Scotland in June
 

I posted recently about spending a week in Scotland in May; I'm starting a new post as my plans have undergone a real revision.

The family is on board and as soon as I take the plunge of buying the tickets we will be on our way to actually spending 2 weeks in Scotland in June.

Please give me an idea if I'm on the right track. I would like to fly into Glasgow as it looks like we can bypass a layover at LHR by flying directly there. I am really trying to avoid as much driving for my husband and have decided to base ourselves in a few key areas.

I'm thinking we would take the train from Glasgow to Inverness. We will buy a Family Railcard as that seems to make a difference in savings. We will rent a car in Inverness and spend about 4-5 days in that area. I would like to stay in a NT cottage at Brodie Castle, which even if we don't stay the requisite week will still be cheaper than a room at a B&B. In this area we will visit, Fort George, my husband is an ex-military man, Culloden, Brodie of course, and Cawdor.

Now we can do this two ways; we can take the car back to Inverness and then take the train to Aberdeen for 3 or 4 days. We want to see Crathes Castle and a bit of the sea. Of course if we take this course we need to rent a car in Aberdeen to visit sites in area. Here I'm a bit hazy about what else to visit.

The second choice is to drive from Brodie Castle to Aberdeen. My daughter wants to see the sea and maybe this could be a nice drive along the coast?

After this we would take the train to Edinburgh from Aberdeen and spend a lovely 5 days in Edinburgh, taking a day trip to see Stirling. Of course then we take a train back to Glasgow and stay a couple of days. Tea at the Willow Tea Rooms sounds like a treat. Then home. The airfares this way as opposed to flying Phoenix to Philadelphia, to LHR, to Edinburgh aren't that unreasonable considering we don't have the layover at LHR. I've always been able to get great train fares, by buying in advance at the right times.

Again, the idea is to see as much as we can without driving more than 1.5 hours at a time one way. My husband understands that the possible trip to Aberdeen would be more.

We are in our late fifties, pretty energetic, with a fifteen year old daughter; but I certainly tire more easily than I used too and public transportation is tough on me. From what I've read buses in the Highlands are not the way to go; hence my husband agreeing to drive
some.

In the past couple of trips to the UK trains have been a hardship; trying to find room for the suitcase amongst the strollers and hoisting it up on top of the seats has been tough; but again DH doesn't love to drive, so although we have some time to drive, sometimes it is just too far and long for him.

Please comment on my plans. I know that I'm probably to and froing too much and would love some suggestions. My daughter is just thrilled to bits to be going back to Edinburgh and spending time at the Last Drop!

Thank you.

"<i>The second choice is to drive from Brodie Castle to Aberdeen. My daughter wants to see the sea and maybe this could be a nice drive along the coast?</i>"

I'd drive but not along the coast. I'd go via Dufftown and Huntly. You will see PLENTY of sea at Ft George/the Black Isle and around Aberdeen. Be sure to also visit Dunnottar

"<i>After this we would take the train to Edinburgh </i>" Even for someone trying to avoid driving, this doesn't make sense to me. You'd miss places like Glamis Castle and St Andrews/Fife.

Train to Inverness, good idea. Book your cottage/castle asap. June is getting to school holidays here.

Other places to visit are Clava Cairns, Sueno's Stone at Forres, Findhorn Bay, the Moray Firth dolphins- please pick your boat with dolphin friendliness in mind- Cromarty, the Black Isle (including the Red Kites), and Loch Ness.

Don't take the car back to Inverness. Directly it will take you 2 hours; less directly, as long as you like. It doesn't make sense in terms of time or stress or cost. Mind you, as Janis says, get off the A96 asap, and either take the inland road or go round the coast- me, I'd take the coast road. The fishing villages of Moray are hidden gems, and into Banffshire you have such delights as Pennan and Gardenstown and Banff itself. They really hit your wish list of pretty villages. I can drive that route comfortably, without stops in 2 1/2 hours. With stops, I could take 3 days. Chill, and go at your own pace.

Here in Aberdeenshire we have a plethora of things for you to see and do. Castles and Gardens rank right up there. No islands till you get down to Fife, but. Ruins coming out your 'ow you say?. Tolquon, Huntly, Kildrummy and, the piece of resistance, Dunotter. Getting a few days self catering in town won't be that easy, but there are quite a lot of serviced flats. Or stay out of town a bit.

Your Edinburgh based plans are fine.

You are spot on about public transport in the north. Fine for getting from A to B, but no way to tour.

Any idea when you'll be in Aberdeen? Maybe I could show you round a bit when you're here?

Oh -- Don't get me wrong. Sheila is right about the the north east coast/villages being wonderful. But you really will not be seeing much other inland scenery on your trip. So as a contrast to all the water you'll see near Inverness and from Aberdeenshire to Edinburgh, I'd just consider Dufftown (for Glenfiddich) and across -- or even better if you husband is up to the task, across Tomintoul and down the Dee. Amazing scenery and you end up right at Crathes.

Thank you both, food for thought; that's for sure. Sheila, if we didn't base ourselves in Aberdeen, where in the area?

Yes, janis I was concerned about missing Glamis and the St. Andrews area. I'll get back to the drawing board and maybe we can do 2 days Aberdeen area, 2 days St. Andrews. Just depends if we can drop car off in St. Andrews. We have a day or two for flexibility in there.

My poor DH had a horrible time dropping the car off in York one time, and just hates the pick up, drop off issue. So I just don't see him dropping off in Edinburgh, if we decided to drive there. I'm just happy he will drive at all.

Right now the most important thing is to get those tickets and make those reservations for lodging. I'm looking at self catering in Stockbridge in Edinburgh. Sounds nice and my daughter is intrigued by the "village," feel of it all. Any thoughts?

Thanks again!

"<i>So I just don't see him dropping off in Edinburgh</i>"

You don't need to drop the car in Edinburgh. Drop it at EDI. Very (VERY) easy. Right off the motorway and well signposted on your route from St Andrews to Edinburgh. Couldn't be easier. Then take the airport bus or a cab into the city centre.

I'll second the vote for EDI as a drop off point. It's on the western edge of town, and relatively easy to get to. Not bad at all. We picked up and dropped off there in '07. The only hitch on the dropoff was some construction on the roads around EDI that had us guessing a little bit as to where to exit, but it was not difficult driving at all. We drove from Inverness to EDI stopping to see Balmoral and Glamis along the way.

Stonehaven is pretty or maybe somewhere a bit inland, like Banchory?

You could (I'm not promoting this, just raising options) do Glamis as a day trip from Aberdeen, and St Andrews by train from as a day trip from Edinburgh.

I would definitely drop the car at the airport and not drive into Edinburgh, if you're not dropping it here (where I would do the same thing).

Stockbridge is fine, but it's a long schlepp up the hill to the New Town. I think the "village" thing is overdone. I'd aim for the Old Town, myself, I think. Or maybe Leith. Mind you, it's what you like.

Our DD had a non-life threatening hospital procedure and I had DH as a captive audience for the day. We sat and talked in the cafeteria looking at the route and he agreed to pick up the car in Edinburgh.

We also decided to reverse the order of the trip and start in Edinburgh and make our way to the cottage at Brodie Castle, which was still available last time I checked. He would like to spend the the last two days in Glasgow before the trip home. So we will drop off the car in Inverness. As I said, "he who drives calls the shots."
If we are picking up the car that early, Janis, I'm thinking that this means we could also look at our itinerary again. Perhaps go inland a little? Perhaps not.

Sheila, thanks for your comment about Stockbridge, I do admit to reading somewhere that climbing the hill to New Town might be a bit too much. Our self-catering choice there seems to be a good bet and I'm wondering how much a taxi into the city centre might be?

If it turns out that the uphill climb decides me against Stockbridge, my DD is laughing herself silly remembering my heart stopping walk down and up at Robin's Hood Bay,are there any recommendations for self catering in Old Town?

I'm finding the B&B prices steep for 3, breakfast or no breakfast and while we may not cook much, with self catering we have the room to spread out. (So much cheaper for us when I travel with friends and we split costs!)

Thanks again, I'll keep planning and reading with all the great suggestions I've received.

a fiver for the taxi?

That's what I was thinking, Sheila. I was surprised at how reasonable the taxis were in '08 when my friends and I were staying at the Elmview. Of course again split three ways, what isn't reasonable?
I'm looking at some places on this site; Greatbase.co.uk. One of them in particular seems suited to us for price and location;Royal Mile 2, in Chessels Court. TA gives some good reviews.
Thanks again!

While waiting for a concert to begin my DH was reading a Fodor's book about Scotland. Now he truly has the bug and has asked that we go to the Isle of Skye. As that was my original intention and as he is driving, so be it!

So here's the new itinerary:

Arrive Glasgow; train to Edinburgh. 4 days (shortened time here as we will go to Stirling on way to Callandar)

Edinburgh to Callandar area: 2 days here.

Callander to Isle of Skye: I'd like to go to Glencoe and I have promised DH that we will not drive all the way to the Skye Bridge in one day. So my idea was to spend 1 day in transit from Callander to Skye, or to cut 5 days to 4 from Brodie area and add that day to this leg of trip. We figured that this 1 interim day would afford some time to rest, see Glencoe and have an early night. Suggestions? Am I right that this is where we can do the Jacobite train? So maybe 2 nights?
It does a return trip from Ft. William right?

Isle of Skye, 3 days: I've always had the Flora MacDonald bug and was thrilled to read the account of her meeting with Johnson on Undiscovered Scotland.

Isle of Wight to Brodie Castle cottage: 4 to 5 days. (At this point I'm still okay with paying for 7 days and only using 4 or 5. The cottage is still a good buy) I have spied a B&B in Grantown on Spey that looks nice. Is this centrally located for Culloden, Loch Ness, and dropping car off in Inverness?

Inverness train to Glasgow: 2 days

Flight home from Glasgow.

Please comment and I'd love any suggestions. Thank you.

Yes, Glencoe would be a good stopping off point en route to Skye. The Jacobite train runs from Fort William to Mallaig and back

You're closer to Inverness, Culloden and Loch Ness at Brodie than you are at Grantown. Nothing wrong with Grantown and it is in a very different sort of scenery.

Just remind me what Glasgow is for (not against it, but....)

If you can get a room here -- do

http://www.clachaig.com/

Right in Glencoe and good food too.

No turning back now, we've bought the tickets, and we are very excited to be visiting Scotland.

Sheila, We are flying in and out of Glasgow, as I didn't want to stop at LHR and our airline flies from Philadelphia to Glasgow without that stop. Of course that means the extra train ride from Glasgow to Edinburgh; but as my DH says "if I'm in a town, I'd like to see it." Besides I'm intrigued by the Mackintosh tea rooms on Sauchiehall St. and the Burrell collection.

Janisj thanks for seconding the Clachaig. I had checked with them and there is room.

I've read that you stay in self-catering in the Callander area. I'm checking B&B's in that town; but I'm not seeing anything that appeals to me. Are there other towns to look at? Aberfoyle, Strathyre?

Thanks again.

Tickets booked - great!

What is your budget?

Ok. Just checking to see if there was a special interest.

Email me and I'll send a Word doc of stuff to see and do.

Hi janisj, I have an offer for a nice looking B&B, Annfield Guest House in Callander for about 100 pounds, which seems really reasonable to me and I would love to keep to that budget. Parking is on the street which I don't like. I like to look at every option; so if you have any suggestions to make I would love it.

We are about ready to book a Edinburgh place; but I'm somewhat surprised at the lack of family rooms at the B&Bs that I've considered. We would have to book 2 rooms, paying the single tariff and that puts us at about 225 dollars. I have found a couple of self-catering options with good reviews off the Royal Mile, so I'm thinking that's the way to go. still, I'm finding the B&B rates reasonable, particularly when you understand that breakfast and VAT are included!

I still have to book the car, and look into where we will stay on the Isle of Skye. Suggestions appreciated here too.

Thank you.

"<i>Parking is on the street which I don't like</i>"

Callander is just a very small town, parking on the street would not be an issue. However . . from the B&B's website >><i>From its central yet quiet position you can park your car off the street adjacent to the house</i><< which would indicate they have off-street parking.

Yes, I see janisj, we'll be fine for parking and if the room is available I will book. Almost finished booking accommodation, just need to secure a place in Glasgow. Car is booked and now I'll start making train reservations.

After that it's just reading all the posts about the places we are visting and looking for restaurants, entertainment etc. Is there anything for Scotland like the British Heritage Pass?

Thanks again for all the help.