jhollandtx

My wife and I will be going to Scotland for 16 days in May, 2012. We're interested in castles, photography, a few distillery tours, off the beaten path, and staying a few nights in several places so we're not driving too much.

Sheila and JanisJ, any recommendations and/or suggested changes?

Day 1 (Sat May 12): Land in Edinbourgh mid-day from the U.S.. Recover from flight.
Day 2-4: Edinbourgh
Day 5: Pick up rental car, drive to see Dunnottar Castle. Stay in Stonehaven area.
Day 6: Tour Crathes and Drum castles. Drive to Dufftown to stay 2 nights.
Day 7: Tour of Balvenie Distillery. Stay in Dufftown again.
Day 8: Drive to Gairloch to stay the night???
Day 9: Drive from Gairlock to Torridon area. Stay two nights in Torridon.
Day 10: Torridon
Day 11: Drive to Skye. Stay 3 nights in Skye.
Day 12: Skye
Day 13: Skye
Day 14: Drive to ???
Day 15: Arrive in Edinbourgh by noon to drop off rental car
Day 16: Leave for home

Thanks

Michael

You might want to take a look at my trip report to see what might fit your itinerary and might be of interest; click on my name to find it.

janisj

Looks quite nice. Enroute to Dufftown you can visit a falconry centre and Huntly Castle. I'd also probably visit Glenfiddich. The whisky isn't as sublime as Balvenie but the distillery tour experience is nice. And Balvenie Castle is right there (practically shares the same car park )

http://www.huntly-falconry.co.uk/

Enroute to Gairloch, I'd try to visit Inverewe Gardens.

As for where to stay night 14 -- your options are HUGE. If you drive via Glencoe you could stopover in Callander, Killin, Lake of Menteith or lots of other places. If you drive via Spean Bridge, then you could stay in Perth or Dunkeld.

Any of these would be a fairly easy drive to EDI.

sssteve

After Skye, we stayed in Oban and visited the island of Mull. As Janis wrote, there are lots of options in this area. Check out my web page on our trip:

http://www.travel.stv77.com/scotland/scotland.htm

janisj

The main problem w/ Oban is it is nearly a 3.5 hour drive from Edinburgh.

Callander or Dunkeld by comparison would be less than half that. A big consideration if you need to be in Edinburgh before noon

jhollandtx

Awesome, thanks everyone.

I researched many of Shelia and JanisJ's posts in building the initial itinerary, so that helped a lot. I'll tweak it a bit based on your comments.

BigRuss

There's no Edinbourgh - the Brits add a superfluous u to "or" combinations to make colour, labour, favour, neighbour. Edinburgh is spelled as stated.

Consider Fraser Castle - we chose it over Crathes and have no regrets. Visited it the same day we hit Drum.

Considering your interest in whisky, find some independent bottlings from the major distilleries. You can get most of the distilleries' own bottlings at home if you're from the US. Various independent companies purchase specific casks from the distilleries and bottle straight from that cask. Examples: Cadenhead, Provenance, Old Malt Cask, Signatory, Murray McDavid.

janisj

I'd try for Dunnottar, Crathes (<u>especially</u> if you are into gardens), Craigevar and Fraser -- in that order as time allows.

If gardens aren't your thing, then Dunnottar, Craigevar and Fraser

Michael

<i>Edinburgh is spelled as stated.</i>

Not the way I have heard it said, as if it is Edinborough with the last syllable half swallowed. In my mind, that half-swallowed syllable is not represented by the present spelling of the city.

BigRuss

As stated: Edinburgh, not as verbalized. English is a bit of a daft language: "Edinborough" spelled Edinburgh, "Yall" spelled "Youghal" (Irish city), "Chizik" spelled "Chiswick," etc.

janisj

Michael: "<i>Not the way I have heard it said, as if it is Edinborough with the last syllable half swallowed.</i>"

Edinburgh isn't pronounced <i>Edinborough</i> w/ or w/o swallowing the last syllable.

More like Edinburrrah

hopingtotravel

If you stay at Torridon, please do a trip report. It is on my wish list. I notice there are 2 places to stay there: the expensive hotel, and a more modest one, I think under same ownership. Also would be interested in your drive through that area.

jhollandtx

Would Portree be a good base while on Skye given we'll be there 3 days?

Anyone every stayed at these apartments? http://www.dunsgiath.com

Tripadvisor has good reviews, and I think a break from B&B's and Hotels would be a nice change of pace.

janisj

Skye is very large w/ many single track roads. No matter where you stay, you'll have long drives. The sort of 'center'/crossroads of the isle is at Sligachan where there is a hotel/camping/pub/restaurant.

Portree is the only actual town and has banks, pubs, restaurants, shops, etc.

For ease of touring I'd choose Sligachan, for variety/services I'd choose Portree, for scenery I'd choose anywhere.

sheila

I agree with Janis about location. I usually stay at the Slig. if I have to overnight anywhere but the ferry port.

Hopingtotravel, there are TONS of places to stay around Torridon. What sort of place do you like and what's your budget?

I know you've tweaked this, and I assume I'll come to that, but comments on this itinerary ('ve copied and edited)


Day 1 (Sat May 12): Land in Edinburgh mid-day from the U.S.. Recover from flight.
Day 2-4: Edinburgh
Day 5: Pick up rental car, drive to see Dunnottar Castle. Stay in Stonehaven area.
Day 6: Tour Crathes and Drum castles. Drive to Dufftown to stay 2 nights.
Day 7: Tour of Balvenie Distillery. Stay in Dufftown again.
Day 8: Drive to Gairloch and stay three nights to do Gairloch and Torridon.
Day 9: Drive from Gairloch to Torridon area. .
Day 10: Torridon
Day 11: Drive to Skye. Stay 3 nights in Skye.
Day 12: Skye
Day 13: Skye
Day 14: Drive to Callendar? Stirling? Loch Lomond? Glasgow?
Day 15: Arrive in Edinburgh by noon to drop off rental car
Day 16: Leave for home