlithgow Palace, Stirling castle, Bannockburn, Doune Castle, Castle Campbell, Culross and Dunfermilne Abbey would be one good round tour.

Another would be the Trossachs.

Thank you for your response. I think you are right Sheila, we have a car and prefer not to do a tour. While they can be good I have done a few and they can be restricting.

Did not think of taking in the others you mentioned. Better get my map out and get a plan going.

Thanks again Deb

Feel free to revert with more questions

Just to clarify, I wasn't suggesting that you take a tour. Just thought the itinerary of the tour might give you some ideas as to where you'd like to drive. Believe me, if my husband were going to be with us, I'd prefer to be in a car too! But I'm not an adventurous driver and it's a short trip.

CAPH52 - I hope you don't think you are visiting all those places on that day tour.

The only stops where one gets off the bus are in Stirling (though entry to the castle is not included which seems weird to me), lunch/shopping in Aberfoyle (probably at the wool centre) and Inversnaid. Inversnaid is "the end of the road" at Loch Lomond and there is nothing there except for the hotel and views across the loch.

You will not see (except in the distance from either the moving coach or the top of Stirling castle) Bannockburn, the Wallace Monument, Linlithgow, or much of anything else.

No, Janis, I wasn't expecting to stop at all of the places mentioned. I think the description on the web site is pretty clear on which are stops and which are places the bus passes. Besides, the tour lasts less than 9 hours! (And I read Sallyky's wonderful description of the tour on her trip report.)

As for the castle admission not being included, I was actually kind of glad as it's one more chance to use our Heritage Passes!

Just so you know - some of them aren't even "pass by on the bus" places. You travel "through the historic area of Linlithgowshire, close to the historic palace" - on the motorway outside of town. And The Wallace Memorial will be seen a couple of miles off in the distance from the walls of the castle.

You are going to spend about 90 minutes at the Wool Center shopping for trinkets and eating basically cafeteria food.

Not trying to talk you out of the tour -- honest. But you <i>might</i> consider just going to Stirling on your own on the train and save some ££ (and still use your GBHP's)

(debstajm - Sorry to hijack things a bit)

Janis, I appreciate your advice (though it would have been more helpful on my thread asking about tours). However, the tour has been booked.

CAPH: "<i>it would have been more helpful on my thread asking about tours</i>" Sorry, but you do have so many posts out there, it is sort of hard to keep track of all of them.

"Sorry, but you do have so many posts out there, it is sort of hard to keep track of all of them."

Yes, Janis, when I want/need advice, I ask for it. Forgive me if I've misunderstood during the four and half years that I've been posting here, but I thought that was the purpose of this board. Having benefited so much from the questions other ask, I'd like to think that once in a while someone else is helped by one of my questions.

And I'm sorry if my response offended you. But, for nearly two months, I posted on a thread <i>asking</i> for advice on day tours from Edinburgh. Based largely on the very kindly offered advice on that thread, I booked said tour. It's very frustrating, at this point, to be given <i>unasked for</i> and very condescending advice telling me that the tour I've booked is a waste of money.

Janis, you're a great resource on this board. Your <i>solicited</i> helpful advice is invaluable. But surely you must realize that when <i>unsolicited</i> and harshly given, it's not always going to be well received.

Meanwhile, the next time I read a post asking for advice and think I can make a suggestion that might be helpful, I believe I'll sit on my hands. As I've seen you remark on Fodor's, Janis, no good deed goes unpunished.

what the heck are you talking about!? What was harsh?? I am sincerely curious. You said my post would have been more helpful if I had posted it in the "right place". Well - you have LOTS and LOTS of threads/posts. I don't read every thread - and don't follow all of them so excuse me if I missed one of yours.

<B>You</B> brought up that tour on this thread and I commented. <u>Nothing</u> I said above was "harsh" or a personal attack - I was simply letting you know what to expect on your tour. And you jump down my throat for offering unsolicited info and not posting it in the "right" place. sheesh . . . .

Janis, I'm sincerely sorry if I misread your tone. To me, the first line of your 4/21 2:23 post came across as very condescending. You're right, I took it too personally. It's just that I had done a lot of research, this was not a decision made lightly. I realize now that your intentions were good and you didn't mean it this way. But the implication in that first line was that I must not understand the tour I'd booked. And, considering that I had <i>mentioned</i> the tour, <i>not</i> asked for advice, I felt somewhat blind-sided.

As has been discussed here many times, sometimes when words are read rather than heard, they come across with a much different tone.

Again, I realize your intentions were good and I appreciate that.

Janis, you made me smile when you quoted 'Linlithgowshire'.

Goodness me. The operators must think it makes the tour sound more romantic. I think it is almost 100 years since that was used officially to describe the district. You'll still enjoy it CAPH52.

Bill

Thanks, Bill!

Janis, I don't know if you're still following this thread. But this has been bothering me a lot. I truly <i>do</i> realize that you were trying to help. I should <I>not</I> have snapped at you. My sincere apologies.

Hello everyone
dear CAPH52 I understand what you mean in regards of checking out the route for that tour and actually did but I would need to know if there was anything in between that is worth seeing to make a good day. Thats why I presented my enquiry the way I did, we must be on the same wave length. So I thank you for your suggestion. I know things can be miss understood when you putanswers into typed words as you cannot put a laugh behind it or a pitch, I have been there on a previous entry. Janis has helped me heapsssssssssssss on previous trips as have others thats why I love this site. But you take what appeals, applies and use your gut. Sheila came up with a great suggestion that I did not think of and frankly I should know if I want to get into the highlands it is better to do it justice and do it on its own. Might have to get a divorce my husband may run out of patience with me travelling, mine you he has come on the last 2 trips and loved it. I will have to post my last trip and that may inturn may help others. So in short I get excited when I get a response no matter how small because it gives you food for thought. Have a terrific trip CAPH52 and thanks everyone.

Thanks for the good wishes, debstajm. And good luck to you with your planning!