texasbookworm

I’d like to ask Edinburgh experts for a bit of advice. Of course I have done and will do much research (that’s sooo much fun for me), but I’d appreciate some pointers.

Bit of prelim:

DH and I, after much debate and hesitation and internet-searching, have decided to go to <b>Edinburgh Oct. 2 (arrive 7 am) to Oct. 9.</b> We’d about decided we couldn’t do an inexpensive trip to Europe this year, not wanting to use up his AA miles yet, but then we found that by going during my Fall Break and by going to Edinburgh (instead of London or Frankfurt or Paris or many other places we considered as places to start from), we could save $1500-1800 for round trip tickets. Then when he found he had enough Hilton points to cover 7 nights there, we decided to go.

There are a few things already decided and are unchangeable:

• The <b>Hilton points make our stay at the Hilton Grosvenor in Haymarket free</b>, so even if it’s not luxurious or in the very center, it will be fine!
• Going in October means we will have to deal with cooler and rainier weather, probably, but we know that; it was the only break other than summer that would make sense (and prices were way higher in June and July).
• We decided to <b>not rent a car</b>, so we will use feet, public transport, and probably 2-3 day trips with tours like Rabbies and/or Timberbush.

A bit more about us for context:

• I’ve been to Edinburgh for one long and glorious day as the teacher chaperone for students on a tour. Everything we did I want to show DH again, especially some things like the castle and the Royal Mile at a more leisurely pace.
• We are about 60, pretty fit, love history, and take tons of photos.
• We aren’t foodies much, and we don’t shop much, although we do browse and window shop.
• I have Scotts and Campbells and Edgeworths and other Scottish family names in my ancestry. Not sure what that means for planning, but….!

<b>So what advice am I seeking now?</b>

<b>About the tours—Rabbies vs. Timberbush:</b>

1. We will probably take one long one to the <b>Glencoe and Loch Ness area; Timberbush seems to provide time to go into Urquhart castle.</b> Any comment on which of these tours is better?

https://www.rabbies.com/tours_scotla...our.asp?lng=en

http://www.timberbush-tours.co.uk/ou...the-highlands/

2. I want to see <b>Stirling Castle. I’d like to also “see” (drive through) the Trossachs area.</b> There are tours from both companies that include both in a 9 hour day. But I think we could do Stirling by ourselves in half a day or so via a pretty cheap train ticket. If we take a tour toward Loch Ness/Glencoe, are we missing something by not taking a tour of the Trossachs area and Stirling?

3. I think I’d like to see <b>Alnwick Castle</b>; any comment on which company does a better tour in that area?


https://www.rabbies.com/tours_scotla...ers.asp?lng=en

http://www.timberbush-tours.co.uk/ou...e-northumbria/

<b>About Edinburgh:</b>

1. Is the <b>tram an easy way to get from the airport to our Hilton</b>, or should we plan on a taxi? (We will travel light, small roller and a backpack each)
2. We will definitely see the Castle, St. Giles, some gardens and parks and monuments, the Royal Mile, Calton Hill, the Writers Museum, and the Museum of Scotland, spreading these out over about 3 days. What <b>else</b> would you highly recommend for first time visitor?
3. For public transport around the city, <b>is the DayTicket the way to go?</b> I don’t see a weekly pass or some sort of PAYG thing?
4. <b>Whisky tour/walk in Edinburgh</b>—there seem to be a bunch of options (and it would be for DH, not me, although I’d go for the walking part). Which one would you recommend?
5. Is there a <b>favorite walking tour, especially one with a literary theme? </b> I found The Edinburgh Book Lovers’ Tour http://www.edinburghbooktour.com/#!tourtimes/cee5 Anyone been on that?

I know I’ll be back with more questions; it’s almost 8 months away, so plenty of time, but since we made the reservations today, I’m excited to start the planning!

janisj

Just time for a quick couple of comments right now (in the middle of planning my own trip to Edinburgh in August and am working on the flights tonight)

Both companies are good, but if I had the choice I'd choose Rabbies. They use smaller mini buses (only <i>some</i> of Timberbush's tours are small groups -- some use 40+ passenger coaches)

As for the Alnwick trip I wouldn't normally recommend either because it is easy to spend an entire day just at just the castle and gardens -- but the gardens won't be at their best in October so concentrating on the Castle might leave enough time for the other stops.

texasbookworm

Thanks!! I didn't want to label this post as "janisj, please help!" but hoped you'd pitch in, as I value your insights!

I noticed the size thing about the companies; it will definitely be a factor for DH. I would like to go INTO Urquhart, though...so..hmmm

Ok, more later I trust; have fun with your own planning, as ever.

bluemeansgo

If you want to see the Wallace Monument overlooking the fields of Bannockburn, I'd advise a tour or a car rental, otherwise, taking the train to Stirling is both doable and efficient.

Keep in mind that Scotland is quite far north, this means you have considerably less light starting at the fall equinox, but the beginning of October should yield about 12 hours of light..

texasbookworm

Thanks, bluemeansgo.

Yeah, seeing the Wallace Monument would be a consideration and perk of a tour.

And that week sunrise is about 7:15 to 7:30 and sunset 6:45 to 6:30 so around 11-11.5 hours of light as you say.

janisj

>>Yeah, seeing the Wallace Monument would be a consideration and perk of a tour. <<

Be sure you check the details -- most tours don't allow time to go inside or climb the monument. Just going there and looking at the outside -- the view from Stirling is good enough IMO.

LCBoniti

Just tagging along to share whatever advice you receive.

texasbookworm

Thanks; I think the only tour so far I've found that indicates time IN the Monument is not a tour we're that interested in, so good to know can at least see it, which is all I really wanted to do.

LCB--welcome to tag along!

Still hoping for some advice on public transport; the tram looks like it's very convenient for where our hotel is and seems to run regularly even in wee hours (as we have a 7:45 AM return flight so will be up and about verrryyyy early)

janisj

The tram is the way to go . . . The ticket machines do NOT accept US credit cards however (t least they didn't in August and I assume nothing has changed) so you would have to use exact change coins. Don't panic there are 'guides' - they call them Ticket Services Assistants - floating around the tram station/not far from the ticket machines who can sell you tickets manually. You may need to hunt one down.

janisj

OOPS should have said - they don't accept non-chip cards. The cards I tried (as far as I can remember) were still magnetic strip. I don't <i>think</i> I yet had my new Chip & Signature cards.

So it is possible they accept the Chip & signature cards most banks are now issuing - dunno but will find out this coming August. Will definitely have coins just in case.

PalenQ

Two things right by the castle that I found interesting:

The Scottish Whisky Experience:

https://www.scotchwhiskyexperience.co.uk/

The whisky experience is kind of kitschy - and purists amongst us may diss it as a waste of time but novices and learn all about Scottish whisky or Eau de Vie and have a gratis wee nip or two at the end. One thing I recall about the tour guide was when he said:

After ageing in wooden barrels a wee little bit is missing and when explaining why he said 'it 'twas the angels' portion' - that's how Holy whisky is to the Scottish!
You ride in old wooden whisky barrels converted to things you ride thru the exhibits.

and

the famous Camera Obscura, which has been around since 1853 as one of Edinburgh's most enduring and endearing attractions for ages:

http://www.camera-obscura.co.uk/

BigRuss

Stirling is day-trippable by train.

I'd skip the Scottish Whisky Experience and go to Royal Mile Whiskies if you're looking for info on the local potent potables. First, walking into the shop is free (PalenQ seems to like recommending expensive CAMPY stuff). The RMW staff will talk your ear off and happily so. The Scots are proud of their native hooch. Your old boy would stay there for hours. And then he can toddle off down Canongate to the Cadenhead shop for more good stuff. Definitely visit that.

Look: The Scottish whisky industry is unique. There is a LARGE supply of whiskies sold by independent bottlers. These companies (Cadenhead, Signatory, Murray McDavid, Old Malt Cask, Provenance) buy distilled whisky from distilleries by the barrel(s) and age them in their own independent facilities and process the product themselves when they decant it into bottles. Some of it is meh, much of it is very good, some of it is exceptional. The sell point is the uniqueness of each batch, which is not normalized for a particular taste profile like a distillery's own bottling (e.g., Macallan 12-year old, Laphroiag 10-year, etc., each of which are blended with who knows how many barrels of the same or older vintage to ensure a specific taste). Neither the Irish, Canadians, Americans, Japanese or any other whiskey/whisky producers engage in the level of sell-a-barrel-out-the-back-door commerce as the Scots. It broadens the varieties.

janisj

The Whisky centre has changed in the years since PQ visited (as has the Camera Obscura - still interesting but has been kitsched up)

ckiskie

If you're a fan of Ian Rankin's John Rebus series, you could try this walking tour.

http://www.rebustours.com/tours/

PalenQ

Some folks loved the Whisky Experience, getting TripAdvisor's very high rating - enough said - some CAMPY stuff can be fun, a thing that cultural snobs may forget (Like Changing of the Guard at Edinburgh Castle!: https://www.google.com/search?q=chan...w=1920&bih=955

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio..._Scotland.html

Lexma90

The Whiski Rooms, just off the Royal Mile, does whisky tastings. My son and husband did that one year, while I hung out in the lounge area and had coffee and dessert.

This last trip, we took an easy bus ride out to Roslyn Chapel. It's a fascinating building, full of amazing carvings. (I'm ignoring the whole Dan Brown thing, though it did raise a lot of money for renovations.) There are several walks in the area, and other historic places in the area, if you want to make a half-day visit out of it.

carolyn

We did a day tour that included Melrose Abbey and Roslyn Chapel and enjoyed it very much.

unclegus

yes , the Scottish Whisky Experience has undergone a major refit in the last couple of years, not been in since it was done but have been invited to a tour and a meal in the Amber restaurant afterward.it to celebrate my younger brothers birthday and I am looking forward to it.

northie

As you are a Campbell you may be interested in Inverary Cadtle - the home of the Duke and Duchess of Argyle who are the heads of the clan. It's a beautiful castle and open until end of October. It is 110 miles from Edinburgh though .

bluemeansgo

Regarding the Wallace monument... It's just a stone tower in the end. You can see things high up from The castle as easily. I just mentioned it because it's nowhere near the train if it was important to see. Stirling town is pretty.

Oh and if you have the time a side trip to Linlithgow palace ruins is worth the visit.