Edinburgh and Scotland experts—comments on itinerary (beta version!)
Feb 4th, 2016, 05:15 PM
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Edinburgh and Scotland experts—comments on itinerary (beta version!)
DH and I will be in Edinburgh in October, arriving early Sunday and leaving early the following Sunday, so we have 7 full days (provided no issues with arrival!). We were able to use points so staying for $0.00/£0.00 at the Hilton Edinburgh Grosvenor which is right across from the Haymarket Station, it looks like. So hotel is a done deal.
DH does not want to rent a car except perhaps for one day trip, so we will be relying mostly on public transportation and will be spending each night in Edinburgh.
We are about 60, healthy but not used to walking hills, are not technically “foodies,” love to take photos, don’t care about extensive shopping, and will probably not want to be out very late. We love history and scenery; I have some Scottish ancestry, but I don’t know extensive details. I was in Edinburgh for one long, full day in 2013 with a group of students and can’t wait to revisit with DH what I saw then (plus lots more).
I’d appreciate comments on the schedule I’ve come up with so far.
<b>Sunday—Arrival and settling in. Then depending on weather, our actual arrival time, and how we feel, we will walk as much as we can. </b>
• I have a walk mapped out through <b>Dean Village into the New Town area, perhaps a short visit inside the Georgian House, down Prince’s Street and then up Calton Hill.</b> This is about 4 miles (if we take the tram or a bus back from around York Place), which is less than we’ve done on arrival in other cities like Frankfurt or London or Madrid, so it doesn’t sound like too much for us if all factors are fine.
<b>Monday—Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile, with definite stops in St. Giles Cathedral and the Writers Museum, with other stops and shops along the way. </b>
• I know there are tons of things to choose from and some side streets to explore; after the Castle, we’d explore the Royal Mile area as much as we felt like.
<b>Tuesday—Timberbush Tour to the Highlands—8-8:30 so a long day</b>.
• I compared this with Rabbies; Timberbush seems to actually stop at Urquhart Castle, which is a selling point and off-sets the possibility of having a bigger group than on a Rabbies tour. Rabbies to the Highlands would be an alternative. But this would be the long-bus-ride day—I really want to have a glimpse of the Highland area, and a tour group is the only way this year.
<b>Wednesday—After our long day, we’d take it a bit easy and see what we could in Edinburgh. </b>
• If we hadn’t yet made it to Calton Hill and/or Dean Village, they’d be priorities.
• I’d like to see the Museum of Scotland.
• And there are several walking tours that we might look into. This is a rather un-planned day, as it somewhat depends on what we didn’t get to Sunday and Monday.
<b>Thursday—Rent a car and drive to Inveraray Castle, a drive that takes us on the banks of Loch Lomand and through part of the Trossachs</b>
This was a castle we both wanted to visit as I have some Campbells in my background. (My cousin, who by his caber-tossing-prowess has won some American Highland Games competitions and thus competed in Scotland’s Highland games, told me to be careful to whom I admit Campbell connections—Ha!—but I’d like to see this castle anyway!)
<b>Friday—Train ride to Stirling Castle</b>
• Stirling Castle was high on my list this time, and I looked at Rabbies. But if we rent a car ourselves for the day trip to Inveraray, we could just do Stirling on our own. It would be a more leisurely day with a train about 9:30 or 10 with a return at 2 or 3.
• If there was something important we had not gotten to in Edinburgh, we’d try to be back by mid-afternoon.
<b>Saturday—Train and then …bus? HOHO bus? Walk?...to Abbotsford House</b>
• I like Sir Walter Scott’s work pretty well, and the house and grounds look pretty. Then when I realized that my relative, early 19th C. novelist Maria Edgeworth, had visited that House (Scott acknowledged her influence on his Waverly novels), I feel I really “have” to go!
Any comments about the sites, transport options, tour group companies, etc., would be most appreciated.
DH does not want to rent a car except perhaps for one day trip, so we will be relying mostly on public transportation and will be spending each night in Edinburgh.
We are about 60, healthy but not used to walking hills, are not technically “foodies,” love to take photos, don’t care about extensive shopping, and will probably not want to be out very late. We love history and scenery; I have some Scottish ancestry, but I don’t know extensive details. I was in Edinburgh for one long, full day in 2013 with a group of students and can’t wait to revisit with DH what I saw then (plus lots more).
I’d appreciate comments on the schedule I’ve come up with so far.
<b>Sunday—Arrival and settling in. Then depending on weather, our actual arrival time, and how we feel, we will walk as much as we can. </b>
• I have a walk mapped out through <b>Dean Village into the New Town area, perhaps a short visit inside the Georgian House, down Prince’s Street and then up Calton Hill.</b> This is about 4 miles (if we take the tram or a bus back from around York Place), which is less than we’ve done on arrival in other cities like Frankfurt or London or Madrid, so it doesn’t sound like too much for us if all factors are fine.
<b>Monday—Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile, with definite stops in St. Giles Cathedral and the Writers Museum, with other stops and shops along the way. </b>
• I know there are tons of things to choose from and some side streets to explore; after the Castle, we’d explore the Royal Mile area as much as we felt like.
<b>Tuesday—Timberbush Tour to the Highlands—8-8:30 so a long day</b>.
• I compared this with Rabbies; Timberbush seems to actually stop at Urquhart Castle, which is a selling point and off-sets the possibility of having a bigger group than on a Rabbies tour. Rabbies to the Highlands would be an alternative. But this would be the long-bus-ride day—I really want to have a glimpse of the Highland area, and a tour group is the only way this year.
<b>Wednesday—After our long day, we’d take it a bit easy and see what we could in Edinburgh. </b>
• If we hadn’t yet made it to Calton Hill and/or Dean Village, they’d be priorities.
• I’d like to see the Museum of Scotland.
• And there are several walking tours that we might look into. This is a rather un-planned day, as it somewhat depends on what we didn’t get to Sunday and Monday.
<b>Thursday—Rent a car and drive to Inveraray Castle, a drive that takes us on the banks of Loch Lomand and through part of the Trossachs</b>
This was a castle we both wanted to visit as I have some Campbells in my background. (My cousin, who by his caber-tossing-prowess has won some American Highland Games competitions and thus competed in Scotland’s Highland games, told me to be careful to whom I admit Campbell connections—Ha!—but I’d like to see this castle anyway!)
<b>Friday—Train ride to Stirling Castle</b>
• Stirling Castle was high on my list this time, and I looked at Rabbies. But if we rent a car ourselves for the day trip to Inveraray, we could just do Stirling on our own. It would be a more leisurely day with a train about 9:30 or 10 with a return at 2 or 3.
• If there was something important we had not gotten to in Edinburgh, we’d try to be back by mid-afternoon.
<b>Saturday—Train and then …bus? HOHO bus? Walk?...to Abbotsford House</b>
• I like Sir Walter Scott’s work pretty well, and the house and grounds look pretty. Then when I realized that my relative, early 19th C. novelist Maria Edgeworth, had visited that House (Scott acknowledged her influence on his Waverly novels), I feel I really “have” to go!
Any comments about the sites, transport options, tour group companies, etc., would be most appreciated.
Feb 5th, 2016, 02:41 AM
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Thursday will be a long day with a long drive. You will find a lot of interesting things along the way, but probably you will not have time and energy to see it.
For Friday, you probably do not need more time for Edinburgh.
Since you are in the area: We found Lake of Menteith very beautiful, with the ruined Inchmahome Priory on an island in the middle of the lake.
Also, on Loch Katrine, you may enjoy a real old-time steamboat ride with the SS Sir Walter Scott.
This all said, it might be a good idea to take a rental car for Friday too. In order to reduce driving, you might even consider staying overnight in the Loch Lomond/Trossachs area, maybe in this one: http://www.qhotels.co.uk/our-locations/cameron-house/
For Friday, you probably do not need more time for Edinburgh.
Since you are in the area: We found Lake of Menteith very beautiful, with the ruined Inchmahome Priory on an island in the middle of the lake.
Also, on Loch Katrine, you may enjoy a real old-time steamboat ride with the SS Sir Walter Scott.
This all said, it might be a good idea to take a rental car for Friday too. In order to reduce driving, you might even consider staying overnight in the Loch Lomond/Trossachs area, maybe in this one: http://www.qhotels.co.uk/our-locations/cameron-house/
Feb 5th, 2016, 05:58 AM
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Thanks, traveller; the thought did occur to me to stay overnight, keeping the room in Edinburgh which is free anyway. Will have to see what DH thinks.
Anyone else have input on any of the sites we're considering, or experience with that Timberbush tour?
Anyone else have input on any of the sites we're considering, or experience with that Timberbush tour?
Feb 5th, 2016, 06:33 AM
#4
In my view you're turning yourselves into pretzels in order to avoid paying for a night outside of Edinburgh. The Timberbrush tour sounds like a grueling day, and remember too that in October daylight will be getting quite short (after all you're at the same latitude as Juneau, Alaska) and rain <i>does</i> fall.
Just as a thought experiment, look at this route - https://goo.gl/maps/pMvALhCVDn52 - which could be done in either direction from/to Edinburgh airport. It features Stirling, the Rannoch Moor and Glen Coe, but also Oban, the remarkable little village of Kilmartin with its prehistoric monuments, Inveraray, and Loch Lomond. No, it doesn't include Loch Ness or Urquhart Castle, but - and this is my opinion but I know one shared by many - that's not a particularly great loss.
This is a trip easily accomplished in two days, and by having a car you have the flexibility to stop when and where YOU want, take the odd side or spur road (for example gorgeous Glen Etive just south of Glen Coe - http://gardyloo.us/20130613_71Hs.jpg .) I'd imagine the savings achieved by skipping the Timberbrush tour and the cost of a good hotel in the Highlands would be a wash, and you might be money ahead. But the benefit would be the ability get a better feel for this amazing region of planet Earth.
Just a suggestion.
Just as a thought experiment, look at this route - https://goo.gl/maps/pMvALhCVDn52 - which could be done in either direction from/to Edinburgh airport. It features Stirling, the Rannoch Moor and Glen Coe, but also Oban, the remarkable little village of Kilmartin with its prehistoric monuments, Inveraray, and Loch Lomond. No, it doesn't include Loch Ness or Urquhart Castle, but - and this is my opinion but I know one shared by many - that's not a particularly great loss.
This is a trip easily accomplished in two days, and by having a car you have the flexibility to stop when and where YOU want, take the odd side or spur road (for example gorgeous Glen Etive just south of Glen Coe - http://gardyloo.us/20130613_71Hs.jpg .) I'd imagine the savings achieved by skipping the Timberbrush tour and the cost of a good hotel in the Highlands would be a wash, and you might be money ahead. But the benefit would be the ability get a better feel for this amazing region of planet Earth.
Just a suggestion.
Feb 5th, 2016, 07:16 AM
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The HoHo bus will be worthless after spending all that time in Edinburgh. Just a regular bus will suffice. Why shell out the extra?
<<healthy but not used to walking hills>>
Then prep for the trip by doing some longer walks with moderate hills or something. Edinburgh's old town is on a hill and the city has about 50,000 hills that all go up (this may be an exaggeration).
<<healthy but not used to walking hills>>
Then prep for the trip by doing some longer walks with moderate hills or something. Edinburgh's old town is on a hill and the city has about 50,000 hills that all go up (this may be an exaggeration).
Feb 5th, 2016, 07:39 AM
#6
If you are willing to drive to Inveraray -- then you really should think about a two night jaunt instead of zigzagging back and forth to Edinburgh.
I like Gardyloo's route -- except I'd divert from the Alexandria area east through Drymen and to Aberfoyle to see Inchmahome Priory in the Lake of Menteith. Then back to EDI.
There is a new rail line into the Borders -- but I'd drive. Abbotsford and a couple of the Border abbeys, say Melrose and Dryburgh could be very easily done in one day -- a total of less than three hours driving plus the visits. So only about 7 hours all in.
I like Gardyloo's route -- except I'd divert from the Alexandria area east through Drymen and to Aberfoyle to see Inchmahome Priory in the Lake of Menteith. Then back to EDI.
There is a new rail line into the Borders -- but I'd drive. Abbotsford and a couple of the Border abbeys, say Melrose and Dryburgh could be very easily done in one day -- a total of less than three hours driving plus the visits. So only about 7 hours all in.
Feb 5th, 2016, 08:49 AM
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Thanks, all--we know we have set ourselves some confining limits by deciding to use the points for the hotel and not travel so much; good ideas to consider, so thanks. I'm pretty sure DH will NOT be interested in driving much; it's supposed to be a bit of a vacation for him, so the amount we will try to do will be less than we have done on other packed trips.
Good things to consider.
BigRuss--about the HOHO--it's ONLY in regards to getting to Abbotsford. I would normally never consider a HOHO bus, but this is one way to get easily from the train station to the House, a mile or so away, and then back to the train station OR could ride it around a bit, too, for a look at some of the Border area including a 4 minute (ha!!) stop at Scott's View. So it's just an alternative to walking or trying to figure out local bus schedule ONLY to get to and from Abbotsford House from the station.
And yeah, we will have our flat-land-walking legs exercised before we go for sure. In E'burgh with my students, as we walked the Royal Mile in quite a crowd, when we got a little past Knox's House, near some yogurt shop, we finally realized that we were missing one kid and I walked in a hustle all the way UP to St. Giles, where he was waiting at the last place we'd been together as instructed, the all the way BACK DOWN to join them, then we all walked UP and DOWN Calton Hill. So yep, it's a hilly place to be prepared for!
Good things to consider.
BigRuss--about the HOHO--it's ONLY in regards to getting to Abbotsford. I would normally never consider a HOHO bus, but this is one way to get easily from the train station to the House, a mile or so away, and then back to the train station OR could ride it around a bit, too, for a look at some of the Border area including a 4 minute (ha!!) stop at Scott's View. So it's just an alternative to walking or trying to figure out local bus schedule ONLY to get to and from Abbotsford House from the station.
And yeah, we will have our flat-land-walking legs exercised before we go for sure. In E'burgh with my students, as we walked the Royal Mile in quite a crowd, when we got a little past Knox's House, near some yogurt shop, we finally realized that we were missing one kid and I walked in a hustle all the way UP to St. Giles, where he was waiting at the last place we'd been together as instructed, the all the way BACK DOWN to join them, then we all walked UP and DOWN Calton Hill. So yep, it's a hilly place to be prepared for!
Feb 5th, 2016, 12:02 PM
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Thanks, Suzie--St. Andrews was on my short list but got bumped when I found out some personal connection with Abbotsford House; with only 7 days on the ground, it's already pushing DH who wants a relaxed pace to have 4 day trips, esp. if one of them has him driving.
We knew there would be too much to fit in and a temptation to over-pack our days and end up exhausted. So---I know we will enjoy what we see and second guess ourselves at the same time!
Anybody out there BEEN to Abbotsford House?
We knew there would be too much to fit in and a temptation to over-pack our days and end up exhausted. So---I know we will enjoy what we see and second guess ourselves at the same time!
Anybody out there BEEN to Abbotsford House?
Feb 5th, 2016, 01:26 PM
#10
>>Anybody out there BEEN to Abbotsford House?<<
Yes -- 3 or 4 times. I definitely enjoyed it -- but personally wouldn't take the time unless I also fit in Melrose and/or Dryburgh and/or Traquair House (Traquair is my favorite of all four)
All four are wonderful and if it was me I'd do a driving trip there instead for Inveraray . . .
Much shorter drive BTW
Yes -- 3 or 4 times. I definitely enjoyed it -- but personally wouldn't take the time unless I also fit in Melrose and/or Dryburgh and/or Traquair House (Traquair is my favorite of all four)
All four are wonderful and if it was me I'd do a driving trip there instead for Inveraray . . .
Much shorter drive BTW
