I have three times driven between Mull and Skye - not once did I stay overnight enroute. A morning ferry off Mull and an afternoon ferry onto Skye. But again - none of the drives were in October when the days are not as long as in June/July. (the days are not short in Oct, but in June it is light until after 11 PM)

On Mull I normally stay in Fionnphort and don't bother packing and moving. I manage to see most of the Isle plus Iona/Staffa staying 3 nights in Fionnphort. Dervaig is slightly less conveniently located so it also works as a base but w/ more driving.

If you want to be more centrally located for one or two nights -- Salen or Craignure are a bit more convenient. Dervaig is lovely - but is a loooong drive from anywhere except for Tobermory and Calgary Bay. You have to decide if that works for you.

We are still completing our plans and are wondering if it would be wiser to stay when leaving Edinburgh in Ballachulish as we are going to Tobermory the next day, or stay in Callander for that one night and head to Tobermory the next day? Also, nice lodging recommendations in either place would be appreciated.

Also, our next to last night will be in the Fife area. Where would you recommend lodging for one night that in somewhat atmospheric as well as a nice place?

Thank you

One more question. How is the cell service in the Highlands and on the Islands? What kind of cell rental would you recommend? Does Verizon have a 02 sim?

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Has anyone stayed in a self catering cottage near Portree on Skye?

personally, I would stay in Ballachulish (actually, I think I would stay in Lochaline, but that's just me. Can't do recommendations in Callander, but I like the Holly Tree at Kentallen (which is NEAR Ballachulish.

In Fife I'd try the Ship Inn in Elie.

Mobile phones in the Highlands are patchy. It's received wisdom that Vodaphone has the best coverage.

I've not done self catering on Skye, but you might want to look here:-

http://www.hamstercottages.co.uk/

They major on Skye

We stayed at No. 2 Lighthouse in Portree (http://www.highlandholidaycottages.c...ee/index.shtml). It was nicely located near the center of town but away from any late-night noise, with its own parking spot and private garden with clothesline.

Here's a link to a four-minute slideshow I put together after our trip to Scotland last summer, which included one week on Skye: http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...sh-holiday.cfm.

Actually, the link is to my trip report, which includes the slideshow....

I apparently do not know what I am doing in trying to post.

I am curious about how to fit Rannoch Moor into my itinerary can anyone tell me the best time to do this with my itinerary?

2 days 3 nights Edinburgh, 1 night free, 3 on Mull, 4 on Skye leaving from Tobermory. 2 nights in Grantown on Spey and the last 2 in and around Fife and Edinburgh.

Hello kpilling - As promised, following up on previous post re: Peinmore House by Portree, Skye. We just returned from 2 weeks in Scotland, including 3 nights at the Peinmore House. Loved it! Would definitely stay there again. Margaret and Don were wonderful hosts with possibly the best breakfasts on our trip...all were quite good, but the homemade marmelade, smokey bacon, and perfect eggs really stood out. It's an idyllic setting (sheep grazing on the property)and convenient location for dinners in town. Rooms were luxurious - very nice linens and well appointed - we stayed in the attic room and our ensuite bath was larger than our Edinburgh B&B room! Spectacular views from most rooms as well - some facing Old Man of Storr and others the Cuillins. The grounds are lovley with a huge walled garden on the property (past it's prime, but the current owners have major plans to revitalize.) An art gallery is opening on the premises within the month. Hope you get a chance to check it out. Cheers!

(quote)kpilling on Jun 16, 09 at 05:56 PM
I am curious about how to fit Rannoch Moor into my itinerary can anyone tell me the best time to do this with my itinerary?

2 days 3 nights Edinburgh, 1 night free, 3 on Mull, 4 on Skye leaving from Tobermory. 2 nights in Grantown on Spey and the last 2 in and around Fife and Edinburgh.(/quote)

When you leave Oban, after returning from Mull, you take the coastal route north to Connel and turn east on A85 through the Pass of Brander to Tyndrum. Turn north on A82 that will take you through Rannoch Moor and Glencoe. You will rejoin your original route towards Skye at Ballachulish.

This will add about fifty miles to your route, but is well worth it.

Thank you HollydaleK and Arbeg_Herewecome. All you advice is really helpful. Hope your trip was good Arbeg - I look forward to reading your trip report.

Can anyone advise me on best and most scenic village to stay in when leaving Grantown on Spey. We have one day and night before heading back to Edinburgh to stay near the airport.

We want to see fishing Village of East of Neuk. Dunkeld sounds interesting as does Pitlochry. Any suggestions?

Pitlochry would be right on your way, but it is pretty much a tourist town. Dunkeld is just a few miles further south, and I find if far more interesting. The cathedral on the banks of the Tay is lovely.

East Neuk is not a village, it is a corner of Fife that has many very scenic fishing villages, like Crail, Anstruther and Pittenweem.

I don't like Pitlochry all that much - not very interesting at all IMO. Dunkeld is much nicer.

However in your situation I wouldn't stay in Dunkeld either. It would be sort of an "artificial" stop over. No need to stay that far north. If it was me, I'd leave G-on-Spey in the AM and stay in Anstruther or Crail that night.

I have been to Scotland 3 times and still have not visited all the places on your list. Choose no more than 3 places for your 2 week stay. Do day trips from those locations. You simply cannot do it all in 2 weeks. I think only 2-3 days in Edinburgh is shortchanging yourself. I would recommend at least 5. You want to make sure to see, at a minimum, Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood House and the Museum of Scotland in the city. However, there are may easy day trips outside of Edinburgh. By public bus, you can go to Leith and see the Yacht Britannia. You can drive to Stirling or take an organized tour. You might also want to visit Bannockburn. There are endless other day trip possiblities.

Running around to do it all on the trip of a lifetime turns your vacation into a forced march. Yes, you can do the forced march, but those types of trips turn everyone on them into grouches and you will not have a good time.

If you still go over with that long list of places, after two days that list will end up in the trash when you realize killing yourself to "do it all" is not going to be fun.

After Edinburgh, pick two other places (your priorities might not be mine, so I am not going to suggest what they should be) and use them as locations for day trips. If Skye is where you want to go, go there. The Culloden battlefield is near Inverness and you could do it on your way to somewhere or stay in or near Inverness.

In three trips, I have seen much of the south of Scotland but still have not gone to Skye. The only island I have been to is Mull. I tend to focus on the Edinburgh Festivals when I go, so my interests are different than yours.

I agree with Janis about not stopping in Dunkeld if you want to see the East Neuk villages. I'd pick Elie, tho' (Everyone's tastes are different).

Since we've been in and out of this thread since March, maybe you'd like to start a new one setting out your final decisions and where there are still openings, so we can help when appropriate?

Per sheila's post - yes Elie would be really good too. Just about any of the coastal villages would be good. Probably w/ full choice I'd pick either Crail or Elie.

LaurenKahn1: The OP's plan has changed significantly since the start of this thread. You are responding to an itinerary that no longer exists.