Scotland Itinerary
Feb 27th, 2003, 09:35 AM
#1
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Scotland Itinerary
I posted in the past and received some great advice. Based on the info received, I created a tentative itinerary. Since I am not sure of the distances between towns/cities/regions, I was wondering if anyone could provide feedback and let me know if I can do the following in six days:
Oban
Isle of Mull
Glencoe
Mallaig
Isle of Skye
Pitlochry
Forfar
St. Andrews
Anstruther
I would love any hotel/bb recommendations for the towns listed (my husband and I would also like to fit in a castle stay in any town/area-if anyone has suggestions, that would be great also).
FYI: we have 4 days set aside for Glasgow (1) and Edinburgh (3)
I appreciate any advice. Thanks!
Oban
Isle of Mull
Glencoe
Mallaig
Isle of Skye
Pitlochry
Forfar
St. Andrews
Anstruther
I would love any hotel/bb recommendations for the towns listed (my husband and I would also like to fit in a castle stay in any town/area-if anyone has suggestions, that would be great also).
FYI: we have 4 days set aside for Glasgow (1) and Edinburgh (3)
I appreciate any advice. Thanks!
Feb 27th, 2003, 11:02 AM
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I have only been to Oban and Skye (of those you listed here), and would definitely do those two together, as they are very close, as far as driving distances.
B&B recommendations:
Tir Alainn on Skye, La Lunga south of Oban. Tir Alainn has the advantage of a delightful view, and a wonderfully garrolous (sp?) host, who will literally dance and sing as he serves you breakfast!
La Lunga is a much larger manor house/B&B. It has about 14 rooms, and is converted from a 16th century manor house. (pretty castle-like) The host is the Earl, and his breakfast spread is filled with wonderful variety. The table was filled with every kind of bread spread you can imagine! He also harvests and grills up his own fresh mushrooms...yummmmm
B&B recommendations:
Tir Alainn on Skye, La Lunga south of Oban. Tir Alainn has the advantage of a delightful view, and a wonderfully garrolous (sp?) host, who will literally dance and sing as he serves you breakfast!
La Lunga is a much larger manor house/B&B. It has about 14 rooms, and is converted from a 16th century manor house. (pretty castle-like) The host is the Earl, and his breakfast spread is filled with wonderful variety. The table was filled with every kind of bread spread you can imagine! He also harvests and grills up his own fresh mushrooms...yummmmm
Feb 27th, 2003, 12:29 PM
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I've made a few of the drives you have mentioned and janis may blast me for suggesting how long it took because I tend to cover quite a bit of ground quickly. Although, I covered these routes pretty slowly . . .
Oban to Mull, depends on how much driving you do on Mull. Mull to Gelncoe . . . same. Glencoe to Mallaig took me a little over 2 hours. It's only about 60 miles but traffic was slow and it was very rainy. Mallaig to (somewhere on the) Isle of Skye . . . depends on how much driving you do once you get onto the island. I drove from Kyle of Lochalsh to Pitlochry in about 5 hours. That's a gorgeous drive and I stopped several times for pictures . . . it's close to 120 miles between the two. Forfar is only about 40 miles from Pitlochry, and St Andrews is roughly 30 miles from Forfar.
I have no idea where Anstruther is.
By the way, is your itinerary listed in order? Seems like you are doing a little zig zagging.
Have fun!
Oban to Mull, depends on how much driving you do on Mull. Mull to Gelncoe . . . same. Glencoe to Mallaig took me a little over 2 hours. It's only about 60 miles but traffic was slow and it was very rainy. Mallaig to (somewhere on the) Isle of Skye . . . depends on how much driving you do once you get onto the island. I drove from Kyle of Lochalsh to Pitlochry in about 5 hours. That's a gorgeous drive and I stopped several times for pictures . . . it's close to 120 miles between the two. Forfar is only about 40 miles from Pitlochry, and St Andrews is roughly 30 miles from Forfar.
I have no idea where Anstruther is.
By the way, is your itinerary listed in order? Seems like you are doing a little zig zagging.
Have fun!
Feb 27th, 2003, 03:01 PM
#4
Anstruther ("Ainster" or "Enster") is in the East Neuk of Fife, a string of charming (and well-visited) villages on the north coast of the Firth of Forth facing Edinburgh and East Lothian. Crail and Pittenweem are other well known villages, Crail especially known for its beautiful tiny harbo(u)r. Beautiful country.
They are quite close to St Andrews and can easily be visited in conjunction with a visit to that town, or on route to Edinburgh from Forfar or v.v.
Regarding your overall itinerary, yes, you can do all this in six days, but you won't have a great deal of time in any one location. For the most part, Glen Coe is a place you go through rather than to, and Mallaig chiefly serves as a place to catch the boat to Skye. However, there's plenty to stop and see on the A830, the "Road to the Isles." I'd frankly be tempted with your schedule to cut out Oban and Mull to allow a full day or more to explore Glenfinnan, Morar, Arisaig and, if time permits, to ferry from Mallaig over to the Old Forge in Knoydart for a pint at one of the more remote pubs in Scotland. Don't miss the train station at Glenfinnan - if it looks familiar, then you're a wizard, Harry, and a thumpin' good one. (Used for Hogwarts Station.)
Be sure to overindulge on Bridies in Forfar. With onions. (Homer Simpson noise follows - Brideees..ummmmm.)
They are quite close to St Andrews and can easily be visited in conjunction with a visit to that town, or on route to Edinburgh from Forfar or v.v.
Regarding your overall itinerary, yes, you can do all this in six days, but you won't have a great deal of time in any one location. For the most part, Glen Coe is a place you go through rather than to, and Mallaig chiefly serves as a place to catch the boat to Skye. However, there's plenty to stop and see on the A830, the "Road to the Isles." I'd frankly be tempted with your schedule to cut out Oban and Mull to allow a full day or more to explore Glenfinnan, Morar, Arisaig and, if time permits, to ferry from Mallaig over to the Old Forge in Knoydart for a pint at one of the more remote pubs in Scotland. Don't miss the train station at Glenfinnan - if it looks familiar, then you're a wizard, Harry, and a thumpin' good one. (Used for Hogwarts Station.)
Be sure to overindulge on Bridies in Forfar. With onions. (Homer Simpson noise follows - Brideees..ummmmm.)
Feb 28th, 2003, 01:48 AM
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I have done some notes on Scotland which may be useful if you care to e-mail me - [email protected].
Feb 28th, 2003, 05:49 AM
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Thank you for all the great advice. The order of places to visit was pretty random except for Forfar, St. Andrews and Anstruther. By the way we are starting Glasgow and end our trip in Edinburgh. Thanks again!
Mar 10th, 2003, 10:13 AM
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We spent 3 weeks in Scotland in 2000 and loved every minute.
We stayed at a lovely B&B on Skye--the Flodigarry Country House, Staffin (Flora MacDonald's cottage is on the property). I highly recommend it.
And Mallaig is not worth the drive--it is a winding mostly one-lane road--unless you are taking the ferry. And do make sure the ferry is operating before you go (it wasn't the day we drove out there).
We stayed at a lovely B&B on Skye--the Flodigarry Country House, Staffin (Flora MacDonald's cottage is on the property). I highly recommend it.
And Mallaig is not worth the drive--it is a winding mostly one-lane road--unless you are taking the ferry. And do make sure the ferry is operating before you go (it wasn't the day we drove out there).
Mar 10th, 2003, 02:00 PM
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1) definitely recommend the aa site - it has lots of useful landmarks in the directions (ie, "34 miles, the SO and SO restaurant") - helped us make sure we hadn't made a wrong turn along the way. Only thing is it will get you to the town, but not always to the exact hotel you are going to, make sure you have directions.
2) Isle of Skye - you will need to make choice about what you want to do - we spent 2.5 days out of 15, and could have spent 4 EASILY just to see the major sites
3) We went from Glasgow through the Kilmartin Valley (stopped at almost all the sites) and to Oban in one day - the Greencourt B&B in Oban was very enjoyable.
4) Pitlochry is a charming town - we really like the B&B we stayed at, if you like, I can look up the name of it. There is a shop in town that sells all manner of sheep-related gift items, some of which are quite a hoot.
I know we drove from Pitlochry to Edinburgh in a morning, I will have to check on the times. I know we were able to see Edinburgh castle and walk the entire Royal Mile that day, if that gives you any perspective.
Best of luck!
2) Isle of Skye - you will need to make choice about what you want to do - we spent 2.5 days out of 15, and could have spent 4 EASILY just to see the major sites
3) We went from Glasgow through the Kilmartin Valley (stopped at almost all the sites) and to Oban in one day - the Greencourt B&B in Oban was very enjoyable.
4) Pitlochry is a charming town - we really like the B&B we stayed at, if you like, I can look up the name of it. There is a shop in town that sells all manner of sheep-related gift items, some of which are quite a hoot.
I know we drove from Pitlochry to Edinburgh in a morning, I will have to check on the times. I know we were able to see Edinburgh castle and walk the entire Royal Mile that day, if that gives you any perspective.
Best of luck!
Mar 14th, 2003, 03:28 AM
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Thank you for the reply. The reason for my new post is that I revised my original itinerary (based on the responses I received when I first posted my question). I was hoping for more feedback, however, I gather it will be easier to read new posts from others and hope I receive the information I am looking for through them. Thanks to everyone who responded. Your input is appreciated.
Mar 14th, 2003, 08:20 AM
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Dani,
Regarding your request for recommendations of castles: I recommend Dalhousie Castle in Bonnyrigg (about a 20 min. drive from Edinburgh. Their website is http://www.dalhousiecastle.co.uk. I was married there in 2001 and loved the two nights we spent there. The remaining nights we spent in the old town of Edinburgh to be centrally located for all of the sites.
So my recommendation would be to stay in Edinburgh for all nights but one - and then take a taxi to Dalhousie for your last night (then leave for the airport by taxi from there, if that's your last stop). It would be a great way to end your trip!
Regarding your request for recommendations of castles: I recommend Dalhousie Castle in Bonnyrigg (about a 20 min. drive from Edinburgh. Their website is http://www.dalhousiecastle.co.uk. I was married there in 2001 and loved the two nights we spent there. The remaining nights we spent in the old town of Edinburgh to be centrally located for all of the sites.
So my recommendation would be to stay in Edinburgh for all nights but one - and then take a taxi to Dalhousie for your last night (then leave for the airport by taxi from there, if that's your last stop). It would be a great way to end your trip!
Mar 18th, 2003, 12:27 PM
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and another question on hotels in Edinburgh, I decided to splurg a bit and booked the Caledonia which is a Hilton now. Does anyone have any comments on this hotel. I'll probably stay somewhere smaller when we come back to Edinburgh before our flight to Ireland but on our first few nights after the long flight I though it might be nice to get a room with a castle view.
thanks
thanks
