flpab

Dukey, Edinburgh has the new tram that takes you from the airport into town now. The bus was never a big deal but so looking forward to seeing Edinburgh without the streets tore up and the tram looks like a great way to get around. I would do the plane from London to Edi.

Dukey1

Thanks AGAIN!!!! for the further thoughts and recommendations.

At this point (always subject to change of course) I think I can say this much:

we will fly N/S from Miami to Heathrow and change there for a flight to Edinburgh. Stay in Edinburgh for probably 4 nights so we can do the Tattoo and the Fringe stuff.

Obviously the Fringe offerings are going to be somewhat of a "crap shoot" since they won't have been reviewed as far as I know so we'll have to be prepared to be mentally flexible.

From there it will be the train to Mallaig with the ferry over to Skye; rent the car and spend two nights on Skye (should it be three?...not forgetting that the "other person" involved here is not as into tramping around in the damp and all that as much as I am).

From Skye will drop the car and take the train from Kyle of Lochalsh to Inverness. The "battlefield" rec above is intriguing and will have to decide if that and anything else nearby are worth a night's stay-over.

Inverness to Wick!!!! by rail; overnight in Wick (because I want to go as far "up there" as we can get) and then fly from Wick via Edinburgh to London.

Yes, I know we aren't seeing everything and a lot of this is still tentative and I am sure to some almost ridiculous but fun to tinker with before I have to start finalizing.

Thanks to all and appreciate any recs for change.

Ackislander

Wick! I am insanely jealous!

It's one of those places like Inuvik and Meshad where my wife won't go.

Dukey1

Ackislander, I understand. I've already been to somewhat remote locations such as Newfoundland where I lived for two years.

I am attracted in some bizarre fashion to these forbidding vistas and barren whatever-they-ares; my partner not so much. I suppose I could push the envelope even further and drag him onto a ferry over to the Orkney Islands but I suspect doing so would precipitate a m psychiatric event.

I am prepared for someone to tell me this is crazy and that we are bypassing points of interest along the way and that we have discarded any notion of "depth." At least I have a month or two to think about it some more.

maxima

in Edinburgh you can either stay in Old Town.. there are hotels on or near the Royal Mile. There is a write up of a new hotel, Motel One in Old Town, in the New York Times travel section July 20, 2014, if you are looking for a modestly priced place to stay.

or you can stay in "New Town" lots of nice places there too. both are convenient for visiting all of the major sites.

I have been to the Tattoo twice, and always found it entertaining. Buy tickets way in advance and get the better seats, or rent a seat cushion. The performance takes place in the courtyard of Edinburgh Castle, which is part museum, historic site and military base.

There is an international book fair in Charlotte Square each August, with a variety of programs featuring well known authors

Nikki

Last summer I spent a week or so driving around Scotland with my husband and two friends and then we spent about a week in Edinburgh going to the various festival offerings, including the tattoo. There is an enormous variety of performances and it is worth looking through the listings on line as soon as they are posted a few months ahead of the festival to see whether there are any things that you want to book ahead.

There are reviews all over the place as the festival continues, and you can read daily reviews in papers that are available at the various venues. Our strategy was to book several events ahead and then to read reviews on the spot to choose the rest.

If you enjoy contemporary theater, I highly recommend the productions at the Traverse Theatre. You can spend a whole day there going to different plays in the different rooms there, or you can space the productions out over your visit.

I had a mixed impression of the tattoo. Glad I went, but wouldn't go twice. You can read my impressions and our itinerary in my trip report.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...o-scotland.cfm

cathies

Dukey1 in Edinburgh we also took two Sandemans walking tours. One was a free tour of the royal mile with some detours, that one was free (with a tip paid at the end if you choose). The second one was of Edinburgh Castle, there was a fee for that one which included entry to the castle. They were both excellent. Sandemans has a meeting place just outside the Starbucks on The Royal Mile.

They were both excellent.

The Tattoo provides significant employment in Edinburgh. The construction of the stands commences three months prior to the performances and takes approx the same amount of time to be dismantled. It was interesting the see the construction midway through, it's much bigger than I expected, for some reason.

Gordon_R

I don't really get why you are only hiring a car for a couple of days on Skye. Given your onward itinerary you might as well keep it for longer and enjoy the flexibility and convenience it brings. Places like Culloden for example are awkward to get to if you don't have your own transportation (or are on a tour). Naturally you'd need to check the specifics of a 1-way drop-off with the hire company, but this shouldn't be a problem if you're using one of the majors - Avis, Europcar, Hertz etc.

Dukey1

Gordon_R, I appreciate your comment and thank you for posting.

historytraveler

Culloden is only five miles from Inverness. You can easily and cheaply take a taxi from the train station. There are also several bus stops that go out to the visitor centre. A car would allow one to explore more of the area, but I'm thinking Dukey1 probably doesn't have that much time.

BigRuss

<<Culloden is only five miles from Inverness.>>

That's Scottish miles - means the equivalent of 8-10 US miles due to road conditions.

Dunrobin and Cawdor and Brodie castles are all in the Inverness area (check my name and Dunrobin on this board - I ought to get a commission) and not one of them is a cheap taxi ride from the Inverness train station.

Dukey1

I appreciate the additional comments and suggestions. Actually I am more flexible on time than might seem apparent.

I am also re-evaluating the use of the rail system vs a rental car throughout although I enjoy the ability to relax and simply observe that train travel provides.

I am also in the process of reviewing various YouTube videos of the rail routes and the scenery. Whereas the Edinburgh/Tattoo/Fringe segment(s) are definite as is spending three or four nights in London, I need to make some further decisions based on the Highlands scenery and site quality/appeal to us, level of accommodation available, etc.

I realize that most folks don't even talk about these sorts of "issues" but given our particular circumstances these things have to be considered.

Again, I appreciate the time and effort everyone who responded has taken.

Nikki

When you are talking about the level of accommodations it makes me think of one place in particular. We stayed at the Kinloch Lodge on Skye. While it was far more expensive than our usual lodgings, we all agreed we would go back again, and that the quality of the meals was such that staying there was actually a good value. I would go back to Skye just to stay there.

maxima

if you are looking for a more unique accommodation, look at the listings of the National Trust of Scotland.

Ackislander

"I realize that most folks don't even talk about these sorts of "issues" but given our particular circumstances these things have to be considered."

These are the only issues that matter

Don't waver.

Dukey1

Thank you, Ackislander.