I would NOT shlepp all over heck and gone to include the Cairngorm NP. It is a lovely area. Truly is. But it isn't even the prettiest area in its own part of Scotland. It is not any sort of 'must'.

If Edinburgh and Skye are set with a couple of days/nights to play with on either side of Skye -- I'd spend the2 days after picking up the car in the general Oban area (Oban, Kilmartin, maybe a day trip to Mull), and the 2 or 3 days after Skye in the general Trossachs area for lochs/waterfalls/Inchamhome/Stirling/Doune/etc. Based in or near Calander.

Thanks Janis. I'm inclined to agree with you. I have been consulting with an American who loves Scotland and has a website that includes assistance with trip planning for a fee and I enlisted his help. He recommended Cairngorms, basing myself in Grantown Spey for 3 days. I've been to many of the National Parks in Utah, California, Montana and Canada, so I am skeptical about Cairngorms. Do you have any other recommendations of where to stay besides Callendar to mix it up a bit? Must see castles or towns or villages. We love to experience good local music, pubs and such. I'm not a big fan of whisky, but I would try it.

Just a quick comment - I'll have time post more later. Most NP's in the UK are not like Yosemite or Yellowstone or the Grand Canyon. They are basically 'areas of natural beauty' that Include towns and villages and no 'entrance gates'. Inside a UK national park you wouldn't notice anything different that 10 mikes outside the NP in a different town/village.

I agree with many of the comments that you can't visit all of Scotland in 10 days. I've traveled a lot, and Scotland was my favorite place. My wife and I are going back next summer to a different region.

I spent 12 days in the middle 1/3 of Scotland, and really loved it. Only time I went South of the line roughly between Edinburgh and Glasgow was a brief sidetrip to Rosslyn chapel, a bit south of Edinburgh. Started with three days in Edinburgh, wonderful. I rented a place in Dunkeld for a week, in Perthshire. It was as close to the center of the region that I was staying in as anyplace, and right off a major roadway. from there we drove to different locations. Close to House of Bruar, for great Scottish shopping. Visited waterfalls, castles and woods. Day trips to St. Andrews, Glasgow, Loch Lomond, Stirling Castle, Inverarry, etc. Lots of things to do near Dunkeld. After week in Dunkeld, went to Aviemore for two days, one to do Whiskey trail, and one as base for Loch Ness. Then back to airport.

I loved this itinerary, and would suggest it to you.

Your trip sounds wonderful, Senator, but I’ve already booked nights. So far, we have 3 nights in Edinburgh, 2 open nights on the way to Skye, 3 nights in Skye and 3 open nights from Skye back to Edinburgh. We will probably come back through Perthshire. Did you like your accommodations in Dunkeld? If so, would you mind telling me what they were? Thanks for sharing!

It was called City Hall apartments. I was travelling with my children, and it was either a 2 or 3 bedroom rental, I believe 3. What attracted me was first the location. Dunkeld is wonderful, and so centrally located. there's a great old Cathedral in town, and it's on the river Tay. It's also the old City Hall, which attracted me for obvious reasons.

I would like to suggest to you that you might want to start looking for lodgings in London as it is a fairly expensive city and the best properties do fill up. It could be a push to get $150 a night in London for 3 people. I am a fan of renting apartments on booking.com Look at the fine print, but many of their apartments will be cancellable until a certain date. If you pick something that is cancellable, you can shorten your stay or change it.

Also, if you are taking the train, you may wish to consider Edinburgh to York, stay 1-2 nights in York (aka one full day to see the city). Then York to London.

>>I like to keep our budget between 100 to 150 USD per night <<

Really ain't going to happen in London -- not for anyplace one would want to stay anyway. $100 is only £75 (and that is with the £/$ exchange rate quite favorable just now. By the time you travel who knows - it could be £70 or could be £80. But in any case that is very low for London unless you want to stay in Hostels.

$150 (currently just over £110) is doable in a lot of places outside of London. It is a little low for Edinburgh. In both cities I urge you to look at the Travelodges. They are no-charm, but clean and modern budget hotels with several city center locations in both London and Edinburgh. Rates are very date specific so some in London may still be well outside your budget. A room may be £55 one night and £120 he next depending on date.

Its just like in the States - accommodations in many places can be had for very little -- but in say NYC or San Francisco you have to pay a LOT more. Same in the UK - London is not Des Moines.

I have been able to find some great apartments for these prices in Rome( by the Parthenon)and Paris( Marais) through Airbnb. These prices also exist within London, but most of the apartments in the desirable neighborhoods are already booked. I did have to pay a little more in Edinburgh, But I found a 2 bedroom flat in New Town for 165/night. For the record Janis, I’ve never been to Des Moines.

Correction: Our apartment in Rome was by the Pantheon.(not Parthenon)

Rome and Paris are not London when it comes to accommodations prices. London is a great place to visit and doesn't have to be expensive since so many of the museums and sites are free. But the cost of the same level of accommodations in London will be higher than in Rome.

>> But I found a 2 bedroom flat in New Town for 165/night<< New Town is a big area so where exactly . . . but in any case $165 a night is higher than your stated budget. So doesn't negate anything I posted.

>>These prices also exist within London<<. Of course they do -- but where in London is the the big question.

(I only used Des Moines as a comparison )

It's possible to find places close to $150 in London but she needs to book soon. I don't think they are terrible either--but whether an economy hotel is better or not, depends on your perspective. And for the record, I'm more a fan of the Holiday Inn Express, than Travelodge. There's one in Kensington, some good friends stayed at in Dec 2016. Sometimes a good location might be worth the tighter quarters.

For London, I found on booking.com a 1bdr apartment with fold-out couch $169/night (Sept. 20-26). Saint James Gardens 8, Kensington & Chelsea London W11 4RB. Titled "Lovely 1 bedroom Home w Patio- Four Guests."

So they're out there.... just not lots of them.

Thank you 5alive!