If you had 5 extra days to spend in Scotland where would you go? What are your favourite villages/towns and/or areas of Scotland? WHY?

I really liked the East Neuk area last year ~ great coastal walks; fabulous visit to the Isle of May to see the birds; St Fillan's Cave & the Gingerbread Horse in Pittenweem; the beautiful christening ceremony at the Auld Kirk on my last Sunday in St Monan's; great harbour, fabulous food, and fantastic B&B in Anstruther; lovely setting of Crail & great local pottery; proximity to St. Andrews ... the list goes on and on ...

The year before I settled down in a lovely B&B in the village of Melrose in the Borders and spent time exploring the grounds and architecture of Melrose and Dryburgh Abbeys ... absolutely stunning Abbeys in beautiful, serene settings ... a delightful place to savour the blossoms and delights of spring. My penchant for history and religious architecture was fulfilled ... they were beginning to think I'd taken up residence in the cloister area gt

I am enchanted by Scotland ... its turbulent history, its beautiful architecture, and the diversity of its landscapes, coastal villages, and birds.

I am going back to Scotland in April 2006 to tour the Applecross, Knoydart,& Glenelg areas and a wee bit of Skye. I just need to fill in 5 days ... what a hardship gt

I am contemplating the village of Plockton or the Silver Sands of Morar, and/or going back to East Neuk ...

Where or where should I go? Any recommendations from the experts? Keep those suggestions coming ... THANKS!

We loved Perthshire. We stayed in Dunkeld for several days and it's a lovely little town on the River Tay. Very centrally located for day trips to Perth, Aberfeldy, Kenmore, Glamis, Blair Atholl, etc. Would love to go back and spend more time there someday.

http://www.perthshire.co.uk/

The only reason <i>not</i> to spend more time in the northwest is that it will be April, so the weather will not likely be very welcoming of long periods outdoors. That said, the northwest - up to the north coast, is a wonderful, lightly-visited part of the country. You could do a big loop - up to Ullapool, then to Durness, then back down through Lairg to the Dornoch Firth. On the east side you might - that's might - have sunnier weather. Or stay put around Plockton (very cute village made very popular by TV shows) - many options.

Or, head back to the East Neuk, maybe spend a day or two exploring Angus (have you been to Arbroath or Forfar?)

Or, East Lothian. Have you explored the coast east of Edinburgh and the Lammermuirs? Holy Isle? (Yes, it's in England but we won't tell.) There's much to be seen in the coastal/borders area, and you might be in the lee of the weather.

Happy planning!

The April time frame might or might not be a problem weather-wise. It sounds like you really enjoy slower and in depth visits. I love the scenery in the NW, but since you will have already been in that area I'd go elsewhere.

You actually can't go wrong whatever you choose. Will you have a car for your 5 days?

If so, my suggestions would include:

1) Mull. Just about anywhere on the island would be a good place to stay. Fionnphort is my choice because of the ferry to Iona and boats to Staffa. But Tobermory is lovely if you want a slightly larger place. There are amazing white sand beaches, a couple of castles, Iona of course and just lovely scenery. Not dramatic like Skye but a great place to visit for at least 3 days.

2) Somewhere in the Trossachs. Great scenery and convenient to everything from Loch Lomond to Stirling to Glencoe. The Lake of Menteith/Inchmahome priory, waterfalls, lots of lovely walks, Balquhidder where RobRoy is buried, Loch Earn, and not far from Killin/Falls of Dochart/Ben Lawers. Easy to fill 5 days in this area.

3) Arran - maybe not for 5 days but perhaps 2 or 3.

4) More time in the Borders - to include St Abbs Head and down into a bit of N England to visit Lindesfarne, etc.

Meant to ask -- What sort of day did you have when you went to the Isle of May? In nice weather is is one of my favorite places to visit.

So many options ... it is extremely difficult to narrow it down to one area. Maybe, I should just consider taking up residence in my favourite Isle gt

Betty: Thanks for the Perthshire suggestion. I am seriously considering this area ... highlands, a cathedral, shopping ... all certainly hold great appeal. However, my preference is to be on the coast somewhere ... that option allows for searching for shells and long walks next to the pounding surf.

Gardyloo: I absolutely love the northwest coast of Scotland and have travelled from Durness to Ullapool.

The weather during April is a concern, albiet only minor since I am from Northern Canada and will be experiencing a very cold winter before I leave [last year a month of -30 celcius]. I haven't explored East Lothian or the Holy Isle. You cannot possibly be suggesting that I forgo Scotland for England [for milder weather]... perish the thought!

Haven't been to Abroath or Forfar ... what do you recommend as to sights in this area? Would you recommend it over East Neuk??

Hello Janis ~ You are absolutely correct ... for me, savouring the Celtic Isles means slowing things down and experiencing an isolated and/or scenic area in depth, preferably with access to the coast.

Iona is a fabulous choice ... a beautiful Abbey with Celtic crosses amidst an idyllic setting of pristine beaches. I was there amidst the hustle and bustle of a coach tour in 2002, but I would love to explore the island for several days without the tourists!

Where would you recommend staying in Fionnphort? I will not have access to anything but public transportation, as I do not drive ~ but that said, I never mind taking buses, trains, and ferries to get to my ideal location. I would love to go out to Staffa as this was not a possibility last time. Would five days be too long for Iona and Staffa? Are there any birding opportunities from Iona ... if not who would you recommend on Mull?

The trip to the Isle of May was perfect ~beautiful blue skies and brilliant sunshine. The sea was a wee bit choppy, so there was the possibility that we might not be able to disembark, but everything went without a hitch and we spent a glorious three hours exploring the island ...well actually, I was so smitten with the puffins canoodling that I only saw half of the island, so I do need to go back someday gt [but then going back is always a given with Scotland]

Janis, Gardyloo, Betty &amp; Sheila ~
After an evening of some serious thought, I am once again considering the Borders. Kelso,on Sheila's list of best villages gt, looks like a great town to settle down in for four or five days. Situated at the junction of the Tweed and Treviot Rivers with a quaint cobbled town square and a beautiful Romasnesque Abbey ... what could be more perfect?
Kelso appeals on several fronts: convenient to public transportation; close proximity to St Abbs and Lindisfarne; fills the penchant for religious architecture; and located nearby is a lovely library @ Mellerstain.

The location would also allow me to travel back to Jedburgh, as after exploring the Abbey [2002] there wasn't time for the rest of the town ... priorities gt

Does anyone know if the walking trail has been completed that links all four Border Abbeys??
Thanks for all the great advice thus far!

The last I heard, the Border Abbeys Trail wasn't entirely completed, so I just looked it up on the Borders area tourist board's page, which tells you which parts are done and which aren't, as well as how to get trail info:

www.scot-borders.co.uk/whattoseeanddo/
activities/walking/borderabbeyway.htm

Abbey,
You are obviously well and truly hooked, so any suggestions you can't follow in 2006 I've no doubt you'll take them up in the near future. Welcome to Scotoholics Anonymous!
Like you, I love our wild coastal scenery but as long as I can get a regular fix of sea air I have become more and more fond of Perthshire over the years. Late summer or early autumn are the best times to visit but you won't be disappointed if you go in April.
If you want 5 more days of coast and are not afraid of being cold, travel through Skye to the ferry port at Uig and head for the Western Isles - you can get a ferry from Uig to Tarbert on Harris or Lochmaddy on North Uist. In April you'll be taking a gamble with the weather but this is the best time to visit the &quot;machair&quot; on the west coast of the Uists - grassy meadows growing on soil formed by centuries of wind blown sea shells, in spring they explode with native wild flowers. As for the beaches ....
Or you could go for a complete contrast to the north west, and head for the Borders.
And being an immigrant from Scotland to the Kingdom of Fife, I would never seek to persuade anyone from visiting &quot;God's Country&quot;.
I think that's enough for your next four holidays ;-)
Since KT mentioned the Borders Tourist Board - all of Scotland's local Tourist Boards were closed down in April 2005 by the Scottish Government. The Scottish Tourist Board has taken over the running of local tourist information centres and still has &quot;head office&quot; staff based in the former tourist board areas. The move has not been universally popular among the tourist industry. In a lot of places there are local independent &quot;tourist associations&quot; made up of hotels, restaurants, visitor attractions etc. These often have their own web sites which IMHO are usually better sources of information than the &quot;official&quot; Scottish Tourist Board site (visitscotland). The local Tourist Boards all had their own web sites, most of which are still open, but I don't know if the Scottish Tourist Board will keep them up to date. My advice is use visitscotland.com and the local tourist board sites to get all the informaiton you need, but don't book accommodation through them.

Craigellachie ~
Thanks for the warm welcome to Scotoholics Anonymous ... I defintely have become addicted and I will nae be taking any antidote gt;

Friends in Canada cannot begin to fathom my fascination with Scotland ~ its turbulent and intriguing history; the beautiful Romanesque and Gothic architecture of its Abbeys and Cathedrals; the idyllic isolated Isles and pristine sparkling beaches; the fascinating coastal birds; and I haven't even mentioned the whisky or Drambuie! ... How do you explain that a country has captured and ensnared your soul ...?

I travelled to the enchanting Western Isles in 2004 and do so long to go back ... ~ Harris, Lewis, North &amp; South Uist and the beautiful jewel of Barra ... spectacular beauty! The secluded pristine beaches of the Western Isles are truly captivating and provided many windswept moments of exploration ... My memories of these islands are filled with wonder and awe ... for before travelling to the windswept archipelago of the Western Isles, I had never imagined Scotland as a land of isolated coral beaches.

My dilemma is certainly not a question of returning for that is a fait accompli!

However, I am intrigued by the number of Scottish-Fodorites who are ardent about promoting the beauty of Perthshire and Loch Tay ... quite obviously this is a segment of Scottish landscape that I have unwittingly missed ... fortunately there is a remedy for that.

There is no doubt that Scotland has captured my heart and soul ... The Kingdom of Fife is indeed a special piece of God's country ~ the wild rugged beauty of the Firth of Forth and the North Sea with picturesque fishing villages along a splendid coastal walking trail.

The serenity of Abbey ruins resplendent in the pastoral beauty of the Borders offer a very warm welcome for weary travellers looking for quiet beauty amidst Scotland's turbulent historic past. Sitting amidst the cloister ruins, savouring the beauty and contemplating the souls and footsteps that have passed before ... I confess, I'm utterly addicted gt;

Perhaps, I should answer the Scottish Plea in a recent Canadian newspaper &quot;Will ye nae come hame? A little cottage on an isolated coast would suit me fine ... then I could travel the Highlands, Islands, and Borders at will .... any offers??

Does anyone have any B&amp;B or Hotel recommendations for Kelso or Dunkeld? I already have an awesome place to stay in the East Neuk ~ the Grange in Anstruther offers a fabulous friendly respite for travellers to Fife and is ideally located, with sherry for sipping and a stunning view over the Firth of Forth!

I was going to suggest, as did Craigellachie, that you go to the Outer Isles, but since you've been, can I suggest that you either stick to the far North West, as proposed by Gardy, or you go to the Orkneys- a very different thing from the Hebrides, but with strong ties to Canada.

Thanks Sheila ~ Actually, I have been to the Orkneys twice ~ visiting Scara Brae in both pelting rain and brilliant sunshine, 2002 &amp; 2004. I absolutely loved the haunting broodiness of the Ring of Brodgar. Since St Abb's Head and Eyemouth have been mentioned on various threads, I am considering this area for a short coastal walk with forays into Kelso and/or over to Lindisfarne.

<i>Since St Abb's Head and Eyemouth have been mentioned on various threads, I am considering this area for a short coastal walk with forays into Kelso and/or over to Lindisfarne.</i>

I highly recommend turning a visit of East Lothian - Berwick into a loop - over the Lammermuirs from Gifford (interesting village) and down to Lindisfarne and (don't miss) Bamburgh, then back along the coast (St Abbs et al) to Edinburgh. If time permits, seek out the village of Etal (as in et al ) in Northumberland (inland from Berwick - need a pretty good map) and have a pint at what is, I believe, the northernmost thatched pub in England. Great touring area.

Plockton is a lovely village, you should definately check it out if you already have it in mind - and the beach at Morar is lovely. I would include Ullapool too. There is often good live music there at the weekend.

Abbey,
The south east coast from North Berwick to the border should be on your list of &quot;one day I'll go there&quot; places. April is maybe a smidge early for the nesting seabirds - the Bass Rock near North Berwick has one of the biggest gannet colonies in the world, and the cliffs of St Abb's Head will be alive with nesting birds most years. There are some fascinating minor roads a few miles inland, so you don't even need to drive past the nuclear power station.
You asked about accommodation in Kelson and Dunkeld. My only recent trip to the borders I stayed self catering just outside Kelso. We celebrated our wedding anniversary with dinner at the Sunlaws Hotel, now the Roxburghe House Hotel, which was sensational but will not be cheap for B&amp;B. Ditto the Hilton Dunkeld House Hotel (if it's within your budget, ask for the Study) - not the same as the Royal Dunkeld Hotel which has had some bad reviews on these pages.
I've just re-read your comments on the East Neuk of Fife as a few minutes ago I replied to another htread where someone said it wasn't worth the visit...

Kirkcudbright is my favorite place in Scotland. The southwest of Scotland is an overlooked place. It enjoys the gulf stream and the gardens are amazing and have tropical plants. I got some amazing cheese the last time I visited.

Kirkcudbright is where it's at IMHO!

Thanks to all the Scot-fodorites for the fabulous information, tips, and advice on where to go for 5 days! I now have lots of options to last me for several years ... the only dilema that remains is to make a decision gt;

Craigellachie ~ I was concerned that the end of March/early April might be a wee bit early for the nesting birds. I was so enchanted by the spectacular coastal views from the Castle Rock B&amp;B at St Abbs that my brain didn't register that the nesting birds might not be there! Thanks for the heads up ... When would the gannets arrive at Bass Rock, North Berwick and/or the seabirds at the cliffs at St Abbs?