Oban, Ballater, Edinburgh?

Old Jul 26th, 2006, 05:04 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Oban, Ballater, Edinburgh?

We're planning a first visit to Scotland beginning of October. We will arrive by ferry in Newcastle (from Amsterdam) and then have 6 nights before returning to Newcastle. I have read most of the Scotland posts here and am perhaps more confused than ever. I didn't realize there was so much to see in such a small area!

Since we can't do it all in one visit, I have chosen the following itinerary:

Newcastle to Oban (2 nights Glenburnie)
Oban to Ballater (2 nights Deeside Ballater)
Ballater to Edinburgh (2 nights ?)
Edinburgh to Newcastle

We will be travelling in our own car, like to drive, like great scenerary, short walks, gardens, whiskey(!). Is our itinerary doable?

Many thanks to the Scotland experts!
BJinHolland is offline  
Old Jul 26th, 2006, 05:11 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,203
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The Oban distillery is a fun tour. It's one of the smaller ones but good fun with a wee dram afterwards. Oban is a very tasty scotch.
buongiorno is offline  
Old Jul 26th, 2006, 05:15 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 1,165
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I can only comment on your hotel choice in Oban. We loved our stay at the Glenburnie. We had a view of the bay--very lovely. Breakfasts were very nice. Favorite distillery visit was Glenlivit but that may not be doable with your travel plan. Have a great time in Scotland.
nini is offline  
Old Jul 26th, 2006, 05:25 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 72,629
Likes: 0
Received 50 Likes on 7 Posts
two night stops anywhere are good. However out of all the possibilities, you have a route w/ some quite long drives (especially Newcastle > Oban) You picked Oban and Ballater for some reasons so what sorts of things do you want to see?

The area around Oban is lovelly - though Oban itself is mainly a busy ferry port w/ a ton of accomodations. Deeside and Ballater are really lovely too.

But w/ just 6 days you could have a more leisurely itinerary that zig zagging back and forth across the whole country. Unless, of course, here are specific sites you want to see near Oban and on Deeside.

Just one possibllity to give you an idea: Newcastle into the Borders (about 1/4 the distance as going all the way to Oban). There is a LOT to see in the Borders -- castles/abbeys/St Abb shead, etc.

Then north to Fife (about 1/3 the distance of Oban > Ballater). Things in the area include St Andrews, fishing villages, Falkland Palace, etc.

Then finally Fife to Edinburgh (about 1/3 the distance Ballater/Edinburgh)

Oban and Deeside are very nice - but w/ such a short time I'd want to maximize my sightseeing time and minimize time in transit.
janisj is online now  
Old Jul 26th, 2006, 05:28 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 72,629
Likes: 0
Received 50 Likes on 7 Posts
That should read " . . . more leisurely itinerary than zig zagging back and forth . . ."

So anyway, let us know why Oban and Ballater in particular and then we can give you better advice . . . . .
janisj is online now  
Old Jul 26th, 2006, 05:33 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 12,076
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I cannot comment on Ballater, as I've never been there, but Oban and Edinburgh were fabulous.

Oh, and be sure to spell whisky without the "e" when discusing scotch. Sheila will give you what-for otherwise!

Our full trip report, with pix, can be found here: http://www.onelittleworld.com/scotland_1.html

Enjoy your trip!
mr_go is offline  
Old Jul 26th, 2006, 05:36 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 489
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
BJinHolland

Second the recommendation for the Glenburnie - it is a lovely guesthouse with a sea view. Also had a large room with bay window sitting area overlooking the bay. It is a nice walk into town along the Esplanade.

I can recommend the Castle View Guesthouse in Edinburgh if you haven't made a choice yet. It is in a great downtown location just a couple of blocks to Princes St and a block to Rose St. There is no elevator though and about 5 or 6 flights of stairs to the top floor but the room we had (Balmoral) was very spacious and great view. The breakfasts were excellent and the hosts very pleasant.

We then went on to Mull & Skye so can't really advise you on the other areas but you will love Scotland - the scenery is breathtaking.

Have a wonderful trip.
Royal is offline  
Old Jul 26th, 2006, 05:45 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 72,629
Likes: 0
Received 50 Likes on 7 Posts
Instead of "what sorts of things do you want to see" I should what specific things do you want to see" I know you may not have a definite list - but are there any specific places?

Except for a lot of Whisky distilleries, all of the things you mention are found w/o the looooong drive to Oban. There is one whisky distillery in the borders that is open to the public. Glenkinchie not far from Edinburgh. And there is the Whisky center on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh.
janisj is online now  
Old Jul 26th, 2006, 09:44 AM
  #9  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks for all the quick responses. Well, as I said it is really a challenge to pick an itinerary for Scotland. I picked Oban and Ballater expressely because they were quite a drive away and covered what sounded to be some quite interesting scenery. The drive is the main highlight. DH would rather drive through winding roads than walk through ancient ruins. Need I say more? We often take a wide look at an area by car and then return for places we want to inspect and enjoy in more detail.

From what I've read there is enough to keep us busy in the direct area of both Oban and Ballater (Edinburgh goes without saying) for a full day. On the days we are driving - Newcastle to Oban and Oban to Ballater - what kind of times are we looking at, considering back roads and gentle speeds?

We mainly travel in the US these days so this is really virgin territory for us.
BJinHolland is offline  
Old Jul 26th, 2006, 11:55 AM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 72,629
Likes: 0
Received 50 Likes on 7 Posts
The problem is your drive to Oban isn't on long winding scenic roads. The best route would be across country to near Carlisle, up the Motorway as far as Glasgow and around to Oban. On a good day that will take about 6 hours w/o stops. And isn't the most scenic intro to Scotland. If you did take a scenic route it could easily end up 8 or 10 hours. And in Oct,by the time you got to Oban it would be dark.

And for the trip from Oban to Ballater there is no even slightly direct route.

There are many very scenic parts of scotland w/o having to cross the whole country. Plus - except for the motorways you will be lucky to average 35-40 mph.

Just one other comment - from your screen name can I assume you are from the Netherlands? If so you will be driving a left hand drive car so you may be driving even slower since you won't be able tp overtake.
janisj is online now  
Old Jul 26th, 2006, 01:43 PM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 6,134
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
BJin Holland,

janisj gives some of the best advice on this forum. Her suggested itinersry in her first post is very good, and as she has already stated the usual route from Newcastle to Oban isn't the most scenic. If this is 'virgin territory' for you, I think you'll find it takes far longer to get from point A to point B than travelling in the US. Also realize than there are back roads you can easily explore around the Borders & Fife. You won't run out of driving possibilities by confining yourselves to these areas.
historytraveler is offline  
Old Jul 27th, 2006, 03:14 AM
  #12  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Ok, I've been convinced to change my itinerary. See my new posting "Borders, Fife, Edinburgh".

Thanks for all the input. Guess I'll have to save Glenburnie for a next visit!
BJinHolland is offline  
Old Jul 27th, 2006, 03:22 AM
  #13  
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 19,881
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It seems a shame to miss out on what the north east of England can offer. Better cathedrals, better castles, better beaches, unique world heritage sites...
alanRow is offline  
Old Jul 27th, 2006, 04:48 AM
  #14  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,159
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Since I clearly have a role here, please note:- whisky (no e) not Scotch.

And, since you're a long way from a seriously good distillery (or, should I say, a distillery that makes seriously good whisky), may I suggest you spend one of your Edinburgh evenings with the Malt Whisky Society at the Tasting Rooms in Leith. Take a taxi
sheila is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Nashh
Europe
13
May 1st, 2017 08:02 PM
indiancouple
Europe
21
Sep 23rd, 2013 06:57 PM
mairnets
Europe
17
Jul 24th, 2004 10:28 AM
2fly
Europe
14
Jul 7th, 2004 09:21 AM
njc
Europe
4
Apr 21st, 2004 02:11 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -