OK trumpan thanks.

Your favorite Hike on Skye is?

Best Place to stay on Skye for 2-3 days?

Best cheap good food place on Skye (or Anywhere)?

Any hidden places (anywhere) that you think are jewels that tourists don't often go to? But whisper it so we don't give it away :-)

Your favorite walks?

As soon as I post this I will check out the airport Hilton?

I'll let you know how I make out.

My email address is
trumpan at gmail.com
If you would like to email me I can give you my phone number in case you need help while you're here.
We live in Inverness but the family home is in Skye.
My I.D on here is taken from the name of our local cemetry. : )

Hi Trumpan. Nice to have a Sgianach on board. We now cover almost eth whole country, us Scots:)

Hi again Shelia,
I have an outlandish question (especially since we are leaving in a few days) so here goes...would getting to the Orkeny Islands be so very unrealitic on this 12 day trip...we could just go up the west and do Mull, Skye, then head up to the Orkney Islands. I just came across some info on them and they sound so interesting...(are they as wonderful as they sound)I know I want to do it all in such a short time. We really do not have to do any of the big cities so that will give us an extra day or two. And one or two castles is just fine with us.

We are doing what you you suggested and heading for Dunoon and not going any further than Creggans our first night. Please let me know what you think.

Ok Trumpan I will do that, you will hear from me via e-mail and this is much appreciated.

Oh my I can't believe it is almost here!!!!! 5 days and counting.

It sounds a bit mad, to be honest. Whatd oes your overall itinerary look like now?

You COULD do it but you'd be cramming stuff in. Not a good idea, I think.

I like Orkney very much. More than Mull, for sure.

travel in the west/isles/north can be very slow. Not much traffic - but long distances and a fair amount of single track roads (one lane roads for 2-way traffic)

If you drop the cities and the east coast/Fife you could work in Orkney fairly easily. But you really can't do it all

So you really do need to prioritize a bit. What do you most want to see/visit?

Hi all,

Overall itinerary is very simple. Heading up to Mull, then Skye for several days of Hiking and then we were heading down to Fife. More or less rambling along stopping at several of the places that you both had mentioned.

But if you think the Orkney Islands are something that is out of the ordinary we would love to fit it in. It is so hard to tell by the tour books because everything sounds wonderful. But as I had noted before we are people who when we travel we like to take the off beaten path, hike and just relax, take lots of photos and meet interesting folk. Driving isn't a problem because we always find something interesting. So what do you think??

Sorry I am keeping you so busy with my plans. It was just that last night I came upon something about Skara Brae (of course it was at the end of the tour book so I hadn't looked at it before)and it just drew me in...more so than going to Fife or Edinburgh. Did the tour book lead me in the wrong directions????

Orkney is wonderful. Fife is wonderful. the Borders are wonderful. Fife is wonderful. Mull is wonderful. Skye is . . . . well you get the idea. :)

You basically have 11 days plus day 1 which may be very jet lagged.

From what you want to do and how you like to travel - I'd pick three areas for 2-3 days stays and use the other days for travel between.

So a reasonable itinerary might look something like:

May 27 near Loch Lomond or Oban (keeping the driving to a minimum would mean Loch Lomond)

May 28-29 on Mull

May 30 - June 1 on Skye

June 2 or 2-3 in the NW

June 4-5 - Orkney

June 6-7 traveling back down towards Glasgow through Dornoch/Inverness/Perthshire/Stirling

Now this is only one version - lots of other options -- but evenn this one is not all that leisurely so really no way to squeeze in Fife and the east coast.

sorry - mentioned Fife twice - but it IS wonderful :)

For more info on Orkney try www.visitorkney.com.

I'd lose a west coast island for logistical purposes. For aesthetic reasons I'd lose Mull, but Skye is so far out there, it would be easier geographically if you dropped it.

Would you consider Mull, Orkney, Fife?

Shelia,
I don't know Skye just sounds so delicious. I don't think I can drop it. So I think Mull will have to go :-(

I've been to all those places many times so my opinion may be a bit jaded -- just as a preface to what I'm saying:

I love <b>LOVE</b> Fife - stay in Crail whenever I can. But unless St Andrews is the holy grail because you are golfers or something - w/ your very limited time I would drop Fife before dropping something on the west coast.

Mull/Iona/Staffa are unique, Skye is AMAZING, and Orkney is super interesting.

Fife is terrific too - but instead of crossing back and forth across the whole of the country, I'd stay to the west and north.

Now - IF you had 3 or 4 weeks that would be a whole other matter. I'd be recommending Fife and the Borders, and the SW and Aberdeenshire and LOTS of other places.

Janisj, How do you really feel about Fife :-)

I know I hate to leave out that area but I am just being pulled to the north. Ok so I am going to head up the west coast. What is your best suggested way to get to the Orkney Islands from Skye and maybe catch something interesting along the way. (Am I detecting in your post that you prefer Fife over Orkney??)And what is it really like up there? And as I look at the map I guess on the way down to Glasgow I would cut down through Inverness.

You people are probably sick of me by now but I promise I will post when I get home and let you know how it all ended up.

I wish I did have 4 weeks.....
Thanks again, 6abc

No, I LOVE Orkney too - is there a theme here :)

I know Fife better since I've been there more.

If it were me heading from Skye to Orkney, I'd take 2 days/2 nights enroute. See Plockton, Glen Caron, Loch Maree and Inverewe gardens the first day staying somewhere between Poolewe and Ullapool that night. Then spend the entire next day driving around the coast to near Thurso. Then take an early ferry the next morning to Stromness.

I hope you do write a report of your trip, 6abc. Reading about all these wonderful Scotland plans is KILLING me! I had thought that we would be doing a bit of exploring in Scotland ourselves in August or September, but it turned out that we won't be going this year. So, I will want to live vicariously through you!! :)

When we finished out first sampler trip to Scotland (1999) I found myself wanting more of the North and West (although I must admit, I haven't seen Fife!). Haven't gotten to really do that yet, however.

You've whetted my appetite to begin planning - for 2008.

I think I'd miss out Skye and go to Arran instead.
I have just returned from a trip up North and was sad to see that Skye has become much more tartan tatty than when we first visited it.
We just popped over for a day to have lunch in the Three Chimneys.
Arran on the other hand is still pretty unspoilt. It is often described as Scotland in miniature, but Lonely Planet says that it is Scotland with the grotty bits removed. There's lots of good walking and they had a Wildlife festival when we were there with mini-bus safaris to look at birds etc.
It takes about an hour to get from Ardrossan (where the ferry stops) to Glasgow.
BTW. there is a very nice seafood restaurant just outside Brodick called Creelers.
You have to book because it is very popular.

I have to disagree w/ Miss Prism about Skye. Sure there are some touristy bits and tat. But the VAST majority of the Island is wide open, unspoiled scenery. Arran is lovely - but I don't really think it is a substitute for Skye. If one was in Glasgow and only had a couple of days, Aran would be a <b>fabulous</b> place to visit.

I can't really criticise Arran( 2 &quot;r&quot;s) becuase I've never been, but it always seem to me to be the lowlands on an island:(

oops - got the &quot;rr&quot; once but missed it the second time. (Aran would be nice too - but a bit far from Glasgow :) )

5abc:

You've gotten enough information for fifteen trips into every reach of Scotland...so one more little tip can't hurt...it's np nigh thin, BUT, when driving through the East Neuk fishing villages, when you stop to look over the picturesque sea wall in Pittenweem, you'll notice a blue van/truck parked in the parking area...selling crab cakes and the such...the most delicious you've ever eaten...don't hesitate..just go up to the window counter and order. Have a grand and glorious journey thtough one of my favorite &quot;countries&quot;...

Stu T.

Have been to Arran, and it really is Scotland in miniature and amazingly unspoilt, therefore perfect for those heading to Glasgow and who want to see the Highlands but haven't the time.

However for those that do have the time,little surpasses a tour of the north.

6abc:

...my typo above: it's np nigh thin ...translates to &quot;no big thing&quot; ...

stu T.

Arran is certainly not Lowlands.
It has no Monroes, but it has four Corbetts.
The coastline is beautiful too.

Stu T glad you explained the &quot;no big thing&quot; had no idea what that was but I will keep the blue truck in mind if we make it there.

So at this point once again I just want to thank all of you who have posted and given me such wonderful ideas and input to my &quot;Scotland Appetizer Trip&quot;. I feel like I have been there already.

I have my 4 plus gig camera cards (that doesn't include my husbands 4 gigs( Think that is enough ;-) ), My ATM card, Hiking boots, OH YES rain gear, and not to forget a few cloths.

Oh and one more thing it is hard to get used to people being so nice, I had heard that about the Scottish (How refreshing coming from Philadelphia) We are not all that bad here in the states but sometimes we forget our manners...

And an extra thanks to JanisJ, and Sheila and everyone else who has put up with my changing my mind a million times. And also to Trumpan who has found us a place to stay for our first night.

I will check back before we take off on Saturday to see if anyone else has any thing they want to say and then I will do the final printing of this wonderful &quot;MENU OF APPETIZERS&quot;

6abc

6abc:
My wife and I and our sixteen year old son are following you to Scotland this year. I have just seen your threads here. We will be arriving on Monday, June 28 and returning on June 10. We have booked first two nights in Bridge of Alan and then on to Glencoe for one night. Three nights on Skye, two nights in Ullapool, two nights in Nairn and the last three nights in Edinburgh. We are getting very excited, it sounds as if you are as well. All the best and Bon Voyage!

dcarter1, be sure to try out the fish and chips - and the wonderful ice cream - at the Alan Water Cafe in Bridge of Alan. Also there's a specialty grocery store there that has amazing cheeses and nice baked goods.

If you get to Dunblane, there is a butcher in the downtown that makes the tastiest steak pies - they've won awards. My favorite were the steak and black pepper, but I really love pepper. The other flavors were also good (we tried them all!). It's Bennett and Sons, I think.

What do you plan to see near Nairn? My favorite place in Scotland is Pluscarden Abbey, an amazing medieval complex that has been partially rebuilt and is now again a working abbey. The monks keep bees and their honey is out of this world. I felt the deepest peace in this place that I've ever experienced.

Have a great time, and I can't wait to read a trip report!

Sorry about getting your name wrong, d1carter. I meant to double check it, but posted too quickly. :)

MissPrism, not meaning to be contradictory(:)), but Lowlands here is geographic not topographic.

Ah, Lowlands rather than &quot;lowlandish&quot;

or &quot;Lowlandish&quot; :)

Noe847:
Thanks for the tips in Bridge of Alan. We plan to see Fort George near Nairn and just relax on the beach, maybe drive down to Loch Ness for my son. We will check out the steak and pepper pies, I really like pepper as well(one of my hobbies is collecting pepper mills). I know that is weird but I do.
All the best...
D1

6abc:

&gt;&gt;&gt;...my typo above: it's np nigh thin ...translates to &quot;no big thing&quot; ...&lt;&lt;&lt;

LOL..looks like you thought I was writing a Scottish phrase...no!..merely a typo that should have read &quot;no big thing'...you're in for a wonderful journey...
Stu T.

Here is the home page for the butcher, David Bennett &amp; Son:
http://www.bennettsthebutcher.co.uk/
I didn't have a car at the point that I visited Dunblane, so I took the train the few minutes' ride from Bridge of Alan. Saw the cathedral (nicely restored) and the cathedral museum (across the street from the cathedral; small but interesting). I stumbled upon the butcher shop, it's on the main street from the train station to the cathedral. The meat pies called from the window, and they truly were the best thing I've ever put in my mouth.

Stu T, you're back from China!

Hi Noe

Back from China and Japan...exciting, educational, fun, adventurous and ....a wondrous journey.

Stu T. (see my post on my amazing event in Japan..&quot;1946-2007: An Old Soldier Returns to Camp Site in Beppu&quot; posted on 5/22)

This had been a wonderful thread. Thanks again. I am off to the airport. Just wanted to stop by and say good-bye to all of my new found friends.

I did get a reservation for our first night thanks to &quot;trumpan&quot;. We are staying in Stirling. See yuall!! I'll post upon my return.

Why am I not surprised that the poster did not bother to post the promised trip report? I'll tell you why! She knew better than any of us and disregarded all advice which she herself had asked for! I made many phone calls for her but she seemed to think we should run after her! No thanks nothing! In fact, I heard that she was a difficult person in real life!
As a result, I shall not be offering to help anyone in future.

Trumpan: What on Earth is your problem?? They only got home 10 days ago. sheesh!

For someone who has only ever posted twice on Fodors that seems a pretty extreme reaction . . . . .

JANISJ.
If you realised just how much work and money went into making phone calls for this woman as she kept changing her mind I think you might have thought twice before posting a nasty reply to me. We ---both myself and other posters who live here---knew that it was a holiday weekend and last minute accommodation would be hard to come by and so it proved, hence the innumerable daily phone calls I had to make. Unlike in the States, these calls are not free.
I am so happy that you found me so interesting that you searched my details but as hubby has just said, given the tone of your post, you are probably just a nosey person. However let me tell you JANISJ that we have been members of Fodor's for a long time from our primary email address.
Have a nice day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've just searched JANISJ and I notice that you have a habit of jumping down people's throats as, according to you, they attack your 'innocent' posts.
I wish I had re-read the whole thread before posting as I wouldn't have bothered to answer your snide remarks. Do you search all posts to see where you can have a go?
I actually feel sorry for you now.
Incidentally, she didn't take any of your advice!!!!