Scotland Tips
 

Am going to Scotland for a couple of weeks ...Glasgow, Oban, Fort William, Isle of Skye, Iverness, Pitlochry and Edinburg. Anything we positively should not miss? Any good places to eat? Any other recomendations? This is a driving trip so we have a lot of freedom. Thanks!

On that itinerary<BR><BR>Glasgow-the School of Art, the Lighthouse, the People's Palace. Eat in Rogano, Amaryllis, The Koh i Noor.<BR><BR>Oban- go south to Kilmartin Glen; take a boat trip to Iona. Nowhere to eat.<BR><BR>Fort William (Don't GO there!!). Eat in the Crannog.<BR><BR>Skye- the Cuillins, Dunvegan. Eat in the Three Chimneys, Hotel Eilen Iarmain (Isle Oransay)<BR><BR>Inverness (as Fort William but there's nowhere to eat) Culloden outside.<BR><BR>Pitlochry- the Salmon Leap; Eat in the Moulin Hotel<BR><BR>Edinburgh- the Castle, a ghost tour, the National Museum of Scotland. Eat in the Marque; the Marque Central, Martin Wishart's; the Hub<BR><BR>There's a lot more already here if you try the search function

I agree w/ most of Sheila's tips. If you are set on Glasgow go to the places she mentions. Otherwise get out of town in a hurry and see Loch Lomond and Hill House.<BR><BR>Oban -- there isn't much in Obam - nut is thr jumping off point for the ferry to the wonderlands of Mull and Iona.<BR><BR>Fort William - drive through on your way somewhere else.<BR><BR>Skye - EVERYTHING. The places Sheila mentioned plus the Totternish Penninsula, Portree and Glen Brittle.<BR><BR>Inverness - good as a central location to see Culloden, Clava Cairns, Fort George, Urqhhart Castle/Loch Ness, and the Black Isle with its Bottle Nose dolphins. Not much in Inverness itself except for B&amp;Bs and shopping.<BR><BR>Pitlochry - the festival theatre. Otherwise, pretty much a small touristy town.<BR><BR>Edinburgh - EVERYTHING. Sheila's ideas plus Gladstones land, the botanic gardens, Holyrood Palace/Abbey, Arthur's Seat, and the Scottish National Gallery.<BR>

Near Edinburgh:<BR>- The "Maid of the Forth" ferry to Inchcolm Abbey (if the weather is decent). Leaves from S. Queensferry, about 3 miles W of Edinburgh. Great views of the Forth Rail Bridge, Firth of Forth, and several hours on Inchcolm Island.<BR>- Linlithgow Palace. Worth an hour or two, since you'll probably be nearby at some point anyway.<BR>- Stirling. Impressive castle, Argyll's Lodgings, Holy Rood Church, Wallace Monument, Bannockburn if you're into battlefields.<BR><BR>Near Inverness:<BR>- Cawdor Castle. A great "baronial" type castle, with one of the best interiors I've experienced.<BR>- You can take a combination bus/boat tour of Loch Ness from Inverness. The bus drives to Castle Urquhart, and then you return up the loch to Inverness via the Caledonian Canal.<BR><BR>Near Ft William:<BR>- Glen Coe. One of the most scenic places in Scotland, or anywhere else.<BR><BR>

Oban: See the town from the top on a nice day. Walk up the hill to an artificial Roman building. See at least one of the destilleries. There is one in Oban and one in Tobermorry on Mull. To Tobermory you can get by bus. Walk right to the end of the village past a garage and xou can take one of the nicest walks I have ever made. Beautiful landscape and nice sunsets.

Check out AUgust BON APETIT good article on Edinburgh restaurants, even thoughit didn't mention my favorite, MArtin's or the Witchery

Hi Marylou, I read any and all postings about Scotland.....we are going in August. <BR>Jody: Did you have reservations at Martins, I want so badly to go there, have read so much about it! And thanks for the heads up on Bon Apetit. <BR>Judy :-)

Judy: when I went to Martin's we had reservations. It is very small and absolutely wonderful.

Barbara, how did you make them? Should I call from the States? We will be there for Festival and I am sure most good places will be packed......... <BR>Mary lou: I have read rave reviews about Martins and I am dying to go.... also the Mussel Inn sounds good too. I love mussels and scallops, it should be great fun! Judy :-)

Definitely take a boat trip to the island of Iona. You can do something from Oban called (I think) the "Three Islands Tour" - Mull, Iona, Staffa. Fascinating. Hope you enjoy Scotland as much as we did!

Judy- we too had reservtions made them after we got there, but during Festival you may want to book ahead. The phone number I have is <BR>0131-225-3106 <BR>If Cullen Skink (a fish soup is on the menu) try it , it;s the best I've EVER had, and the lemon Polenta cake with apple crumble is right up there too. My husband loves their duck didhes!

Judy; we were there over the Christmas holidays and went to Martin's the day before they closed for their annual vacation (they go skiing!). As you will be there during the Festival, I agree with Jody, make them before you go. They are also very knowledgeable about the wines on their list. When you come back, do post a report to let us know how you enjoyed it!