Just a few days in Scotland ...
 

Hello, all you enlightened travelers!

I'm completely unfamiliar with Scotland and distances from one city to another or to the coast or Isles. I've done a little research and a search here, but it's overwhelming. I hope someone can help narrow down a brief itinerary for me.

I may spend just 4-5 days with my husband on business in Scotland. How can we make the best of those 4-5 days being based in Glasgow, but with the possibility of staying a night or 2 in countryside? We'd like to see the postcard picturesque villages and green hills, castles and oceanside vistas often filmed in movies - however within probably 2-3 hrs. max. of Glasgow.

I would really appreciate any advice!

Thank you!

I think you may need to move Glasgow further north then :)

If you email me, I'll sned you my "definitive" guide to Glasgow- tho' it's not my area of expertise.

You should do a day trip to Edinburgh- on the train. I can do the same (better) for Edinburgh.

Can you pin down how this will work? A day off? A few hours? How will you travel?

OK - while your husband is busy w/ business during the day, take the train to Edinburgh. The train will drop you at Waverly Stataion right in the center near the Castle. You could tour around Edinburgh for severl hours and still be back to meet your hubby for dinner.

For scenic areas near Glasgow you have three basic choices - two of which are on the sea.

1) In the Trossachs near Callander. Lovely countryside, beautiful Castles - especially Stirling, lochs, waterfalls, great villages, Rob Roy connections, etc. But no seaside.

2) NW and West of Glasgow - near Oban, Inveraray or Tighnabruaich. Each of these are villages/town on the water easily reached from Glasgow.

3) South of Glasgow in Ayrshire. This is Robert Burns country, plus the golf meccas of Prestwick, Troon and Turnberry.

I would recommend either #1 or #2 but you couldn't go wrong with any.

You could take a trip to Ayr, SW of Glasgow. It's not the Highlands but is the hub of Robert Burns country. He was born at Alloway, 3 miles away.

Ayr is also the home of Scotland's premier racecourse and some pretty good golf courses.

Of particular interest to us Americans is Culzean Castle a little further SW of Ayr. The top floor was given to General Eisenhower in 1946 as a gift from the people of Scotland. The website is: http://www.aboutscotland.com/culzean/

Another day trip is to take the train along the Clyde to Gourock and then a ferry across the Clyde to Dunoon. Dunoon is at the entrance to the Holy Loch which served as a base for the US Polaris submarines from 1961 to 1992.
The Cunard liners Lusitania, QE I, QE II and the Queen Mary were built in the now demised Clyde shipyards.

Just a little history.

Hi. I would also recommend a day trip to Edinburgh. If you and your husband are able to get away overnight and are in town when the Edinburgh Tattoo is on I would recommend it. The Tattoo is usually held in August. If you do decide to go to the Tattoo book your hotel well advance, rooms do fill up quickly. Also, I never been to the Edinburgh Festival but I've heard good things about it. The Edinburgh Festival is also held in August. Check if you can go if you're in Scitland in August. Have a great trip!

Hi Shiela, I've been reading the Ian Rankin mysteries (currently on Dead Souls). Should I consider these the definitive guide to Edinburgh slang?
How about "getting off at Haymarket" - is that actually used?

Another excellent place for s day trip is to Mount Stuart House on the island of Bute in the Firth of Clyde. It's easily reached by train and ferry from Glasgow (train Glasgow Central to Wemyss Bay, ferry to Rothesay) and the trip from Glasgow includes the train and ferry tickets plus admission and guided tour of the house - about £16

Thanks for all the replies so far, some very good information. I'm not actually sure what mode of transportation we'll use, but it looks like the train is the best choice, and my preference over hiring a car. Looks like we may have 3 entire days to travel, then we'll also have time after 12:00 noon the other 2-3 days.

I'm guessing that these recommended destinations are within 2-3 hrs. max by train?

Keep 'em comin',and thanks again!

I suggest you take the coach (bus) to the SW. It has all the things you want, villages, hills, castles and oceanside vistas. You get to meet folks and can have a grand time while enjoying the scenery. Of course there is the occasional insane coach driver, which merely makes for a good travel story. Have a grand time!

jsmith,

Do you recomend the Ian Rankin mysteries?

I enjoyed Sharon McCrumb's Elizabeh MacPherson novels. Paying the Piper is set in Scotland.

Keith

I'm going to be a bit radical here, and try to answer the question:)

Stephie

I have a collected document of train trips. If you email me, I'll send it to you.

If I were you, I'd do Stirling for one short trip and Edinburgh for another (or maybe even two), and don't forget Glasgow itself which is voted the best short break destination in Britain again and again.

For the longer days out, try

1. Inverness, and even over to Kyle of Lochalsh;

2. Aberdeen and the East coast main line

For the piece of resistance think about getting an evening train to Fort William, staying the night and taking the Jacobite Steam Train along the Harry Potter track to Mallaig, then getting the train home to Glasgow before bed time.

Another option would be Oban

Further to the suggestion about Rothesay and Dunoon, instead of the train, take the Waverley, paddle steamer of renown. On a sunny day you couldn't beat it.

jsmith, in the middle of the day from hell yesterday I replied and the b****y computer ate the posting.....

I too am a fan of Rankins, and he's pretty current. You might need to add a smattering of "Trainspotting", but if you eed to use that sort of language, you holidaying in the wrong suburbs.

I've never heard anyone say "getting off at Haymarket" but it's quite easily understood. It MUST refer to someone who's not going all the way

Shiela, very close guess. It's a way to avoid pregnancy.

"Trainspotting" and "Ratcatchers" were shown here in the US with subtitles.

Stephie, I'd second Shiela's recommendation to consider the Waverley for an excursion down the Clyde but you would use a full day for a return voyage. One way to Dunoon, ferry to Gourock and return by train (or vice versa) would do it very nicely. The website is: http://www.waverleyexcursions.co.uk/
The University District in Glasgow has a number of museums and the Hunterian Art Gallery has some of Whistler's important works.

If you're in George Square, have lunch or dinner in the Millenium Hotel. There is a lovely glass enclosed dining room on the ground floor where you can watch the world go by and the food is good.

Keith, I'm on my fourth Ian Rankin so I guess I'd recommend him - very complex plots. If you like British mysteries, though these two are American authors, try Elizabeth George and Deborah Crombie. Best to read them in sequence including Rankin because of the continuing characters. Both have websites. I wouldn't bother with George's "I, Richard".

Thank you and Good Evening.

jsmith, that's what "not going all the way" means here :)

I did mean afull day for the Waverley trip, not an afternoon.

Thanks again for all of your enlightening responses. We're still working on getting babysitting squared away. It may not happen for me, but if it does I'll have great recommendations for how to make the most of our time in Scotland. And I now have great book reccomendations whether or not I make it there.

Thanks again!

Stephanie

I have just begun my plans for a 2004 trip to London and then on to Edinburgh. It appears that my best option would be to fly into London and catch the Scotrail Caledonian Sleeper train from London to Edinburgh. My concern is buyin g the tickets and getting to and from the train stations. Also, which ticket to buy on the train .. All advice will be appreciated. Thanks

Wouldn't you be better to fly into Glasgow?

Where are you coming from?

NancyMcc: Why do you think your best option is the sleeper? Is there something else impacting your decision - like wanting to spend a few days in London before heading up to Scotland?

If not, it is probably better just to fly directly to either Glasgow or Edinburgh from your arrival airport. getting in to Kings Cross from Heathrow complicates things. Gatwick is easier - but either way, by the time you got to Kings Cross you could be just about landing in Edinburgh.

If on the other hand you are staying in London, and just have to get from you central hotel to Kings cross, then the train makes great sense.