Self Catering - Scotland
 

We will be travelling to Scotland in early April for about 10 days. We would like to find a self catering cottage or apartment somewhere fairly centrally located for about a week, and do day trips. I know we won't see all of Scotland this way but we find it a more relaxing way to see the country. What would be a good town to use as a base? There are 2 of us - fit mid sixties. We will spend time in Edinburgh and Glasgow either earlier or later. Thanks!

Callendar, Crieff, Comrie, Killin, kenmore, Aberfeldy, Dunkeld.

Have a look at those and see what you think.

Mary G,
We're planning a self-guided bike tour of England in June and found this site to be very useful for finding lodging.
http://www.smoothhound.co.uk/

If Callander suits you as a location, I have stayed at, and can recommend, the Craigard Apartment, http://www.cottageguide.co.uk/craigard/

I would second all of the list from Sheila. Can't get more central than most of those places and you'll be amazed how much you actually can see from a single base.

Probably more than if you moved to a different B&B every night or two. You won't waste time packing/unpacking, checking in/checking out.

From Someplace like Callander or Killen (not that you'd necessarily want to go to all of these) you could do easy or fairly easy day trips to Loch Ness, Glencoe, Stirling, Oban/Mull, Loch Lomond, Invereary, Blair Atholl, Perth or even (with an early start) St Andrews/Fife.

Here are some add'l agencies to check:

Ecosse Unique www.uniquescotland.com
Tel: 011-44-1835-870779 Excellent Agency with cottages of all sizes and prices.

Mackay’s Agency www.mackays-scotland.co.uk 011-44-131-225-3539 Large well-run Scottish vacation rental agency.

Stillwells’ Holiday Cottages www.stillwell.co.uk Not a rental agency - but a catalog of individually owned places. You deal directly with the owners so prices can be lower.

And here are a couple of one-off cottages not far from Callander:

Norrieston East Wing Near Thornhill
www.milford.co.uk/scotland/accom/r-l-2037.html Nice cottage walking distance from shops in Thornhill. About £300 per week

Barns of Shannochill, Shannochill, near Aberfoyle www.milford.co.uk/scotland/accom/h-a-1844.html This is an interesting concept – a very nice B&B but in your own wing and with use of your own private kitchen. About £25+ per person per night

Wow! Thanks so much for all the suggestions. I've been reading advice from Sheila and Janis on earlier posts and it has been very helpful! MG

Mary
You could also consider staying in Linlithgow or Falkirk. These places are very central and have a fast speed train conection to both Glasgow and Edinburgh every 15 mins. Good connections to the motorway mean you can access all the places mentioned in previous postings easily. The local tourist board can give you information on accomodation - Basing yourself in either Falkirk or Linlithgow might be ideal as you wouldn't have to move accomodation to see the cities and still be able to do most of the day trips including St Andrews, Dunfermline the Royal Burgh of Linlithgow, Falkirk Wheel, Kinross.
Just an alternative suggestion that may be worth considering.