Thank you- we will definitely try and get an apartment along the Royal Mile.

And great suggestions for golf courses- my son and husband are both very good golfers so I will see what I can do for the Old Course, as well as trying out some of the other recommendations.

And any suggestions on good base when visiting Blair castle and Stirling castle?

Thanks again!

Thank you again for all the information! So we are now thinking of 3 nights in Edinburgh, then either spending a night in St Andrews or going ahead to a rental "base" while we visit St. Andrews, Stirling, Blair castle and some of the surrounding towns. Would love a suggestion for the best town to look for a rental.
We then plan to make our way to Skye for 2 or 3 days making our way to Loch Ness either on the way there or on our way back.

Any extra recommendations would be wonderful as well as suggestions for lodging.

Thank you again!

Yes PQ -- you do know how to google.>

why so snarky?

Just trying to help!