Hello Fodorites,

We are planning our first trip to England/Scotland (we’ve been to London before, but need help with the rest).

(Our kids are 12 and 10)

So far, we have chosen the Fodor’s recommended itinerary and looks like this:

• July 25 - Arrive in London – (we’ve got the London itinerary covered).
• August 1 – Train to Manchester – (have to watch the Man’Utd game)
• August 2 – Train to York
• August 3 – Rent car in York, drive to Kendal (night in Kendal)
• August 4 to 8 - Drive covering Windermere, Ambleside, Hawkshead, Coniston, Rydal, Grasmere, Keswick and finally Cockersmouth
• August 9 to 16 – Scotland – (developing itinerary).
• August 17 – fly back from Edinburgh

Would be highly grateful for your views/suggestions, particularly on which of these towns to spend the nights in and any hotel recommendations.

Thanks,

Ahmed

What Aug 1st game? - footie season doesn't start until 11th August

Why are you going to Kendal, it isn't much further to the Lakes - or are you staying in Kendal then doing day trips into the Lakes?

Can't see the point of going to York just to go back across the country on the next day

Thanks - it's a friendly play-off with Inter-Milan.

I thought of York because it might be a slightly different experience - but I could just as well go straight to Kendal from Manchester by car/train. Kendall I just took from Fodor's recommendation as starting point - I don't know much about the area!

I would cut a day or two from the Lakes and add them to York/Yorkshire. You can see York/the Minster, Castle Howard, the Moors and a bit of the Dales. Then on to a central area in the Lakes for about 3 days.

then head up to Scotland - but w/ only a week you <b>really</b> have to be selective re how much you can see/do.

Just be aware that the fringe festival is alive and kicking in Edinburgh from the 5th to 27th August, its the biggest in Europe and most hotels will be fully booked, however Edinburgh castle is not to be missed. If you visit glasgow don't miss the art gallery and the transport museum they are only 50 yards apart and are free to enter, the kids will love it. Theres a world war 2 spitfire hanging from the ceiling

What is your budget in the Lakes - for food and hotels.

We could also give you endless suggestions for things to do in the Lakes with children.

Also Kendal is a nice market town but you should drive 15 miles further to the Lakes.

OH - yes about Edinburgh in August . . . .

You will probably have a very difficult time finding accomodations at this late date. W/ all the festivals and the Tattoo all running while you are in Scotland, Edinburgh may have to be a day trip in from someplace else. You can get in to Edinburgh easily by train from lots of areas including Stirling, Glasgow, etc. It is best not to drive in Edinburgh - but especially so at festival time.

Have you bought your tickets for the Man U game?

Thanks all,

We've taken a bit of a U-turn (after reading up a fair bit!) and have decided to start in Scotland and end in London.

We start with 2 nights in Edinburgh on July 25 and then on to Inverness for 5 days (we thought it might be easier to stay in one place and take day trips to explore) and then trek to Manchester on August 1 (got the tickets!)

After that, we head to Windersmere and again, we stay there for 5 days (explore by day trips) and then on to London for the last leg.

In Scotland, we do want to stay in one place and explore by day trips - after further reading, it appears that Inverness may not be the best choice (it seems to be well located, but appears somewhat urban - I could be wrong). Any suggestions as to what one place you would go and base yourself for 5 days?

The Inverness area as a base is a good idea - there is a TON of places to see w/ reasonable day drives. However Inverness itself has very little to reccomend.

Since you will have a car you can stay in a B&amp;B or country hotel w/i 15 or 20 miles of Inverness and be in a great location for touring. Day trips could include Skye, the Black Isle/a dolphin cruise, Culloden, Speyside/whisky trail, Cawdor/Brodie castles, Ft George, Nairn/Elgin, the NW and NE coasts etc etc. Waaaaay more places than you'll have time.

Edinburgh, Inverness area, the Lakes would be a good three-center trip w/o packing and moving too much . . . .

I agree with Janis that Inverness is not a remarkably good place to base yourselves. The problem with a west coats base is that in/out thing the coastline does.

You might like to look at the area round Pitlochry or Aberfeldy as an alternative. Good access to the west and good access to the east

We will be in Scotland in August (with children almost the same ages). We have decided to base a few days at the Murraypark Hotel in Crieff (not far from Pitlochry and Aberfeldy) as it's highly recommended on this and tripadvisor. It is part of the Crieff Hydro complex so that the children will have an indoor pool and some other diversions when needed but is significantly less money than the Hydro.

Another suggestion I would make is to checkout scotlandby.com. They were very helpful as we tried to find accommodations in E'burgh in August.

Envy you the long trip....wish we had more time for our journey to Scotland/London but figured some time there was better than none!

A short note of thanks - I did use this post to help me develop my itinerary and posted individual questions separately.

All of you are amazing - I have yet to come across a more helpful bunch of people. Thank you ever so much for helping us plan our trip.

Ahmed -
Please post a report when you get back -- your trip sounds wonderful, and I'd love to hear about your adventures. Have fun!

Deifinitely!