Clueless about Scotland, please help :)
 

My son will graduate from college in December and he has always dreamed of going to Scotland. (We would want the trip to be in spring). We have no idea where to start planning a hiking/biking/student type trip. Perhaps a guided trip would be great with a small group. We'd like to surprise him. We have a limited budget. Thanks.

Are you talking about him going solo or you traveling w/ him. Not that it matters all that much -- but logistics could be different. For instance renting a car or using all public transport.

Also how long would the trip be - and by "Spring" do you have any idea when. There is a lot of difference between say - March, and June.

There are several Scotland pros on here including a few who live there so you can get a LOT of really well informed advice.

there is amazing hiking all over the country - Everything from a mountain practically in the center of Edinburgh (Arthur's Seat), to back country type areas on Skye, to -- well just LOTs of places.

. In general - biking in Scotland isn't really a viable mode of transport since the distances are pretty far. But one can take trains and take a bike along or hire them locally to ride.

Where to start? : Tell us how long, and when and can help you work out an itinerary.

I would be VERY inclined to suggest (if he's going on his own) that he uses one of the min-bus companies based out of Edinburgh- Rabbie's Trailburners, Mac's Backpackers, Timberbush etc.

Have a look at their websites and see what different offerings they have.

I think, however, it will depend on your emphasis, and there are people running specialist stuff for walkers and cyclists.

Get back if you need to contact some of them.

Some Scottish trips :

http://www.trailfinders.com/media.ns...F!opendocument

http://www.unique-cottages.co.uk/gui...etting_around/

http://www.haggisadventures.com/?gcl...FQEwlAodvSai6w

I would like to suggest that you buy your son a ticket and then turn him loose with a limited amount of money. He is a university graduate, an adult, and he will gain a lot by being on his own.

When our son was 17, right after he graduated from high school but before he started college, we put him on the plane to Glasgow from Boston (not without worry, I assure you). He then made his way to the beginning of the West Highland Way outside Glasgow and walked the trail to Ft William, about 140 miles through mountains, along lochs, and across the edge of Rannock Moor.

He started alone but soon met companions on the trail, stayed in hostels and the odd pub, and had a great trip. His only problem was our insistence that he carry a lot of foul weather/cold weather gear based on our previous experiences in Glen Coe. Hed had almost record warm weather the whole trip! When it was over, he got the train to Edinburgh, where his sister was living and toured that wonderful city.

He was an Eagle Scout and had plenty of mountain hiking experience, including some winter hiking and camping, so he was well-prepared, but this was a trip he will feel proud of for the rest of his life.

Resist the temptation to plan everything for him, resist the temptation to argue with or worry about his choices. Resist the temptation to force him into a canned trip. He is an adult; let this be his rite of passage.

I highly recommend he stay in Scottish Youth Hostals. I (far from a youth) stayed in one just last week and can say the organization is extremely well run and they have properties all over Scotland. I stayed in Edinburgh Metro but that is only open in July and August (it's a dorm, and has single, lockable rooms) but there are several other more traditional youth hostals in Edinburgh and everywhere else in Scotland. People of all ages stay in them. A woman in my flat, who was over 70,and originally from Edinburgh, told me that she stayed in them her whole life, from when she had young kids up till now.

I would suggest you just give him the airline ticket, a hostal membership (some, not all require you to be a member, but it's only a few ponds) and a good guidebook. But even if you/he don't want to plan alot ahead of time, there are tons of tours that leave from Edinburgh - one day up to week long, some with hostal type accomodation and some with B&B type. Obviously it would be a bit cheaper to take trains on your own. However, having been there using only public transportation to get around I would say the best way to see Scotland is with a car.

Waiting to hear back from the OP before suggesting some other ideas -- but our friend jeremy62 has popped up once again w/ an ad for his rental flat.

Jeremy, honey -- <u>advertising is still not allowed</u>

EVERYONE!!
I am jumping up and down with excitement. Am going to go through ALL your information and suggestions and then figure out from there. (Son has gone on survival trips to Canada and worked on the Great Lakes so he's a very independent type and in good shape). (He would be going alone and the time probably depends on the job outlook then). We definitely don't want to plan every moment for him but having never been to Scotland, I had NO ideas.
Thanks again!!! I will report back and will have more questions.

Dear janisi: Have you looked into Bespoke Highland Tours. Can't remember the web addresss, however if you key in Bespoke Highland Tours it should come up. The gentleman who runs it did a wonderful job fo us. Good Luck

travellust--what a terrific present for your son! I'm storing the idea away for 10 years from now when I have a college graduate...

janisj--just wanted you to know that I have reported jeremy62 to Fodors editors. If all of us who have businesses/rental homes promoted them on the talk site, not much &quot;talking&quot; would ever get done!