raifordlloyd

Hey there,

I'm in the midst of planning a 5 (possibly 6) night trip to Scotland. I'm well experienced in planning vacations but I must say that Scotland has proven quite tricky!

Any recommendations on how to allocate my time? Edinburgh is a must but I'm having a great deal of trouble figuring out an alternative base (or two) as well as the Highlands' must see sights.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

janisj

Get a guide book or two -- Scotland has MANY scenic regions and all merit a visit. With less than 1 week and wanting to visit Edinburgh, you need to decide which few other places to include.

When?

A rental car or public transport?


The easiest would be to base in Edinburgh and take a 2 or 3 night tour with Rabbies. https://www.rabbies.com/en/tour-scot...from-edinburgh

raifordlloyd

Thanks, @janisj . We'll be taking a rental car.

bilboburgler

What most people do is a few days in E and then hire a car to mooch about the lower bits of the highlands.

If they don't like the idea of driving on the wrong side of a narrow road with the odd sheep on it they let Rabbies take you on a tour.

You could do something different like flying up to Orkney and spending a few days up there. http://visitorkney.com/

janisj

>>We'll be taking a rental car.<<

Great -- but there are still many scenic regions and you need to decide which one you want to visit. If you only want to see a bit of the highlands -- that is a very large area which is why I suggested guidebooks. You say it is 'tricky' - what have you found confusing/tricky? Where have you considered visiting? (and you don't want a car IN Edinburgh)

If you have 5 nights you will only have 4.5 days max. on the ground. (and IF you are flying in long haul you'll have jet lag to deal with for the first day or two.) So with 5 nights/4 or 4.5 days you could spend 2 nights in Edinburgh, then collect a car and head out . . . but where are you arriving in Scotland and where are you departing? Flying in puts you in different starting points than arriving by train. And depending . . it could make more sense to do the rural bits first and finish in Edinburgh - or not.

Give us more details and especially <i>when</i> is this trip -- that can make a huge difference.

raifordlloyd

Thanks again for the help!

Nothing has been booked yet. We'll be travelling from Toronto, Canada. We're experienced travellers and tend to book these things last minute, so I'm not uber concerned about jet lag or the prospect of busy itineraries with lots of driving. We're planning on going in the mid to latter part of this June.

We'll be flying into Edinburgh. From what I gather, 2 nights there seems perfect for us. The only destination my travelling partner says is a 'must see' is Loch Ness (apart from Edinburgh).

I know it's hard to throw around superlatives but it'd be greatly appreciated We're looking for the best of Scotland within our timeframe, i.e. some amazing castles, natural beauty, a nice lunch in a quaint village, etc, etc. If anyone could help us string together a somewhat efficient itinerary, that'd be great.

janisj

>>I know it's hard to throw around superlatives but it'd be greatly appreciated We're looking for the best of Scotland within our timeframe,<<

Well to start with Loch Ness wouldn't be on the list. It is certainly OK but in the scheme of things isn't even in the top 20 of scenic lochs. But if it is a must, you can work out a reasonable itinerary that includes a drive by of Loch Ness and visit to Urquhart Castle.

If you are flying in transatlantic you do not want to drive on arrival. So 2 nights in Edinburgh - good. That only gives you 1.5 days but you can see the basics in that.

Then tram out to EDI to collect your car

>> I'm not uber concerned about . . . busy itineraries with lots of driving<<

Travel in the UK in general and Scotland specifically is not at all like driving in Canada. 'Lots' of driving (meaning car time) doesn't really get you very far. Plan on averaging less than 40 mph and 35mph is pretty typical in the really rural bits. Two straight hours of driving w/o any photo stops or anything will get you less than 80 miles. But generally that 80 miles will have 4 or 5 or a dozen places to stop so it becomes all day.

And the time of your flight out will determine where you need to be the last night. So before you can really work out the driving itinerary, first you need to nail down 1) exactly how many nights, and 2) your time of departure.

Mimar

What airport are you flying out of? (Could be Glasgow.) As well as the time.

Scotland doesn't lend itself to hub and spoke travel, where you always return to the same base. It's a more linear experience.

It's time for you to do some research on the sights in Scotland. We can tell you what we like. But our interests may not align with yours. So look into guidebooks and search the Internet. Here's a place to start: www.fodors.com/world/europe/scotland . When you have narrowed things down, we can help you more.

raifordlloyd

I'm realizing now that the question I really want to ask is: apart from Edinburgh, what other bases would be best for exploring? (i know..broad question, don't shoot me lol) Glen Coe, Skye, Eileen Donan Castle look quite nice, and from what I'm gathering, are the more popular attractions.

Gardyloo

<i>I'm realizing now that the question I really want to ask is: apart from Edinburgh, what other bases would be best for exploring? (i know..broad question, don't shoot me lol) Glen Coe, Skye, Eileen Donan Castle look quite nice, and from what I'm gathering, are the more popular attractions.</i>

With only three or four days available for the Highlands, logistics starts playing a major role. Skye via Eilean Donan Castle and the A87 is pretty much a full day's drive from Edinburgh, and once you're ON Skye you'll come to appreciate that it's one big island, with many of the key visitor destinations quite spread out.

Frankly I'd be more inclined to stay farther south, with a loop something like this - https://goo.gl/maps/a864KRWXQPq - which would get you to some marvelous scenery, a few nice castles and interesting villages, but would lessen the time spent on the road. Loch Ness isn't included (as janisj says, it's reputation outweighs the reality) but there would be (IMO) plenty of offsetting benefits. Instead of Eilean Donan Castle you'd sail past (and could visit) Duart Castle on the Isle of Mull - http://imgur.com/9kd53CN - along with picturesque Tobermory - http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/mull/tobermory/ . And visit the rather grandiose Inveraray Castle (seat of the Campbells) in its namesake town. See prehistoric sites - standing stones, etc. - in Kilmartin, and finish the loop alongside Loch Lomond before returning to Edinburgh.

This would give you a good taste of the Highlands, with plenty of variety, history and beauty, with less driving than a trip to the northwest.

historytraveler

Gardyloo has given you a very good itinerary. Think about it.

BTW, if traveling in June, I think you may find it difficult to secure lodging on Skye. Most places are already fully booked. You may still find something, but it won't be easy.

Also, personally, I much prefer Duart Castle to Eilean Donan.

janisj

>> Glen Coe, Skye, Eileen Donan Castle look quite nice, and from what I'm gathering, are the more popular attractions.<<

'Popular' doesn't really come into it. It is more a matter of where you can manage to get to (and back from) in your short time. First nail down are you talking 5 nights (4.5 days) or 6 nights (5.5 days). You need to do that before anyone can give useful advice.

But even w/ the 6 nights - that will only give you about 4 days total outside of Edinburgh. To go as far as Eilean Donan/Skye you really have to stay a minimum of 2 nights on the island (it takes a full day to get there and a full day to get back so even the 2 nights only gives you one day on Skye which is woefully inadequate.

I sound like a broken record -- you need to get some guide books.

I would not go any farther NW than Glencoe, - otherwise you are just driving.

If it was my trip -- I'd either go east and north (Fife fishing villages, St Andrews, Glamis, Dunottar)

http://www.steadingcottagestandrews....al%20Tower.jpg

http://www.welcometoscotland.com/img...a23d9f98a3.jpg

http://images.fineartamerica.com/ima...on-politte.jpg

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped..._Castle_02.jpg

OR -

Stay central and visit the Trosachs (Glencoe would be at the northern end of this area) Stirling, Inchmahome, Killin/Falls of Dochart

http://nowjakarta.co.id/wp-content/u...ng-Castle1.jpg

http://www.pretentia.com/celticadventure/inchmahome.jpg

http://scotlandinmay.house-of-lynn.c...artFalls.9.jpg

Both of these routes would be MUCH more doable in your short time.

janisj

BTW I <B>LOVE</B> Mull and that would be a good option as well -- but I personally think Kilmartin is less dramatic/scenic than the Trossachs or places like Dunnottar. And Inveraray is interesting but maybe not as much as Glamis or Stirling . . .

Kilmartin is mostly gentle scenery and neolithic sites -- maybe more for a subsequent trip . . .

raifordlloyd

The itinerary sounds great, gardyloo. Thanks!

Appreciate all the help.