Scotland Must-Sees?
 

My husband and I will be taking our honeymoon in Scotland this coming August. We'll be flying into London for a couple of days, flying up to Edinburgh (already reserved accommodation) then renting a car and driving around Scotland. This is where we need your help -- what should we see? What should we do? We have pretty much no concept of an itinerary.

We have 10 days (excluding Edinburgh). Our interests include spectacular scenery, good restaurants and local food, Scotch, history, picturesque towns and interesting shopping, some museums, and of course romance romance romance!

I can only speak (obviously) about the areas that I have seen (mainly confined to the south and middle of Scotland). I was thrilled with the following places:
1 Dollar Castle with its romantic wooded walk and then the eventual but unforgettable view of the castle.
2 Stirling Castle.
3 South Queensferry (Edinburgh)and the ferry trip over to the romantic small island of Inchcolm with its ruined Abbey.
4 Seil Island and eskdale (not really an island) you drop down from Oban to it. For me, the most magical and atmospheric drive by car, which passes the bridge over the atlantic and its famous pub. If you get over this way (West Coast) try and stay at the Falls of Lora (not expensive) but must be one of the most quaint and romantic B&Bs in the UK.
There are many other great places - you'll be spoilt for choice. Have a great trip.
Steve

Thanks Steve! That's exactly the kind of information I'm looking for. We've never been outside of Edinburgh, so we're looking for all sorts of ideas. I definitely want to visit Skye, or Mull, or both, so the Falls of Lora might be a good start.

Glencoe is a must. The scenery is awe-inspiring, and the story of what happened at Glencoe gives me chills.

Kilmartin is fabulous if you like ancient history. Stone circles, cairnes, carvings that are 5000 years old!

I enjoyed Inverarry Castle, although my husband thought it was boring. I think the town is quite charming, with really nice people.

Of course, that's the best thing about Scotland the people -- especially away from the big cities.

I love the Isle of Mull. If you take the ferry to Mull, don't spend a lot of time in touristy Tobermory, but drive to the other side. However, Duart Castle, is worth a photostop -- nothing to see inside -- and Torosay Castle ( not really castle at all) has the most beautiful gardens!

The further north and west you go, the more beautiful it gets. If they've had some rain, the heather will be out in August, covering the hills in purple flowers. Gorgeous. Enjoy!

What a romantic place for a honeymoon! But beware of the midges!!(Scottish version of mosquito). For spectacular scenery drive over to west coast via Stirling to Loch Lomond and up the coast (A83, A816) to Oban (distileries on the way) over the moors & along lochsides. Stop at Loch Fyne smokehouse for lunch (book advisable) best smoked salmon in the world! Stay on the Crinnin Canal north of Lochgilhead romance++. Food superb. On up to Fort William and over to Skye.Travel back over the A82 Rannoch Moor and Glencoe down to Glasgow. Lots to see and do for romance (visit Govan church with bones of St Valentine!). Have a wonderful trip. I've lived around the world but here is home in 'God's own country'.
Janet

Would like to add my suggestions to the list ...

East Neuke of Fife - an easy day's excursion from St. Andrews and especialy accessible if you have a car. This has to be one of the most picturesque coastal areas in Scotland. The villages I love to visit are Crail and Anstruther but the village of Pittenweem is absolutely beautiful. I am not exaggerating when I say I burned up over two rolls of film in Pittenweem alone - bright coloured fishing boats at low tide with the red tiled homes all on the edge of the sea - it really is a beautiful beautiful area with the coast line varying between sand and rock. (The 'kirk' in the village of St. Monance is literally on the edge of the sea and another breathtaking sight.)

The village of Stonehaven on the eastern coast is another quaint village on the sea but I don't know of too many people who 'tour' the northeast area of Scotland (unless they are heading towards Aberdeen). That area has a definite 'industrial feel' but Stonehaven and some of the smaller villages have retained its character. Still, if you happen to be in the area I highly recommend a visit to Stonehaven and Dunnottar Castle. It is built out on a rocky headland and the walk out to the castle is awesome.

I concur about Glencoe - the day we arrived it was misty and cloudy (imagine that!) and the photo I took of 'The Three Sisters' reflects the sadness of the area.

On our last trip to Scotland we stopped at a sporting goods store and purchased repellant in the event we came across midge's ... wish I could remember the name of it. I do remember the word 'Jungle' was part of the name ... it was very effective.

Congratulations and best wishes to you both

Dunnottar and Tantallon castles...amazingly beautiful and romantic.

We drove from Nairn to Skye via Wester Ross and the Torridons and it was absolutely spectacular. Incredibly remote, with nothing but you, mountains, and sheep. (and waving at the occassional car coming the other way on the one-track road).

Here's a route suggestion that takes in most of what has been suggested (but not all).

East Coast

Drive north over the Forth Bridge (you could, of course, do this the night before so you are not trying to get out of Edinburgh in the rush hour) Start at Kinross and Loch Leven, where Mary Queen of Scots was locked up in the castle on the island- by this time sheyll seem like an old friend. Cut east and come to the coast about Leven, then drive north along the coast road, visiting the fishing villages and stopping slightly longer at St Andrews. Cross the Tay to Dundee and go and visit Captain Scottys boat the Discovery. Drive northwest to Glamis and visit the castle. Then come up to Blairgowrie (if you like, stopping in Kirriemiur, the home of JM Barrie, who wrote Peter Pan) and then drive through Glen Shee to Braemar. Stay overnight somewhere between Braemar and Crathes. This is Royal Deeside. You can visit Balmoral so long as the family is not at home,(they arrive mid-August) but there are lots of other castles, if they are. Braemar castle itself is good, and you could take an evening run up to the Linn of Dee for a stroll round the lower reaches of the Cairngorms in a beautiful pine forest.

Speyside

Next day drive up through Gairnshiel to Cockbridge. Corgarff Castle is worth a stop; then drive over the Lecht to Tomintoul, which claims to be Scotlandys highest village. There is a Whisky Shop here which is worth waiting for, for your whisky purchases. Retrace your steps a few hundred yards to where the road comes down from the Lecht and go on to Dufftown. This is the start of the whisky trail. Pick a distillery, any distillery..... Actually they do not all do tours, but lots do. Glenfiddich is pretty naff as malt whiskies go, but it does have nifty tour. Your route should then be Craigellachie, Aberlour, Grantown along the mighty Spey. Then go up to Nethy Bridge and visit the Osprey Centre at Loch Garten. The road then goes past Rothiemurchus, which is worth stopping at, and hits the main north road at Aviemore, which is NOT my favourite town in the Highlands. It does have a stunning setting and a lot of shops. Then hightail it past Inverness, pausing only to count the bridges over the river (see Brahan Seer, for reference), and find somewhere to lay your weary head. The Connon Hotelys not bad and quite cheap.

Northern Highlands

From Inverness take a turn through the Black Isle and visit Rosemarkie for its sculpted pictish stones, and Cromarty and the courthouse, then come north to Tain. We have a silversmith there who does lovely work in modern style based on ancient designs. Highly recommended. Come north to Dornoch with its cathedral, Golspie and Ben Braggie and see the yManniey and then Dunrobin Castle. Go to Helmsdale and north through Kildonan, and see if you can get all the way without weeping (reference the Highland Clearances.) Iyve missed out Thurso and Wick, which are old very parochial towns with a strong Norse influence. Itys not much of a detour if you want to do them, too. From Melvich, at the top of the Kildonan road, come west to Tongue. You might want to stop about here.

Next day pass Hope and Durness, and if you feel adventurous take the 11 mile detour up to Cape Wrath, Scotlandys most north west point. Come down through Kinlochbervie and Scourie, which is stunning; then down through Assynt, with its interesting local history, to just north of Ullapool. Lots of lovely mountains and sea and island views.

West Coast

Next day meander down the beautiful west coast of Scotland, from Ullapool to Dundonnell to Poolewe (side trip to Mellon Udrigle) to Gairloch; down through Torridon and right round the Applecross peninsula; over the Bealach nam Bo to Lochcarron. Come round Lochcarron and pitch your tent at Plockton or Kyle of Lochalsh for the overnighter. You are looking over the Sound of Skye to Skye and the views are stunning. That route is mainly scenery.

Just south of Kyle is Eilean Donan castle, then you come through Kintail, with the Five Sisters above you, to Cluanie then on to Fort William. From Fort William come on south to Ballachulish and take a side trip into Glen Coe, the notorious and beautiful Glen of Weeping (Jacobite history refers). Come back to the main road south and drive on into Oban. Pause for shopping. The aim here is to get to Tarbert for bedtime, because you should be on the early ferry out of Kennacraig next morning. Itys another 45 miles- maybe an hour without stopping and you should stop for Kilmartin Glenys antiquities including Dunadd, and the Crinan Canal. Stay in Tarbert or the West Loch Hotel.

Islands

Catch the early ferry to Islay. Distilleries (8 plus the one on Jura) beaches, wildlife (including midges) lovely villages, Gaelic culture. Nice hotels and B&Bs, the headquarters of the Lords of the Isles. Norse place names from Viking times, great walks and great pubs. The Lochside in Bowmore, claims over 300 whiskies in stock. The idea is to take it easy these 2 days. Take the little ferry to Jura and maybe even the landrover trip to the north of the island to see the Corrievreckan whirlpool (book at the Jura Hotel). Go and visit the house where George Orwell wrote 1984 (if youyre hardy). And if you donyt come back in love with the place, Iyll be a dutchman.

Central Highlands

This is just to give you a taste of the middle on your way to Glasgow. Catching the ferry out at 9.25am will get you back on the mainland about 11.30am. Drive up to Lochgilphead then round to Inverary, which is worth a stop for the Jail and the planned village and even the castle.

Then you go up Loch Awe to Dalmally and east to Tyndrum, Crianlarich and at Lix, you turn off to Killin. Take the road along the north side of Loch Tay and stop for lunch in the Kenmore Hotel, where Robbie Burns scratched his name in the glass of a window. In the afternoon drive on west through Aberfeldy to Dunkeld and stop in the Square, which is owned by the National Trust. Go and see the cathedral. Then get back in the car and hightail it to Glasgow. Since you pass Stirling you might want to stay there and see the castle and Bannockburn in the morning. You are about 40 minutes drive from Glagow.

Glasgow

That leaves you with most of 2 days for Glasgow. Ditch the car when you get there, and use the train if you need to get back to Edinburgh. Glasgow is full of good cultural stuff and great shopping, and I can give you some specific recommendations if you like.

This wil take you to places many of your compatriots don't manage, is hugely romantic, stunning is the weather is good and pretty good even if it's not.