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Need help with 10 day Scotland Itinerary
My husband and I are a fit and active couple in our 40s who will be travelling on our first trip to Ireland and Scotland in early September 2019. We enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities as well as the culture of cities where we enjoy art, food, and drink. We are avid travelers who have traveled to Europe, Africa, Australia, and S. America. I have studied the posts of this forum for ideas on how to spend our 10 days in Scotland and believe I'm now at the point to ask for your help and input. We want a trip that includes time visiting cities and sights as well as biking, hiking, or other outdoor pursuits. We are spending 9-10 days in Ireland and then flying to Scotland for 9-10 days. I already posted our Ireland itinerary on the Ireland forum. Here is what I have so far for Scotland:
Day 1 Sept 8 Fly from Shannon to EDI Explore Edinburgh (overnight at Glasshouse Hotel) Day 2 Sept 9 Explore Edinburgh (Glasshouse) Day 3 Sept 10 Explore Edinburgh (Glasshouse) ** Ideas for our 2 1/2 days in Edinburgh? -- what are the "must see's"; in Dublin we are taking the Literary Pub Crawl, the Pub Music Crawl, and a city bike tour. I haven't figured out our time in Edinburgh yet. **Recommendations for dining? Day 4 Sept 11 Drive from Edinburgh to Pitlochry, visit Pitlochry distilleries (overnight at Tigh Na Cloich) Day 5 Sept 12 Explore Pitlochry in a.m, drive to Craigllachie (overnight at Craigllachie Inn) Day 6 Sept 13 Speyside Whiskey Tour (Craigllachie Inn) ** Recommendation for tour guide for whiskey tour? -- we do not want to drive ourselves Day 7 Sept 14 Drive from Craigllachie to Fort William, afternoon walk or bike ride (overnight at Inverlochy Castle) Day 8 Sept 15 Glencoe bike or hike (Inverlochy Castle) ** Recommendation for tour guide Glencoe? Day 9 Sept 16 Drive from Fort William to Glasgow, stop for visit at Stirling Castle, explore Glasgow in evening Day 10 Sept 17 Morning in Glasgow, fly from Glasgow to Kansas City in afternoon/evening **Should we skip Stirling Castle for more time in Glasgow? ** Recommendations for where to stay on our last night in Scotland? Please give me your ideas and input -- is this too much? Is there something we'd really enjoy that I've left out? Recommendations for activities, dining and drinking? Many thanks. |
Yes, skip Sterling castle for more time in Glasgow. There are several Rennie Macintosh buildings to visit, including the Willow Tea room and the Art Lover's house built from his plans, and there is the Burrell Collection which is a jewel.
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Stirling Castle
For us, visit to Stirling Castle was very memorable. Everything was so perfect - from the stunning views to the very interesting rooms and exhibits. The history of Stirling Castle is captivating and full of dramatic events, battles, intrigues... The architecture of the castle is magnificent and it is surprisingly well preserved. There is a “birds of prey” show and re-enactments of different scenes of medieval times on the lawn. And Millstone restaurant was so good in Dublin... Try their fish chowder and Irish coffee. Also, very nice live music added to the atmosphere of this charming restaurant. |
The Burrell Collection is shut for extensive renovations and won't be reopening until 2020.
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For a whiskey walking tour, do the tour out of Dufftown, http://www.speysidetours.co.uk/ This was a highlight of our last trip to Scotland. Also do the visit and tour to the Cooperage there, it's really fun and interesting.
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When we were in Edinburgh 2 summers ago, we enjoyed Edinburgh Castle, the National Museum of Scotland, hiking Arthur's Seat, and the Hop On Hop Off Bus tour.
For dinner in Edinburgh, we particularly liked Forage & Chatter and Scran & Scallie. Our very favorite part of Scotland was the Isle of Skye - if I go back, I will spend all of my time there or on another isle! Enjoy Scotland, we loved it! |
I second Forage and Chatter. Great meal!
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Final Itinerary
I wanted to update this thread with our final itinerary:
IRELAND Day 1 Iceland Air --Fly from Kansas City to Dublin, depart 9:45pm. Day 2 Arrive in Dublin approx. 1:50pm. Guinness Tour at 4:00, rest in hotel, Pub Music Crawl 7:30pm. The Green Hotel. Day 3 Dublin Tour Kilmainham Gaol 10:30, Visit Chester Beatty Library, Walk around O'Connell St, Grafton St, Temple Bar areas; Literary Pub Music Crawl 7:30 Day 4 Rent car, drive to Cong, 9:30 -12:30 (3- 3.5 hours) Pat Cohan’s pub for lunch?Check in at Ashford Castle and explore grounds, 2:45pm Cruise on lake, dinner at 8pm at George V restaurant Day 5 Cong 9:30-11am Private 90 minute hawk walk at Ashford Castle; explore Connemarra: Drive to Leename (fiord) and Kylemore Abbey. If time, rent bikes in Clifton and bike the 15k loop on Skye Road. Dinner Wilde’s at the Lodge at Ashford Castle 7:30pm Day 6 Drive to Ballyvaughan (90 minute drive) 9:30-11am; Lunch at Burren Fine Food & Wine 11-12; Drive to Fanore Beach (30 min) and hike Caher Valley Loop (3.5 hours) 12:30-4pm, Drive to Doolin (30 min) 5pm; Dinner at a pub as per recommendation of Naill & Darra at The Sea View House Day 7 Doolin Walk to the Cliffs of Moher in the morning, explore the area, late afternoon cruise to Cliffs of Moher; Dinner at a pub as per recommendation of Naill and Darra at The Sea View House Day 8 Drive to Killarney (3 to 3.5 hours)Explore grounds at hotel, visit Muckross House and gardens, Muckross Abbey, Torc waterfall via bicycles from the hotel. If time, take a hike in the park; have a drink at Curious Cat wine bar; dinner at Celtic Whiskey Bar and Larder 7:30pm Muckross Park Hotel and Spa Day 9 Killarney Bike or hike Gap of Dunloe ; Enjoy the spa at hotel, dinner at The Cellar at The Ross 7:15pm Day 10 Drive to Shannon Airport and drop off car 2.5 hour drive; Fly from Shannon to EDI 10:55am-12:30pm SCOTLAND Lunch at Café Royal 2pm-ish; spend the afternoon strolling down to the Scottish Parliament Building via Charlton Hill, passed Palace of Holyrood House then climb up to Arthur’s seat; if time, on the way back, walk the Royal Mile; Dinner—The Scran & Scallie 7:45pm The Glasshouse Hotel Day 11 Edinburgh Edinburgh Castle morning (use Explorer Pass ticket); Leith Walk to Leith (port); Dinner—King’s Wark or Mother India Day 12 Edinburgh National Museum of Scotland--morning, Royal Botanical Garden-afternoon; Dinner – 83 Hanover Day 13 Drive from Edinburgh to Abelour. Tour Stirling Castle on the way (1.5 hours). (Leave 8am, tour castle & eat lunch 9-1:00, arrive Abelour by 4:30-5pm.) (use Explorer Pass tix)Drink at Craigllachie Inn- The Copper Dog 5pm ; Dinner at inn at 7pm; Cardhu Country House Day 14 Abelour Hike and sightsee in morning – tour The Cooperage; Whiskey & Chocolate Dufftown Walking Tour 4pm-7:30pm; Dinner Mash Tun pub 8:00pm Day 15 Drive from Arbelour to Fort William (2.5 hours); Afternoon hike; Dinner at castle: drinks & apps at 7:30, dinner at 8pm, Inverlochy Castle Day 16 Fort William Hike in Glen Coe; Visit Ben Nevis Distillery (Open 10am -4pm); Dinner – Lime Tree or Crannog Day 17 Oban Drive from Fort William to Dunstaffnage Marina for Etive boat trip; Etive boat trip -- 10am-2pm; Oban Distillery (open 9:30am-5:00pm); Dinner—Etive 8pm; MacKays Inn Day 18 Leisurely drive from Oban to Glasgow through Loch Lomand and Trossachs National Park (2.5-4.5 hours, including some sightseeing) Explore Glasgow in evening; dinner at the Ox & Finch 7:30pm (10 min walk from hotel); 15 Glasgow B&B Day 19 Morning in GlasgowLeave for airport around 11am; Fly from Glasgow to Kansas City |
We walked to Leith one day. It is easy to walk there but a long walk (but at least it is downhill). Take a bus back as it is very easy. We had a great lunch at a small restaurant called the Light House in Leith. Best seafood we had on our trip.
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