Would appreciate comments from all on my proposed Scotland trip for early October, but of course looking to frequent posters like Sheila, the Gos, Janis, etc for their expert perspective.

We are two fiftyish Eastcoast American couples; I am the only one who has been to Scotland (though we are all pretty well-traveled) when I took my mother in 1996 (this board was a tremendous help then!).

We plan 14 days, 12 real tourist days, and my husband will do the driving. Flying in/out Edinburgh and getting car there when we leave the city on the third day.

Purpose of trip is to sightsee scenery and castles and history, but also to relax.

We are staying two nights in each:

Edingburgh (Edinburgh Residence). Usual sightseeing, drive to Stirling for the castle after two busy days. End up at:

Loch Tay (Ardeonaig Hotel) Do dinner plan at hotel? Scenery, rest, kayak, fishing, walking
Side trip to Perth and Scone palace if we feel like it. Then on to:

Inverness (Dunain Park) through Blair Atholl (castle, etc). See Culloden and Clava Cairns (my favorites from first trip), maybe a whisky tour, Nairn or a few minutes at Loch Ness (friends may insist). Third day, leave for:

Skye (Eilean Iarmain) do dinner plan? We'll take the route along Loch Ness, and then over the bridge. Since we'll be getting to Skye in the evening, I was hoping to spare my husband a sheep dodging drive in the dark, so hope we can get to Eilean Iarmain easily. After two days of driving/walking on Skye, take ferry and drive down through Fort William and beautiful scenery to:

Inveraray (The George Hotel). Side trips to Oban and/or Killin. Will take in Loch Lomond on our way to our last two nights in:

Glasgow (Lang's). Looking forward to revisiting Ubiquitous Chip and Willow Tea Room, as well as the Burrell collection.

Would love any restaurant recommendations, though half our nights are promised away to the places we are staying. We usually love to try a variety of restaurants but this trip is all about being relaxed and not feeling pressured.

Thank you to all who post here: even if no one has comments for me, I already benefited tremendously from all of your experiences and I couldn't have done this without you!

Dorothy

Hi -

I think you have worked out a terrific itinerary. Of course there might be little things I'd do differently, but this is a VERY well paced route and you will really enjoy it.

I do recommend you try to get to Skye before nightfall.

Enroute from Inveraray, and along Loch Lomond, try to detour over to Helensburgh and visit Hill House. This Mackintosh treasure would be a great companion to the Willow tearoom and the Art shool

Thank you for the suggestion, Janis; I know well enough from your postings that I should listen to you!

If there are any "little things" you want to mention to do differently, I would be happy to consider them.

I was really impressed, by the way, that all of the hotels responded to me by email within 48 hours of my inquiring. The George makes you call to book, even though they answered my questions right away (they actually list rates by room, not per person!) but everyone else is VERY internet agreeable.

Dorothy

I am also very impressed with your itinerary and any suggestions here are little more than nit-picking.

> in 1996 (this board was a tremendous help then!).

Hey! were you the first?

We are staying two nights in each:

If you would like my Edinburgh docs, do email me.

Yes, do the dinner plan at the Ardeonaig. You're miles from anywhere else anyway, and the food is good. A bit meaty (they're South African and don't know any better

At the very least visit the Crannog Centre. If you want more ides, I have a Loch Tay doc, too.(am I a sad b*****d, or what?)

Oh, and I have a Perth one.

For your distillery, given your route you might consider Edradour at Pitlochry, or Dalwhinnie. Watch the dates. Lots of places close after the school hols.

On Skye, you might want to leave an option for another meal. In October you might get dinner at the Three Chimneys- one of the 50 best restaurants in the world; or if not at Kinloch Lodge, which is somewhat nearer.

From Inverary, I'd body swerve Killion- you're about 10 miles from there at Ardeonaig.), but add in Kilmartin Glen. Do eat the Loch Fyne Oyster Bar. I'd be really interested in knowing how the George is.

There are lots of Edinburgh recommendations for restaurants on here already. If you want more or clarification let me know (and on recent performance I'll ask caroline

It sounds like a trip I'd love to do. Please enjoy yourselves.

For previous Edinburgh restaurant suggestions from both Sheila & me see :-

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...amp;dirtyBit=1

&

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=2

There was a more recent one but I can't find it for some reason.

Sadly the Balmoral's chocolate buffet is no more

P.S. The Ubiquitous Chip has had some awful reviews lately - sounds like they've been resting on their laurels.

We spent 2 weeks last August...must get some notes out as I don't remember doing a trip report! We kind of winged it after a few days in Edinburgh.

I will check my papers and see some specific places. We did though spend a few days in Oban. We went to Iona to see where the book of Kells was written and even rented a small moror boat and went out in the harbour for an hour. That was actually really fun. The nightlife was a bit quiet but we had a meal in an Indian restaurant that was fantastic on the high street. Indian food always seems much better outside of Ireland . I was spoiled for years by my friends Gujurati (SP?) mother's home cooking! Fort William I could have done with substituting for another place. It just did not hit a chord with me.

You will have a great time!

While Ms. Go and I are honored to be mentioned in such fine company, our knowledge of Scotland is nothing compared to the likes of Sheila, Janis, Caroline and others. Our one trip report (12 sensational days...) contains virtually the entire extent of our knowledge on that beautiful country.

I will say this, though...your trip looks fairly well thought-out for early planning stage. Good job!

Thank you, everyone, for your kind input.

Sheila, I will email you to get any files you want to send me! I have many Word docs that I put together by collecting threads here - all messy - but I would really appreciate anything you have.

Now that I think of it, it probably was the Compuserve travel forum where I got my advice first time - excuse my rapidly 'maturing' memory - and I think my first experience here was with a London trip in 98.

And Sheila, the George in Inveraray was a place I found while looking through a recommendation of yours: the Peter Irvine book Scotland the Best.

Caroline, I will check out the threads on dining. My mother - who was in her 70s when we went and having some mobility problems - insisted we eat at the Witchery (ok, it was fun) but we mostly ate in the Balomoral, where we stayed. So I am looking forward to some new culinary experiences. Sorry to hear about the Chip in Glasgow, though - we had wonderful food there.

Mr.Go, the true value of these wonderful internet travel boards is a combination of enthusiastic experts who share their expertise AND the travelers like you who post thorough trip reports as they re-live a memorable experience. I try to 'give back' every time I return from a trip so I can feel like I thank everyone who helped me.

Dorothy

Dorothy..It's been awhile but we still remember the meals we had at MARTIN"s on Rose lane behoind Prince's St in Edinburgh..sensational Scottish cheese board!

Oh yes, Martin's is lovely ! Run by a very nice couple, Martin & his wife. The cheese trolley is an amzing experience - Martin describes each cheese in loving detail, ending with photographs of the actual cow in some cases !!

Interested to hear your comment about Indian restaurants, Siobhan. I think they are OK in Edinburgh but better in Glasgow.