My husband will be working on the Isle of Skye for 3 months starting in July. I will come with my parents and sister and husband to visit him for two weeks in August (15th-30th)We have booked a self catering house near Stirling for one week. The rest of the time, we were going to stay near Portree with my husband and do day trips out from there.
It is my family's first visit to Scotland and I am elected the tour guide. That first week, they want to see Edinburgh and Stirling and my suggestion is to see St.Andrews and any other site on the East side since the second week we will be so far west(on Skye). We fly into Inverness and fly out of there as well. I have seen quite a few things, this will be my 3rd trip, and want to accomodate their desires of what they would like to see...they are very interested in history and my dad likes boats and maritime history particularly. My sister and brother-in-law love to fly fish. I am a big fan of reading all the Fodors suggestions, and thought I would ask if some of you very experienced Scotland travelers had any suggestions on how to accomodate this particular group's interest...7 days near Stirling and 6 days on Skye. We are renting a van for the entire time.

I enjoyed walking around Edinb. immensely. The castle with its lovely fountain, the Chapel of the Margarets. In town is the Museum of Childhood, fun even if there are no kids in the party. You could get tickets for the key ceremony. I did not do this, but last I knew they were free, but had to be obtained on request in advance. The Queen was in residence at the castle during my visit, so I was able to see The Changing of the Guard up close & personal. I just enjoyed driving the beautiful countryside. Enjoy!

3 months on Skye - how wonderful.

Stirling is really in about the center of the country - not really on the east side.

Being so central you can get just about anywhere as day trip from there. For a day trip to Edinburgh - take the train from either Dunblane or Stirling. Then you don't have to hassle w/ the car in Edinburgh and Waverly station is in the very center of town so you can hit the ground running.

Two things you should definitely check out -- 1) when you go over to St Andrews, also explore the fishing villages. especially Crail and Antruther. Both have wonderful harbors/fishing boats. And Anstruther has the Scottish Fisheries Museum next to the quay. http://www.scotfishmuseum.org/

and 2) the Falkirk Wheel. You can take an excursion boat ride up and over the wheel. http://www.thefalkirkwheel.co.uk/

Where specifically is your rental cottage? You can visit Inchmahome Priory on an island in the Lake of Menteith. Take a picnic - it is a beautiful place to sit and have lunbch w/ swans in the lake, fishermen and the lovely priory ruins. http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.u...ory/index.html

Then you'll be close to Loch Lomond, Perth/Loch Tay/Loch Earn. Killin/the Falls of Dochart. Drummond Castle Gardens http://www.drummondcastlegardens.co.uk/

Thanks so much for the information!
We are staying at a lovely place called Craighead Muckle Howf at Braco. It's near Dunblane and Stirling. Another question...does anyone know if Tatoo tickets are available at the last minute in Edinburgh? I went online and they were completely sold out...but thought if it's like here in the states for an event, there are people who sell tickets elsewhere.
Any suggestions on that? I appreciate any input!

Braco will be a good base for things like Drummond Castle Gardens (a MUST! ) and all of the Trossachs and Perthshire

http://www.drummondcastlegardens.co.uk/

You will be just down the road from Dunblane so you can take the train from there to Edinburgh for a day trip.

Don't count on getting tickets to the Tattoo. You can try some of the re-sale sites like seatwave.com and soldouteventtickets.com - but they will be <u>expensive</u>