We are going on a extended weekend trip. I have an ambitious itinerary. Do you think this is doable?

Day 1 - Arrive Dublin early morning. Dublin city all day. Fly to Prestwick airport (UK) late at night. Stay in Prestwick.
Day 2 - Leave Prestwick. Go to Edinburgh via Glasgow. Arrive around 11:00. Spend rest of afternoon and evening in Edinburgh to do some sightseeing. Stay the night.
Day 3 - Take a one day guided bus tour to the Highlands and Loch Ness. Return to Edinburgh in the evening. Stay the night.
Day 4 - spend the morning in Edinburgh for more sightseeing. Leave for Glasgow in the afternoon (around 14:00 or 15:00). Take a hop on-off bus to quicky tour Glasgow. Leave Glasgow in the evening to go home.

It is doable and would make a good brief introduction to Scotland, if you are that energetic ! I suggest you also take the hop on-hop off bus tour of Edinburgh on your first afternoon for a good overview of the city, getting off at the castle & the palace & taking tours of both (and maybe also of our beautiful new parliament building, opposite the palace) if you have time. Where in Edinburgh are you thinking of staying ? Get the train to Glasgow Queen Street - they run every 15 minutes & take 50 minutes.

Thanks Caroline. I was planning on taking the hop on-off bus tour of Edinburgh also. I am just a little worried that we won't have enough time in Edinburgh (one afternoon and one morning), but I am having a hard time resisting the Loch Ness and Highlands Tour. I am aware that we will only be able to hit the highlights of Edinburgh that way and I keep going back and forth about about cancelling the Highland/Loch Ness Tour and seeing more Edinburgh.

Well, if it's your first visit to Scotland, I can understand you wanting a look at the Highlands too; so although you obviously could spend longer in Edinburgh I think your plan will give you a nice taster. What time of year are you coming ? If it is during the winter, bear in mind that it gets dark early. Would you be able to cancel the tour if the weather was bad or you just didn't want to rear yourselves away from Edinburgh ?

If you take the train to Glasgow you will find tour buses (open top in summer) in George Square, beside your terminus - Queen St. Station.Make sure you dont get the slow train to Central station.

I beg to differ with the others -- but this is not a terribly reasonable itinerary. First of all - why fly into Prestwick on the west coast if it is Edinburgh you want to get to??? Fly directly to Edinburgh from Dublin -- will save you a lot of time and trouble. Especially since if you take the train you'd have to change stations in Glasgow.

Second -- Loch Ness IS in the Highlands -- but is certainly not the loveliest or best place to get a taste of the scenery. It is sort of an icon in many folks minds -- Nessie I guess -- but in the range of Scottish Lochs it is FAR from the prettiest.

And with the very early sunsets in the winter you would spend the ride back in the dark in the Coach.

If you simple MUST see Loch Ness, I'd fly into/out of Edinburgh, skip Glasgow this trip, and do the day trip up to L Ness but spend all the rest of your time in Edinburgh.

Hi--I also think that you should skip glasgow, It is mostly industrial, good shops but Edinburgh is so fabulous there is no comparison. Have you considered Ryanair? (Ryanair.com) They fly directly from Dublin into Edinburgh, that way you can soak up the city. Don't waste your time on flight into prestwick/overnight/ bus ride from glasgow, skip it! You definitly should do the highland tours! They are a blast. My husband calls Scotland the 'motherland' it is our favorite.

Thanks for all the responses. I guess I should have mentioned that I am flying in from Germany with Ryan Air. Prestwick is the only hub in Scotland they fly to directly form Germany. Hence my overnight in Prestwick and connection to Dublin - it didn't work any other way. After reading all your messages I am inclined to drop my Loch Ness/Highlands Tour in favor of more time in Edinburgh. I have to go back to Prestwick on day 4 in order to catch my flight back to Germany and since I have to change trains in Glasgow I figured I could quickie-tour it.

with the new info about having to use Prestwick, you are sort of stuck. But you will have time to see a good bit of Edinburgh and a little taste of Glasgow. You'll enjoy this, and if you are in Germany you can always plan a longer trip later on to really see some of the highlands/islands.

I agree with a lot of these comments. Drop Glasgow and Loch Ness.

If you can avoid it don't use Ryanair. They might be cheaper, but there is a reason for that. The opinion on their service is very mixed in the UK. What you're saving by flying into Prestwick you're loosing in added transport/accomodation.

Janis (and all others!), what in your opinion IS the loveliest or best place to get a taste of the Highland scenery? I, too, feel the need to "see Nessie," but I would also like to experience some fabulous highland scenery and gorgeous lochs!