Diana

I should have mentioned that our flight from Aberdeen does not leave until 1:15 the following afternoon, so we will have a little time that morning. <BR><BR>

janis

Diana: Either route would be wonderful. And Ballater is a nice area right on the river.<BR><BR>But from Dufftown to Deeside to Aberdeen would take much longer. It is still a doable route, but you will be more rushed. There is no direct route from Dufftown down to the Dee so you would have to either 1) take the B9009 down Glen Rinnes and then a very minor road to the A939 to Corgarff Castle and on into Ballater. Or 2) The A941 to Rhynie and the A97 to Kildrummy Castle and south to the Dee just east of Ballater.<BR><BR>These are both beautiful routes - but very remote and winding roads. <BR><BR>If you plan on stopping at all the places you mention enroute then the Huntly stop will be an easier drive. But if you want to see Corgarff or Kildrummy and the Dee you could go that way.<BR><BR>Huntly &gt; Aberdeen and Ballater &gt; Aberdeen are both easy drives - but there will be more holiday traffic along the Dee so it will be slower.

Cindy

Bill: I just looked up the Woodston Fishing Station site, and it looks dreamy! Sheila, I also looked at the wonderful picture of Dunnottar Castle. So now I'm wondering...I have one (just one!) free night in Scotland. Unfortunately, I'll be leaving from Iona (the other side of the country!) and heading in the direction of Edinburgh. Mappy.com says that Dunnottar is about 4 hours away from Oban. Would I be crazy to try and spend the night at Woodston Fishing Station, see Dunnottar the next day, and then head down to Edinburgh (three nights)? Another option I'm looking at is Borthwick Castle, but they're pretty pricey, and not on the ocean. (On the other hand, I will have been on the ocean, more or less, in the Western Isles for two weeks -- is the landscape around Aberdeen just more of the same?) Thanks!

janis

Cindy: Dunnottar is one of my favorite places in Scotland. BUT it simply does not make any sense to spend the night on Iona and then the next night in Aberdeenshire enroute to Edinburgh.<BR><BR>From Iona you will need to take the ferry to Mull, then drive across Mull (not a fast drive), catch a ferry to Oban and drive all the way across the country. Could you do it? yes. Should you? NO.<BR><BR>There are hundreds of beautiful places in Scotland and Dunnottar is just one of them. Be satisfied with what you can see on your route and forget about all the places just out of reach. On your route to Edinburgh you can see Kilchurn Castle, and Killen and other lovely places. I would take my time and stay that free night somewhere near or west of Stirling.<BR>

Cindy

Janis: As always, you give great advice! It just looks SO cool! By the way, we just finished watching Rob Roy to whet our appetite for the Highlands. Now I need to do a search to see where most of it was filmed (it just said Scotland and Ireland), and if any of it is true! Any thoughts on Culcreuch Castle?

Sheila

Cindy, I wholly concur with Janis's view. You'd be nuts to do that.<BR><BR>I know you leave tomorrow, and knowing te rest o your itinerary, I'd be inclined to suggest you go pretty much due east from Oban, where the fery docks, along Loch Tay and then keep sort of following the river east. Stop where-ever takes your fancy; and if no-where does (heaven forfend), when you reach Dundee go south into Fife and stay somewhere in the East Neuk- Anstruther or Pittenweem or Crail or somewhere- all totally in contrast to where you've just come from.<BR><BR>Incidentally, I wouldn't answer any Trivial Pursuit questions based on what you saw in the Rob roy movie (which I loved too) but here's the location information<BR><BR>http://www.scotlandthemovie.com/movies/frobroy.html<BR><BR>Having hi-jacked Diane's thread, and in response to her question, I think your new plan is a good one.<BR><BR>I would do, Skibo- Culloden (c 60 miles-good roads, say 1 1/4 hours)<BR>To be honest I'd miss out Elgin unless you really want to go to Johnston's- I rate the shopping above the tourism.<BR><BR>Culloden to Nairn to Grantown (30 miles-less good roads, say 50 minutes)<BR><BR>Grantown- Tomintoul- Cockbridge- Bridge of Gairn- Ballater (40 miles- some tiny roads say 1 1/2 hours) minor detours will get you good distilleries, you pass Corgarff Castle, you cross the highest pass in scotland, the Lecht, great scenery of all sorts. You come down onto Deeside 6 miles from Balmoral, and the valley is dotted with castles and prehistoric sites.<BR><BR>The Balgonie gets a good name, and I wouldn't put you off, but you might want to have look at the Glen Lui hotel in Ballater, which i do know and recommend, or the Loch Kinnord in dinnet which is also very good. Both have web sites.<BR><BR>Hope this helps.<BR>(cthen south to the Royal Deeside area, perhaps staying in Ballater at Balgonie House. Is anyone familiar with that? And after going through Dufftown what route should we take to Ballater? Or are we planning too long a trip for one day and should we instead stay in Huntly as Janis suggested and skip the Royal Deside area?<BR>

Cindy

Great website, Sheila! Can't wait to see it all for real. Thanks for the advice about Oban to Edinburgh. I like the idea of Pittenweem or thereabouts!

Sheila

Cindy I had an email a few minutes ago from Frank who knows about the Outer Isles.<BR><BR>I suggested he might be able to get you some stuff about Barra and Eriskay. Given your departure date you might like to post a quick question to him sharpish

Cindy

Thanks, Sheila!

Diana

After a week of consideration of all of the wonderful information so many of you have so kindly shared, we have a revised itinerary for our late August, early September trip to Scotland and Ireland. If there are any additional suggestions we would welcome them!<BR><BR>Day 1: Arrive at London Heathrow early am and fly on to Glasgow where we pick up a car. Go to Strathblane for an overnight visit with relatives.<BR>Day 2: Drive via Loch Lomond, Glencoe, Fort William to Mallaig, take ferry to Isle of Skye. (Will we be able to see Ben Nevis en route from Glencoe to Fort William or is that a detour, and if so is that worth doing and how long would that take?) Upon arrival at Armadale, proceed to Kinloch Lodge where we will stay for two nights (Sheila, Eilean Iarmain was fully booked and, upon our request for a suggestion for alternative lodging, advised that we try to get reservations at Kinloch Lodge - we got the last two rooms available there!)<BR>Day 3: Tour Isle of Skye, driving up through Portree to the Totternish Peninsula, Dunvegan Castle and gardens, Talisker Distillery, then on the way back to Sleat a stop at the Sligachan Hotel and at least a look at the Cuillins, or, if time and weather permit, a walk there.<BR>Day 4: If it works into our schedule, a morning boat trip from Elgol, then drive across the bridge to Kyle of Lochalsh, then to Eilean Donan, then north by way of Plockton, Stromeferry, Strathcarron, Achnasheen, and Dingwall to Skibo for afternoon and evening pre-wedding festivities.<BR>Day 5: Wedding at Skibo (no, not a relative of Madonna!)<BR>Day 6: Drive by way of Inverness, perhaps stopping at the Visitor Center, then to Culloden, Clava Cairns, perhaps Brodie and/or Cawdor, then to Nairn and from there via the route Sheila suggested to the Deeside area, staying either at Glen Lui Hotel in Ballater or Lys-na-Greyne House in Aboyne.<BR>Day 7: Visit Dunnottar Castle in the morning, then on to Aberdeen Airport for early pm flight to Ireland.<BR><BR>We are very grateful for all the feedback - you are all wonderful!<BR><BR><BR><BR>

Sheila

So long as the clouds are high enough, Ben Nevis will dominate your rear window all the way to mallaig. Stop at Glenfinnan to look at the monument and you will see all you want. On the east side of Loch linnhe you're right under it and it's difficult to get perspective.<BR><BR>Sounds like a great trip. Don't hesitate to ask if there's anything else