jj100

Thanks janisj. Neist Point looks fantastic. However, It probably won't fit into our schedule. This tour only leaves on Mondays. I have to ensure I take into account everything my son wants to do.

I think you are right about using Edinburgh as our tour base though. Thanks.

janisj

oops -- left off the link to the Edinburgh tour . . .

here it is:

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

PalenQ

I think you are right about using Edinburgh as our tour base though. Thanks.> janis is right about everything - one of the real British/Scottish experts who is not only a peripathetic peregrinator in the U K but also does research about questions like yours - a Godsend to have someone to consult like that.

jj100

Thank you! Thank you! I am getting close to having my itinerary mapped out but I have one more question. If I have 4 days to join Rabbies tours (but can't do the 4 day one Janis mentioned because of the Monday only departure), what would be the best use of our time? We like the beautiful scenery, visiting castles, and my son REALLY wants to visit a distillery. Should we do the 3 day Skye tour + a day tour or a couple of other tours might be better use of our days?
Thanks again.

jj100

While looking at the Timberbush tours (since there was one route I likely slightly better than Rabbies), they didn't specify max size so I asked them and now I am definitely going with Rabbies since all of Rabbies tours are 16 max. This is Timberbush's response to my e-mail:

Thank you for your enquiry, the maximum number of people we have on our tours depends on the tour and also on if you are taking the tour from Edinburgh or Glasgow. From Edinburgh we tend to run with the following capacities:-

Loch Ness, Glencoe & The Highlands tour - 36 Seater coaches
Loch Lomond, The Trossachs & Stirling Castle - 29 Seater coaches
West Highland Lochs, Mountains & Castles - 29 Seater coaches
Rosslyn Chapel, Scottish Borders & Glenkinchie Distillery - 16 Seater coaches
Highland Whisky, Woodland & Waterfalls - 16 Seater coaches
St. Andrews & The Fishing Villages of Fife - 16 Seater coaches
Holy Island, Bamburgh & Alnwick Castle - 16 Seater coaches
From Glasgow we tend to run our tours with 16 or 19 Seater coaches

On our extended tours - our 2 & 3 days tours we tend to run them on 16 or 29 seat coaches

If we get additional demand for a tour we might increase the capacity and either put an additional coach on or allocate a larger coach for that tour

MiamiBeachMomma

Did you notice comparing the 3 days tours of Rabbies and Timberbush that Timberbush has a much lower price? Wondering if that has to do with the possiblity of the larger tour group on Timberbush.

Anyone know?

jj100

Actually its not that much more. Rabbies advertises a range of 119-149 and Timberbush advertises 110. However, it looks like its just based on peak time of year (like anything else). I entered the dates I was planning on taking that tour in August - Rabbies is 139 and Timberbush is 133.I think it might be a wee bit of deceptive advertising on Timberbush's part (in my opinion).

MiamiBeachMomma

jj - You are right!!! I hadnt put the dates in!!

carolyn

Just to add to the confusion, here are some other tour companies:

Haggis Adventures
Highland Experience
Heart of Scotland Tours
Real Scottish Journeys
The Hairy Coo (free day trip)

I don't have any recommendations for you. I'm looking at day trips myself for our week in September. Someone on Fodor's recommended the Hairy Coo venture very highly.

PalenQ

If undecided all those tours can be booked thru the Waverly Station Tourist Information Center - actually on Princess Street on top of the station far below. At least last time I was there they were booking on the spot several such tours. I assume that if tours pass the TIC scrutiny they are probably on the up and up in delivering promised services.

jj100

What is a good Whisky Distillery in the Edinburgh area that is easily accessible by public transit or walking? Although I don't drink whisky, this is high on my son's TO DO list in Scotland. I don't know one whisky from another but if there is a more popular distillery nearby that would be even better.

janisj

there aren't many distilleries near Edinburgh - but the Scotch Whisky Experience is very near the Castle on the Royal Mile.

He might be interested in this tour (you could take a different tour since you aren't big into Whisky) http://www.rabbies.com/tours_scotlan...our.asp?lng=en

But here is a 1-day tour you could both take http://www.rabbies.com/tours_scotlan...our.asp?lng=en Enough of interest for both of you.

Glenkinchie near Pencaitland is the nearest single malt distillery - but IMO the product is not worth the time/effort to get there.

Gordon_R

You could also travel under your own steam by train from Edinburgh Waverley to Pitlochry (1h45m) and see the Blair Athol distillery featured on the 1-day Rabbies tour. The 2nd class return train fare is less than half the price that Rabbies charge and you get to take the train over the iconic Forth Bridge. Plus the flexibility to come and go as you please.

If the weather is good, get a local taxi to run you up to the Queen's View and back (about 4 miles each way). While in Pitlochry go and see the salmon ladder built into the dam and the Festival Theatre.

janisj

True - but the Rabbies tours do include other sites, not just the distillery.

W/ so little time in Scotland I'd want to make the most of the short time I had . . . Not spend a whole day to visit just one distillery.

PalenQ

How many free drinks does a distillery give out? One tour could be enough?

and for the not in the know are all distillery tours about the same - like Champagne tours in Reims/Epernay or are some unique - I have never done a whisk(e)y tour in Scotland so am tagging on here with this question? If I only did one or two what would you recommend - easiness of transportation from train lines would help. Like those easily accessible by public transit - not group tour from Edinburgh.

jj100

I am having difficulty planning my itinerary (once again). As I read posts on this forum and research activities/locations in Scotland, the more I want to do in our limited time there. I have removed London from our Itinerary.

This is our tentative itinerary:
day 1 arrive in Cardiff. Cardiff Castle (if we are not too jet lagged)
day 2 See Wales Tour 2 "Romans and Ruins"
day 3 See Wales Tour 3 "Golden Gower"
day 4 train to Edinburgh, Scotch Whiskey Experience, Edinburgh Castle
day 5 The Hairy Coo free Scottish Highlands tour
day 6 Military Tattoo
day 7 Rabbies Highland Lochs, Glens & Whisky Day Tour
days 8, 9, 10 Rabbies 3 day Skye Tour
day 11
day 12 return to USA

What do you think? Suggestion for days 6 (during day) and 11? I am possibly thinking about something a bit more leisurely/not as rushed (or not).

Some thoughts:
day trip to Glasgow (suggestions on stuff to do there)
day trip to St. Andrews by public transit
day trip to Stirling Castle by rail (is the interior of the castle worth it? Hairy Coo tour gets close enough for exterior pictures)
Visit other places of interest in Edinburgh
Thanks.

Gordon_R

No doubt some round here will think it's sacrilege to drop London, but I'm not one of them. You've been before and there is so much more to see in these islands. In particular, there are plenty of things to see <i>in</i> Edinburgh on your Days 6 and 11. Just a few ideas:-

Palace of Holyroodhouse (Queen's official residence in Scotland)
Royal Yacht Britannia
Museum of Scotland
Real Mary King's Close
Tour Scottish Parliament (must be pre-booked)
Botannic gardens
Climb to top of Arthur's Seat / Salisbury Crags for amazing views over the most beautiful city in the British Isles.
Scottish National Gallery

By the way, the Scotch Whisky Experience (note correct Scottish spelling of Whisky) is OK but really touristy. If you are going to visit a real distillery another day on your trip, I'd suggest dropping the SWE.
etc. etc.

PalenQ

the Scotch whisky experience yes to me was tacky and something more out of a carnival than anything else - you ride in an old whisky barrel thru some panoramas with recorded spiels - I did like the guide at the end where they show the materials for making the Water of Life saying why after aging the whisky barrels were not as full as they were went they started aging - 'tis the angels portion' the guide said - explaining the natural seepage out thru the oak barrels! But it sounded cute.

Like Gordon says the ride is OK for what it is - but in n way a substitute for a real whisky tour.

jj100

Thank you Gordon and PalenQ.I will remove the SWE from the itinerary and thanks Gordon for the Edinburgh suggestions. Arthur's Seat sounds great but unfortunately I don't think I can handle that climb. I will research the other attractions in Edinburgh though.

I looked at my itinerary again and it turns out I have an additional free day in Edinburgh. I am looking at:
Rabbies "St Andrews & the Fishing Villages of Fife" day tour
Rabbies "West Highland Lochs & Castles" day tour
Highland Experience Castles, Lochs & Whisky Tour, which will allow us touring Stirling Castle and allow my son to visit a different distillery.

I really wish we had more time because there is so much to see. Of these three tours, is there any strong recommendation one way or another? Any other suggestions?

Thanks again.

janisj

I personally wouldn't do Stirling castle on a tour - it is massive and if you are at all interested in looking around -- you simply don't have enough time on a group tour. It is VERY easy to do as a day trip on your own -- quick train ride from Edinburgh to Stirling - then you'll probably want to take a cab up to the castle since it is quite a climb.

So -- St Andrews and the fishing villages would probably be my choice since it is entirely different than other things you'll see during your trip. St Andrews, Crail, Anstruther - especially if the weather is at all decent would be a really lovely day trip.