Scotland ideas

Old Nov 23rd, 2017, 09:59 AM
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Scotland ideas

So I’m starting to look at my summer trip (as a teacher limited to that time frame so I’m stuck with high season)

My plan is to visit my brother in London and get over jet lag spend two weeks in Scotland (with a day trip to Alnwick Castle since I’m a HP fan) and two weeks in Ireland.

I am not renting a car. I am solo and even at home long drives are difficult solo. However I do plan to do small group tours. ( did this in Iceland and it was nice to be with others) I know Rabbies is recommended. I’ve got Ireland figured out for the most part.. I’m still figuring out Scotland as there’s so much and only 2 weeks

I am definitely doing Edinburgh Skye Glencoe the viaduct. Maybe go out to. Highland Game on July 7.I have found two companies that do this.

Now I’m stuck on how to choose.

I could do a tour to outer Hebrides
There is a multi day tour to Orkney
There’s the north coast
There’s applecross?
Is Fife worth it?

Think I’m going to save Glasgow for another trip. Is it better to take the train or fly to Belfast?

My interests.

I have been fascinated with the Celtic culture and the history for a long time. I love castles and am a photographer so amazing scenery and architecture.

Not interested in nightlife and distilleries really. I don’t handle most alcohol well so don’t plan on drinking.

Suggestions on what to research so I can narrow this down a bit more?
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Old Nov 23rd, 2017, 10:09 AM
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With two weeks (and no car) -- I'd just turn myself over to Rabbies. Their tours are terrific and most leave from Edinburgh. You might contact them to see if you could link any of their tours rather than returning to Edinburgh. For instance say a 3 night tour to Skye and one to the outer Hebrides. I haven't gone over their schedule lately to see which/if any cross paths conveniently. But if one driver could 'hand you over' to another for a different leg that would save you having to return to Edinburgh after every tour (and save the higher cost of accommodations in the city for the nights between tours.

I'd e-mail or phone them to ask for suggestions - they do plan custom tours too but IF you can do 2 or 3 of their regular offerings it would be much cheaper.

Places like Stirling and St Andrews you can easily do on your own from Edinburgh. But to get to the more distant/more rural areas Rabbies would be terrific.
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Old Nov 23rd, 2017, 10:02 PM
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Awesome. Thanks. They have quite a few tours. Given my interests...outer Hebrides versus their Orkney versus north coast. I think I will do their 4 day Skye and west highlands for sure
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Old Nov 24th, 2017, 06:02 AM
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Applecross is simply stunning - but it's quite remote, reachable only by a mountain road. I don't know how you'd get there without renting a car.

I've posted a photo from my blog ... taken mid-afternoon, looking went into the sun from the top of the hills to the east of Applecross. https://tinyurl.com/applecrossblog
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Old Nov 24th, 2017, 08:30 AM
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travelhorizons: >>I don't know how you'd get there without renting a car.
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Old Nov 24th, 2017, 08:50 AM
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I've done a half dozen trips with Rabbies and highly recommend them.
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Old Nov 24th, 2017, 09:18 AM
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If wanting to do Skye and West Highlands you could do two very scenic trains:

1- Inverness to Kyle of Lochlash Line that goes along a fjord-like coast as it near Kyle - then you have buses over the bridge to Skye and connections around it:

https://www.scotrail.co.uk/scotland-...lsh-inverness;

https://scotlandrailways.com/scenicr...-highland-line

2- The West Highlands Line - certainly the most scenic in Britain IMO - a bit better than Inverness to Kyle - from Mallaig to Fort William and onto towards Glasgow. This line was used in Harry Potter films for railway scenes - especially the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct.

https://www.google.com/search?q=west...w=1536&bih=759

https://www.seat61.com/WestHighlandLine.htm

https://www.google.com/search?ei=TGE....0.8HvjfsVmt9s

From Skye go to Armadale (buses do it) and take the ferry to Mallaig. A nice loop into Skye by bridge from Kyle and out via ferry to Mallaig to link two very very scenic rail lines.

For lots on Scottish trains check: https://www.scotrail.co.uk/; www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com. There is also some kind of Scottish Explorer Pass valid on trains and some key ferries and buses I believe but if doing those always lauded here Rabbies Tours it would not be of much interest to you.

It was quite a few years ago I took those trains but I think the scenery has changed little!
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Old Nov 24th, 2017, 09:28 AM
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The problem is once one is ON Skye the bus service is crap (sorry but it is) There are local taxis, but the island is too large and too sparsely populated to have efficient bus service.

If you want to take a train -- consider it a scenic train ride and not a way to visit Skye.
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Old Nov 24th, 2017, 09:38 AM
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Yes only meant as a good way to do a scenic train - some tour excursions may incorporate that train along with tour of Skye?
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Old Nov 24th, 2017, 09:56 AM
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Having done Skye and the Western Isles by car, by train then renting car and with Rabbies, using a tour company such as a Rabbies is by far rhe easiest. You really can't do Skye without a car and although there is a company doing day tours, you'll need to locate in a specific place. Lewis and Harris, as far as I know, have no local tour companies and buses are not even a consideration; in addition, you have to get to a ferry port to get to the Western Isles or to Orkney. While the train rides are very scenic, so is doing it by the road routes.

A particular advantage of using Rabbies is that rhe driver/ guides are excellent. They provide a great deal if information regarding the geography, history and culture of the Highlands. You won't get that on a train.
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Old Nov 24th, 2017, 12:57 PM
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Yes I noticed that roads pretty much followed the courses of the two scenic trains I mentioned (mentioned in case they were not doing tours over that part as they did not want to drive)- only exception when the West Highlands route slices thru the desolate Rannoch Moor (called by Scottish Tourist Board 'one of last true large wildnerness areas in Europe) which only has some access roads but none thru it - great place for a hike and if wishing a hotel with cache and character the Station Hotel sits right in the midst of the moors - right by a train station.

https://www.visitscotland.com/info/t...annoch-p246531

https://www.google.com/search?q=Rann...w=1536&bih=759

http://www.moorofrannoch.co.uk/about-us/
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Old Nov 24th, 2017, 01:14 PM
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I am a fan of Rabbies and always take one of their tours when I'm in Scotland. There have been a few solo people on the tours and the group of people have always included the solo people for dinner, etc. Not all tour guides are the same so each time it has been a unique experience and linking the tours up is what a lot of people do. I found the Outer Hebrides so different than Orkney but my heart liked Orkney more. I really don't think you can go wrong with anything you chose.
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Old Nov 24th, 2017, 01:36 PM
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Now we get Pal rhapsodizing re Rannoch Moor . . .

settle in w/ popcorn and wait for it to blow over.
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Old Nov 24th, 2017, 02:06 PM
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I do wonder if Pal has ever stayed at the > I have, and it's actually called the Moor of Ranch Hotel. While a lovely hotel with an excellent restaurant and off the beaten path ( there is a road into Rannoch Station ), there are other hotels in the Highlands that are far more isolated than the Moor of Rannoch.
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Old Nov 24th, 2017, 02:31 PM
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mmshah,You mentioned the north coast and Orkney in your original post. Last summer, I did the Orkney/ north coast tour with Rabbies, and it was wonderful. I had been to Orkney several times but never along the north coast. A great tour.
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Old Nov 24th, 2017, 02:48 PM
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While a lovely hotel with an excellent restaurant and off the beaten path ( there is a road into Rannoch Station ), there are other hotels in the Highlands that are far more isolated than the Moor of Rannoch.>

I mention it only because they have no car and may want to take that scenic train and stay at a unique location easy to get to by piblic transit on a logical route from Skye - I have never stayed there but got off train at nearby station to do some rambling in the moor - again a place easy to get to say if staying in nearby Fort William for a day of hiking sans a tour group with you.

I have not been to all the wee bits of Scotland some here have but I know what I liked and will not be cowed by condenscending remarks to not post what I found neat and easy to get to without a Rabbies Tour.

Tours are great for remote locations with poor transit but there is also value in doing it on your own when transportation is great.
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Old Nov 24th, 2017, 03:08 PM
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My remarks were in no way condescending. I was making a valid point in regard to recommendations without experience. I have a problem with those recommending places where they have not stayed believing that personal experience especially in regard to hotels and restaurants is essential. If suggesting a stay at the Moor of Rannoch or any place for that matter, please qualify you comments as to whether a personal experience, or a place that looked appealing etc. It's only fair to the poster.

I agree that traveling on one's own as it's merits, but if you look at the O.P.'s suggested places to travel, it includes either the Western Isles or Orkney. Neither of these places are viable without taking a ferry which would include renting a car. The train route that goes through Rannoch Moor only gets you to Mallaig. The O.P. did not mention Skye.
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Old Nov 25th, 2017, 05:50 AM
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Thanks so much. I was actually hoping to do a Rabbies tour as I know my limitations without a car. As I mentioned before being solo I don’t feel comfortable renting a car. The price goes up and it’s stressful to navigate a car alone.

I already was going to see a skye tour...but I have time for multiple tours so was hoping for some input to help me narrow down given my interests.

History traveler I’m glad to hear that was a good tour.i was debating between the outer Hebrides the 3 day Orkney from Inverness and the 5 day north coast and Orkney.

Outer Hebrides sounds beautiful but I really would love to see some history like Orkney would provides so it’s a toss up. Guess like you said I can’t go wrong.

Any recommendations near Edinburgh for culture as well. Celtic culture has fascinated me a long time as well as music but I really don’t want to go to Glasgow just for one day even if it is a quick train trip. Better to save if I ever make it back to UK again.
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Old Nov 25th, 2017, 02:54 PM
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mmshah, I was just looking at Rabbies tours for 2018 and they have added several new ones. I don't know how much time you want to allow for a tour, but the following easily fits in a great many places across the Highlands. The tour which I believe is for 9 days, visits Iona, Mull, Skye and Orkney.

Mull is a lovely island and with the exception of the cars,coaches and most recently cyclists who clog the road from Craignure to Fionnphort, the island is pretty much unspoiled. The short ferry ride at Fionnphort takes you to Iona the birthplace of Celtic Christianity and, at one time,home to St. Columba probably the best known of the Celtic saints. The tour also includes the Isle of Skye and a visit to Glencoe the site of the Campbell 's massacre of the Macdonald. Eventually you end up in Orkney where its culture and history is primarily Norse. About the only Celtic influence on Orkney is found in the beautiful jewelry made and sold by locals such as Sheila Fleet and Ortak. Still, Orkney has some of the best Neolithic sites found anywhere. Another stop on this tour is at Culloden and the site of the Jacobite's last battle against the English. This tour really hits all your requests, but it's just one among several that would work for you.
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Old Nov 25th, 2017, 02:59 PM
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Forgot to add that with a day tour to Alnwick and a more extended tour with Rabbies, I'd wouldn't add another day trip. Stay in Edinburgh. The city has a great deal to offer in regard to Celtic/ Scottish history. Perhaps the best visit would be to the National Museum of Scotland. There are, of course, a number of other possibilities including a trip out to Rosslyn Chapel.
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