London, Wales, Edinburgh, Highlands... Am I CRAZY?
Jul 29th, 2003 | 07:23 AM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,244
Likes: 0
London, Wales, Edinburgh, Highlands... Am I CRAZY?
Re posting for PAMMIE:
Crossing the pond to London in mid Sept. for 2 days of business. Have 10 days to play after that and want to see it all. Real interests are stunning scenery, a castle or two, fine lodgings & great food. Can I do this all by car?? 2 days-N. Wales(Llandudno),2 days Lakes-Ullswaters, 2days Edinburgh, 3 days Highlands-Ft.William - Isle of Skye. Will fly out of Edinburgh. Thanks for suggestion!!
Crossing the pond to London in mid Sept. for 2 days of business. Have 10 days to play after that and want to see it all. Real interests are stunning scenery, a castle or two, fine lodgings & great food. Can I do this all by car?? 2 days-N. Wales(Llandudno),2 days Lakes-Ullswaters, 2days Edinburgh, 3 days Highlands-Ft.William - Isle of Skye. Will fly out of Edinburgh. Thanks for suggestion!!
Jul 29th, 2003 | 07:54 AM
#2
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 669
Likes: 0
I would say "yes - possible, but far from being sensible". It will take you a day to drive from London to N Wales - 3-4 hrs from there to the Lakes. Another half a day to Edinurgh.
The Q is - what do you want to do when you get to all these places? - have a fine meal (no probs); take a lot of pix (ditto) - but will you really have experienced any of it???
The Q is - what do you want to do when you get to all these places? - have a fine meal (no probs); take a lot of pix (ditto) - but will you really have experienced any of it???
Jul 29th, 2003 | 11:30 AM
#4
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
Author: PAMMIE
Date: 07/27/2003, 08:29 pm
Message: Do you recommend cutting out N. Wales or The Lakes District? Can you tell me how long the drive to these places are? It will be in mid sept. so crowds shouldn't be a factor. After driving in the Irish countryside, I've learned that maps don't mean a thing. Thanks so much!!!
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Author: JMM
Date: 07/28/2003, 01:52 pm
Message: In one word - yes - you will be exhausted from driving and will not really have much time to see and enjoy anything. If you are trying to decide what to cut out - Unless you really love castles skip Wales (the best castles in the UK in my opinion but you will be too busy driving to actually stop and enjoy them). Drive through the Lake district (stopping for one night). Spend at least 3 nights in Edinburgh and the rest of the time in the highlands. OR if you really love castles - spend at least 3-4 nights in Wales (personally I was not impressed with Llandudno - Bets-y-Coed is more scenic). See the following castles - Harlech, Caernarvon, Beamaris, Conwy and enjoy the scenery. Spend 2 nights in the Lake District. 3-4 nights in Edinburgh with a day trip - either north or east of Edinburgh. Skip the highlands - they are magnificent but you don't have time to do them justice.
Good Luck and remember - you can see it all but will you enjoy it if you are spending most of your time in a car?
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Author: TuckH ([email protected])
Date: 07/28/2003, 03:43 pm
Message: Whichever choice is taken, please consider this: Don't settle for just "seeing" a place, "EXPERIENCE IT".
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Author: John71cove
Date: 07/28/2003, 05:23 pm
Message: To miss North Wales would be a terrible mistake.
John
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Author: PAMMIE
Date: 07/28/2003, 07:35 pm
Message: Thank you JMM, TuckH & John for the helpful information. Have read many positive posts about Betws-y-coed and think that may be the place to go in Wales. Do you know of a 4 star or fine lodging in the area. Have been to Edinburgh before so think 2 nights on this trip will do as I have my heart set on the Highlands. Does it make sense to go to the Betws-y-coed from London then to the Lakes Region? Any idea about drive time during the week in late Sept.
Any recommendations of the most scenic Lakes Region location to spend two nights with fine lodging. Not that we're hoy-t-toy-tee, just work real hard and save hard so we can stay somewhere that is as special as the location. (Hoy-t-toy-tee is southern usa slang for snooty). Again thanks for any advice, I always rely on this site for travels with great success!!
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Author: Budman
Date: 07/28/2003, 08:36 pm
Message: PAMMIE did not leave spaces between the words in her header and this has resulted in the header of the post failing to "wrap" on the lefthand portion of the screen.
"London,Wales,Edinburgh,Highlands...Am&quo t; is one word and the left portion of the split screen is "screwed up."
Please don't tops this post. Pammie, please start another thread with spaces between words.
Thank you.
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Author: PAMMIE
Date: 07/28/2003, 09:41 pm
Message: Budman: I have no idea what you are talking about. Don't tops this post??? What in the world does that mean? I didn't space my words but when I look at it on my screen you can fiqure it out. Not to good on this thing as I try to spend spare time reading about travel and not reading proper posting manuels. So Sorry!!!!
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Author: Budman
Date: 07/28/2003, 09:51 pm
Message: Because you used no spaces in your "message title," the message title would not "wrap." It makes one have to scroll horizontally. Do you get it?
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author: PAMMIE
Date: 07/28/2003, 09:59 pm
Message: Budman: Yeah I get it. I think. Thanks. Isn't it ok if I leave the header like it is. Don't want to have to start thread from scratch. I still would like other posters to share their knowledge and ideas with me. P.S. I'm learning, just figured out what a thread is.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author: Anonymous
Date: 07/28/2003, 10:11 pm
Message: Budman, your efforts are valiant, but it's a losing battle. I pointed out this formatting snafu to PAMMIE right after she first perpetrated it, and all I got was a snippy answer.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author: TuckH ([email protected])
Date: 07/29/2003, 08:42 am
Message: Pammie, too bad you're being diverted off your question by the header issue...
In my humble opinion (having traversed the UK extensively) ANY ONE of the areas you've listed is worthy of your 10 days!
I say pick one (or two) and focus on that. Save what's left off for a future trip (there will be other trips, right?)
Take the Lake District: The joys of that area are the small villages, the local people and the gorgeous hikes. JMM says 'drive through the Lake District' and I say 'that misses the whole point!'
Many famous artists and authors have chosen to live there; try to find out why this was so.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author: jaydreb5
Date: 07/29/2003, 10:22 am
Message: To answer your question about 4 * lodging near Betws-y-Coed, I would highly recommend the Tan-Y-Foel guest house. We stayed there last year and it was terrific.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author: jason888
Date: 07/29/2003, 01:49 pm
Message: Hi, Pammie!
I envy you! Just great places to go!
Here's some info which you might find useful:
In June, I drove from Oxford to Harlech, North Wales. It took about six hours.
The drive in England was on "freeways" - autoroutes with multiple lanes. It is best to avoid driving the M6 portion of the autoroute, especially around Birmingham, during any peak traffic hour. My Oxford friend called the M6 "the worst and most congested highway on earth". I drove it between 10-11am in the morning northbound and it was OK, around 60-70 mph, with a fair amount of traffic. But I also drove it southbound on a late Friday afternoon and it took about 4 hours to negotiate a 30 mile stretch! So plan this portion of your drive carefully!
Once across the English - Welsh border, the roads become two lane and get narrower and much more winding. You should try for a small car which will make negotiating those winding roads a lot easier.
The Welsh roads were in very good condition, but, in order to keep them in that good condition, parts of the roads will always be under repair. So, be prepared to have to stop several times when the two lane becomes one lane and allows traffic in one direction to alternate.
JMM and Tuck have given you very good advice. Don't zip through the Welsh countryside. Savor it. It's rugged, a lot of slate mountains, with plenty of munching sheep in green pastures and ancient knee high stone walls. Go to Caernarfon Castle which is the most important castle in that it is the one where the Prince of Wales is investitured. I enjoyed the display of the Royal Welch (yes, thatis the correct spelling!) Fusilliers at Caernarfon. You should plna on spending several hours at Caernarfon.
Of the Edward I castles, my favorite castle is Harlech, at this moment. The view of Tremadog Bay is great. I particularly enjoyed the dinner we had at the Castle Hotel in Upper Harlech.
Throughout North Wales, there are also great valley views, such as the one of the Dyfi Valley near Dinas Mawddwy. North Wales is rugged and "wild" - away from the smoke, noise, and madness of the English autoroutes. It has to be savored. Find a small restaurant somewhere, dine on some local specialty, enjoy the view...as we did at the King George Restaurant (I won't be able to find that restaurant again but it was a great location!)
Since I stayed with a friend, I can't tell you about hotels. But here are a few ads for Betws Y Coed from my information brochure called 2003 Snowdonia which also has a website:
www.eryri-npa.gov.uk.
Advertised Betws Y Coed Hotels:
1) Royal Oak Hotel - "award winning former Victorian coaching inn overlooking the River Llugwy...with 27 en-suite bedrooms. Famous for our wide selection of local cuisine..
Tel: 01690 710219."
2) Stables Lodge Bar & Bistro - "The Stables Lodge affords luxury travel accommodation at the heart of the picturesque village of Betws y Coed with 18 ensuite rooms, life and disabled facilities.
Tel: 01690 710219 [seems to be the same phone number as above!]
web address: www.4lodgeaccoommodation
3) Ty Gwyn Hotel - "on the A5/A470 Junction
Tel: 01690 710383
www.tygwynhotel.co.uk"
4) Best Western Waterloo Hotel - "A premier North Wales Hotel with extensive Leisure Facilities - Indoor heated pool, Jacuzzi, Steam Room, Sauna and gymnasium.
Tel: 01690 710411 FAX: 01690 710666
www.waterloo-hotel.info"
Hope this helps! I loved North Wales, especially after coming to its wild isolation from busy Paris and Oxford. Hope you will find it as enjoyable as well!
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 07/27/2003, 08:29 pm
Message: Do you recommend cutting out N. Wales or The Lakes District? Can you tell me how long the drive to these places are? It will be in mid sept. so crowds shouldn't be a factor. After driving in the Irish countryside, I've learned that maps don't mean a thing. Thanks so much!!!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author: JMM
Date: 07/28/2003, 01:52 pm
Message: In one word - yes - you will be exhausted from driving and will not really have much time to see and enjoy anything. If you are trying to decide what to cut out - Unless you really love castles skip Wales (the best castles in the UK in my opinion but you will be too busy driving to actually stop and enjoy them). Drive through the Lake district (stopping for one night). Spend at least 3 nights in Edinburgh and the rest of the time in the highlands. OR if you really love castles - spend at least 3-4 nights in Wales (personally I was not impressed with Llandudno - Bets-y-Coed is more scenic). See the following castles - Harlech, Caernarvon, Beamaris, Conwy and enjoy the scenery. Spend 2 nights in the Lake District. 3-4 nights in Edinburgh with a day trip - either north or east of Edinburgh. Skip the highlands - they are magnificent but you don't have time to do them justice.
Good Luck and remember - you can see it all but will you enjoy it if you are spending most of your time in a car?
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author: TuckH ([email protected])
Date: 07/28/2003, 03:43 pm
Message: Whichever choice is taken, please consider this: Don't settle for just "seeing" a place, "EXPERIENCE IT".
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author: John71cove
Date: 07/28/2003, 05:23 pm
Message: To miss North Wales would be a terrible mistake.
John
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author: PAMMIE
Date: 07/28/2003, 07:35 pm
Message: Thank you JMM, TuckH & John for the helpful information. Have read many positive posts about Betws-y-coed and think that may be the place to go in Wales. Do you know of a 4 star or fine lodging in the area. Have been to Edinburgh before so think 2 nights on this trip will do as I have my heart set on the Highlands. Does it make sense to go to the Betws-y-coed from London then to the Lakes Region? Any idea about drive time during the week in late Sept.
Any recommendations of the most scenic Lakes Region location to spend two nights with fine lodging. Not that we're hoy-t-toy-tee, just work real hard and save hard so we can stay somewhere that is as special as the location. (Hoy-t-toy-tee is southern usa slang for snooty). Again thanks for any advice, I always rely on this site for travels with great success!!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author: Budman
Date: 07/28/2003, 08:36 pm
Message: PAMMIE did not leave spaces between the words in her header and this has resulted in the header of the post failing to "wrap" on the lefthand portion of the screen.
"London,Wales,Edinburgh,Highlands...Am&quo t; is one word and the left portion of the split screen is "screwed up."
Please don't tops this post. Pammie, please start another thread with spaces between words.
Thank you.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author: PAMMIE
Date: 07/28/2003, 09:41 pm
Message: Budman: I have no idea what you are talking about. Don't tops this post??? What in the world does that mean? I didn't space my words but when I look at it on my screen you can fiqure it out. Not to good on this thing as I try to spend spare time reading about travel and not reading proper posting manuels. So Sorry!!!!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author: Budman
Date: 07/28/2003, 09:51 pm
Message: Because you used no spaces in your "message title," the message title would not "wrap." It makes one have to scroll horizontally. Do you get it?
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author: PAMMIE
Date: 07/28/2003, 09:59 pm
Message: Budman: Yeah I get it. I think. Thanks. Isn't it ok if I leave the header like it is. Don't want to have to start thread from scratch. I still would like other posters to share their knowledge and ideas with me. P.S. I'm learning, just figured out what a thread is.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author: Anonymous
Date: 07/28/2003, 10:11 pm
Message: Budman, your efforts are valiant, but it's a losing battle. I pointed out this formatting snafu to PAMMIE right after she first perpetrated it, and all I got was a snippy answer.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author: TuckH ([email protected])
Date: 07/29/2003, 08:42 am
Message: Pammie, too bad you're being diverted off your question by the header issue...
In my humble opinion (having traversed the UK extensively) ANY ONE of the areas you've listed is worthy of your 10 days!
I say pick one (or two) and focus on that. Save what's left off for a future trip (there will be other trips, right?)
Take the Lake District: The joys of that area are the small villages, the local people and the gorgeous hikes. JMM says 'drive through the Lake District' and I say 'that misses the whole point!'
Many famous artists and authors have chosen to live there; try to find out why this was so.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author: jaydreb5
Date: 07/29/2003, 10:22 am
Message: To answer your question about 4 * lodging near Betws-y-Coed, I would highly recommend the Tan-Y-Foel guest house. We stayed there last year and it was terrific.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author: jason888
Date: 07/29/2003, 01:49 pm
Message: Hi, Pammie!
I envy you! Just great places to go!
Here's some info which you might find useful:
In June, I drove from Oxford to Harlech, North Wales. It took about six hours.
The drive in England was on "freeways" - autoroutes with multiple lanes. It is best to avoid driving the M6 portion of the autoroute, especially around Birmingham, during any peak traffic hour. My Oxford friend called the M6 "the worst and most congested highway on earth". I drove it between 10-11am in the morning northbound and it was OK, around 60-70 mph, with a fair amount of traffic. But I also drove it southbound on a late Friday afternoon and it took about 4 hours to negotiate a 30 mile stretch! So plan this portion of your drive carefully!
Once across the English - Welsh border, the roads become two lane and get narrower and much more winding. You should try for a small car which will make negotiating those winding roads a lot easier.
The Welsh roads were in very good condition, but, in order to keep them in that good condition, parts of the roads will always be under repair. So, be prepared to have to stop several times when the two lane becomes one lane and allows traffic in one direction to alternate.
JMM and Tuck have given you very good advice. Don't zip through the Welsh countryside. Savor it. It's rugged, a lot of slate mountains, with plenty of munching sheep in green pastures and ancient knee high stone walls. Go to Caernarfon Castle which is the most important castle in that it is the one where the Prince of Wales is investitured. I enjoyed the display of the Royal Welch (yes, thatis the correct spelling!) Fusilliers at Caernarfon. You should plna on spending several hours at Caernarfon.
Of the Edward I castles, my favorite castle is Harlech, at this moment. The view of Tremadog Bay is great. I particularly enjoyed the dinner we had at the Castle Hotel in Upper Harlech.
Throughout North Wales, there are also great valley views, such as the one of the Dyfi Valley near Dinas Mawddwy. North Wales is rugged and "wild" - away from the smoke, noise, and madness of the English autoroutes. It has to be savored. Find a small restaurant somewhere, dine on some local specialty, enjoy the view...as we did at the King George Restaurant (I won't be able to find that restaurant again but it was a great location!)
Since I stayed with a friend, I can't tell you about hotels. But here are a few ads for Betws Y Coed from my information brochure called 2003 Snowdonia which also has a website:
www.eryri-npa.gov.uk.
Advertised Betws Y Coed Hotels:
1) Royal Oak Hotel - "award winning former Victorian coaching inn overlooking the River Llugwy...with 27 en-suite bedrooms. Famous for our wide selection of local cuisine..
Tel: 01690 710219."
2) Stables Lodge Bar & Bistro - "The Stables Lodge affords luxury travel accommodation at the heart of the picturesque village of Betws y Coed with 18 ensuite rooms, life and disabled facilities.
Tel: 01690 710219 [seems to be the same phone number as above!]
web address: www.4lodgeaccoommodation
3) Ty Gwyn Hotel - "on the A5/A470 Junction
Tel: 01690 710383
www.tygwynhotel.co.uk"
4) Best Western Waterloo Hotel - "A premier North Wales Hotel with extensive Leisure Facilities - Indoor heated pool, Jacuzzi, Steam Room, Sauna and gymnasium.
Tel: 01690 710411 FAX: 01690 710666
www.waterloo-hotel.info"
Hope this helps! I loved North Wales, especially after coming to its wild isolation from busy Paris and Oxford. Hope you will find it as enjoyable as well!
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Jul 29th, 2003 | 11:34 AM
#5
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
Author: JMM
Date: 07/29/2003, 03:31 pm
Message: For Tuck: Really Tuck - I did not mean to offend with my suggestion to drive through the Lake District BUT remember Pammie only has 10 Days and is driving from London to Edinburgh - so If anything had to be rushed through I suggested the Lake District because if you do not have time to do some serious walking (which she does not) you can at least get a glimpse of the lovely scenery driving through. When I was in the Lake District I spent a full week there and loved it. My favorite lake - Wastwater.
Date: 07/29/2003, 03:31 pm
Message: For Tuck: Really Tuck - I did not mean to offend with my suggestion to drive through the Lake District BUT remember Pammie only has 10 Days and is driving from London to Edinburgh - so If anything had to be rushed through I suggested the Lake District because if you do not have time to do some serious walking (which she does not) you can at least get a glimpse of the lovely scenery driving through. When I was in the Lake District I spent a full week there and loved it. My favorite lake - Wastwater.
Jul 29th, 2003 | 11:54 AM
#6
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,707
Likes: 0
JMM, I understand where you were coming from. My point (and this is my own travel-philosophy) is that it's a mistake to whiz past the scenery. Shooting up the Motorway to Edinburgh will take Pammie the better part of a day; that leaves a net of nine days for sightseeing. How best to spend that time? That's the issue and I say that it's better to do any one thing well than it is to do many things mediocre.
Jul 29th, 2003 | 01:41 PM
#7
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Budman: Thanks for re posting for me. I never meant to be "spippy". I'm just posting challenged. Again thanks for the help.
Thanks to all of you for the great information. I'll start researching your suggestions. Please keep them coming.
Thanks to all of you for the great information. I'll start researching your suggestions. Please keep them coming.
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Jul 29th, 2003 | 01:55 PM
#8
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,110
Likes: 0
It's probably two years since I first recommended the Hotel Portmeirion as THE place to stay in North West Wales.Since then another hotel has opened in its grounds called Castell Deudraeth. Castell Deudraeth is pricey - about £150 B&B per double room per night I think.
The location of Hotel Portmeirion is stunning on the river estuary with the mountains behind and at the bottom of Portmeirion Village.This is an Italianate village which is modelled on Portofino and quite unique.
The food in both hotels is very good.
The location of Hotel Portmeirion is stunning on the river estuary with the mountains behind and at the bottom of Portmeirion Village.This is an Italianate village which is modelled on Portofino and quite unique.
The food in both hotels is very good.
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