Help With Scotland
 

I normally never post a "help me with the itinerary" query because when I read some of the others I get the impression people are looking for a cheap travel agent.

What I would prefer are some opinions based on actual experience.

The situation: traveling to the UK probably August 2015. August because one of the must-do things is the Edinburgh Tattoo and I understand that is only performed in the month of August.

One of us will probably not ever be in Scotland again before they die. I keep seeing the pictures of the fantastic scenery which I assume is in the Highlands: those craggy peaks and vast panoramas. I am thinking, perhaps incorrectly, that several days at least in that area would be good. Doesn't need a lot of so-called "depth" but would like to see what most folks consider to be "the best." And I keep hearing about Skye...is it really all that much better/more scenic or is it just a "whole other experience?"

We could easily fly into Manchester and rent a car for this (driving in the UK is not an issue) or we could take the train (the West Highland Line?).

We enjoy museums, some ruins, castles, and gardens in particular. I already have "the guidebook" in which, of course, everything is worthwhile. Budget is open and we prefer hotels to B+B's although we do not like "dreary" hotels...doesn't have to be the Hilton but anything with that faded wallpaper (and I love wallpaper!) I am automatically suspicious of!

Small towns are fine and, in fact, they are preferable sometimes.

Even a brief kickstart as to just the general direction in which to head would be good now.

If I have been too vague say so and I will clarify and thanks in advance.

The first thing is whether you need to fly in Manchester. Wouldn't a flight into Glasgow or Edinburgh be better logistically?

If the Tattoo is a must, then bear in mind that the Fringe festival is also on from the 1st to the 25th August this year and the dates will be similar for 2015. It sells out hotels etc., so book early and be prepared for prices to be a bit higher than the norm. How long do you have on the ground in total and how long do you expect to spend in Edinburgh?

He Dukey1 - all good questions, and its good to start planing and learning now. My family and I are leaving for Scotland in less that 2 weeks, so I've been doing lots of planning. Fortunately, the company I work for has an office in Glasgow, so this won't be my first trip there, but it will be the first time with the family.
So... some things to consider. First, where are you coming from? Also do you have a rough idea on how many days you will have for this trip? If you're flying in from the US, you pretty much have to throw out your arrival day and departure day and really only count the days in between. Also, how many people will you be traveling with?
When ever I plan a big trip like this, I fire up a spreadsheet (Excel, Numbers, Google Docs) and start building out a budget model. You seem to have some flexibility, but without more precise numbers, it will be difficult for anyone to provide advice. In my spreadsheet, I start with a rough budget in USD, but I also have the exchange rate so I can see my budget in £, too.
When looking for accommodations, focus first on location, IMHO. I am willing to pay extra for a great location, and will do what ever I possibly can to avoid having to rent a car, unless I'm visiting more rural locations.
Also, I'm curious as to why you want to fly into Manchester? Why not just start in Edinburgh?

Maybe break up the trip into two phase: phase 1 a few days in Edinburgh (which is one of my all time favorite places). Not only do you have the Tattoo, but there's also the Fringe Festival, so there should be lots to do during those few days. Phase 2: map our a few places to explore the Highlands.

that should be a good starting point. again, you have plenty of time. For example, I booked our rooms in Edinburgh in January, just to make sure I got what I wanted.

good luck!

Rubicund, thank you very much. As to the flights: it would be easier, airline (frequent flyer-wise), to fly into Manchester than the others (I obviously need to look at the map again and that is something I am always telling other people to do).

What we could easily also do is fly into London and make our way north from there either by plane or rail.

Yes, I know about the Fringe and we would want to do some of that also. Knowing me I would be booking hotels THIS YEAR for next year and appreciate your warning about that.

Understand about the FF miles, but I'm sure that you know that Manchester to Edinburgh is a good 4 hours by road, maybe more with traffic. You didn't add how long you'll be on the ground but if you have a couple of weeks, then I'd consider a loop taking in Stirling and across the highlands to Skye, then down to Mull, finishing in Callendar and back to Edinburgh. Adjust your number of nights in each place to match availability.

If you do fly into Manchester, then return by missing Callendar and head down via Glasgow with maybe a stop in the Lakes on the way. I'd also give a night or two to Manchester itself which is a great City as well, underestimated by many people except the locals.

I appreciate all of the additional suggestions which will help considerably with planning.

<<castles, and gardens in particular>>

See here: http://www.visitscotland.com/en-us/a...en-city-shire/

Or here: http://www.visitscotland.com/en-us/d...stle-trail-pdf [you'll have to magnify the pdf]

Aberdeenshire is castle country: fish, barrel, shotgun.

You won't be able to visit Balmoral because HRM will be in residence. Corgarff isn't anything special. Fraser (not mentioned in the link I sent) is very good, Craigevar and Drum are worth a stop. Thinking Haddo House or Fyvie had good gardens but if you're looping back to Edinburgh (or want to hit someplace en route to Aberdeenshire), then Glamis (former residence of the Queen mum) would meet that requirement.

Tattoo and Fringe?
There's considerably more to the Edinburgh Festival than that. You'd have to pay me to go to either.
Look at this year's programme http://www.eif.co.uk

I've been to some wonderful performances over the years

Thank you for those recommendations. BiggRuss.

MissPrism: your condescension is overwhelming.

Condescending to recommend great musical and artistic performances?

Do forgive me. I thought that I was speaking to an equal

Dukey1

If flying into Manchester there is a direct train service from the airport terminal to Glasgow Central. No changes, straight through, buffet service available. Journey time is just 3.5 hours.

The service has been running for a few years and is now my preferred way to travel to and from Glasgow to Manchester Airport. It's operated by Transpennine Express and, just checkign this spring, summer and autumn timetable it's running to Glasgow every 2 hours from 7am to 5pm. Of course once in Glasgow, possibly the next day after some rest, you can start your forward northern journeys i.e. West Highland Line from Glasgow Queen Street station.

(train services out of Glasgow Central station are mostly to the south, including Ayrshire and the island of Arran via ferry from Ardrossan)

Jon

Dukey

Which are your preferred carriers and US airports? I fly out of Manchester and Glasgow all the time.

The train from Manchester to Glasgow is much improved but a total waste of half a day.

I throw in much more when I have time but the area around Oban is beautiful as is Mull and Iona.

Here a perfect hotel for you : incredible seafood.

http://www.pierhousehotel.co.uk/

Thank you for the additional recommendations. I would be flying on American by that time. I could fly out of Miami but it is easier to fly out of Fort Lauderdale and then through Charlotte or Philadelphia. Right now USAirways rusn seasonal service out of Philadelphia to EDI using 757's.

I will not fly on anything which does not have a lie-flat seat in either Business or First especially at that kind of money so the 757 is out. That all may change with the ongoing USAirways/American consolidation. I may simply fly into London and take the train north from there.

At this stage we would probably stay in Edinburgh for a couple of days to do the tattoo, some of the Fringe stuff, and do the usual historical sites. It is unfortunate that some people "couldn't be paid to do this" but that does not include us.

From there either take the train to Mallaig or drive and then take the ferry over to Skye (haven't decided on that part yet). If we do the Maillaig journey what I do not want to do is repeat scenery on the way back south hence the idea of a car and the ferry over to Skye with a return south using a different route.

Dukey1,regarding your possible plan of taking train to Mallaig then ferry to Skye but wanting a different route back, you might consider taking the train from Kyle of Lochalsh ( just across the Skye Bridge ) to Inverness. This is one of the most scenic routes in the UK and about a 2 1/2 hour journey. From Inverness you can easily get a train to either Edinburgh or Glasgow.

I would, however, strongly urge you to rent a car while on Skye. There is a rental place in Kyle of Lochalsh, and they will deliver the car to you at Armadale, the ferry terminal on Skye.

>>You'd have to pay me to go to either.<<

jeeze Louise -- both are absolutely wonderful.

>>I may simply fly into London and take the train north from there.<<

Not the best plan <i>unless</i> you plan on staying a day or two in London. If one is already IN London the train is a no brainer. But the schlepp from LHR to Kings Cross isn't fun/quick.

So if you do fly into LHR (and aren't stopping over in the city) I'd book a flight directly from LHR to EDI.

Historytraveler, yes, I read about such a possibility on TripAdvisor and I have watched a Youtube video of that segment and I agree that it looks wonderful. Thank you for mentioning it.

Janisj!!!!!!!! YOU are oh SO correct and thanks for bringing me back to reality. Since the plan is to do all the Scotland travel first and then return to London for several days I agree now that you have brought it up that just staying at Heathrow and flying onward north is the smart thing to do.

We can certainly afford it and in the end that would be a lot simpler.

Dukey1 can I suggest you fit in a 1/2 day at Culloden if at all possible. We are just back from Scotland and the visit to Culloden turned out to be one of my favourite things. The memorial/museum is excellent and then we took an audio guide and toured the actual battlefield. It was very moving.

Cathies, thank you for that suggestion. I will certainly look into that since we may not ever get back to Scotland in the near future.

Virgin fly direct from Orlando to Glasgow.

Thomas Cook are starting up a new service Miami to Manchester direct.

Virgin offer a generally good service, its nine hours direct.

I strongly agree with taking the West Highland Railway to Mallaig, then the Cal-Mac ferry to Armadale. It is good news that you can have a hire car delivered there!

I have not driven on Skye, though my wife has. She says the three big dangers are sheep on the road, Germans pulling caravans, and believing that a scenic bad road will get better rather than degenerating into an impossible track.

The train trip from Kyle of Lochalsh to Inverness is different to the West Highland line but very beautiful. It can be a miserable drive, but the train allows you actually to enjoy the scenery. Possibly with a drink in hand.

Inverness isn't much, but Culloden is very near. The train to Aberdeen is easy, or you can rent a car in Inverness to go south. Drive up through Royal Deeside, whether or not he Royals are in residence. A friend was raised at Fyvie Castle before it became a National Trust property and she did ride her pony p the stairs. Crathes is also enjoyable. The road along he river (A93) eventually takes you up to the Cairngorms, then down toward Edinburgh, whether by motorway or regular roads.

You will miss Loch Torridon, Wester Ross, and the Lowlands, but you can't do it all!