<<We won't rent a car and use the wonderful train infrastructure to travel around the country>>

No, it's not wonderful train infrastructure for the whole country. But for areas not far from the two main cities the trains are good. If you're venturing into the highlands, whisky trail, Aberdeenshire castle trail, etc., you need a car.

>>If you're venturing into the highlands, whisky trail, Aberdeenshire castle trail, etc., you need a car.<< . . . OR - take one of the group tours like Rabbies.

>Any particular sites to look up for apartment rentals in Glasgow besides VRBO?<

http://glasgow.frasershospitality.com/index.php

In the Merchant City area, two minute walk to Argyle St rail station which will take you to Exhibition Centre station with around 5 minutes. The apartments are in the heart of the city with access to a huge number of restaurants nearby.

"mackintosh's house" -- thanks. i have been to glasgow and love his designs.... but totally missed the house. next time...!

<i>"mackintosh's house" -- thanks.</i>

Just to be clear: it is not his house, but the house someone built based on his design that received recognition at a competition in Germany but no prize because of some error in the submission. As for the "design" elements; it is thought that many of them are the work of his wife, such as this one: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca...57623346603583

HfaAL is a Mackintosh pastiche, it was built in the 1990s and as such doesn't have the Mackintosh personal touch that genuine Mackintosh buildings have.

<i>it was built in the 1990s and as such doesn't have the Mackintosh personal touch that genuine Mackintosh buildings have.</i>

I think that only experts on Macintosh architecture would be able to tell the difference. After all, the engineer used the plans Mackintosh submitted in the competition.

Janisj- Please let me know the most important things to see in Edinburgh.That will help us decide how many nights to stay there. Maybe a link I can look up.
Uruabam- You have been very helpful on all your detailed suggestions. Unfortunately Frasers does not have availability for our dates. Although it looks like Merchant city is the location to stay.

I may not be janisj (in fact I'm not) but here's a link

http://www.visitscotland.com/destina...thians/see-do/

google, Internet??

Try this. Couldn't be any more central.

http://www.max-servicedapartments.co...asgow-olympic/

And another option
http://www.dreamhouseapartments.com/...ty-apartments/

the Conference Center, nah Centre

You might also check out YouTube for the Edinburgh episode of the series Cities of the Underworld [very interesting and well done I thought, even if the presenter has an unusual way of pronouncing the city's name ]

sofarsogood's link is good -- the <i>short</i> list would probably include:

Edinburgh Castle
Holyrood Palace/Abbey
National Museum of Scotland
St Giles Cathedral
National Gallery
the general Old Town/Grassmarket/Royal Mile area
Princes Street Gardens and the general 'New Town' area south of Princes Street
Royal Yacht Britannia

Then out of town but easy by public transport:
Linlithgow Palace
Rosslyn Chapel

>>the general 'New Town' area south of Princes Street<<

You mean NORTH of Princes St don't you...? (the New Town pretty much has its southern boundary at Princes St)

oops -- yes -- I meant 'downhill' and for some reason typed south . . .