My husband is going to Scotland for business. Lucky me will be going with him! His work will put him in St. Andrews for three nights beginning Sunday, June 24th. We will be on our own from Wednesday until we fly out on Sunday. I figured we would spend Friday and Saturday in Edinburgh (I have booked two nights at the Balmoral Hotel) as we've never been to Scotland before. I am wondering two things. First, what would be some good day trips from St. Andrews? Second, when we are leaving on Wednesday, I would like to spend a couple of nights in the country, ideally in a castle before ending up in Edinburgh. Any suggests for a good itinerary? Thanks.

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since you only have 2 free days I wouldn't wander around a huge area. Fife/St Andrews is a <u>wonderful</u> area w/ more than enough to see on Wed/Thurs.

There are really interesting fishing villages (Crail, Anstruther, Pittenweem, etc) , Falkland Palace/gardens, the Isle of May. You can drive north for a day trip to Glamis and Edzell Castles, or west to Loch Leven/Castle or a bit farther to Dollar Glen/Castle Campbell or Stirling.

June will be amazing - it will be light until well past 11:00 p.m. and light again from early in the morning.

Don't forget the afternoon tea at the Balmoral !! It's wonderful

Also, if he has to rent a car, splurge and get one with GPS. It's the handiest thing. No more pulling over and looking at maps. Just enter in your destination and the GPS tells you where and when to turn. Enjoy the scenery.

The Anstruther Fish Market has the best fish and chips in all of Scotland. Tom Hanks has eaten there as his daughter attended St. Andrews University. Make sure you see the ruins of St. Andrews Cathedral/Church and castle in St. Andrews. You can spend an entire day walking around the cemetary looking at all the old tombstones and monuments.

Thanks for all replies. My husband will love the GPS advice. He wants one for when we hike! The afternoon tea is the thing that excites me. Also, I didn't realize it stayed light so late there. Actually, it is amazing how little I find I know about Scotland. Is going to the Highlands too much from St. Andrews and then back in two days to Edinburgh. I am really trying to fit in a castle stay (it is the Romantic in me). It is also my husband's birthday and our wedding anniversary during our trip. Any suggestions?

You want to stay in a Castle - ok no pproblem but do you have a budget?

The GPS is worth every penny, since the country roads aren't well marked! And we thoroughly enjoyed Stirling Castle. It's supposed to be haunted, as well.

Hi Bob,
I would be willing to pay up to $375. I would have love to stay at Inverness Castle but that is to rich for my blood! Also, thought it might be too far. I figure it is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I also do plan on visiting Stirling. I was looking into Kildrummy Castle in Abedeenshire. Has anyone stayed there? Would it make sense to leave St. Andrews and go there for two nights and then back to Edinburgh? Miles wise things look close but I have read travelling can be slower because of the windy roads.

Be sure to dress in layers. We were in Scotland last year in June and it was very chilly - we even had to do &quot;mandatory&quot; shopping to buy cashmere scarves to WEAR! I wore Under Armour (long underwear!)

Oops. Sorry meant Inverlochy Castle.

Cronen--We stayed at the Kildrummy Castle Hotel a couple years ago. Loved it! Very pretty area, loved the hotel, very much worth it in our opinion. We had a suite which was huge, and it looked directly out to the old castle ruins. The staff were very accommodating as well. On our last morning we had to leave very early to get back to Edinburgh for a flight. We were leaving before they served breakfast, so they set up a special place for us the night before and someone actually got up and served us breakfast at o'dark thirty that morning.

Not quite sure what you mean by Inverness Castle?? It is basically the court house in Inverness. Did you mean someplace else??

But - Kildrummy would be fine. As long as you take the time to explore Fife during the time your husband is working in St Andrews then going up to Kildrummy would be great. And of course - w/ the long days, you can drive through the fishing villages etc until late at night. The castles/sites will be closed after about 6:00 p.m. - but the scenery never closes

I've been to Scotland in October and April and in neither case had a need for a long underwear or a scarf. Then again I live in Minnesota. LOL

Scotland is not that big of a country all told. Think Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia all rolled into one. We rented a car from the airport outside Edinburgh, drove to anstruther, had lunch and visited some shops, then drove up to St. Andrews, walked the castle and cemetary, saw a knight demonstration, then drove to Stirling to visit the Wallace Monument and stayed about a half hour there. We could have made Stirling Castle, but it was getting dark and we didn't want to drive back to Edinburgh in the dark.

Not sure I'd consider Kildrummy Castle Hotel terribly authentic as far as a castle is concerned, but then it may be your best bet.It's certainly a lovely place to stay if not really a castle. But perhaps I'm nit-picking.

If it were me, I'd spend at least a day in St Andrews itself. It merits proper attention. You should see the West Beach- ans watch &quot;Chariots of Fire&quot; again before you go; the Castle, the Cathedral, the University, the lovely little mediaeval streets and wynds, and the shops. See what's on at the Byre theatre and eat at the Seafood Restaurant. If you golf- play a round- not necessarily at the Old Course, but you should certainly visit the Old Course.

As Janis says, one day trip should be to go down the coast, at least as far as Leven, and visit all the little wee villages- go to the museum at Anstruther, the Church at St Monans, Lower Largo for Robinson Crusoe stuff, the beach and the Ship Inn in Elie, visit the art galleries in all the wee towns, the harbour at Crail. There are a lot of good restaurants- the Cellar in Anstruther, the Seafood Restaurant in St Monans, Sangsters in Elie, the Ostler's Close in Cupar, the Peat Inn in Peat Inn.

Third day, I'd go up into Perthsire. Start around Dunkeld and meander through the wee roads to Aberfeldy, Glen Lyon, Loch Tay, Kenmore.

Castles? With your budget try the Dalhousie.

There is one in Fife- Fernie Castle.

Kildrummy is a country house overlooking the Castle ruins. Not sure if that's what you're looking for?

Pittodrie in Aberdeenshire has a z-plan castle in its core.

You might want to look at Traquhair in the Borders.