Scotland Questions
 

Hello Fodorites,

A couple of questions about our upcoming trip to Scotland. We are spending 19 days on the trip from NC in the US. We arrive EDI on May 30th, will go to Skye with a night out. Then it's 2 nights in Skye at Achalochan House B & B. Then we go to Orkney, but with a night out in between. We have 2 nights on Orkney at Avalon House. Then we have 2 nights unplanned before spending 7 nights in our timeshare at Moness Country Club in in Aberfeldy. We'll spend that week traveling around the middle of the country. We end with 3 nights in Edinburgh staying at The Victorian Townhouse. Of course we'll ditch the car upon arrival in Edinburgh.

So here's my questions.

1. Does this seem reasonable?
2. Any suggestions for the first night. We arrive at EDI at 10am and would need to pick up our hire car the head towards Skye. We were thinking of staying near Ft. William. This would only give us maybe 3 or 3 1/2 hours of driving that first day.
3. Any suggestions for the drive from Skye to the Gill's Bay ferry terminal. We'd want to catch the 9:45 ferry to St. Margarets Hope. This would give us almost 2 days to make this trip and we're unsure what to see enroute. We like to hike, see castles and scenery, etc.
4. Any suggestions for car hire that won't bankrupt us (be gentle please; we're suffering with US dollars). We'd want to not have to go back to EDI to dispose of the car. Perhaps there is a place in Edinburgh to drop off the car.

We have perhaps several dozen more questions to ask, but maybe I should stop here for now. I really appreciate any help and suggestions.

Marty

For car hire, try Arnold Clark, http://www.arnoldclarkrental.co.uk/. I have had good success with them in the past. They do have a small charge if you return the car to a different location but, for me, that was still cheaper than other options.

Mary:
Here is my trip report from last May/June. Hope it will give you help or ideas. I can't help much with the Orkney part of your trip but I think Skye is one of the most beautiful places on earth.
You are going to love Scotland. All the best.
d1
http://fodors.com/forums/pgMessages...._name=d1carter

Sorry, Marty, I mistyped your name...

dl Carter,

No problem. I'll answer to anything. How about "Hey You".
Marty

<<< We arrive EDI on May 30th, will go to Skye with a night out. >>>

Transatlantic flight, arriving 5:00am NC time, unfamiliar car, driving on the "other" side of the road, unfamiliar roads and you want to do a five hour drive.

Probably not a good idea.

I hear you Alan. Thea.com lists the driving time at 3 hours. But, it might be better to stop somewhere earlier. I have driven in the UK before and am somewhat familiar with driving on the wrong side of the road ;-)

Any suggestions for a nice stop a bit earlier the first day?

I would go no farther than Callander/Stirling - and even that might be a stretch. Not because it is a hard drive -- it isn't. But because you simply won't know what condition you are in until you get there. (If it is a horrible, sleepless flight you probably shouldn't drive at all.)

I'd aim for Callander for the first night, but stay near EDI if you find yourselves blotto . . . . .

Try Autoeurope for a car quote and then compare it to others like Arnold Clark. AE is a broker that handles many different companies and often has the best rates - but not always.

For your 2 day drive from Skye - you have enough time to take the long way around and see Inverewe Gardens and tons of gorgeous scenery. You will have daylight really late, so you can drive quite a distance. The only thing along the route w/ opening hours that you'd need to time is Inverewe. Otherwise - the scenery never closes . . . . .

<<< Thea.com lists the driving time at 3 hours >>>

Using theaa.com I get 3h45m to Mallaig & 4h24m to Skye Bridge - the only 2 entry points to Skye that I know of - and you've still got to get to wherever your hotel is.

Care to say which route theaa came up with?

I generally add at least a third on to AA door to door timings anyway - before breaks.

Can I just add my 2 cents worth. We had a week in Scotland last year with a hire car and found it took us a lot longer to get places than we thought it would. There was traffic banked up because of roadworks (sat for half an hour once), narrow, windy roads with nowhere to pass slow vehicles, stopping for photos takes time, getting lost, etc. Add this into your calculations.
Kay

As I just mentioned on another thread, expecting to do no more than 35 miles an hour is a useful rule of thumb for most journeys in the UK.

Alan, & Others.

I was calculating the 3, 3 1/2 hours to Ft. William, not to Skye. We defiantly will not go all the way to Skye on the first day. We're already convinced to go a shorter distance that day. I think we'll play it by ear that day and see how we feel and how we're progressing. It might be nice to stop and "smell the flowers" along the way.

Thanks so much for the feedback. Love to have more.

I think the general shape of the trip is good. Congartulations for doing something not normal.

I think the guys are right about the first day. And I think you're right too. Play it by ear, and stop when you're tired.

Janis's route for your trip from Skye to Orkney is good. If it were me, I'd try to stay somewhere about Scourie in the middle night.

Feel free to come back with as many questions as you like.

Maybe think about Deeside for the 2 spare nights.

Janis/Shiela & Others.

Thanks so much for the advice. I think we feel we're in good shape. We're thinking of staying 2 nights in our B & B in Orkney (Avalon House) and then maybe staying on the ferry for the 3rd night. I understand you can reserve a cabin the night before for the Stromness/Scrabster 06:30 ferry. That would give us a nights accomodations for only 33 pounds and we'd have an extra day on Orkney and still arrive on the mainland by 9am or so.

Anyone have any advice on the Orkney Ferries? I note that the Gills/St. Margaret ferry is a bit cheaper than the Stomness/Scrabster one.

I assume this trip is partially driven by your timeshare stay. Otherwise, I'd put the stay in Edinburgh at the front of your trip rather than the end. Cities are better for recovering from jetlag; lots of things to see, lots of activity throughout the day.

Have you taken jetlag into account? It's not just loss of sleep from an uncomfortable overnight flight; it's a 5-hour reset of your internal clock.

AFAIR, there aren't any of the one-lane-with-pullouts roads in your first day's drive. Have you driven those before?

It's fairly easy to get from EDI to the city itself.

The Ferry to Stromness is on a boat more like a cruise ship and takes slightly longer than the St Margarets Hope ferry. You can overnight on the boat in Stromness. We've done this and it was very comfortable and we got an early start next morning after a good breakfast.

We are also big fans of the St Mgts Hope - Gills Bay ferry. It is quicker and does pass some lovely sights on the crossing.

However, on a rough day make sure you have a sick bag handy!

Have you checked the visit Orkney web site? (www.visitorkney.com/)

Just had to say, we stay at the Moness too! Love seeing the morning fog lift to reveal the beautiful scenery, following the path into Aberfeldy for steak pie at the Black Watch Inn, and buying scones and cheeses at the little COOP for breakfast in our cottage. Would you mind telling us if the restaurant by the reception desk has improved any?

Enjoy your trip!

Hey you Marty!
I was in Scotland for about 10 days a couple years ago. I only spent one night on mainland Orkney, took the Gill's Bay ferry. Absolutely loved it! I think you're doing the right thing to allow for at least 2 nights there. After getting off the ferry I reached the tourist office in Kirkwall JUST before they closed to find out about the tide tables. Was able to drive directly over to the Brough of Birsay - one of my favorite memories. I posted a trip report on trip advisor; if you're interested search "tumblingweed" in the forums there. As well as some other Scottish locations. Hope you have a great trip. You know yourself best, and have driven in the UK before, but I didn't find it difficult to drive over there, not especially slow - like any 2 lane or single track road. And I guess I'm fortunate but I don't get jet lag either!