Stuck! How to best spend last 4 days in Scotland
 

Will be on one month trip but having only 8 nights in Scotland. Will have done time in London, a week in Cornwall, 5 nights York area. Then comes the Scotland portion followed by a few more nights in London with family stay.

Have booked 4 nights in Edinburgh (see highlights then Rabbies to St.Andrews and one other in Stirling area), then have "saved" 3 nights hoping to go to Isle of Mull (bus and ferries) then final night in Edinburgh before back to London. Considering the possibility of a "fogged in" Mull, is there a better choice to explore? The Borders appeal, so do the Highlands. So little time...This is all with public transportation. I am considering booking the nights in Mull (not easy to find lodging, I know) with the plan to cancel and do a back-up plan if weather really a problem. I know there are some "don't miss" castles and abbeys, and amazing scenery to see, so please advise!
Help, please!

You could go/do almost anything really. But Mull by public transport from/to Edinburgh really doesn't make a lot of sense. That is from someone who LOVES Mull (more than Skye even). But pretty much a full day to get there, a full day to get back leaving you very little time on the island.

So I might suggest either another Rabbies tour (to anywhere that fits in your time frame), or do the Borders -- taking the train down and then using local buses to get around. https://www.scotrail.co.uk/scotland-...orders-railway
https://www.scotborders.gov.uk/info/...4/bus_services

Thank you both. It seemed so doable, on paper! I had found the Cal-Mac ferries as possibilities and the West Coast Motors services to connect ferries to villages, etc. I am convinced now that it would be best to choose a more reasonable plan.

Janis, I have notes from you to someone, praising Inchmahome Priority from Callander, beginning with a bus from Stirling. Then we would be "only" about 10 miles from The Trossachs, which seem pretty important. Is this something we should consider? TheTrossachs beauty constantly comes up but I think visiting there would require more time than we have. What would including these places do to our trip? Would the Borders trip be more fruitful, given the timeframe and the fact that we depart from Edinburgh? ( I hope to find a return train location closer a Borders town rather than going back to Edinburgh to return to London. Perhaps I'll find a way to stay in the Borders for a night or two and return from there.).

I have decided we can remove one day in London to give us another in Scotland. Now to figure out the rest, and get our rail trip back to London before it gets too expensive. Much more reading to do. I have over planned this trip to the point that I have no plans in place! Day tours will help enormously, so I will recheck all those notes now. I feel very confused and weary, so feel free to guide me as best you can. I can't wait to be DONE with this planning!

I'm only in for a few minutes so can't post a full response but just a couple of quick comments:

>>I hope to find a return train location closer a Borders town rather than going back to Edinburgh to return to London. Perhaps I'll find a way to stay in the Borders for a night or two and return from there<<.

Going back to Edinburgh is by far the easiest/best option. Otherwise it would require taking rural buses a very long way to some station on the east coast to catch a train south.

>>Janis, I have notes from you to someone, praising Inchmahome Priority from Callander, beginning with a bus from Stirling. Then we would be "only" about 10 miles from The Trossachs, which seem pretty important. Is this something we should consider? TheTrossachs beauty constantly comes up but I think visiting there would require more time than we have. What would including these places do to our trip?<<

Callander and Inchmahome are IN the Trossachs -- but this is not an area easily visited without a car. Stirling - yes - easy by train. But there is no rail service to anywhere else and the local buses aren't very good/efficient for tourists.

I hope to find a return train location closer a Borders town rather than going back to Edinburgh to return to London. Perhaps I'll find a way to stay in the Borders for a night or two and return from there.>

Well I did a day trip from Berwick-on-Tweed to all three of the 'best' or most famous Borders Abbeys - and the bus ride was only 1 h 25 mins - and Berwick is quite a way south of Edinburgh (50 mins by train) and is on the mainline Scotland-York-London. The bus takes only 1 h 25 min to Berwick from Melrose - can't see how going back to Edinburgh would be quicker getting to Berwick (on same main rail line as Edinburgh-London) as Melrose to Edinburgh takes over 2 hours - the train from a nearby town may take a bit less but for sure from Melrose taking a bus to Berwick and getting on train there would be far quicker than returning to Edinburgh it seems. Book train tickets early at National Rail Enquiries - Official source for UK train times and timetables for discounted fares which also exist in first-class which if much much nicer on long-distance British trains than Standard Class. For lots on trains check www.seat61.com; BETS-European Rail Experts and www.ricksteves.com.

If looking for a non-touristed city to stay in Berwick-on-Tweed is great - I stayed in the Station Hotel! It's a unique fortified town and a bustling regional town.

Re Mull: You could take the train to Oban and base there, doing day trips to Mull and/or Iona and/or Staffa. You'd have a relatively easier time finding accommodation in Oban than on Mull, and the Oban-based tours of the islands are plentiful and not very expensive. https://westcoasttours.co.uk/

You might also consider flying to London rather than the train. It can be cheaper (e.g. £45 one way from GLA to Gatwick, around £70 to London City, thus saving the need for lengthy airport-to-city travel) and obviously faster. This might save an extra day, or part of one.

There is also an overnight train Glasgow/Edinburgh to London - Caledonian Sleeper trains with very comfy beds in private compartments with breakfast served in bed! Save money on hotel to off-set part or all of train fare.

The bus to Berwick-on-Tweed takes 1:36 and runs every 2 hours in the middle of the day. The train to Edinburgh takes 47 mins. The train leg from Edinburgh to Berwrick takes 50 mins so almost exactly the same duration.

>> followed by a few more nights in London with family stay.<<.

Where in the London area. That could make a big difference whether taking a train south or flying makes more sense. For instance if they live in south London or out Canary Wharf direction or west of the Circle Line - flying would probably be better

Trains to Edinburgh don't serve the Melrose area where the 3 most famous Borders Abbeys are - the train goes from Galashiels - which by bus from Melrose is well over 2 hours with 2 changes. So yes if in Galashiels area about the same, but from where most tourists will be the bus to Berwick is far faster. So it depends on where OP will be- saying it's only 47 minutes by train to Edinburgh is just worthless and misleading.

Timberbush is another good company that has been around nearly as long as Rabbies. I'd be happy with either. Rabbies does have more tours to choose from.

>>You will see more with a tour company than doing it by public transportation.<<

Big ditto there. Buses in rural areas are not at all efficient or practical even. Doable - yes, but really limiting. Waiting for a bus that only runs every 2 hours does mess up a touring day.

I managed to easily see Melrose, Dryburgh and the other famous abbey in that area all by bus from Berwick in one day. And was glad to ride local buses and not glitzy tour buses. Be a traveler or a tourist - pros and cons to both.

I'm so pleased that you have all hashed this out while I've been searching myself silly. I have been searching Rabbies and Timberbush for ages and keep making notes. Glad most of you agree that it is the best answer for us. We are seniors now and less inclined to stress over bus or train schedules, or driving as we make our own way, though it has been our mode for many years.

I am going to schedule the Rabbies Alnwick Castle, Northumberland, Borders tour for now, since that is an area I have wanted to do. (I've been hesitating because it is so redundant, since we will be "passing thru" as we come from York to Edinburgh. But with our luggage, stopping along the way would be difficult, for sure.) It is a new tour so no reviews, but I know Rabbies reputation. We have taken these small bus tours in France and find them thoroughly enjoyable with the extremely knowledgeable and fun tour drivers. The other tour will be the Loch Lomond one that goes into Trossachs, which I don't want to miss. Still weighing Rabbies vs Timberbush on that one. Do any of you have experience with both, or an opinion? I'm sure we will be happy with either one. They do have a 3 day cancellation policy, but better a bird in the hand....

Now to find lodging in Glasgow for 2 or 3 nights, and a Rosslyn Castle tour from Rabbies or Timberbush. This should do it. Then on to London. Train is best for us. Our son lives near the Venice area in London, so using the tube works best. We have the Two Together pass that saves a lot and gives us a chance to rest up on a train before we get back to our London ventures.

I have no burning questions for you now, but feel free to continue to advise if you have more hints! If we don't communicate again, I want to thank you all for your very helpful suggestions. This forum is invaluable for people like me. I think giving up Mull was a good move all things considered. Our son agreed with you.

When I have a chance, I still plan to give a short trip report on our Italy village trip that you helped with last Fall. We went with almost no reservations and all went well. I'm not very efficient as I seem to have too many things going at once, as always. It's called retirement!

Cheers! Makinghay

>> . . . but Timberbush only has big coaches. <<

Actually Timberbush does have some smaller vehicles. But I usually recommend Rabbies because their entire fleet is small vans/mini buses.

>> . . . a Rosslyn Castle Chapel tour from Rabbies or Timberbush.<<

No need for a tour really. There is an easy bus service from central Edinburgh.

Yes Roslyn easy bus ride from Edinburgh and then you can go on to:

To Melrose for best abbeys - 2.5 hours by bus from Edinburgh

spend however many days in area = maybe 2 nights

take bus to Berwick - 1.25 hrs

Take train to York - 1 night

Take train to London- 2.25 hrs or so

Then London

<<Take train to York - 1 night>>

Am I missing something? Train from Edinburgh to London takes 4 hours 20 minutes or a bit more. Train from Edinburgh to York takes less than three hours.>

I did not give train time Berwick to York - should have - about 2 hours I suspect - 1 night was meant for staying in York - arriving around noon from Melrose-Berwick.

vinonobile987, Pal hates to give-up on his bus/train routes.

Well this is a very easy and best way to go from Melrose area where most tourists head to York - how would you propose - probably the usual bus tours - taking public transportation has its pluses too - like meeting real Scots and Brits. But to get from the Borders Abbey highlights to York as quick as possible it's bus to Berwick and train to York - the quickest most logical route if on a quick schedule as 4 days Edinburgh-London implies.

Well, but who would want to drag their luggage from bus to train and vice versa? We are not ready for it for sure, maybe other travelers are. To each their own, I guess.>

How would you go from Melrose to Berwick to York in one day? A taxi to Berwick can of course be done. At Berwick train station the bus stops right by its entrance and it's a small station. Pretty easy. Better to have a car if in that area for several days but for a quick dash as OP wants bus to train is about only option.

I always support a person's decision to take a tour - especially in that area with a paucity of good public transit. I was only pointing options for others reading how easy it is to go between say Melrose and Berick train station to York.

Have read and re-read all your very thoughtful, helpful input. FYI, we will already have spent a week in York, so no need to address that issue. I have come to terms with the fact that if I want to see the coastal area, (Border's and Coast tour with Rabbie's) we will just have to repeat the same path we took when going by train from York to Edinburgh.

What I want to address now is that due to very limited time in Scotland, I've narrowed our tours down to the St.Andrew's tour and the Borders tour (above) with Rabbie's, and the Stirling, Loch Lomond, and Whiskey with Timberline (seems to spend a good amount of time in the Trossachs) or similar one with Rabbie's. Comments on that? I don't recall if touring Stirling Castle is in one of these, but if not, we can do it on our own. I definitely want to go into Doune Castle, so will double check the above tours to be sure it is included. The same goes for Roslyn Chapel, though it will take some doing! There are other tour companies that I can look at if need be.

I still regret not being able to go to Mull, but that was impossible, unless we were to spend no time in Glasgow. We already have our lodging in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

I look forward to your comments and any suggestions you might have. Making Hay (and too little time left to do so!)

Just quick - won't be back for a few hours. But I would highly recommend Rabbies, whichever tour you choose. It will be guaranteed to be a small group and the larger coaches Timberbush uses do limit where you can visit.

This one covers Doune and a ton of gorgeous scenery. https://www.rabbies.com/en/scotland-...stles-day-tour

I would just to Stirling castle on my own by train from Edinburgh.

Janis, The "Doune….gorgeous scenery"comment was perfect...I'm in. Yes, I'm choosing Rabbies, they seem to have a lot of fun as well as tour gorgeous places efficiently. Now have too many "wants' and too little time, but I'll work it out.

Thank you all.