Dukey1

We stayed at the Sheraton on our last visit to the Fringe/Tattoo and booked accommodations literally months ago for this year's return visit.

We are waiting until we leave the city for other parts of Scotland to rent a car. We had no trouble getting around the city from the Sheraton location to include walking up to the Tattoo site.

The city was very mobby in some locations when we were there so you can anticipate that sort of situation.

allyboy

Thanks Janisj. I will look at taking a day trip out of Edinburgh by train to St. Andrews. Can you suggest an itinerary starting on Aug. 16 heading up the west coast ending near the Edinburgh airport on the 23rd? We will rent a car upon leaving Glasgow.

Thans Dukey1 regarding the Sheraton. Other than the crowding issues during the Festival do you have any other comments about the Sheraton's proximity to the other events and sights?

janisj

>>starting on Aug. 16 heading up the west coast ending near the Edinburgh airport on the 23rd?<<

OK -- w/ 7 days you could drive up the west side of Loch Lomond w/ a short stop in Luss. Then across to Oban for the first 2 nights -- either do a day trip to Mull/Iona OR better, don't stay IN Oban at all but stay the two nights ON Mull in Fionnphort and take the foot ferry over to Iona and another boat trip out to Staffa.

Then, if you stay on Mull, take the Fishnish > Lochaline ferry and cross to Mallaig for the ferry to Skye - stay on Skye 2 nights.

Then leave Skye via the bridge and cross to Loch Ness and then drive south to Glencoe. Stay 1 night in Glencoe.

Then head down to the Trossachs and stay your last two nights (Callander, Aberfoyle or Stirling) See Stirling Castle, Inchmahome Priory, Doune Castle etc.

Drive to EDI, turn in car and fly out.

allyboy

Janisj: I have also been given a suggestion to tour Loch Lomond out of Balloch. Any opinions on Luss vs Balloch?

If I leave Glasgow early in the morning , drive to Balloch or Luss, have lunch and then drive to Oban will I be able to catch a ferry over to Mull before the sun sets?

Rather than spend 2 nights on Fionnphort what about 1 night there, see Iona the next morning and then drive to Tobermory for 2 nights and visit Staffa from there? Also, we will be there in Mid August and was wondering if the puffins will still be on Staffa at that time.

Tobermory appeals to me because it seems to have more dining options, some night life and a bit livelier in the evening. I also read somewhere that taking the Tobermory Kilchoan ferry will save me considerable time driving to Skye?

Thanks in advance!

janisj

>>Any opinions on Luss vs Balloch?<<

No difference really - if you are talking about staying over, in which ever you find accommodations you like. Luss is the prettier of the two.

Re Fionnphort vs Tobermory -- if you want 3 nights split I'd do 2 in Fionnphort and one in Tobermory and visit Staffa from Fionnphort.

The pub in Fionnphort is great and has good food. The problem w/ just one night in Fionnphort is it will take quite a while to get there so you'd on;y have a fraction of a day. I'd stay 2 nights then leave early in the AM for Tobermory.

You can take the Tobermory or the Fishnish ferries -- either would save a ton of time over going back via Oban.

historytraveler

I'm going to offer another option to staying at Fionnphort. I really like the St. Columba Hotel on Iona. Wonderful views, nice gardens and a very good restaurant. I love staying on the island and there's great opportunities for walks. IMO just a more attractive place than Fionnphort.

There is another hotel on the island that offers meals and a restaurant ( mainly fish chips type place ) where the ferry docks. Of course, you could take ferry over tomFionnphort and eat in the pub janisj mentioned. The St. Columba will book boat trips to Staffa and elsewhere for you.

If interested here's their website.. www.stcolumba- hotel.co.uk I think I got that right; if not just google St. Columba Hotel Iona.

janisj

In practice whether one stays on Iona or in Fionnphort is pretty much interchangeable w/ just the short foot ferry trip in between. So I would stay two nights <i>either</i> in Fionnphort or on Iona and the one night in Tobermory.

historytraveler

Agree

allyboy

Looking for hotel suggestions and areas to stay in for 2 days in Glasgow. We will be taking the train from Edinburgh and renting a car once we leave Glasgow.

Thanks!

allyboy

I ended up booking the Hotel Du Vin in Glasgow!

Now back to my plan to visit the West Coast over the next 8 days after leaving Glasgow.

What would you suggest as an itinerary if I decided not to visit Skye?

I still want to take a boat ride on Loch Lomond from Luss and drive to Oban.
I could stay in Fionnphort for 2 nights and even add a third night to Tobermory which would leave me with 4 days ending up near the Edinburgh Airport on the 4th night.

janisj

That is a nice division -- w/ 4 nights to play with I'd try to spend one night in Glencoe or perhaps Ballachullish and in/near Callander for the final 3 nights.

That way you could visit Glencoe, Killin/Falls of Dochart, Balquhidder, Drummond Castle Gardens, Doune Castle, Stirling Castle, Inchmahome Priory, Queen Elizabeth Forest Park, LOTS of lochs/waterfalls/trails, etc.

Callander to EDI is about an hour's drive. If that is too far for your comfort level or if your flight is very early in the AM -- then I'd stay two nights in Callander and stay in the area until after dinner then drive to EDI and spend the last night either at an airport hotel or in Linlithgow or South Queensferry.

allyboy

If I were to end my stay in Tobermory how would you suggest I get to Glencoe/Ballachullish? Do I have to return to Oban?

janisj

No -- you can take the ferry from Tobermory to Kilchoan and drive through Ardnamurchan.Strontian/Glen Tarbet - OR - the ferry from Fishnish to Lochaline across Morvern and up to Glen Tarbet. Then the Correan Ferry across to Onich.

Either ferry would be good -- and you'd see some wonderful scenery crossing Ardnamurchan or Morvern. Me personally - I'd probably take the Fishnish/Locahaline ferry simply because it is a slightly easier drive.

(I have taken all three mainland/Mull ferries and wouldn't hesitate to use any of them)

janisj

Meant to add -- you might want to invest in a UK road atlas now so you can see all the possibilities and help plan your drives. If you had a good map you would have seen the other ferry possibilities.

allyboy

I have now reserved the Barriemore in Oban for one night and the Seaview in Fiionnphort the next night. The plan is to ferry over to Mull , drive to Seaview and drop off our luggage and then head to Iona. If time allows we will also travel to Staffa. If not we will do that the next morning and then leisurely drive to Tobermory for 2 nights.

Any suggestions for hotels/B&B in Tobermory, Glencoe or Ballachullish, Callander?

janisj

You will love Seaview (any chance you could book both nights there instead of a night in Oban?)

Haven't stayed in Tobermory in years so can't give useful recommendations.

For Glencoe check the Clachaig - though it often books up far ahead.

https://www.clachaig.com

allyboy

Our update so far:

Arrive in Oban, Aug. 16. (1) night at Barriemore Hotel
Aug. 17 morning ferry to Mull. Drive to Fionnphort and visit Iona or Staffa. (1) night at Seaview B & B.
Aug. 18. Morning tour of either Iona or Staffa and then leisurely drive to Tobermory. ( 2) nights at the Highland Cottage
Aug.20. Drive to Glencoe. ( 1) night at Clachaig Inn

Still looking for place to stay in Callander for 2 nights.
Still looking for place to stay near EDI airport for 1 night.

Question: We are taking a train from Edinburgh to Glasgow on the 14th . Our hotel in Edinburgh is the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Festival Square. Which train station is the closest and easiest access for us to take.

Thanks!

Gardyloo

At Edinburgh airport - the Dakota. I've stayed there a couple of times and can recommend it highly.

http://edinburgh.dakotahotels.co.uk/

historytraveler

If staying at the Sheraton Grand Edinburgh, the closet train station is Haymarket.

allyboy

Thank you Gardyloo--just booked the Dakota!
Thank you history traveler for the train station info.