We have a very short time in Scotland (4.5 days). We are planning to fly into Edinburgh. Since this is such a short visit, what are the must sees that we could do in this time without it being too rushed? We were thinking of either 1 or 2 nights in Edinburgh and then 2 nights elsewhere--maybe outside of Inverness (close to Loch Ness) which we could use as a base to explore around that area a bit. Any suggestions would be much appreciated!

As a first step could you do a wee search here (the boxes are up at the top) and see what ideas you get.<BR><BR>Then tell us what time of year you're coming, what interests you and how you will travel, and we'll get back to you.

This will be in early Sept (2 weeks from now). We are planning to fly in and then rent a car to explore though we are open to doing a combo between rail/ car rental if that is quicker. We enjoy exploring old cities/ castles etc as well as scenary. I have looked up the destination guides but given the short time, I wanted to find out what the "top" destinations would be.

For such a short visit I would forget about Inverness. It is not a be-all-end-all destination. <BR><BR>I would do one of two things - <BR><BR>1) stay the whole time in Edinburgh and use one day for a guided tour someplace wonderful - Fife, the Trossachs, maybe even the west coast. These tours can be arranged at the Tourist information office at Waverly station.<BR><BR>2) stay in Edinburgh 2 nights, then pick up a rental car and spend the other two nights in ONE of these places:<BR><BR>Fife (St Andrews, Crail, Anstruther, Falkland Palace, Hill of Tarvit House, etc.)<BR> <BR>OR<BR><BR>near Stirling (Stirling Castle, Doune Castle, Inchmahome Priory, Loch Lomond, the Trossachs, etc)<BR><BR>OR<BR><BR>in the Borders (Melrose, Dryburgh, Jedburgh, Abbotsford, Traquair House, Niedpath Castle, etc.)<BR>

We thoroughly enjoyed the slow pace and educational value of Prestige Tours in Edinburgh. You could take two easy day trips out of Edinburgh and leave the driving to them. They have several great destinations from Loch Ness to Stirling Castle. Their prices have risen just a bit since we visited two years ago, but they are an excellent high end touring company. They drive mostly through scenic areas and luxury buses have limited quotos of tourists. The nicest "tour" we have ever used. We did a nine day trip to Scotland and took one of their day tours and a four day tour, then did the rest on our own. Check them out if interested. Good luck.

Edinburgh is sensational and you could do worse than stay the whole time there.<BR><BR>That aside in my view the best scenery in Scotland is the W. Coast - Glen Coe, Skye, Torridon. It's a small country so you could easily make a round trip to e.g. Torridon going one way and comng back another.<BR><BR>Alternatively, a bit less driving would see you across the Forth Bridge (worth a trip in their own right), to the Cairngorm mountain area. Very beautiful and full of whisky distilleries

Here's half of a 5 day tourBR>Day One- Edinburgh to St Andrews<BR><BR>The Forth Rail bridge is worth driving past. The estuary of the Forth widens to superb beaches (with wonderful links golf courses behind them) and in Fife you have St Andrew's, home of golf (and the beach where they filmed the opening sequences of Chariots of Fire?). To get there you go past Loch Leven where Mary, Queen of Scots was kept imprisoned on one of the islands. <BR><BR>If you can’t play at the Old Course, there are courses all the way up through Fife. Amongst the best are Elie, Lundin Links, Ladybank and Crail<BR><BR>Day 2 - Dundee to Tomintoul<BR><BR>Cross the Tay Bridge to Dundee, then cut across country to Glamis (castle) then go on to Blairgowrie where you pick up the A93 to Glenshee, and down to Braemar and Deeside. This is where Lizzie Windsor has her summer place, much beloved of American tourists. It's also in a beautiful location and therefore worth the visit. Just at Crathie, which is where you will find Balmoral, if you're daft enough to want to, there's a sign to Royal Lochnagar distillery. (old Scottish joke- How deep is Lochnagar? Ha, ha, ha...it's a mountain!!! Well, it's funny if you're five). It's not the best whisky in the world but there's no such thing as a bad malt and it does a good tour. <BR><BR>Come back onto the A93 and continue east a few miles till you see signs pointing left to Tomintoul. Take that road and go over Gairn Shiel to Corgarff then turn left towards Cockbridge and up over the Lecht to Tomintoul. <BR>By now, you have crossed two of Scotland's highest roads, and it's not yet tea time. There's a very good whisky shop in Tomintoul (much better than the tourist trap on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh) and, incidentally, there is also a very good wood carver right next door. I would suggest staying here. <BR><BR>

And here's the other halfay 3, Tomintoul to Drumnadochit (but not in a straight line). <BR><BR>Go back on your tracks a bit and follow the road down to Dufftown. Here you will find Glenfiddich distillery. Still not my favourite dram, but probably one of the best sellers in the world and almost certainly the best tour. <BR><BR>Follow the road down to the Spey at Aberlour (or Charlestown of Aberlour, to give it its Sunday name). You are right in the heart of Speyside, on the Whisky trail. If you want to see more, almost every second distillery is open to the public. If you have a favourite, ask at one of the tourist offices if they do a tour and just go along. The Macallan is probably the best Speyside whisky, but Aberlour itself is a good second. Follow the river to Grantown then go up to Nethy Bridge on the south bank. Outside Nethy Bridge you will find Abernethy Forest and Loch Garten which is a huge nature reserve and is worth stopping at to see the Ospreys. <BR><BR>Drive on to Aviemore, close your eyes so you miss it (a travesty of 1960s planning) and go straight up to Inverness on the A9. Spend a little time in Inverness and either spend the night here or (my choice) set off down Loch Ness towards Drumnadrochit, and find somewhere to stay on the loch side. <BR><BR>Day 4- Loch Ness to Port Appin. <BR><BR>Get up early and drive quickly down the Loch and the rest of the Great Glen to Fort William. Climb Ben Nevis. Look at the view. Climb down again. It’s said that there are 2 routes- one easy, and one a bit tougher. Either is an achievement. If you are not going up the hill I would suggest a quick drive down Loch Linnhe to Corran, and catch the ferry to Ardgour on the west shore at Morvern. Drive along to Strontian (where they first discovered Strontium) have lunch, then go back again. <BR><BR>Drive down to just south of Ballachulish. There is, on the coast off the main road, a little village called Port Appin. If you can afford it, stay the night in the Pierhouse (c&pound;70 per head). If you can't, find a B&B and have supper there. The mixture of the food, ambience and location are next to unbeatable. The Aird’s Hotel is very highly rated for food too.<BR><BR>Day 5- Port Appin to Glasgow <BR><BR>Drive South to Oban, and absorb the atmosphere. Go to Lochgilphead, up to Inverary, over the Rest and be Thankful to Arrochar, down Loch Lomond, and into Glasgow.

I think I'd go for an Edinburgh base, and if you got bored take trips, either by the specialist mini-bus people (vans, you call them) or by train.<BR><BR>Then if you love teh city you can just stay put and come back for longer next time<BR><BR>Email, if you'd like some suggestions.

Inverness is boring. Too new. Although the drive along Loch Ness is scenic.<BR><BR>Rent a car, drive from Edin. toward Stirling, Doune Castle, Castle Campbell, Glen Eagles, (find Alt na Schallach from the Hitchcock film "the 39 Steps"), toward Balaculish, Oban, through Ft William to Isle of Skye, Eileen Doonan Castle . . .<BR><BR>Very dramatic scenery . . . East coast tends to be flat and boring. <BR><BR>And Edin. is also fun. The castle is spectacular from Princes Street, walk DOWN the Royal Mile.<BR><BR>Just my opinion.<BR><BR>Have fun.<BR><BR>Steve