Need advice on Scotland itinerary
 

We would really appreciate some advice about our Scotland itinerary. So far, the parameters are:
-We will arrive in Edinburgh Sunday evening Aug 26 & will probably be jet-lagged.
-We have reservations for the Braemar Games so we have to be in Braemar Friday August 31 and Saturday Sep 1.
-We'll have to leave Scotland Tuesday September 4 for London.

We would like to go to the Isle of Skye, and possibly Oban/Mull. We're primarily interested in scenery & seeing the most important sights but want the trip to be fairly leisurely. Right now I'm thinking we'll leave Edinburgh on Tuesday Sep 28, spend one night in Mull, one night on Skye, one night (need help here)??, two nights in Braemar, then 2 nights in Edinburgh.

Do you think this is enough time in Edinburg? Same question for the Isle of Skye? Where else would you recommend? All suggestions would be welcome!

Also, do we need a car in Edinburgh if we stay near the city center? I thought parking might be a hassle, as well as saving on car rental if we could just walk/use city transportation.

TIA
Carolyn

I hope you have accommodation sorted out as it's the last weekend of the Festival Fringe and the International Book Festival and it's "rather busy" to say the least. If you aren't interested in either then I'd recommend staying somewhere else like Stirling or Glasgow.

You'll have similar problems the following weekend due to the massive fireworks display on the Sunday evening - it's to be recommended.

Car in central Edinburgh - NO NO NO NO NO - you may as well just burn bank notes as at least they'll warm you

Personally I'd drop Mull though you can pass through Oban on your way to Skye via Mallaig. Do have two nights there and leave by the Skye Bridge on the way to Braemar

You'll have two long days travelling to & from Skye.

You

absolutely avoid car hire in edinburgh - the city is very well catered for by public transport - totally agree with Alan Row. you are pushing it a bit going to skye for 1 night, you would maybe be better visiting one of the smaller islands on the west coast - the Isle of arran is beautiful, its called Scotland in minature. make sure you book all hotels well in advance as its a very busy time of year. regardless of where you stay, i have no doubt you will love it. Edinburgh has many sights - but it is compact - so I think you will have enough time there - enjoy x

Thanks for the advice. If we wanted to spend one night somewhere to break up the trip from Edinburgh to Skye, where would you recommend?

I wouldn't stop overnight - you don't have the time. You could make it a full day going via Oban

I loved Mull and would do two nights there. Lovely scenery. Also go to Iona where many of Scotland's early kings are buried. The ferry ride to Iona from Mull is barely five minutes.

We went to Scotland in 2009 and LOVED Mull - it is umbelievably beautiful. The one track roads and gorgeous vistas. I loved Tobermory and appreciated Iona. If you go to Tobermory - stay at Achrandisch house with Mike Story what a treausre he is. Spend two nights on Mull. Then go to Skye and spend 2 nights there as well. The landscape is surreal, very other side of the moon and so differnt from Mull. These 2 areas were the highlight of our trip. We visited Edinburgh during the festival and had a great time and also went to the Whiskey Trail and enjoyed that as well, but the two islands were the highlight! Enjoy!