maitaitom

"Tom, I finished reading your report! It's fabulous! I am planning our trip for May or June 2023 to Scotland. Will start a separate thread when I have a rough itinerary. But a few questions first, if I may? Did you travel in May or June? How crowded were the roads? It looks like you spent 2 nights in Portree. Did you think that was enough? You visited many castles. What are your favorites? We will have 2 to 2.5 weeks. Thinking of going last 2 weeks in May or first 2 weeks in June. Do you think one time period is better than the other?
Thanks! and I am enjoying your current report, too. This will be our first trip to Scotland so I think your report from 2017 is more helpful for a first timer."

There are better Scotland experts on the board, so hopefully they will help. We visited in May. We were very worried about traffic, and I might be the only one, but in two trips to Scotland, we have never been stuck in any sort of traffic that slowed us down, and that includes Isle of Skye. I probably could have spent another night in Portree because we got there late in the afternoon.

Favorite Castles:
Edinburgh Castle (of course)
Stirling Castle
Doune (mostly because I got to run around banging coconuts like in Monty Python and the Holy Grail)
Dunvegan Castle Gardens (on Skye) - did not go in castle ... gardens were gorgeous
Eilean Donan Castle - photo op from across the water
Urquhart Castle - Stunning setting
Cawdor Castle - Inside and out
Not a castle but we loved the ruins of Elgin Cathedral
Dunnottar Castle - Spectacular on the sunny day we were there. That and Urquhart had the most photographic setting in my opinion.
Glamis Castle - but no photography so that always brings a place down a notch for me.
If you go to Scottish Highlands, you might want to try Floors Castle (they had an event so we never saw it)
Bamburgh Castle was great, but probably too far out of your way.
If you go to Mull, Duart Castle is supposed to be great. Of course, it was closed both days we were in Oban.
Have fun!