Help for a Quick Trip to Scotland
 

I'm going to be spending a few days in Scotland flying in and out of Glasgow the first week of August.

I'm going to be spending Thursday horseback riding for the day in Ardrishaig, Argyll (driving down Wednesday and staying there the night). What else should I not miss in that area?

Also, I've just found out that an old friend is playing music in Perth that same Thursday night. How long would it take to drive from Ardrishaig tp Perth? Obviously, I'm trying to figure out if I could surprise him without killing myself.

Are there any good deals to be had for renting a car for five or six days out of Glasgow that week?

Finally, I understand that August 6 is the summer bank holiday. I had planned to return to Glasgow that day and spend the night there to fly out the next morning. Is everything liable to closed up for the day? Can you recommend tthings to do or see that will be available

In Ardrishaig there's sod all- maybe the puffer Vital Spark, tho' it's sometimes at the Crinan end of the Canal. Of course, there's the Crinan Canal itself.

You are however, at the top of the Mull of Kintyre, at the bottom of Kilmartin Glen, you will have passed through Inverary, you're no distance from Tayvallich; or the Crinan Canal. In fact, you're in God's Own Country. Relax and enjoy.

You are, however 2 1/2 hours from Perth.

August 6th is an English not a Scottish holiday

I don't think Aug 6 is an English Bank holiday either.

Aug 29 is the Summer bank Holiday in Eng/Wales/N. Ire. And isn't Aug 1 a bank holiday in Scotland?

Janis, no.

I didn't think so either - and you are there of course. But I just googled and according to www.scotland.gov.uk/, 1 August is the summer bank holiday in Scotland. BUT it says the banks are not closed so it sounds like a statutory "Bank Holiday" that nobody observes.

I'm sure we've done this topic to death in pervious threads, but here in Scotland we don't get bank holidays as public holidays necessarily. Just to confuse you further, until very recently neither did the banks.

But modern commerce being what it is, a couple of years ago the banks did a deal with their staff so that they now get the same days as their English counterparts.

They get New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, May Day, Whit Monday, August Bank holiday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

For very odd reasons, the only on e that is out of synch is the August Bank Holiday which in Scotland is still the first Monday in August, having changed to the last Monday in England in 1965.

As public holidays we get New Year's Day, 2nd January, Good Friday, May Day, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, and, depending on where you are 2 or 3 other days off set by your local council. So, here in Aberdeen we get the 2nd Monday in July and the last Monday in September. You have to check, however, from town to town.