Scotland Itinerary - 6 days

Old Mar 12th, 2003, 06:02 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Scotland Itinerary - 6 days

Taking the ferry from Belfast to Troon in Scotland. I have 6 nights in Scotland.
-First 2 nights we will be in Edinburgh. We're set here.

-I'm thinking of then heading to the northeast for 2 nights. I very much want to explore the hills (hiking, exploring the countryside are likes of ours). Any thoughts on staying in Aberdeen or Bellater would be appreciated. I get the sense that Bellater is expensive. Where would you stay in the Northeast?

-Then 2 nights in and around the Trossachs, and Argyll before heading back to Troon for the ferry back to Belfast. I am open to doing 1 night near the Trossachs and 1 night closer to Troon to catch a morning ferry.

I would appreciate any suggestions re:
Itinerary
Places to stay
Off the beaten path gems to see

Thank you
JED27 is offline  
Old Mar 12th, 2003, 10:59 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,159
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Ballater's not that expensive, but for proximity to the hills, you'd be better in Braemar, or on the other side of the Cairngorms in Nethy Bridge or Coylumbridge.

Aberdeen put an hour and a half drive onto the start and end of every day. (Having once got food poisoning RIGHT at the top of Ben Macdui, I can tell you the details of every one of those minutes.....).

"The Trossachs and Argyll" don't really go together in the same breath. I'd advise picking one or the other. A good option might be the Drover's Inn, half way up Loch Lomond. You could do the Arrochar Alps from there and take a run over the Rest and be Thankful into Argyll, if that's the way the mood takes you. It's also not a bad run down the west side of Glasgow and over the Erskine Bridge to Troon
sheila is offline  
Old Mar 14th, 2003, 08:36 AM
  #3  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thank you so much Sheila.
Do you have any recommendations of places to stay in/around Braemar, Nethy Bridge, or Coylumbridge?
Am I focusing on the right areas to get some great natural scenery?

JED27 is offline  
Old Mar 14th, 2003, 09:58 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,159
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Callater Lodge or the Fife Arms in Braemar

The Heatherbank in Nethy Bridge (there's a great place on the other side of the river, near Dulnain Bridge-name escapes me, but I'll look it up if you want. What sort of budget?
sheila is offline  
Old Mar 14th, 2003, 05:36 PM
  #5  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Per night budget - trying to stay under 80 GBP
JED27 is offline  
Old Mar 14th, 2003, 05:41 PM
  #6  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Actually, under 70 GBP/night...
JED27 is offline  
Old Mar 15th, 2003, 01:04 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,159
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
OK. Definitely Callater Lodge and (my brain must be going soft) the Heatherbrae. the others are too dear
sheila is offline  
Old Mar 15th, 2003, 12:16 PM
  #8  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
OK. I think it's time to do some cuts. I'm refocusing to cut down on excess driving and make the most of a smaller area.
Here's the replan:
Day 1-Arrive Edinburgh in evening
Day 2-Edinburgh
Day 3-Morning in Edinburgh, then to the Loch Tay area and stay in Aberfeldy, Killin or Dunkeld (help). Make sense?Suggestions?
Day 4-Drive along Loch Rannock on B846. And do some exploring around there. Stay in same place as previous night.
Day 5-Head south to the Trossachs and spend next two nights there. Perhaps Drover's Inn.
Day 6-Head to Troon to catch morning ferry back to Belfast.

Does this sound logical? Any suggestions to help fill in the gaps are most appreciated.
JED27 is offline  
Old Mar 16th, 2003, 03:32 AM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,159
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Why does this always happen to my beloved Deeside?

What yo propose sounds fine and to do the middle bit you should base yourself in Aberfeldy or Kenmore. The Ailean Craggan at Weem does really nice food and the Kenmore Hotel, where Burns scratched his name on the window pane is very historic.

have a great trip
sheila is offline  
Old Mar 16th, 2003, 04:21 AM
  #10  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thank you sheila. I have all of your recommendations in my notes!
Deeside was a very tough pull, but I am always fearful of trying to do too much, which I would regret in hindsite.
Next trip for Deeside!
JED27 is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
czk
Europe
8
Apr 30th, 2008 01:15 PM
scotteve
Europe
5
Jun 20th, 2007 10:18 PM
3mkids
Europe
8
Jun 5th, 2006 07:53 AM
virginiarose
Europe
40
Feb 21st, 2006 01:50 PM
Lashan
Europe
4
Jan 27th, 2006 01:26 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -