Per your suggestion - here is the itinerary with the holes that we could use advice on.

1. Arrive Edinburgh 8/29/09 for three nights at the Balmoral Hotel.
2. Rent Car and drive to a place that will position us for Mull on 9/2/09 - NEED HELP HERE.
We want to see Sterling Castle though not sure if we will tour.
3. Want to drive Rannoch Moor and see Glencoe - need suggestions as to when this is most appropriate. Leaving Edinburgh and driving to position ourselves for Mull might take so much time that it does not leave time for getting to see Rannoch Moor and Glencoe.
4. One night at the Seaview in Fionnphort and 2 nights in Tobermory.
5. Leave Mull on 9/5/09 for 4 nights in a cottage in Portree. Someone mentioned to see Glencoe here - but getting to Portree from Tobermory seems a long day in itself.
6. Leave on 9/9/09 for Grantown on Spey.
7. Leave Grantown and head for East of Neuk - need HELP HERE with a nice village to stay in. Would like to see Dunkeld and Pitlochry.
8. Last night in Edinburgh fly home 9/13/09.
Last question is all this a comfortable itinerary or are we overdoing it?
The holes in our trip now are where to spend the night after Edinburgh and heading for Mull.
Also, a village a place to stay in the East of Neuk area.
Ferry information - Do we need reservations on the ferry to Oban and the one to Mallaig and do they hold you to - the time you designate?
Favorite distrilleries - two or three that have terrific whisky.
Also, pubs that are a must in any of the areas/ that we will be staying.

The Bilbirnie in Markinch, Fife is nice for #7. It is not on the water, but it is beautiful and peaceful.

"<i>We want to see Sterling Castle though not sure if we will tour.</i>"

IMO - don't bother visiting Stirling if you don't plan on going inside the Castle. Your views of the outside of Edinburgh Castle will be just as impressive. Stirling castle is wonderful - but if you just are rushing past, just skip it.

As was (I think) explained on your other thread you can VERY easily see Rannoch Moor and Glencoe enroute to Oban. Stay that night in Callander, Killin or Crianlarich, then drive the A82 along Rannoch Moor and through Glencoe before turning south at Ballachulish to Oban.

Also as mentioned on your other thread -- either Elie or Crail would probably be the best places to stay in Fife.

Not quite sure the attraction to Pitlochry - you will have been in many nicer places along your route. Unless you are going to the theatre - you honestly can give it a miss.

Dunkeld is definitely worth a stop though.

My take on this:-

I would go all the way to Oban from Edinburgh, and pick up Rannoch Moor and Glencoe en route. I'd drive past Stirling on the way. ie:-

Edinburgh, Stirling, Callander, Crianlarich, Tyndrum, Rannoch Moor, Glencoe, Ballachulish, Oban. Stay in Oban.

East Neuk of Fiife. Any of the coastal villages would be nice. St Andrews is, IMHO too busy, but Anstruther, Pittenweem, St Monans, Crail or Elie would be fine. I would aim for the Ship Inn in Elie, myself.

I think it's a pretty comfortable itinerary.

If there's a ferry you MUST be on, or it's the last one of the day, book. Otherwise you can wing it. They hold you to the time you designate. ie, if you book the 10.30pm you will not default to the 11.15. (times are random for exemplary purposes, only)

All distilleries have terrific whisky. Where you're going, Oban, Talisker and Ben Rinnes. (that's whiskies, I'm recommending; not tours)

Pubs I'll add when I get home.

A bit more re Rannoch Moor and Glencoe and where to stay. Sheila is correct you could definitely stay that night near Oban. But that that would be if you skip Stirling, Doune, and/or Inchmahome, Falls of Dochart and the Glencoe visitors center. That would be a too-long day.
If you are just motoring through w/o visiting Stirling etc (but w/ time for Glencoe/Rannoch Moor) - then staying in Oban is fine.

If you do want to see these places (all are recommended) then I'd stay in Callander or Crianlarich and see Stirling, Doune, and Inchmahome, Then the next day see Rannoch Moor/Glencoe and maybe Dunstaffnage before catching a ferry to Mull

Janis,

What amount of time would you recommend for Glencoe/Rannoch Moor and Dunstaffnage? I am trying to book a ferry to Mull and would like to not arrive on Mull much later than 3:00 or 4:00 p.m.

Thank you

Sheila,

Would love your take on pubs.

Rannoch Moor doesn't take time -- you drive along the edge of it and that is it. There are no roads into the moor, so you will just see across the moors as you pass.

Glencoe takes what time you have - if it is just the visitors center and photo taking -- then maybe 45 minutes. If you want to hike or have a meal at the Clachaig - add more time.

pub = Clachaig Inn. It is in Glencoe and has good food.

Thank you Janisj - you have been really incredible and so helpful.

I think you live in Northern California and I live in Southern California. I hope I can return the expertise to you sometime in your travels.

Everyone has been so patient with me and I really do appreciate it.

Oops, forgot:-

I would STILL do Rannoch Moor and Glencoe en route to Oban. I would consider a comfortable day to include, a drive by Stirling for the caste. Doune castle if you wanted. I wouldn't bother with Inchmahome, myself. Rannoch Moor. Glencoe, including the visitor centre. You'd have masses of time to do Oban, and Dunstaffnage the next day before you went to Mull.

Pubs I'd think of stopping at?- the Clachaig. In Oban, the Lorne bar.

The Keel Row in Fhionnphort has the advantage of being nice as well as the only one. The Mishnish in Tobermory is an absolute must.

En route from Oban to Skye, the Arisaig Hotel can be nice. On Skye, I like the bar in the Eilean Iarmain and the big bar at the Sligachan.

En route to Grantown, either the Harbour or the Plockton in Plockton. Grantown's not a pubby town, really.

En Route for Dunkeld, you have the Allargue at Cockbridge, and the Moulin Inn in Pitlochry. In Dunkeld, the Taybank.

Between Dunkeld and the coast, the Bein Inn in Glenfarg, the Stag in Strathmiglo, then the Ship in Elie, the


In Edinburgh, there are just too many to mention. It very much depends where you're going to be. Are you going for the craic, the music, the beer, a good choice of whisky?

We will be near Waverly Station and yes we are going for fun, music, beer and whisky!

We love pubs, do not care about fancy restaurants - can do that at home.

We are a youngish mid 50's couple with tons of energy. We would love to hear some traditional scottish folk but love blues and rock music. My husband likes whisky, I am more of a wine person. We both love dark beers - stouts.

We will do some of the touristy things while in Edinburgh, but look forward to the people and the above.

Any suggestions on pubs with a dark, relaxed, cozy with a firepalce mixed aged crowd with nice food would be terrific.

I cannot tell you how much this information you have provided will help us. A HUGE THANK YOU Sheila. If I can return the favor for California info, please do not hesitate to ask.

Hi

We have finally booked our first night out after Edinburgh and hope we have chosen correctly.

We are staying in Ballachulish. So, should we drive through Rannoch Moor on the way to Ballachulish or wait until we leave Ballachulish and are on our way to Oban and on to Fionnphort? Want to see as much as possible on the Edinburgh day to Ballachulish. Also, don't want to cut ourselves short going to Fionnphort as we only have one night there before going on to Tobermory for 2 nights.

Thank you for your patience.

You clearly have different views here. I would definitely do it en route to Ballachulish, not back track before you go to Oban.

I totally agree w/ sheila. Rannoch Moor is just there right before you enter Glencoe and then the short distance on to Ballachullish. (you won't be driving "through" the Moor - you'll sort of be on the western boundary w/ viewpoints to the east across the bleak/beautiful landscape. There is no road to take you into/across.)