Scotland Highland Help!
Feb 13th, 2012, 10:06 AM
#21
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I am really really appreciative of everyone's input. I am tearing up my original plan and I do want to stay in Scotland for the entire trip except for Stradford. Any input would be great. Is the Island of Skye a worthwhile stop? Are the fodors or frommers guides any good ?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Feb 13th, 2012, 01:43 PM
#22
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FODORS GUIDES ARE UNIFORMLY EXCELLENT!!!
And now that's out of the way (where IS my freebie?) . . . If Fodors has a photo-heavy travel guide for Scotland (I think it does), check that out. Those compete with the DK offerings and tend to be good. Personal preference is to get the photo-heavy guides to see what I should look for and then backtrack for info on the 'web instead of reading all the blahblahblah in Frommer or regular Fodor.
Towheaded PBS guy from Seattle area is nearly all blahblahblah, but he's useless for Scotland. Has an anti-Anglo thing going on in his moppy head.
And now that's out of the way (where IS my freebie?) . . . If Fodors has a photo-heavy travel guide for Scotland (I think it does), check that out. Those compete with the DK offerings and tend to be good. Personal preference is to get the photo-heavy guides to see what I should look for and then backtrack for info on the 'web instead of reading all the blahblahblah in Frommer or regular Fodor.
Towheaded PBS guy from Seattle area is nearly all blahblahblah, but he's useless for Scotland. Has an anti-Anglo thing going on in his moppy head.
Feb 13th, 2012, 02:28 PM
#23
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Fodors and Frommers are basically the same. Both good but my favorites for the Highlands are <I> Footprint Scotland Highlands and Islands,</I> and <I>The Rough Guide to Scottish Highlands and Islands Handbook.</I> For Scotland in general Peter Irvine's <I> Scotland the Best </I> is excellent followed by <I> Frommer's </I>and/or <I>Fodors.</I>
To get started...www.visitscotland.com
And, VIP, a good map.
To get started...www.visitscotland.com
And, VIP, a good map.
Feb 13th, 2012, 05:18 PM
#24
yes -Skye is worth a stop, but not if you only mean a 'stop'. It is a very large, very rural island w/ amazing scenery and very slow roads. One needs a <i>minimum</i> of 2 nights on Skye since it takes hours to get there from just about anywhere else.
Before you decide on Skye or not, decide where else you want to visit and figure out the logistics.
Another good website for research is http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/
Before you decide on Skye or not, decide where else you want to visit and figure out the logistics.
Another good website for research is http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/
Feb 13th, 2012, 10:43 PM
#25
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No, pressure, eh, Peter?
I still want to know what sort of castle you like. We have a HUGE number. But something like:-
Fly into Edinburgh, spend three days
Drive north (insert details later- but include Bannockburn, Skye (sigh) and Culloden), spend 4 nights
Fly to London
Train to Stratford (nb spelling) over night, train back to London.
In the Scottish bit, you could get the Wars of Independence, the '45, Edinburgh Castle, Mary Queen of Scots, Holyrood House, Dunvegan Castle, Brodie, Cawdor, (nb MacBeth- Thane of Cawdor, and believe me, you will find some blasted heaths), and Urquhart Castles, Fort George, the Clearances, and a pile of pre-history.
Would that do?
I like Cadogan's guide for Americans- not many pictures, but lots of quirky stories. I wouldn't use Scotland the Best as a starting point. Decide where you're going then check out what's great round about that.
Fodor's EXploring Scotland is the picture guide- closest to the DK, I think
Drive to Conwy spend two days and head home from London
I still want to know what sort of castle you like. We have a HUGE number. But something like:-
Fly into Edinburgh, spend three days
Drive north (insert details later- but include Bannockburn, Skye (sigh) and Culloden), spend 4 nights
Fly to London
Train to Stratford (nb spelling) over night, train back to London.
In the Scottish bit, you could get the Wars of Independence, the '45, Edinburgh Castle, Mary Queen of Scots, Holyrood House, Dunvegan Castle, Brodie, Cawdor, (nb MacBeth- Thane of Cawdor, and believe me, you will find some blasted heaths), and Urquhart Castles, Fort George, the Clearances, and a pile of pre-history.
Would that do?
I like Cadogan's guide for Americans- not many pictures, but lots of quirky stories. I wouldn't use Scotland the Best as a starting point. Decide where you're going then check out what's great round about that.
Fodor's EXploring Scotland is the picture guide- closest to the DK, I think
Drive to Conwy spend two days and head home from London
Feb 14th, 2012, 03:02 AM
#26
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Thanks for all the great tips! We decided to extend our trip to July 4th so we can maximize our Scotland experience . I do adore castles in all stages; we loved Neuschwanstein but also loved walking amongst the ruins adjacent to Adare manor. All the other historical stuff would be important too. I will visit my B&N and pick up a new guide tonight!
Feb 14th, 2012, 07:16 AM
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<<Fodors and Frommers are basically the same.>>
I'm thinking Doug Stallings just choked on his breakfast.
More excellent castles: Fraser, Craigevar, Dunrobin (an unknown gem), Drum. Brodie photographs well but there's not much to it. Cawdor is more interesting and more fun.
And if you can figure out a way to get there, HRM will not be in residence at Balmoral, so you can visit. In August, she goes there for her annual retreat.
I'm thinking Doug Stallings just choked on his breakfast.
More excellent castles: Fraser, Craigevar, Dunrobin (an unknown gem), Drum. Brodie photographs well but there's not much to it. Cawdor is more interesting and more fun.
And if you can figure out a way to get there, HRM will not be in residence at Balmoral, so you can visit. In August, she goes there for her annual retreat.
Feb 14th, 2012, 08:25 AM
#28
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Big Russ...yeah, expect to be banned any time now. This isn't the first time I've suggested that there are better sources. In fact I think I've done it twice just on this post. Accidently.
Shelia, I agree Irvine's is not the best book to begin with and initially found it a bit difficult to navigate, but it does have some great information as to the best castles, most interesting ruins, etc.
peterad, You'll find there are more castles than you can possibly visit in one trip. Have a closer look at the suggestions from sheila and Big Russ.If you decide to go to Oban/Mull there's Duart Castle,Dunstaffnage Castle and the ruins of Dunollie which are actually more impressive viewed from the town or from Oban Bay than from up close. For Skye Dunvegan Castle, the ruins of Duntulm just for a start.
Shelia, I agree Irvine's is not the best book to begin with and initially found it a bit difficult to navigate, but it does have some great information as to the best castles, most interesting ruins, etc.
peterad, You'll find there are more castles than you can possibly visit in one trip. Have a closer look at the suggestions from sheila and Big Russ.If you decide to go to Oban/Mull there's Duart Castle,Dunstaffnage Castle and the ruins of Dunollie which are actually more impressive viewed from the town or from Oban Bay than from up close. For Skye Dunvegan Castle, the ruins of Duntulm just for a start.
Feb 14th, 2012, 08:27 AM
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Right near Stratford is Warwick Castle. This is not a pile of stones; it's more of a theme park. But it is a real castle, one that's furnished so you can see how people lived there. (I also liked Burg Eltz for the same reason.)
There are lots of kid-oriented activities at the castle, but I, in my 50s, still enjoyed it. www.warwick-castle.co.uk
Back in Scotland, if you go to (or leave) Skye by the bridge, you'll probably go right by Eilean Donan: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eilean_Donan
And then there's Stirling Castle...and so on.
There are lots of kid-oriented activities at the castle, but I, in my 50s, still enjoyed it. www.warwick-castle.co.uk
Back in Scotland, if you go to (or leave) Skye by the bridge, you'll probably go right by Eilean Donan: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eilean_Donan
And then there's Stirling Castle...and so on.
Feb 14th, 2012, 10:32 AM
#31
How about these - will they do?
Kilchurn http://tinyurl.com/7ocuxjw
Dunnottar http://tinyurl.com/6rwkkg3
Glamis http://tinyurl.com/7lk4sok
Stirling http://tinyurl.com/6vzaypy
Edinburgh http://tinyurl.com/7bs2nqr
Dunrobin http://tinyurl.com/6lsb6lv
Just a TINY sample to get you started . . .
Kilchurn http://tinyurl.com/7ocuxjw
Dunnottar http://tinyurl.com/6rwkkg3
Glamis http://tinyurl.com/7lk4sok
Stirling http://tinyurl.com/6vzaypy
Edinburgh http://tinyurl.com/7bs2nqr
Dunrobin http://tinyurl.com/6lsb6lv
Just a TINY sample to get you started . . .
Feb 14th, 2012, 05:06 PM
#33
Feb 14th, 2012, 06:21 PM
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Well, jumping in here with some well traveled lasses and lads, so at some peril - I would emphatically say: Yes, the Magical Isle of Skye is worth the trip.
I loved Edinburgh (flew into London and hoped on a train and was there 4 hours later) - and the historic Castle there is simply amazing - (get one of the kilted ones to give you a tour). Suggest you get a hop on - hop off bus ticket to tour around Edinburgh - and the Cream and Green was very good, recommended by my bartender - and she was a hoot to boot.
Then after a visit to St. Andrews - not only the birthplace of golf, but where Prince Edward met his lovely bride at the University- it was off - via train - up through Harry Potter country (well - they filmed parts of it there) to Inverness and over to Skye.
Couldn't get a rental car - but got a taxi to my fabulous resort (just dumb luck - read about it in Frommer's) - at the south end, once voted the most "romantic" in the UK - and will get their web page. Fabulous restaurant and pub - and they recommended a great tour guide (which I usually don't do) and Mr. McDonald - naturally of the McDonald clan - was outstanding, and what an island - with both the Red and Black mountain ranges.
From the resort grounds - you look across the channel to the famous Eilean Donan castle and artists and photographers are always on the grounds doing their thing. http://www.eileandonancastle.com/
Hey - they were even distilling the great single malt Talisker there - but it has since moved off the grounds.
I loved Edinburgh (flew into London and hoped on a train and was there 4 hours later) - and the historic Castle there is simply amazing - (get one of the kilted ones to give you a tour). Suggest you get a hop on - hop off bus ticket to tour around Edinburgh - and the Cream and Green was very good, recommended by my bartender - and she was a hoot to boot.
Then after a visit to St. Andrews - not only the birthplace of golf, but where Prince Edward met his lovely bride at the University- it was off - via train - up through Harry Potter country (well - they filmed parts of it there) to Inverness and over to Skye.
Couldn't get a rental car - but got a taxi to my fabulous resort (just dumb luck - read about it in Frommer's) - at the south end, once voted the most "romantic" in the UK - and will get their web page. Fabulous restaurant and pub - and they recommended a great tour guide (which I usually don't do) and Mr. McDonald - naturally of the McDonald clan - was outstanding, and what an island - with both the Red and Black mountain ranges.
From the resort grounds - you look across the channel to the famous Eilean Donan castle and artists and photographers are always on the grounds doing their thing. http://www.eileandonancastle.com/
Hey - they were even distilling the great single malt Talisker there - but it has since moved off the grounds.
Feb 14th, 2012, 06:30 PM
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Here it is - the Eilean Iarman resort - where I met a grand Scotish gentleman at breakfast - who was in charge of all the game preserves - and he told me they actually have too many deer which are causing problems. He knew Sir Robert? - who owned the resort - and he had been fortunate enough to share in some of the owner's grand wine collection.
They had a lively pub on Sat night - with band - perhaps the only one on that end of the Island - and the locals invited me - the lone Yank - to a proper "Kaling" - birthday party - next door in the reception hall - where I watched some young Scottish lasses doing traditional dances (another band was playing), and everybody brought a pot luck dish (except moi - but I already had dinner, and they were super friendly. All in all - it was a great time - and great food (the visiting/replacement chef was from Paris while the regular chef was on Holiday) - great staff and locals company and good cheer. They even had a Gaelic institute on the grounds.
Actually - I found all the Scots to be quite friendly.
http://www.eilean-iarmain.co.uk/
They had a lively pub on Sat night - with band - perhaps the only one on that end of the Island - and the locals invited me - the lone Yank - to a proper "Kaling" - birthday party - next door in the reception hall - where I watched some young Scottish lasses doing traditional dances (another band was playing), and everybody brought a pot luck dish (except moi - but I already had dinner, and they were super friendly. All in all - it was a great time - and great food (the visiting/replacement chef was from Paris while the regular chef was on Holiday) - great staff and locals company and good cheer. They even had a Gaelic institute on the grounds.
Actually - I found all the Scots to be quite friendly.
http://www.eilean-iarmain.co.uk/
