Planning a Scotland trip Summer 2005
 

I am planning a trip to Scotland next summer with a group of friends. (I know we are researching early, but we get excited!) At this point, we have absolutely no particulars, just want to hear what others will recommend. At this time there will be six of us travelling, three women, three men, and are wanting plan our trip during a time that coincides with a must see Highland Game celebration. Any recommendations on which are the best? None of us are keen on moving from place to place, so would like to find a central location for our stay of approximately ten days. Is this really feasible, or should we plan on picking up and moving often? We have heard that it would be more economical for all if we rented a guest house, and even castles have been mentioned as boarding sites. Of course, us ladies are quite eager to stay in a castle, even if it's only for the first night, rather than the entire stay. Again, any suggestions?

Hello There:
I don't think you are starting your planning too early! :) Although, I do happen to adore Scottish history so that would be why I've been planning my Scotland trip(for June 2004) for a year and a half now. Haha But not a dull moment yet! There is a lady on this forum by the name of Shelia, she gives the best as well as most detailed advice for planning your trip to Scotland. Here's a link for her threads. :P Good Luck & have fun!

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...eila&fid=2

Just a few comments to get you started:

There are MANY highland games throughout the country all summer. There are many held every weekend all summer. The biggest will be at Braemar the first weekend of September. but that one draws thousands of people and really jams up the roads and accomodations. So You definitely don't have to aim for Braemar/Sept. to see a highland gathering.

Self-catering (what most Brits call renting a vacation home) is a terrific option for a group your size. Not only will it save you a TON of money - you will have a lot more space, a full kitchen, a washer/dryer, etc. A nice 3 bedroomed cottage in a scenic area will cast between about £350 and £500 for a week (that's only about $15 - $20 per person per night). If you choose a centrally located cottage you can use it for a base to see things within about a 150 mile diameter circle. For instance from a base west or NW of Stirling you could see places from St Andrews to Skye, Loch Ness to Glasgow.

I would probably look a staying a night or two in Edinburgh - then pick up a couple of cars and travel to where ever your cottage is and settle in for a week. then you'll have another night or two to travel to another area or stay in a castle before flying home.

As you start your planning - it is important to know that the vast majority of holiday cottages rent for saturday to saturday weeks. So you can't usually rent one from say wed to wed, etc. Sot you'd want to arrive in Edinburgh one either Thurs or Friday.

HI...no, it's never to early to start. We also plan way ahead...it is SO much FUN!!!
For a castle, even for just a night, check out Dalhousie Castle at
http://www.dalhousiecastle.co.uk/
We stayed there a number of years ago and loved it. It's about 7 miles outside of Edinburgh in the town of Bonnyrigg.
I was in Scotland again last April and we rented a wonderful cottage through Aberfeldy Cottages. There web is
http://www.aberfeldycottages.co.uk/
Aberfeldy is a charming town in mid Scotland in the Perthshire area. There will be links for other places to stay and check out within this site also!
Good luck! :-)

If you are planning on staying somewhere in or near Edinburgh--and I recommend that you do--please remember that from the end of July to the first weekend in September there are all sorts of festivals there and Edinburgh is very crowded.

Wherever you stay, I recommend that you budget some of your time to see events in the Fringe. Avoid the comedy because you will have problems with the accents and won't get all the jokes when you can understand what they are saying. A best bet is anything at the Observer Assembly Rooms. That is where the sure fire "hits" are generally placed.

You are not starting too early to plan your trip. I also recommend self catering as an option as it is so much cheaper than a hotel or B&B's. It does mean that you have to commit to staying in one place for a week at a time, but wherever you decide to stay you will find plenty to do.

Thank you all for the replies so far. The recommended castle looks perfect, and the info on skipping the comedy is very helpful. I have a schedule of all the different highland games for 2004 (haven't seen anything for 2005 yet) so I do realize that there is a great number of them. I have read about the Bremar games, but it sounds far too crowded! We are looking for something that will have a variety of events, and is well put on and fun to watch, but that isn't so busy that we will be fighting crowds to see anything. We would also like it to be well established rather than something that just started in the last several years. The games we choose will determine the time of year we book our trip, and probably the area we stay in. Are there any suggestions for games like this, that are in a great area for seeing some sights? I have read a little about the Abernethy, Crieff, and Argyllshire games. Thoughts on any of these? Also, if you were going to plan a first trip, what would you say are some 'must see' places and things?

I was in Dublin for a few days this week and am slowly catching up, so apologies for the late entry.

First, your Highland Games. If you have a list of this year's, you will be aware that they start in May and finish in September. Are you really intending to pitch the date around the date of your chosen games, or do you know when you're likely to come, within a window, so there's a shorter list to choose from? You'll probably be aware that they are at pretty much the same time every year. ie Braemar is always the first Saturday in September; the Lonach is always the fourth Saturday in August which is sometimes the last and sometimes the second last.

If you are considering dealing with this purely on the basis of the Games forming your choice, the ones I'd go out of my way for are:-

Blackford
Meldrum
Kenmore
Lochcarron
Tomintoul
Aboyne
Ballater
Atholl
Crieff
the Lonach
Birnam

Now, I have personal reasons for some of them, and I think I'm inclined to suggest Birnam, Atholl or the Lonach, to narrow it down. You are right; Braemar is WAY too crowded.

The Lonach used to be a no brainer as the best, but the advent of Billy Connolly and his guests as a regular institution means its pretty crowded and there's as much interest in what's off the field as what's on. It would still be my choice, but that's because my pals go.

I've just realised I didn't mention Cowal, which is probably the best one for the piping if nothing else.

10 days is an awkward length of stay for a self catering let in high summer, so I'm inclined to suggest that you take the odd days over a week and stay in Edinburgh, or nearby. Then pick a location that suits your chosen Games and aim for there for a week's stay.

Somewhere round Dunkeld is good for either Birnam or Aberfeldy; I'd go for somewhere over the hill into Speyside for the Lonach; but Cowal is well off the beaten track. If you pick that one, you'll find that the roads are FULL of peopel travelling to the games, and it's fun on the ferry to Dunoon with all the other particpants, but it's kind of off the left hand edge of the map.

There are a number of agents who specialise in castles as rented accommodation, and a quick browse will show you what's around. Have a look at

http://www.scottscastles.com/
http://www.lhhscotland.com/index.html

and

http://www.cottages-and-castles.co.uk/

I have more; and I keep a word document with sites for these are ordinary cottages, listed. If you want it, email me. Scott's, at least, tell you about Castle hotels as well as self catering. Obviously most castles sleep more than 6, but some have been divided into apartments that might suit you.

A thing I've never done, is to join the Vivat Trust or the Landmark Trust, but they keep special buildings which they let out. The National Trust for Scotland does the same.

the place we are staying at New Year might suit you if you choose Birnam or Aberfeldy

http://www.garthhouse.co.uk/

I can do some recommendations for your "must sees" if you tell me what you like:)

Several years ago, I used Mackay's self-catering agency in Edinburgh and they were very good. They have 1000's of rental properties and you can find them at www.mackays-self-catering.co.uk and ask them to send you a brochure. Incidentally, if you are in North America, you will find Highland Games that are better than many of the ones held in Scotland. The standard of piping and dancing is certainly as good if not better over here.