I'm not disagreeing. The Fairmont is a VERY nice property if you can afford it. The point I was making is that it caters for a completely different market from the average B&B/Guesthouse sought by the OP.

Unfortunaltely, my 'go to' Guest house in Crail has gone out of the B&B business and converted to a holiday let w/ 7 bedrooms for large groups.

maybe try http://www.selcraighouse.co.uk, or http://www.barnsmuirfarmhouse.co.uk

Janis, if you read the trip advisor review and photos of Barnsmuir Farmhouse, I don't think you'd suggest it. Selcraig house doesn't look too bad though. Perhaps a bit Awaiting a response. Believe me, I'd stay at the Fairmont if I could afford it. I have champagne taste and beer money. Perhaps a bit of 60's frills, but not 100 pounds a night.

You may be right - or not. I don't know this particular B&B (though I will have driven past it at least 20-30 times. But just some thoughts re TA and small B&Bs - especially in rural parts of the UK . . .

I occasionally use TA ratings for hotels but almost never for B&Bs since the sample size is by definition very VERY small.

Many people rate B&Bs as they would a 'posh'/boutique B&B in the States. They are not the same sort of animals . . .

Some lovely/homey (would be called homely in the UK - but that sounds weird to an American) are considered too old fashioned or twee. And a rural farmhouse B&B - while it should be clean, will often be worn around the edges.

re this specific property: I wouldn't base a decision on one review but even at that -- that one review simply doesn't make sense -- he rated it 'average' (3 star), yet only 1 or 2 star for each criteria. And not quite sure how it could be considered 'expensive' when the rates are £25-£30 per night. Not many B&Bs will be less than that.

I do understand. It wasn't the ratings that did it, it was the photos. But not to worry, we'll be staying at the Paddock in Strathkiness. (A very different style than the rest of our very homely accomodations I went into my usual over planning mode when I was thinking about adding in the East Neuk and realized I was doing exactly what I wanted to avoid -- rush rush rush.
So driving from the airport to Strathkiness should be reasonable and then we can spend the day in St. Andrews, walk around, see the cathedral & castle, stroll the beach, MAYBE plan the Himilayas... then we can set out the next morning for Glamis enroute to Dinnet. Maybe a stop at Dunnotar, though probably not a full visit given the scaffolding. I'm feeling good. Sound OK????

Ooops.

<<PLAY the Himilayas!>> I think it's been pretty well planned already!

Sounds fine.

Looks like a nice/modern place and it is in a good location for a quick getaway the next morning. It really is too bad you don't have 2 nights there - for the fishing villages/Falkland, etc. But one can't do everything on every trip. You will love Glamis.

Oh, I know. Deep sigh. I was soooo close to booking in Crail and then stopped myself. Can't. Do. Everything. Must. Stop.

Now the whole route is planned and I can go back to obsessing over restaurants! Yahoo.

I tried to post another thread, but it doesn't show up. Doing something wrong. Yet more questions for you all.

1. Best Skye routes:
Currently planning on driving to Skye from Nairn...taking the southern route down Loch Ness so we can see Castle Urquhart and Eilean Donan, Glenfinnan...where best to stop for lunch?The one restaurant I see consistently is Fidler's. Is that the best option?

I know that Loch Ness is not the top site any of you would recommend. Is the northern route really that much more scenic? And if yes, where would you stop for a lunch/snack? If we change to take the northern route, would you detour to Plockton for the view to Skye?

When we return from Skye (3 days later), we'll take the ferry, stop at the Arsaig beach for a bit, stop in Glen Coe on our way to the Lake of Menteith area.

2. Is it realistic to combine a morning at Stirling Castle and an afternoon at Drummond Castle gardens? And suggestions for lunch/dinner in that area. Brea looks good. Other ideas?

Sorry to plague you. I promise I will give you a good trip report when all is said and one.

>>I tried to post another thread, but it doesn't show up. Doing something wrong. <<

Click on your name and it will bring up your other threads...

Yes, so just not inspiring any comments.
(Still, if I search on "Scotland" it doesn't show up!)

The search function has never worked properly. You can bring up all UK posts by selecting United Kingdom in the "View by Country" drop-down menu at the top of the page (there's no "Scotland" tag yet, but will hopefully be one once independence arrives )

Yeah, Scotland will gain a tag on Fodors. Never mind if it will be bad for the country, it's the Fodors tag that matters. LOL

not going to happen