Ceol na Mara looks good…east coast and certainly for a short time on the islands it’s handy for travelling about.Bear in mind that the archaeological sites on Lewis are up in its more northern end…Callanish, Carloway Broch, Norse Mill and Kiln, Bosta Iron Age roundhouse, Gearranan Blackhouse village, Arnol Blackhouse.All well worth seeing.So with 2 days on the island plus then travelling all the way up to Stornoway for the ferry(about an hour from Tarbert on a good fast road) you need to plan those days carefully.All of these Lewis sites would need a whole day’s sightseeing at least.

My own preference would always be to stay somewhere on Harris’s stunning south/west coast…but these places tend to be VERY expensive.There are a few down the Luskentyre road for example.The scenery on the east coast is stunning too, in a different way.You can’t really go wrong on Harris.

I wouldn’t go for the Caledonian Hotel, always thought the Royal looked nice, good location too albeit pretty much on the main road coming into Ullapool.Never stayed in any of these.We usually go for smaller B&Bs in Ullapool (in one right now!) I’d choose it over the Arch Inn.

Ok Janis…missed that!

We are taking ferries to Mull and Skye and Harris/Lewis.Should we be booking them now for next June??

Latest itinerary
Glasgow 6 7 8 June
Mull 9 10 11 June
Skye 12 13 14 15 June
Harris/Lewis 16 17 18 June
Poolewe 19 20 21 June
Inverness or in same area 22 23 June
fort William for the jacobite train 24 25 June
26 27 28 where to stay on our way to Edinburgh???
Edinburgh 29 30 June 1 July
Glasgow 2 July
Fly home to British Columbia Canada 10.45 am flight
Any suggestions for the 262728 stops??
Thank you

Ron

We are overnighting in glasgow on 2 July.Our flight leaves the morning of 3 July to Canada

For 26 - 28 June I'd consider Callander, Aberfoyle, Doune or in that general area. That would be a base for the Trossachs, lovely Inchmahome Priory, Stirling Castle, Doune Castle (Monty Python ) Loch Lomond, Loch Katrine, other lochs, Killin/Falls of Dochart, Loch Tay, Balquhidder, etc. etc.,

Calmac have changed their booking system and now 'open' bookings for certain time periods and crossings.Check their website to see when they open.
For example I booked our Ullapool - Stornoway crossing in July when the booking window opened in January, I think it was.
Definitely book all your journeys as soon as...
If you need to change them, there's no charge.Small admin charge for complete cancellation.

Fort William to Edinburgh 3 nights ? itinerary ? Callender/Doune area as suggested or drive to Perth Stirling Edinburgh? Which are the positives/negatives of each route.Which way would you go?

My post explains which way I'd go and lists many places of beauty/history/interest. Maybe google some of the places I mentioned and decide for yourselves . . .

thinking of staying in Nairn instead of Inverness.Any comments on the Aurora or Waverley hotels for a 2 night stay?
How long to drive from Nairn to Fort William realistically in one day while enjoying some stops along the way?

Nairn to fort William how long to plan for including some interesting spots along the way.Is it possible in one day??

Easy in one day with stops/visits at say . . . Urquhart Castle and Spean Bridge, plus photo ops. The entire route is less than 85 miles.

thanks Janis.How long to make the drive Nairn to Fort William via A939 Grantown on Spey Aviemore Laggan to fort William with some stops taking one full day??

Is there a reason you want to go that way? its just over 100 mies so still totally doable and the Cairngorms do have nice scenery -- . But Aviemore is mostly a resort area (dozens and dozens of hotels, B&B's, holiday rentals, camp grounds, etc. in the small town. The Aviemore tourist info site lists 197 - in a town of about 3000 people) and you could easily visit Grantown-on-Spey as an excursion from Nairn.

Thanks Janis.Which is the more scenic/interesting route in June.The A98 A82 Nairn to fort William via Fort Augustus Invergarry or the A939 A95 A86 viqa Grantown on spey/Cairngorms??
Which route would you take??

The both offer some lovely scenery.

Aviemore itself is not worth seeing but a short detour into Rothiemurchus to Loch Morlich and/or Loch an Eilein will give you some beautiful Cairngorm scenery including the wonderful Caledonian Pine Forest itself.Of you are up to a shortish easy walk,parking at the end of the Glenmore road (limited parking) will let you do the gorgeous wander to Lochan Uaine, the Green Lochan amidst delightful scenery.Or drive up to the Ski Centre for a cuppa in the Mountain Cafe (albeit with the ski paraphernalia around.) Still a fine spot.

The drive from Dalwhinnie across country to Spean Bridge has some lovely scenery too.

The road down Loch Ness gets quite busy - Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness, Fort Augustus is a pleasant wee place where the loch is at its most scenic.Boat trips to the famous castle ruins possible from just outside of Inverness too.Probably the best way to see it if weather allows.

I rarely miss a stop at Glengarry Castle Hotel, a gem…lovely as a coffee stop and a wee wander down to pretty Loch Oich through the hotel’s garden grounds.

Great mountain and loch scenery at Loch Lochy. A stop at the Commando Memorial gives fine views to Ben Nevis, if clear and the Grey Corries range.

If budget allows, another fine tea stop is Inverlochy Castle hotel…pricey but a treat.5 star luxury in the grandest of Scottish Country House hotels but always a very friendly, down to earth welcome to non residents.

You can of course cut out the main A82 down Loch Ness and after Inverness, head on the minor, twisting toad across country to Fort Augustus, a route I have always meant to do but never have!

Meant to say from Nairn south to Grantown on Spey, this takes you through (eventually) some nice quiet moorland country(Dava Moor) and a lovely spot at Lochindorb with its ruined castle on a very lonely loch.Nice picnic spot…probably no one else around.

"You can of course cut out the main A82 down Loch Ness and after Inverness, head on the minor, twisting toad across country to Fort Augustus, a route I have always meant to do but never have!"

Do you mean the B851/862 down the east side of Loch Ness via Foyers? I've driven that a couple of times - lovely drive, much less traffic with some sections of single track. Also partly General Wade's Road. I prefer it to the A82 really . . . however you would miss Urquhart going that way, and you might just be over single tracks by then

Scotlandmac's mention of the Commando Memorial near Spean Bridge reminded me of another memorial near your travels. The Arctic Convoy Memorial is just a few minutes north of Poolewe. The history of these supply convoys isn't very well known by most Americans, but the crews on these ships (merchant vessels, protected by British, Canadian and U.S. naval warships) endured incredible danger and hardship. There are a couple of other WWII landmarks near the memorial... an anti-aircraft battery, etc. Haunting place, beautiful views.

Is there any history/places regarding Ernest Shackleton the Antarctic explorer and his ship the Endurance in Scotland.He is a distant relative of my wifes mothers family?

You are about seven years too late

Since he was born in Ireland and lived much of his life in London or southern England, there wouldn't be any sites of interest in Scotland. However . . . one could have actually stayed in the house where he lived for a few years in Edinburgh. The house eventually became a wing of Channings which was for ages a posh-ish hotel in South Learmouth Gardens. But it closed several years ago and was redeveloped into private homes. (I only know this because I stayed there with my folks maybe 18, 19 years ago and there were Shackleton references and photos in the lounge bar. When I was researching a trip to Edinburgh in 2017 I learned Channings was permanently closed)