Scotland Day Trips from Perth
Feb 21st, 2006, 08:37 AM
#21
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A very minor point, but back in the day I was an art history major, and I can think of several art museums: The Metropolitan Museum in NYC, Museo de Prado in Madrid, the Musee du Louvre in Paris, and the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. Of course many permant art collections on display are also called 'galleries' (National Gallery in DC, National Gallery in London). I usually say 'museum' to distinguish these kinds of institutions from galleries which showcase art for sale.
Feb 21st, 2006, 08:50 AM
#23
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oh, and brentp, I doubt that you'll have any trouble with the meat pies keeping well in April for a few hours. I bought mine and then took a train to Bridge of Allan and walked through the town to Clive Ramsey where I shopped for the rest of my dinner (salad, fruit, etc.) then walked to the University of Stirling where we were staying (part of this big group thing). This was in August, took a few hours, and we lived to tell the tale! I kicked myself for the rest of our time in Stirling that I hadn't bought more pies, but with no car that week, I just wasn't up for the bus/walk/train round trip again.
If you have any doubt, I'll bet they would wrap some ice in with the pies in the butcher shop.
You can peruse the Scottish craft butchers site for other specialty meat pie and bridie award winners:
http://www.craftbutchers.co.uk/index...RY=55Best+Pies
to see if you will cross paths with any of the others.
If you have any doubt, I'll bet they would wrap some ice in with the pies in the butcher shop.
You can peruse the Scottish craft butchers site for other specialty meat pie and bridie award winners:
http://www.craftbutchers.co.uk/index...RY=55Best+Pies
to see if you will cross paths with any of the others.
Feb 22nd, 2006, 01:02 PM
#25
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Hi Caroline,
On quick review of the sites you listed, . . . what stands out to me in Edinburgh are the National Gallery of Scotland, Museum of Scotland, and the National War Museum of Scotland.
The National Gallery looks very much what my wife will like – well rounded historical art (including impressionists), . . . where as the 2 museums both sound like what I am into. Both the museums appear to offer very different exhibits.
Do you think we could do all 3 stops in our 1 day Edinburgh trip with all the other ‘stops’, . . . or are we pushing it a bit. If I had to select just 1 of the museums due to time constraints in Edinburgh - which one do you feel is the 'must do'?
Also, . . . I know the War Museum is in the Castle grounds, . . . are the other two accessible from the bus tours (like Guide Friday)?
On quick review of the sites you listed, . . . what stands out to me in Edinburgh are the National Gallery of Scotland, Museum of Scotland, and the National War Museum of Scotland.
The National Gallery looks very much what my wife will like – well rounded historical art (including impressionists), . . . where as the 2 museums both sound like what I am into. Both the museums appear to offer very different exhibits.
Do you think we could do all 3 stops in our 1 day Edinburgh trip with all the other ‘stops’, . . . or are we pushing it a bit. If I had to select just 1 of the museums due to time constraints in Edinburgh - which one do you feel is the 'must do'?
Also, . . . I know the War Museum is in the Castle grounds, . . . are the other two accessible from the bus tours (like Guide Friday)?
Feb 23rd, 2006, 01:16 AM
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plr - eh ?
brentp : yes, the Guide Friday bus tour passes by the National Gallery & the Museum of Scotland. IMO the latter is better - it is fairly new, while the former is rather old-fashioned & is awaiting renovation. At the latter, your wife might be interested in the basement where the 'early man' & Roman exhibits are enhanced by Andy Goldsworthy & Eduardo Paolozzi works. There's also an AG piece on the roof.
I think it would just about be feasible to do the open top bus tour + castle + palace + National Gallery (it's not that big) + at least parts of the Museum of Scotland in one day, if you start early, don't stop long for lunch & work out in advance the best times to visit each place, bearing in mind the opening hours. You're not doing this on a Thursday, are you ? The NGS is open until 7pm on Thursdays, & I daresay the museum may be too.
Do you know you have to take a tour of the palace ?
Note that there is a free bus which shuttles between the national galleries, in case you decided to visit the others, although you probably won't have time.
Must admit I'd never heard of the National War Museum !
brentp : yes, the Guide Friday bus tour passes by the National Gallery & the Museum of Scotland. IMO the latter is better - it is fairly new, while the former is rather old-fashioned & is awaiting renovation. At the latter, your wife might be interested in the basement where the 'early man' & Roman exhibits are enhanced by Andy Goldsworthy & Eduardo Paolozzi works. There's also an AG piece on the roof.
I think it would just about be feasible to do the open top bus tour + castle + palace + National Gallery (it's not that big) + at least parts of the Museum of Scotland in one day, if you start early, don't stop long for lunch & work out in advance the best times to visit each place, bearing in mind the opening hours. You're not doing this on a Thursday, are you ? The NGS is open until 7pm on Thursdays, & I daresay the museum may be too.
Do you know you have to take a tour of the palace ?
Note that there is a free bus which shuttles between the national galleries, in case you decided to visit the others, although you probably won't have time.
Must admit I'd never heard of the National War Museum !
Feb 23rd, 2006, 05:48 AM
#29
<u>caroline>/u>: "<i>plr - eh ?</i>"
Yesterday there was a troll attack on several threads including this one. Thankfully the editors culled the garbage instead of nuking the whole thread. Unfortunately some others were deleted
<u>brentp</u>: You can see both the National Gallery and the Museum of Scotland -- both are amazing. Especially the Museum of Scotland. The bldg itself is a work of art - including the roof where the terrace/"windows" frame views across Edinburgh. I wouldn't skip Holyrood - it doesn't take a terribly long time to visit.
I'd start at the top and visit the castle, start down the royal mile, Visit Gladstone's Land, then St Giles, then walk south to the Museum of Scotland, back to the Royal Mile and down to Holyrood. Then on to the National Gallery either by bus or cab.
Parts of this route can be done on the Guide Friday bus - but the best way to see the old town is on foot. I usually take first timers on the Bus tour up to the castle stop, get off, walk down the Royal Mile and then catch the bus again from Holyrood.
But if your timing doesn't work just right you could be too late to the Nat'l Gallery.
You do have another option - The National Gallery is not far from Waverly Bridge, the main starting point for the bus tour. Vist the Gallery right at opening time. The Gallery is wonderful - but not very large and you don't need hours to see it. Then go over to the bus stop and take the tour as far as the Castle, walk down the Mile/do the Museum, and then catch the bus from Holyrood. The bus runs after closing times of most of the sites so to do most of it in teh afternoon/evening makes better use of your time.</u>
Yesterday there was a troll attack on several threads including this one. Thankfully the editors culled the garbage instead of nuking the whole thread. Unfortunately some others were deleted
<u>brentp</u>: You can see both the National Gallery and the Museum of Scotland -- both are amazing. Especially the Museum of Scotland. The bldg itself is a work of art - including the roof where the terrace/"windows" frame views across Edinburgh. I wouldn't skip Holyrood - it doesn't take a terribly long time to visit.
I'd start at the top and visit the castle, start down the royal mile, Visit Gladstone's Land, then St Giles, then walk south to the Museum of Scotland, back to the Royal Mile and down to Holyrood. Then on to the National Gallery either by bus or cab.
Parts of this route can be done on the Guide Friday bus - but the best way to see the old town is on foot. I usually take first timers on the Bus tour up to the castle stop, get off, walk down the Royal Mile and then catch the bus again from Holyrood.
But if your timing doesn't work just right you could be too late to the Nat'l Gallery.
You do have another option - The National Gallery is not far from Waverly Bridge, the main starting point for the bus tour. Vist the Gallery right at opening time. The Gallery is wonderful - but not very large and you don't need hours to see it. Then go over to the bus stop and take the tour as far as the Castle, walk down the Mile/do the Museum, and then catch the bus from Holyrood. The bus runs after closing times of most of the sites so to do most of it in teh afternoon/evening makes better use of your time.</u>
Feb 23rd, 2006, 05:53 AM
#30
Oh Gawd! Did I mess that up or what?
Don't even try to read that mess - here is is again . . . .
<u>caroline</u>: "plr - eh ?"
Yesterday there was a troll attack on several threads including this one. Thankfully the editors culled the garbage instead of nuking the whole thread. Unfortunately some others were deleted
<u>brentp</u>: You can see both the National Gallery and the Museum of Scotland -- both are amazing. Especially the Museum of Scotland. The bldg itself is a work of art - including the roof where the terrace/"windows" frame views across Edinburgh. I wouldn't skip Holyrood - it doesn't take a terribly long time to visit.
I'd start at the top and visit the castle, start down the royal mile, Visit Gladstone's Land, then St Giles, then walk south to the Museum of Scotland, back to the Royal Mile and down to Holyrood. Then on to the National Gallery either by bus or cab.
Parts of this route can be done on the Guide Friday bus - but the best way to see the old town is on foot. I usually take first timers on the Bus tour up to the castle stop, get off, walk down the Royal Mile and then catch the bus again from Holyrood.
But if your timing doesn't work just right you could be too late to the Nat'l Gallery.
You do have another option - The National Gallery is not far from Waverly Bridge, the main starting point for the bus tour. Vist the Gallery right at opening time. The Gallery is wonderful - but not very large and you don't need hours to see it. Then go over to the bus stop and take the tour as far as the Castle, walk down the Mile/do the Museum, and then catch the bus from Holyrood. The bus runs after closing times of most of the sites so to do most of it in the afternoon/evening makes better use of your time.
Don't even try to read that mess - here is is again . . . .
<u>caroline</u>: "plr - eh ?"
Yesterday there was a troll attack on several threads including this one. Thankfully the editors culled the garbage instead of nuking the whole thread. Unfortunately some others were deleted
<u>brentp</u>: You can see both the National Gallery and the Museum of Scotland -- both are amazing. Especially the Museum of Scotland. The bldg itself is a work of art - including the roof where the terrace/"windows" frame views across Edinburgh. I wouldn't skip Holyrood - it doesn't take a terribly long time to visit.
I'd start at the top and visit the castle, start down the royal mile, Visit Gladstone's Land, then St Giles, then walk south to the Museum of Scotland, back to the Royal Mile and down to Holyrood. Then on to the National Gallery either by bus or cab.
Parts of this route can be done on the Guide Friday bus - but the best way to see the old town is on foot. I usually take first timers on the Bus tour up to the castle stop, get off, walk down the Royal Mile and then catch the bus again from Holyrood.
But if your timing doesn't work just right you could be too late to the Nat'l Gallery.
You do have another option - The National Gallery is not far from Waverly Bridge, the main starting point for the bus tour. Vist the Gallery right at opening time. The Gallery is wonderful - but not very large and you don't need hours to see it. Then go over to the bus stop and take the tour as far as the Castle, walk down the Mile/do the Museum, and then catch the bus from Holyrood. The bus runs after closing times of most of the sites so to do most of it in the afternoon/evening makes better use of your time.
Feb 23rd, 2006, 08:40 AM
#32
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If the weather is clear, I would recommend that you stop in the Camera Obscura on the royal mile (near the castle). It gives views of the surrounding areas using 'pinhole' technology, reflected on a large dish. The stop didn't take long, and we found it really very neat. I can only imagine how amazing these devices were for people back before the day of motion picture/video technology.
Feb 23rd, 2006, 10:23 AM
#33
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Alright - thanks! Sounds like the plan for the Edinburgh day is now pretty complete (and full). I do like the Thursday idea, and given we are flexible with what days we do what - we will try to make sure we do this on our Thursday. The extra few hours might help, . . . then dinner, . . . then train to Perth, . . . then sleep til ? 
Mar 22nd, 2006, 12:08 PM
#34
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caroline_edinburgh, . . .
Just thought I'd provide a brief update on our Castle accomodations. After waiting, . . . . and waiting, . . . we were able to book the Dalhousie Castle for 2 nights through laterooms.com at a much discounted rate (~40% off from the standard rate).
BTW- my wife looked at the 2 castles were were looking at last night (Culcreuch being the other), . . . and without hesitation picked Dalhousie. So, . . . thank you for the tip! Patience paid off this time around. All the reviews we have found are nothing but positive. This is exactly what she wanted - and will end our trip on a very high note.
Less then 2 weeks and we are off. Has the weather gotten back to normal yet? March looked like it was pretty cold the whole month.
Just thought I'd provide a brief update on our Castle accomodations. After waiting, . . . . and waiting, . . . we were able to book the Dalhousie Castle for 2 nights through laterooms.com at a much discounted rate (~40% off from the standard rate).
BTW- my wife looked at the 2 castles were were looking at last night (Culcreuch being the other), . . . and without hesitation picked Dalhousie. So, . . . thank you for the tip! Patience paid off this time around. All the reviews we have found are nothing but positive. This is exactly what she wanted - and will end our trip on a very high note.
Less then 2 weeks and we are off. Has the weather gotten back to normal yet? March looked like it was pretty cold the whole month.
Mar 23rd, 2006, 03:36 AM
#35
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Hi brentp. How nice of you to update us. V. interested to know about the lateooms tip ! I do hope you'll like Dalhousie - I'm sure you will. Talk to the piper if he's around as he's a real character & has lots of stories about the castle. Also ask to be shown the bottle dungeon.
It was still snowing a bit here yesterday (temp. -4C to +5C) but quite springlike today (forecast +0-2C to +6-8C). I daresay we'll have a few more up & downs but it should have stopped snowing by April When exactly will you be here ?
It was still snowing a bit here yesterday (temp. -4C to +5C) but quite springlike today (forecast +0-2C to +6-8C). I daresay we'll have a few more up & downs but it should have stopped snowing by April
When exactly will you be here ?
Mar 23rd, 2006, 03:57 AM
#36
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The first two weeks of April. Golf is scheduled for the 2nd week. Planning to bring our long johns just in case .
We will definately ask about the bottle dungeon at Dalhousie. Hopefully the piper will be there - but it is a mid-week stay so not sure if he will be scheduled.
.We will definately ask about the bottle dungeon at Dalhousie. Hopefully the piper will be there - but it is a mid-week stay so not sure if he will be scheduled.
