Planning trip to Scotland
Jun 23rd, 2006, 05:15 PM
#41
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Sheila -
It looks like I might be able to better start my trip in Edinburgh and depart home from Glasgow. Looking at your itinerary suggestions, is there a bus that would take me from Skye to Kyle over the bridge? And I suppose I could take the train from Kyle to Glasgow? Would Stirling and the Loch be good daytrips from Glasgow - maybe there are tours available? Since I'll be putting in a fair amount of train time, I might consider trying to get a flight between London and Edinburgh if the cost is not too prohibitive. Should I get some kind of train pass to save money rather than just buying individual tickets? I'll also be using two or three short train trips in the London area (to Stratford and Hampton Court).
It looks like I might be able to better start my trip in Edinburgh and depart home from Glasgow. Looking at your itinerary suggestions, is there a bus that would take me from Skye to Kyle over the bridge? And I suppose I could take the train from Kyle to Glasgow? Would Stirling and the Loch be good daytrips from Glasgow - maybe there are tours available? Since I'll be putting in a fair amount of train time, I might consider trying to get a flight between London and Edinburgh if the cost is not too prohibitive. Should I get some kind of train pass to save money rather than just buying individual tickets? I'll also be using two or three short train trips in the London area (to Stratford and Hampton Court).
Jun 23rd, 2006, 08:32 PM
#42
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Shelia has probably gone to bed, so I'll give you some info. and she can add to it later.
You can get a bus from Skye to Kyle Lochalsh (they run half-hourly) or hire a taxi. For taxi information...
Kyleakin Private Hire
www.scotland-info.co.uk/skye-tours.htm
or
Kyle Taxi Company
E-mail [email protected]
www.lochalsh.net/taxi
You can get a bus from Skye to Kyle Lochalsh (they run half-hourly) or hire a taxi. For taxi information...
Kyleakin Private Hire
www.scotland-info.co.uk/skye-tours.htm
or
Kyle Taxi Company
E-mail [email protected]
www.lochalsh.net/taxi
Jun 23rd, 2006, 11:34 PM
#43
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M'dear Hawaian
Has this trip got extended? If not are we now saying you're flying into and out of Scotland from the US?Cos, I would still do what I said and then get the shuttle tain or, indeed, airport bus, from Edinburgh to Glasgow and not bother spending any time there at all.
You got the answer on the bus
You can't take the train from Kyle to Glasgow, but you can take it from Inverness to Glasgow (although I still think you should stop at Edinburgh at the end and not Glasgow. It still goes past Blair Atholl so you can still get a stop there.
Listen, with the time you've got available, whay are you thinking of doing daytrips AT ALL?
If you must, then Stirling and the Loch (Lomond) would be fine. be good daytrips from Glasgow - maybe there are tours available?
PLEASE look at taking the train all the way to Fort William. It's a really good use of time, and a joy to experience. Who ever said that about a flight?
Train passes you'll have to ask someone else about. That smacks too much of planning for my liking.
Now, accommodation. Fort William I can't really help with. I've never voluntarily stayed there for more than an hour. Skye- well my absolute favourite's the Eilean Iarmain, but it's somewhat off centre. Another option is the Sligachan- slap bang in teh middle of the island and with fantastic views.
And you could try the Greshornish. It's changed hands since I was last there, but it's starting to get a good name again.
Edinburgh-depending on budget, the Balmoral, the Scotsman, the Holyrood, the Apex International or the Crown Plaza are my choices.
If I've not talked you out of Glasgow, we'll see what you can dream up there.
Has this trip got extended? If not are we now saying you're flying into and out of Scotland from the US?Cos, I would still do what I said and then get the shuttle tain or, indeed, airport bus, from Edinburgh to Glasgow and not bother spending any time there at all.
You got the answer on the bus
You can't take the train from Kyle to Glasgow, but you can take it from Inverness to Glasgow (although I still think you should stop at Edinburgh at the end and not Glasgow. It still goes past Blair Atholl so you can still get a stop there.
Listen, with the time you've got available, whay are you thinking of doing daytrips AT ALL?
If you must, then Stirling and the Loch (Lomond) would be fine. be good daytrips from Glasgow - maybe there are tours available?
PLEASE look at taking the train all the way to Fort William. It's a really good use of time, and a joy to experience. Who ever said that about a flight?
Train passes you'll have to ask someone else about. That smacks too much of planning for my liking.
Now, accommodation. Fort William I can't really help with. I've never voluntarily stayed there for more than an hour. Skye- well my absolute favourite's the Eilean Iarmain, but it's somewhat off centre. Another option is the Sligachan- slap bang in teh middle of the island and with fantastic views.
And you could try the Greshornish. It's changed hands since I was last there, but it's starting to get a good name again.
Edinburgh-depending on budget, the Balmoral, the Scotsman, the Holyrood, the Apex International or the Crown Plaza are my choices.
If I've not talked you out of Glasgow, we'll see what you can dream up there.
Jun 24th, 2006, 06:38 AM
#44
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Sheila,
You are right, daytrips are out of the question. Just daydreaming...
Here's the deal about flights. American Airlines can take me from Little Rock to London same day 6am departure/10:40pm arrival and home Glasgow to Little Rock. (They don't seem to fly out of Edinburgh, which I think is bizarre!) I really don't plan to spend any time in Glasgow, just thinking about departing from there...
I guess I can get a bus from Kyle to Inverness? Sorry to sound so ignorant. Where I live there is really no public transportation so the whole thing seems rather daunting.
I'll enjoy looking into the accommodations you've recommended.
You are right, daytrips are out of the question. Just daydreaming...
Here's the deal about flights. American Airlines can take me from Little Rock to London same day 6am departure/10:40pm arrival and home Glasgow to Little Rock. (They don't seem to fly out of Edinburgh, which I think is bizarre!) I really don't plan to spend any time in Glasgow, just thinking about departing from there...
I guess I can get a bus from Kyle to Inverness? Sorry to sound so ignorant. Where I live there is really no public transportation so the whole thing seems rather daunting.
I'll enjoy looking into the accommodations you've recommended.
Jun 24th, 2006, 07:36 AM
#45
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Unless I'm hopelessly confused (has happened before!), I think Sheila's recommendation is
1. to take the overnight train from London to Fort William (saves you close to a day)
2. take care of business in Ben Nevis
3. train to Mallaig
4. bus or driver on Skye
5. train from Kyle to Inverness, then train Inverness to Edinburgh (stopping at Blair Castle)
6. tour Edinburgh a few days
You can still do the itinerary this way and fly home from Glasgow; you'd just need to leave the necessary few hours to get to the airport. If you have a morning flight, you could stay at a hotel close to the airport, and travel there after spending most of the day in Edinburgh.
1. to take the overnight train from London to Fort William (saves you close to a day)
2. take care of business in Ben Nevis
3. train to Mallaig
4. bus or driver on Skye
5. train from Kyle to Inverness, then train Inverness to Edinburgh (stopping at Blair Castle)
6. tour Edinburgh a few days
You can still do the itinerary this way and fly home from Glasgow; you'd just need to leave the necessary few hours to get to the airport. If you have a morning flight, you could stay at a hotel close to the airport, and travel there after spending most of the day in Edinburgh.
Jun 24th, 2006, 04:29 PM
#47
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Sheila,
are you sure there is still a Crown Plaza in Edinburgh?
When I look up hotels on IC's site, all I see are Holiday Inn Express and Holiday Inn. There is one Holiday Inn in Edinburgh and one Holiday Inn Express (City Centre location), all other 4 properties do not even have Edinburgh in their addresses.
are you sure there is still a Crown Plaza in Edinburgh?
When I look up hotels on IC's site, all I see are Holiday Inn Express and Holiday Inn. There is one Holiday Inn in Edinburgh and one Holiday Inn Express (City Centre location), all other 4 properties do not even have Edinburgh in their addresses.
Jun 25th, 2006, 10:12 AM
#50
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Sheila -
All of those Skye inns look lovely! The Eilean Lormain is pricey, though. I had to look under Orkney Hotel
(I think it was) to find their website. With a car, probably any of those areas would serve as a good base, wouldn't they?
All of those Skye inns look lovely! The Eilean Lormain is pricey, though. I had to look under Orkney Hotel
(I think it was) to find their website. With a car, probably any of those areas would serve as a good base, wouldn't they?
Jun 25th, 2006, 09:07 PM
#54
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Hawaii,
Thanks for the info on CP. It is too bad it changed hand as if it is still a CP, it is only 5000pt more than a HIX.
I am determined to keep the lodging cost to as close to 0 as it can get as we have a 15day trip to Oregan/Washington/Vancouver in August, and then this 14day trip to London/Scotland/Paris in Sept. Then a 7day Caribbean cruise in Dec. Got to use all my resources to keep down the costs.
BTW, we returned from a 10day Hawaii trip in early June. I dont know which Island in Hawaii you are crazy about. To us, Maui is PARIDISE NO MORE - it is overrun by tourists since the Maui Revealed is published. Our beloved Big Beach now looks crowded. Would you believe we actually found Oahu far more enjoyable than Maui on this trip?! Never would have thought that. What a major letdown.
Thanks for the info on CP. It is too bad it changed hand as if it is still a CP, it is only 5000pt more than a HIX.
I am determined to keep the lodging cost to as close to 0 as it can get as we have a 15day trip to Oregan/Washington/Vancouver in August, and then this 14day trip to London/Scotland/Paris in Sept. Then a 7day Caribbean cruise in Dec. Got to use all my resources to keep down the costs.
BTW, we returned from a 10day Hawaii trip in early June. I dont know which Island in Hawaii you are crazy about. To us, Maui is PARIDISE NO MORE - it is overrun by tourists since the Maui Revealed is published. Our beloved Big Beach now looks crowded. Would you believe we actually found Oahu far more enjoyable than Maui on this trip?! Never would have thought that. What a major letdown.
