Hi Fodorites - Two couples taking road trip for 8 days. Leaving from NY and arriving in Glasgow, one night in Callendar, two nights in Skye, two nights in Aberdeen area and last 3 nights in Edingburgh before flying home. We have the beginning part of our trip mostly mapped out. Looking for a nice place to stay in the Aboyne area for two nights and good restaurants on the castle trail.

Also, would appreciate any recommendations for Edinburgh and advise on staying in the city or outskirts. Would rather keep the car as we will be needing it to return to the Edinburgh airport with four people and luggage. Good restaurants also appreciated. Any type of food. We like to eat!!!

Looking to spend max. of 100 GBP per night, if possible, but willing to spend a little more for something "special".
Thanks in advance.

Is that £100 total or pr couple?

As I mentioned on your other thread - you do not need/want the car in Edinburgh. No need to keep it just to get to the airport - there are minivan sized cabs that will hold the four of you/luggage. Paying for parking and the extra four days of car rental will cost a LOT more than the cab ride and it will be easier on you (despite what improvisor posted - driving in Edinburgh is difficult)

That would be 100GBP per couple/per night.

We would be keeping the car for only two days. We got a pretty good rate for the 8 days for car rental (by NY standards, anyway). Approx. how much would a cab to EDI be for 4 people w/luggage and possible traffic?

Try the White Cottage for dinner near Aboyne -- very nice.

http://www.whitecottage.eu/

We stayed at Heaugh Head Mill B&B. It was pleasant enough -- not sure if it qualifies as "nice" in your book.

Full trip report:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...s-and-more.cfm

For Callander, Callander Meadows and Mohr Fish were both good.

For Skye, Three Chimneys gets all the raves (very pricey though). We ate in Portree and enjoyed Sea Breezes and Cafe Arriba (funky and casual).

That TR:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...rip-report.cfm

Point of clarification - when a hotel mentions a "full" bed, is that equal to a "full/double" bed in the U.S? Because the pictures look like a king bed, or at least a queen, or are the photos just deceiving? Hubby is a big guy and I would not get a minute's sleep in a "full" bed.

"Full bed" is not a "standard" term and could mean anything. Can you post a link to where this is mentioned? Traditionally, hotel room in the UK had what we call a double bed (4'6" wide). In recent years more and more UK places have been offering larger beds, variously described as queen or king-size, though these terms generally don't equate to the size of beds with the same name in the US.

Gordon_R - most lodgings I have looked at mention "full bed" or twins. Some specifically say King beds.

I have a bit of a decision to make on our second day of our trip. we are staying the first night by Kilchurn Castle/Loch Awe area. The next morning I can't decide to bike in Oban (Fodors guidebook says there is "seaside biking", although I can't find any cycle trails on any websites) or we can bike Loch Leven in the Glencoe area, heading west towards Ballachulish. Has anyone biked either trail? Is one easier than the other, or is there more to see at one than the other? Also, bike rentals in either area?