My girlfriend and I are planning a 2-week trip to Britain for the end of August. Our general plan is to spend a few days in London (we have both been there before), then to Bath/Cotswolds/Stratford on Avon. Then we would like to visit Wales. If we were to visit only one place in Wales for a day or two, what should it be?<BR><BR>After Wales, we would move into Scotland for several days. We would like to visit Edinburgh, and someplace in the Highlands. What would be an ideal place in the Highlands to get a sense of the country?<BR><BR>In making any recommendations, please keep in mind that we are Yanks, that we will not have a car (and thus will be relying on train or bus). Thanks.

In Scotland you are pretty much restricted to two rail lines into the Highlands. Do you want mountains or the sea?<BR><BR>One line goes from Glasgow/Edinburgh to <BR>Mallaig where you can get a ferry to Skye, a bus up through Skye and then over the Bridge to Kyle of Lochalsh, where you can get the other line to Inverness then back to Glasgow or Edinburgh. I would suggest you CANNOT do that round trip in less than 2 days and 3 would be better. <BR><BR>However you could do bits of either in a shorter time.<BR><BR>Does this help?

As Sheila says, rail travel in Scotland (and Wales) is pretty limited.<BR><BR>In North Wales you will pretty much have to stick to the north coast. But that is OK since that area has great scenery and many castles. Or you could visit mid Wales.<BR><BR>In Scotland your choices are Ft William/Mailaig/Skye, Inverness, or St Andrews (which is lovely but not Highland scenery)<BR><BR>Buses in both countries are OK but travel will take a long time and limit your sightseeing.<BR><BR>If you really cannot rent a car for a few days the best route in Scotland for magnificent scenery is as Sheila describes. Pland on speding a couple of days in Edinburgh and then head to Skye (train to Mallaig-ferry to Armadale-bus on Skye) Skye is world reknowned for its hiking, walking, climbing so a lot of folks go there w/o cars. But getting around will be slow so spend as many days there as you can manage.

North Wales!!!

While staying in Bath last summer we took a day trip over to Cardiff. We went to the Museum of Welsh Life (catch a bus from the train station) which is an outdoor museum where houses and building from all over Wales from different time periods have been reassembled. Very interesting to see how people have lived through the ages in Wales. <BR><BR>We then visited Cardiff Castle which was very interesting too. There is a small military museum inside the castle which had the nicest men very anxious to share information with you. When they found out we were Americans they took us over to a small exhibit that had to do with USA. <BR><BR>We enjoyed our day a lot. We would like to go back and see more in Southern Wales though I do understand that Northern Wales is prettier. We take trains everywhere because my husband and I are hesitant to drive so that does limit our ability to do a lot of traveling. However, the bus system might be able to get you where you want to go or maybe even hire a driver to take you around.<BR><BR>Have a blast.