Scotland Itinerary Help
 

My husband and I (50ish) will be in Scotland for 10 days in mid April. Looking for some help to fill in the schedule. We will have a car and like hiking (moderate), scenery, some castles and ruins. Would rather stay rural vs city. I know I need to be realsitic about the roads but hard to tell what I am getting into through Google Map. Here is what we have so far:

Fri/Sat/Sun--Edinburgh--we are visiting our son who is a student there so he is in charge of the tour for that part.

Monday--drive up to Glencoe. Stirling castle along the way--other ideas? Looking at Lios Mhoire B&B.

Tues--not sure where to stay this night. Between Monday and Wed would be interested in Glen Coe or Glen Etive also Loch Ness just to say we saw it.

Wed--Isle of Sky--looking at the Loch Bay B&B

Friday--Oban--open for lodging recommendations in this area.

Sat-Glasgow to tour on Sunday before our return Sunday night to Edinburg for a early Mon flight.

Just one quick comment . . . Either drop Skye, or add at least one additional night there. 2 additional nights would be even better. From wherever - Skye takes time to get to. Then when you are on the Isle -- the roads are slow. Just from the bridge to Portree takes about an hour. The most scenic bits take even longer. So basically, one night on Skye is only a 'check it off a list' sort of visit.

(I like the AA route planner myself -- but which ever mileage calculator you use, add 25% to 50% to the drive times. More in some of the rural areas because the roads are narrow. Getting stuck behind one slow caravan [travel trailer] or one flock of sheep and you may be sitting)

Sorry--should have had Wed and Thurs on Isle of Skye. Ideas on somewhere to stay between Glencoe and Isle of Skye to make that trip easier?

It's only about 60 miles or 95 kilometers between Glencoe and Mallaig, where the ferry leaves for Skye. It's the Road to the Isles, a famous and beautiful route. Or were you planning to take the bridge from Kyle of Lochalsh?

I was thinking the bridge one way and the ferry the other.

"<i>Ideas on somewhere to stay between Glencoe and Isle of Skye to make that trip easier?</i>"

"<i>I was thinking the bridge one way and the ferry the other.</i>"

No reason to stop over either to or from Skye. Either the bridge or the ferry are a short enough drive not to need a break.

And to explain the seeming contradiction between my two posts . . That it takes time to get to Skye, but that one doesn't to stop over enroute. Depending where you are starting from, say Inverness or Glencoe, getting to Skye takes about 2 or 2.5 hours respectively. Those are drive times w/o stops. So realistically about 3-ish hours w/ photo ops etc. Time, but not 'stop-over-required time' IMO.

We stayed at this place in Oban for 3 nights: http://www.kilchrenanhouse.co.uk/index.html

We got a room with a bay window facing the harbour. It was within walking distance of town and the ferry which we used twice to go to Mull.

MCHS:

When it comes to Scotland, you can depend on Janis's advice 100 % ! She helped us a lot in planning our trip, which we enjoyed very much.

Check out my web page on our trip. Maybe it will help you in your planning.
http://www.travel.stv77.com/scotland/scotland.htm

I'm very biased but do two nights on Skye. Hiking at the Quiraing and Storr are amazing and "moderate." Good guides through walkhighlands.co.uk
Suggested base would be Staffin/Flodigarry

If not spend two nights somewhere to allow hiking and check Scotland's Code of Access it is quite revealing on where you can go!
http://www.outdooraccess-scotland.com/

"<i>When it comes to Scotland, you can depend on Janis's advice 100 % !</i>"

Well, maybe 99% :)

Thanks sssteve, happy I could help . . .

1. Don't take a car whilst you're in Edinburgh

2. Not sure what you're looking to do after Glencoe, I wouldn't go backwards if I were you. Ardnamurchan is beautiful. Although if you're only doing 1 day in Skye you might want to go straight there. It is worth the extra day. Glencoe to Skye dies not need an overnight somewhere. If you want one, I'd go to Arisaig