The cruise on Loch Ness is fine -- but IMO/IME exploring Urquhart Castle is a better use of time than the Nessie Exhibition.

As or the train -- it is really up to you -- you can either ride ON the train out and back or you can driver the route (through exactly the same scenery since for almost the entire journey, the road and train tracks are parallel right next to each other. The exception is the bit along Loch Eilt where the road is on one shore and the tracks are on the opposite shore. Driving you can stop at Glenfinnan for the monument and amazing view down Loch Shiel -- but mainly to hike up to see the train crossing the viaduct.

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/KVu6n1aGbSQ/maxresdefault.jpg

https://static-secure.guim.co.uk/sys...Viaduc-013.jpg

http://www.scotland-flavour.co.uk/pi...tland_2310.jpg

In Edinburgh, go on the Witchery tour in the evening. It sets off just down from the Castle. It is mildly scary, but the re-enactor/ leader tells the tales and myths of old Edinburgh. Worth doing. The Museum of Childhood on the Royal Mile might be worth a look as well.

This a quite a fine series of replies. Couple things:

Something everyone would enjoy is a stone circle or standing stone site. There are many of these, some obscure, mark out some possibilities in advance on your map. Also try to seek out a Pictish stone, especially one still at its original site outdoors.

I don't see any hikes on your list and you are going to be in prime hiking area, Glencoe, Ft William, Skye. You will want to choose some hikes in advance.

We did as Janisj suggests and watched the steam train go over the Glenfinnen viaduct. It's free and quick whereas the train is expensive and takes all day. Free parking for the small close lot is not signed from the highway. Buggy.

There is a 5 day pass that covers 3 castles that saves a lot of money, it's just slightly more than the admission to 1 castle. Because you are seeing Edinburgh and Stirling castles on opposite ends of 2 weeks you can't use it.

>>There is a 5 day pass that covers 3 castles<<

If you mean the Historic Scotland Explorer Pass - it covers a hecka lot more than 3 castles. What is covers is any 3 days over a 5 day period (or any 7 days over a 14 day period) but you can visit as many sites as you can fit in. There are about 80 covered properties.

You might want to consider a trip to Rosslyn Chapel. Its very close to Edinburgh and you can take a bus there from to Roslin Village and walk to the Chapel.

Yes, the Historic Scotland Explorer, it's a great savings if visiting both Edinburgh and Stirling castles. The 14 day pass mentioned might work well for this trip.

janisj - I also looked into the train more closely, and we could end up on the wrong side there and back and see nothing! I really prefer the idea of driving and going a bit fast too!
I'm also going to look about the Urquhart Castle.

dotheboyshall - thank you for sorting out Frasers vs Jenners. I'll look into your suggestion of staying in Edinburgh and going back and forth to Glasgow. and, thanks for the tip about the bus.

tom_mn - you are so right! I am so grateful for all these amazing, helpful suggestions!
I would love to see some standing stones and we will do some hikes, I just haven't got them organized yet. Some in Skye to the fairy pools I'm sure. Thanks to you and janisj for the tip about the Historic Scotland Explorer pass.

And thanks again everyone - I feel like you are coming along! :-)

Urquhart Castle is good, better than the Nessie exhibition.

In Glasgow, I would ditch the Burrell and go to Kelvingrove Art Gallery - I live in Glasgow and have two kids, 11 and 14, both of whom have always loved it there, really wide variety of things to see. Time it right and there will be a recital on the (massive!) pipe organ, which is great - they choose really accessible pieces (known to include Harry Potter theme tune....)

Someone mentioned the Transport Museum right across the road - it has now moved to the Riverside Museum, which is almost directly across the river from the Science Centre. Science Centre is great, take the time to go to the Planetarium if you can, and if the tower is open (closes at the drop of a hat it feels like - usually in fairness because it is too windy) that is worth doing.

Also, I wholly agree with the poster who said Glencoe - the walk at Glencoe Lochan is just stunning and Glencoe Café, tucked into the village on the way to the Lochan, is great for a spot of lunch (but tiny!).

There are lots of geocaching spots around a lot of these areas, which can be fun if you can get enough phone signal to keep the GPS on the App working.

Re suggestion of train travel between Glasgow and Edinburgh - be aware that there are engineering works at the Glasgow end between March and August this year which will impact on that. Usually train leaves every fifteen minutes and takes 45 minutes to complete the journey, but you would be well served to check online if you are coming in the Summer. Likely to be less frequent/take longer/both.

The drive to Portree is a tough one. If you are in that area, though, and have time, Plockton is very close to Kyle of Lochalsh, the mainland end of the Skye Bridge. Try Calum's seal trip - if he can't find seals for you to watch, he won't charge you for your trip, although his banter is worth the money on its own. Once he is in deep enough water, he will let your kid "drive" the boat, as he puts it...great fun!

In Glencoe I'd eat at the Clachaig . . .

L_A thank you for the up to date info! Really, so helpful. I have a question - where is the best lodging for families in Glasgow, in your opinion? We don't go in for fancy, but rather quiet and easy walking access to things.

Re the Historic or Heritage Scotland Passes.

We spent about three hours last Sunday plotting sites and attractions for our 15 trip, and none of the three passes came out ahead of paying at the door, by more than a few dollars (we priced it in dollars), and that's assuming we saw everything on our list.

We were quite realistic about what we were likely to see, rather than just adding everything in.

It may be a great advantage for you, but it bears spending some time on. :)

Re where to stay, there are lots of standard budget type hotels within the city centre - all within easy travel of most things and within a walk of some, although obviously "quiet" is a relative term in any city. There are all the sorts of family friendly chains you would expect. If you look closer to Kelvingrove - more West End than city centre, quieter over summer as the students go home, lots of little shops and galleries, close to the art gallery itself, what you then want to do is use the Underground to get into the city. In Glasgow, it is literally a circle - you can't get lost, you can only end up going the longer way round the circle! The circle is pretty tight, really just takes you round the city centre, but it is inexpensive, trains are frequent, and it has stations reasonably close to most of the things you are going to want. West End tends to have non-chain hotels, and some are pretty pricey, though.

I think we now have the itinerary sorted! The first bit up until Glasgow is the same as before, (still have to refine what we are doing each day based on previous suggestions) the greatest changes come after Glasgow. I'd love to know what you think! Thanks.

Day 1: Arrive Edinburgh (sleep in Edinburgh) Royal Mile/ Hop on Hop off bus. Good for 24 hours.
Day 2: Edinburgh (sleep in Edinburgh) Edinburgh Castle, finish hop on hop off bus.
Day 3: Edinburgh (sleep in Edinburgh) Old Town (Grey Frey’s Bobby) New Town (Park)
Day 4: More time in Edinburgh, then train to Glasgow (sleep in Glasgow)
Day 5: Glasgow (Glasgow) Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Tisco Glasgow Outdoor Experience shop.
Day 6: Glasgow – Science museum - planetarium and Glasgow tower, Fraser’s department shop
Day 7: Pick up car, drive to Oban via Loch Lomand. (sleep in Oban) Scottish Sea Life Sanctuary.
Day 8: Leave early. Drive to Fort William arrive in time to see the HP train and take the same route as the train to Mallaig. Take the ferry at Mallaig over to Skye. Drive to Kyle of Lochalsh. Sleep Kyle of Lochalsh.
Day 9: See Donan Castle. Drive to Portree. Sleep Portree
Day 10: Portree - see Fairy Pools
Day 11: Portree - see Fairy Glen
Day 12: Drive to Plockton to take seal boat ride with Calums Seal Trips. Sleep Plockton.
Day 13: Drive to Inverness. Boat on Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle ruin. Drive to Sterling. Sleep Sterling.
Day 14: Stirling Castle, Falkirk Wheel and Kelpies. Sleep Sterling.
Day 15: Drive to Edinburgh for flight out.

>>Day 8: Leave early. Drive to Fort William arrive in time to see the HP train and take the same route as the train to Mallaig. Take the ferry at Mallaig over to Skye. Drive to Kyle of Lochalsh. Sleep Kyle of Lochalsh.
Day 9: See Donan Castle. Drive to Portree. Sleep Portree<<

This part doesn't make very much sense to me. I wouldn't build in a one night stop in Kyle of Lochalsh. Assuming you mean Eilean Donan castle . . . It would be a VERY short detour on your day 12. Leave Portree, cross the bridge, jog down the 5-ish miles from Balmacara to see the castle, then retrace the drive 5 miles back to Balmacara and on to Plockton


By making this change you could move everything from Mallaig up a night and add 1 night to Inverness so you can also see Culloden, Clava Cairns and/or Ft George/Dolphins.

(FYI -- they are Loch Lomond, Eilean Donan, and Stirling)

janisj, I see your point! I checked the HP train schedule and it leaves Fort William at 10:15am. I'm unsure what time it makes it to the Glenfinnan Viaduct, but if we can make it to Mallaig for the 11:45 am or 1:30 pm ferry, then, you reckon we can still go to Donan Castle and then onto Portree?

It is <u>Eilean</u> Donan. Yes you could go there and back but why would you - I sure wouldn't. The castle is 8 miles from the bridge you will be using to leave Skye at the end of your stay -- so why go that way twice?

Thanks so much janisj! I really appreciate your help.