Hello all,
I have always gotten great feedback in the past, so I figured I would ask about my next trip.
I would like to plan a trip to Scotland this August. I will have 8 days (excluding travel days)- possibly more. I've been reading posts on here about Scotland, but feel a bit overwhelmed because I'm in the beginning stages of planning. If you have been to Scotland, can you recommend where you have liked to visit and why? Also, any places to stay/eat that I can look into would be helpful as well. With only 8 days, I know I can't do too many different places or the whole country (haha), but would like to get some ideas so that I can plan my itinerary. When we vacation, we enjoy taking our time, trying new foods, and exploring- we like countryside more than city. We would like to see some castles of course, while we are there. My husband enjoys fishing- if anyone has any recommendations on this, let me know. Thanks so much for any suggestions! I love trip planning and so can't wait to hear your ideas!

We spent about a week in Scotland in 2004. Part of our focus was on visting the Scots whisky distilleries along the Spey river. The Spey is a substantial river in which salmon are a favored catch. We arrived in Glasgow by plane by way of London's Heathrow, and stayed overnight, catching the train in the morning and journeying from there to Elgin in the north of Scotland, arriing there in the early afternoon and then taking a local bus south to Aberlour on the Spey. Aberlour is the home of Walker's shortbread cookies. We stayed in Aberlour three nights, then back up north by bus to Elgin abnd east from there to Edinburgh where we stayed three nights before departing south for York.

Of our four European trips, we think this was our best. We ate haggis, Scots salmon and shortbread cookies in Aberlour, saw a couple of distilleries (and sampled their wares), and hiked along the Spey through farmlands for a couple of miles. In Edinburgh, we walked the Royal Mile (seeing Greyfriars' Bobby's grave and statue --if you're familiar with the Disney film) and visited the castle. We also visited the Royal Scots Museum and saw the preserved first cloned sheep, Dolly, and we toured the Royal Scots Art Museum.

If you'd like any more specific references, please let me know.

Speyside would be a good chioce, but you have many other options as well. I love Rannoch Moor which does have good fishing in the nearby lochs, so I'm told.

Here are a few websites for fishing and castles you might look at to get some more ideas as to the possibilities, and I'm sure others will soon be posting their suggestions.

www.visitscotland.com/outdoor
www.where-to-fish.com
www.fishing-uk-scotland.com
www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Is there any sort of fishing you prefer. The east coast rivers are big on fly fishing for salmon and sea trout especially. But places like North Uist are fabulous for rough fishing.

I'm thinking you could stay in Perthshire, or Moray or lots of other places. Can you give us more of a steer? Will you drive?

Hi again!
I have to get back to you on the type of fishing as my husband is not in right now to ask him if there is a type of fishing that he would prefer ( I have no idea about these things). We will definitely drive while there.

Click on my name to find my trip report. It might give you some ideas.

Thank you Michael and everyone else for your replies so far.
I spoke with my husband about fishing. He would prefer not to do fly fishing.

Well, I'd stay away from the Tay, the Tweed and the Spey, then. So, is the focus to be fishing? What else do you like to do or see?

Be aware that August is festival season in Edinburgh. I spent a few days there last August and it was exhilirating. We went to several plays, dance concerts, music concerts, and comedy shows each day. Great fun if that is what you are looking for. The choices are overwhelming.

No, the focus is not just fishing. Maybe 1 day of fishing. We enjoy just getting to know the area and seeing any castles, sights, etc.

Nikki- we would love to see plays and concerts- that sounds like fun.

You are not making this easy

Unless you've booked somewhere, don't try to stay in Edinburgh. It doesn't sound like that was the focus of your trip anyway.

I would suggest you fly into Edinburgh airport if you can, but head straight over the Forth into Fife when you get here. Assuming a bit of jetlag, don't go too far. Kinross seems like a good stopping off place. Kinross is on the banks of Loch Leven which is one of the inland fishing highlights of the whole country. The Green Hotel is lovely If pricey.



You pass Dunfermilne on your left, after you cross over the Forth. Robert the Bruce, the hero king who won Bannockburn is buried here in Dunfermilne Abbey (although his heart is buried at Melrose in the borders); go back onto the main road and you will shortly come to Loch Leven, where Mary Queen of Scots was locked up in the castle on the island (v. romantic..the story of the escape- she then fled to her cousin in England for succour. She locked her up for 20 years then beheaded her.) You can take boat trips from Kinross.

Vane Farm Bird Reserve is on the other side of the Loch.

Next day you could go due east to the coast. There are lots of other nice places, like Ceres, Falkland Palace, the East Neuk villages, Pittenweem, St Monans and Leven - a stretch of picture-postcard little fishing villages, with Anstruther, Crail, etc, leading toward St Andrews. For hiking, there's the Fife Coastal path that runs along the entire coast.

In Anstruther visit the fishing museum, then have the best fish in the world for your lunch (the Cellar restaurant). After that drive along the coast to Largo, home of the 'original' Robinson Crusoe. When Daniel Defoe wrote about Robinson Crusoe, he was writing about a real person. His name was Alexander Selkirk and he came from Largo in Fife. Defoe was an English spy up in Scotland in the 1700' and nicked the story. That area of Fife is well worth a visit

In St Andrews, take a trip underneath the castle in St. Andrews, Fife. It can be a bit of a squeeze so if you are claustrophobic then probably best to pass on this one. John Knox used to live in this castle - also get chance to see the bottle dungeon. St. Andrews has an ancient university, a cathedral and is the home of golf. The Royal and Ancient is seriously worth a visit. It has one of the best beaches in the world- the West Sands, which is where they filmed the opening sequence of Chariots of Fire- shame about the weather- and one of the best ice cream shops in the world (Jannetta's) apart from being a lovely little town. Also shops

Other restaurants in the area which are very good would include the Ostler's Close in Cupar, the Cellar in St Monan's and the Peat Inn at Peat Inn.

Day 3, I think we have to take you right across the middle of the country to the West coast because so much of what is spectacular is there.

Cross the Tay Bridge to Dundee, (Dundee does not have a lot going for it, but it IS improving. There is a lovely little visitor centre based on the boat used by Scott of the Antarctic, the Discovery, which is probably worth a stop. Then cut across country to Glamis Castle, reputed to be Scotland’s most haunted castle, and the place where the old Queen mum was born; then go on to Blairgowrie where you pick up the A93 to Glenshee, and down to Braemar and Deeside. Braemar Castle is worth a stop and, if you feel you have time, turn off the main road to the Linn of Dee and Mar Lodge. Back on Deeside is where Lizzie Windsor has her summer place, much beloved of American tourists. It's also in a beautiful location and therefore worth the visit. Just at Crathie, which is where you will find Balmoral, there's a sign to Royal Lochnagar distillery. It's not the best whisky in the world but there's no such thing as bad malt and it does a good tour.

Come back onto the A93 and continue east a few miles till you see signs pointing left to Tomintoul. Take that road and go over Gairn Shiel to Corgarff- which has a lovely 18th century garrison castle with a star shaped perimeter wall. Turn left towards Cockbridge and up over the Lecht to Tomintoul.

By now, you have crossed two of Scotland's highest roads, and it's not yet tea time. There's a very good whisky shop in Tomintoul (much better than the tourist trap on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh) and, incidentally, there is also a very good wood carver right next door. Depending on how much you have stopped en route, you could stay here, or go down the hill on the other side to Speyside. The Spey is Scotland’s premier salmon river and one of the heartlands of whisky making. It is on the Whisky Trail. If you want to see more, almost every second distillery is open to the public. If you have a favourite, ask at one of the tourist offices if they do a tour and just go along. The Macallan is probably the best Speyside whisky, but Aberlour itself is a good second. Follow the river to Grantown then go up to Nethy Bridge on the south bank. Outside Nethy Bridge you will find Abernethy Forest and Loch Garten which is a huge nature reserve and is worth stopping at to see the Ospreys. Slightly further west is Rothiemurchus estate which has the same attributes and private visitor facilities. The Heatherbrae in Nethy Bridge is OK; and the Auchendean Lodge on the other side of the river, positively good.

Day 4, take the A9 south through Newtonmore and Kingussie. You could have a look at the huge Barracks at Kingussie which is another throwback to Jacobite days, then drive west along Loch Laggan to Spean Bridge and Fort William. Ardverikie, the big estate on Lagganside is where they film Monarch of the Glen. As you come down to the west, the range of mountains on your left, is Scotland’s highest and includes Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest mountain.

You then follow the road to Mallaig, through stunning and changing scenery. First you will come to Glenmositon where Bonnie Prince Charlie raised the clans for the ’45. There is a small visitor centre and a memorial. The viaduct on your right here, is the one used in the Harry Potter films. Further on you pass Arisaig and the silver beaches with the Small Isles visible in the sea to your left.. between Arisaig and Morar is where they filmed the beach parts of Local Hero.

At Mallaig, take the ferry to cross to Skye. Skye is mostly scenery and cultural heritage, rather than history. Stunning mountains, lovely bays and sea lochs. I love the Hotel Eilean Iarmain, but if it’s above your budget for this bit of the trip, there are good places on Skye all over. As you are driving up the Sleat peninsula, take a left and cross the ridge, just to get the terrific panorama of the Cullins at this point.

Day 5 have a look at some of the rest of Skye- Dunvegan castle and the Fairy Flag or Flora Macdonald’s Grave and the Museum of Island Life. You can stop at the Aros centre and see the closed circuit TV of the eagles. The harbour in Portree is very picturesque.

Day 6, aim back south towards Glasgow. It's quite a long drive, but takes you past Ben Nevis, through Glencoe, to Crianlarich, south along Loch Lomondside, and down into the edges of Glasgow. Give the car back

Day 7. Day trip to Edinburgh by train- see shows.

Day 8/ See a wee bit of Glasgow. Train and bus to Edinburgh airport (unless you can arrange to fly out of Glasgow)

Wow! Thanks Sheila!