I finally have my Scotland trip all booked.
 

We are going early June. Now it all depends on the volcanoes in Iceland, any terrorist incidents, and us staying well. Buying trip insurance is next.

Itinerary: Hotel du Vin, Glasgow, Clachaig Inn, Glencoe, Inn at Loch Torridan, Cuillin Hills, Portree, Pierhouse at Port Appin, Thobermory Hotel on Mull, Taychreggan on Loch Awe. Thanks for all your responses to my questions.

One question about shopping in Scotland. The euro against the dollar has made trips for travelers to France cheaper this year. Not so, the pound. If I were to buy imported items from other countries in Europe that I might see in Scotland, good deal or not? In 2000 I bought a sweater in Fowey. When I got home the exact sweater was for sale at Nordstroms for about $10 less.

oops, no "h" in Tobermory.

>>Not so, the pound. <<

The £ is also down -- quite a bit. Don't compare the € @ $1.14 and the £ @ $1.50 and assume the UK is more expensive. $1.50 is the lowest the £ has been in a long time . . . which is why I'm in the middle of booking two trips this year.

Plus monetary turmoil in the eurozone also affects the £ so it may go even lower (or not :) )

Buy what you like - but not things you can find easily in the States since out prices are cheaper than almost anywhere.

Meant to add - you are staying in some wonderful areas.

Elections are in May, should get rabid by then so expect £/$ all over the place.

Prices, it depends, normally high end French and Australian wine is a good buy compared to their own country for example.

Can only add to janisj's comment that you'll be staying in some wonderful places and seeing some of the best spots in Scotland. Regarding purchases, the same advice. Buy only what you really like and only what you cannot find in the States since it'll be cheaper here. Almost always.

Yes, I know, my bookings have made it an expensive trip. But our last overseas was 3 weeks in France in 2008. Time flew! Some of my fondest trip memories have been of wandering the gardens where I stayed, the views from a terrace etc. I have a girl friend going to Scotland in April who is going to play it by ear booking one night at a time. I couldn't do that.

As for shopping, I'll keep an eye on DH--he's the one who spends. But that's a good point about most things being cheaper here.

What to Buy in Scotland? Single Mqlt Whisky. There are about fifty different ones. Read about them before going. They are cheapest in the large supermarkets. Scottish made woollen goods, including Harris tweed. Remember what you call plaid in the USA is called tartan in Scotland. (A plaid is large blanket worn as a garment by a Highlander).How about a kilt? Women don't wear the kilt, but pleated tartan skirts.

>>Single Mqlt Whisky. There are about fifty different ones.<<

There are many more than that (there are close to 100 distilleries), and most are available in the States - often cheaper. Unless one is a real aficionado, really no reason to buy while in Scotland. Drink - yes ;), buy bottles - not so much.

A S M, my husband is still wearing a much-loved Viyella shirt he bought in Pitlochry in 1998. So I guess part of it is--maybe something is available here in US--but maybe the pattern of tartan or something is different.

For example, nowhere in US have I ever seen sports jackets like the tweed one he bought from Magee's in western Ireland.

Hopingtotravel--We are also headed to Scotland soon. As for shopping, I always just buy what I like and not worrying about the exchange rate. The two times I have not done that, I have regretted it. I still adore my cashmere sweater and scarf I purchased in Edinburgh, and when I wear them they just make me smile. Can't put a price on that.

Janisj--We are doing one day as a tour with Rabbies, but I am having a hard time deciding on which one. We are leaving from Glasgow. Would you mind helping me with that a bit? Either on the forum or via email, whichever you prefer, if you don't mind. Thanks:)

Hi mms. which tour(s) are you considering? Of the day trips out of Glasgow me personally - I'd probably book <i>Oban, Glencoe, West Highland Lochs & Castles</i>, or for something completely different <i>Culzean Castle, Burns Country and the Ayrshire Coast</i>

Kilchurn Castle, the coast and Glencoe makes a nice day trip.

If a more a 'palace type' castle interests you - Culzean Castle is magnificent.

It is my somewhat limited experience that a good single malt is more expensive in the UK than in N. America. No doubt due to the excessive tax on the product Sweaters, shirts and especially underwear are the best buys. The quality is high and Marks and Spencers is the store to buy them.

janisj--I was considering the Oban, Glencoe, West Highland Lochs and Castles tour as well as the Stirling Castle, Loch Lomond National Park & Whisky Tour. It is hard to decide when you are not familiar with the area. I am looking for the most scenic, and the one you suggested seems to be it, am I right? I truly appreciate your help!

On malt whisky:

When my Scottish relations come to Boston every summer, they go to Atlas Liquors and stock up on malt to take home. It is cheaper than in Scotland, and they have so good selection.

When their son and my daughter go to Scotland, they fill their bags to the weight limit with unusual single barrel malts bought at the distillery. These are expensive but unobtainable at any price in the US.

So malt is and is not cheaper in the US than in Scotland. It's almost never a good deal at Duty Free Shops.

Janisj, on Kilchurn Castle--do people actually go inside--or is that just an exterior photo op. It's so funny, in 1998 we walked through a field of cows to get pictures i.e., like we had 'discovered' it. Came home and Kilchurn Castle was on EVERY calendar cover.

Re: the Scotch. We did the McCallan tour across the Spey from Craigallachie. Although I don't remember all the details they did explain why some of the Scotch was cheapr in US.

hopingtotravel: Yes -- you can go inside. One of my favorites. I know what you mean -- it is pretty remote -- one Fodorite (I don't remember who) posted a coupe of times that she missed the castle because there was no sign and no car park. (there are both but the car park is small and at least 1/2 a mile from the castle)

mms: Both would be scenic but -- since Stirling Castle is an easy day trip on one's own by train from Edinburgh or Glasgow I'd take the chance to see places harder to get to (like Kilchurn and Glencoe)

janisj--Thank you so much! That really helps and I booked it:)

Perhaps I should have explained what I meant by my saying that there were about fifty single malt whiskys. What I should have said is that there are about fifty single malts regularly available. janisj is perfectly correct in saying that there are close to 100 distilleries, at my last count it was 123, and with addition 82 having closed over the past one hundred and ten years.
However, not all the present day distilleries bottle there own whisky, many can only be obtained from independent bottlers. Others only supply for blending. On the other hand some distilleries bottle more than one variety, depending on age, strength, type of barrel etc. There are also private bottlings. When I lived in Aberdeenshire, the warden of one of Aberdeen University’s halls of residence and myself, would go to one of the distilleries (which shall be nameless) and buy a 50 bottle barrel, (in the US I think you call this a firkin) and bottle this ourselves, for other senior members of the hall. The whisky was approximately 60% alcohol, but would vary from cask to cask. The taste would also vary from cask to cask.
It is possible to buy cask strength bottles in Scotland. My favourite would be Laphroaig 10 year old 57.3% alcohol. (100% Proof UK, 115% proof US).
Even though I mentioned fifty readily available malts, I personally think that there only about thirty five really top quality ones, and the most popular malt whisky in the world is not one of them!

A S M, DH likes Laphroaig. He's berating me for not adding on the 3 or 4 additional days to go to Islay. I promised him we'll visit Talisker on Skye.