This Is A Surprise...We're Going To England & Scotland
 

Yesterday a buddy told me about round trip air fares from California to London that seemed too good to be true ($545), but there they were. I called our cohorts in crime (aka Kim and Mary), and we are now going to England and Scotland in May.

We have a total of 14 1/2 days on the ground.

We fly into London where I plan 3 1/2 or 4 1/2 days. We were there for six days in 2013. We fly out of Edinburgh, where I am planning three days at the end. That added $100 to the trip, but a round trip fare of $646 was hard to pass up.

But what to do in between? I've been planning Italy for the past few months (we still plan a shorter trip there in Sept).

On our last England visit, we went to London, Canterbury, Salisbury, Stonehenge, Wells, Bath, Oxford and the Cotswolds.

My first inclination is to hop a train to York from London, pick up a car and go visit castles, Hadrian's Wall, drink some Scotch, see the countryside, visit more castles and drink more Scotch. I had wanted to include Wales, but I don't think there's enough time, so in the words of a great ecologist, "I will save the Wales" for another trip.

Any ideas, routes. lodging, restaurants and anything else are appreciated. Time for me to start my UK studies!

((H))

Good for you! Have fun.

Oh what fun!

<i>My first inclination is to hop a train to York from London, pick up a car and go visit castles, Hadrian's Wall, drink some Scotch, see the countryside, visit more castles and drink more Scotch.</i>

Don't forget beer.

I think that's a terrific starting point. Here are two conceptual routes for you to consider. Use Undiscovered Scotland - http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/ - and the google to inform yourself of what the places are like.

1. https://goo.gl/maps/nMz3k6FHH9q This starts from York and goes to the don't miss cathedral city of Durham, then swings inland to the North Pennines (lovely in the spring) and Hadrian's Wall, then back out to the stunning Northumberland coast for stops at Alnwick and Bamburgh (amazing castles) and the Holy Isle of Lindisfarne. You continue up the coast into Scotland, with stops at picturesque villages like St. Abbs and Dunbar (another seafront castle at Tantallon) then you shoot past Edinburgh to Glasgow and Loch Lomond.

You continue north from Loch Lomond and over to Oban, then spend a day or two on the Isle of Mull, complete with its colorful main town of Tobermory, your first distillery (and a good one) and marvelous Highland scenery. You return to Oban (past stunning Duart Castle) then head north to Glen Coe and Glen Etive before continuing on to Edinburgh, possibly with a stop in Stirling en route.

This would give you some terrific variety, some of the best scenery in Britain, and in May you won't have traffic or tourist crowds getting in the way. The weather might not be ideal, but that's what pub fireplaces are for.

2. https://goo.gl/maps/ieaHQXY9mJ52 Same as the first route as far as Edinburgh, but then stays on the east side of the island. You'd see the picturesque fishing villages of the East Neuk in Fife, stop at St. Andrews and again in Forfar for a bridie (<i>with</i> onions) and maybe a view of Glamis Castle. Then continue north to the Royal Deeside district, home of red deer, red pines, and the occasional royal out shooting something (Balmoral.) Stay in some village like Ballater and do day trips up to the Speyside distillery country (more than enough opportunity for major liver damage) and beautiful Highland scenery, then zoom back down the M90 to Edinburgh.

In the spring this will offer better weather than the west and would probably be my pick of the two, but either would be splendid experiences.

We're going to England in May as well: London, Exeter (to visit friends) and Cornwall. Maybe we can share a pint!

"Maybe we can share a pint!"

Or two!

Gardyloo..thanks for the info. Great ideas. I just had looked at Loch Lomond this morning. This was the fastest I ever committed to a trip, so it's interesting for someone who usually plans for a year on places to go.

((H))

Hey, we'll also be in England and Scotland in May/June timeframe so will be following along on this thread. Maitai, I am just booking your rec for Hill House in Bath. St Cirq, we expect to be down in your next of the woods in the fall as we also got one of those great air fares going around these days.

" Maitai, I am just booking your rec for Hill House in Bath."

Request Harry's Blueberry pancakes!

((H))

yestravel, if you're interested in tickets to Font-de-Gaume by any chance, and know your dates, let me know, because I usually go by the ticket office the first week of January or so and grab tickets for the spring, summer, and fall. They go so quickly most people don't get to see it (or have to get up at dawn to go stand in line and hope to get one of the few available slots).

Sounds like some possible GTGs in the future!

Sounds good. York itself is beautiful and well worth a couple of days. I'd hold fire on renting your car straight away and explore York on foot. It's a compact city, easily walkable and car parking can be expensive.
When you are ready to explore beyond York you can pick up your car. North Yorkshire has loads to see and do - it has castles but the ruined abbeys are the real stars. For example there's the World Heritage site of Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, easily reached from York.
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/fou...l-water-garden
Plenty of other abbeys - Rievaulx, Jervaulx, Byland, Mount Grace etc.
There are 2 National Parks in North Yorkshire too, both with stunning scenery (North Yorks Moors and Yorkshire Dales).
Not sure if you like stately homes but Castle Howard is a fantastic day out - one of England's real treasure houses.
http://www.castlehoward.co.uk/
I'd then head further north through Northumberland up to Edinburgh.
Agree there's no time for Wales on this trip.

I am so excited for you! A wonderful time of year! Gardyloo's suggestions are excellent.

Ripon cathedral and Fountains Abbey and gardens are also worth a visit. There are several ruined abbeys with picturesque views are in the area--Bylands and Riveiux (sp?) are two which I visited and loved in the area.

As you get towards Edinburgh, Dryburgh, Melrose and Jedburgh are interesting ruins.

In Edinburgh, besides the castle itself, within city limits is Craigmuller Castle which is lovely.

I loved Mull itself as well as Iona, a five minute ferry ride from Mull. If weather permits there are small boat rides to Staffa Island. Mull itself has two castles--Duarte and ?.

Have fun!

Good info on this thread already. So glad you're going to England & Sctoland, maitai.

StCirq -- thanks -- we are interested, but at this point haven't a clue what our route will be. We grabbed a good air fare and randomly picked a flight in & out of Marseille and that's as far as we've planned.

Maitaitom, yes I recall reading about you and the pancakes -- duly noted to request them. :)

And it does seem that perhaps some GTGs could be in the works once dates and places are known. StCirq, we'll be in Cornwall end of May.

Can you adopt me? Cool trips

If doing Hadrian's Wall I found Hexham to be a nice base town close to the better parts of wall and forts- from there you could go straight up to the Borders Abbey Country -several famous partly ruined abbeys along the English-Scottish border- Jedburgh; Dreyburgh and Melrose are all close together and can be seen in a day or so- really nice country -then drive up to Sterling and its famous castle and battlefield

then Edinburg and beyond or go straight to the heart of the Highlands from Melrose area.

On which airline was this fabulous fare ??

Thanks.

BTW, we just read that Sotch gin has overtaken sales of Scotch whiskey. Don't forget to have some Hendrick's !!

"On which airline was this fabulous fare ??"

I was going to get to this, because I haven't done this way of purchasing ticket for years. I booked through Priceline.

The two non-stops across the pond are on Air New Zealand.

Flight from Edinburgh to London is on BA.

I did this years ago for an Air Tahiti flight to Paris, and it all went well, but my buddy up north didn't pull the trigger thinking there could be pitfalls. Gang? Anyone booked through Priceline?

((H))

You don't mean NYOP function, right? Because the few times I've used that, routings and layovers can be weird to awful.

If it was a nonstop flight, I'd do it. But anything involving multiple airlines and connections has not turned out well for me. Now I just search there and use the airlines own sight to book- there's very often not much difference in price.

Site, not sight, sorry!

the two flights across pond are nonstop and we have a 3 hour layover in London after flight from Edinburgh before flying home.

((H))

OK, yestravel, you know how to reach me by email. Just let me know. Happy to grab tickets to Font-de-Gaume for you if it works out. And do come by for dinner!

maitai, eat your heart out - we can fly from Bergerac to LondonCity for 5 €. But you got a good deal from the States for sure!

Sounds great then! Have a fabulous time- I'm always excited to see a new maitai TR:)

We're going to England in May as well: London, Exeter (to visit friends) and Cornwall. Maybe we can share a pint!>>

where in Cornwall, St C?

I too see a GTG in our futures!

Don't know, annhig, just know we want to visit the area. You got suggestions? We'd love to see you. We're on the trail of guidebooks and maps, but first we have to get Italy sorted out next week.

I second Morgana's recommendation of Castle Howard. (Especially if you ever watched Brideshead Revisited.)

Lincoln is another interesting cathedral town ... south of York.

Lincoln to me is one of Britain's most undeservedly unheralded cities - especially the grand upper town.

You got suggestions? We'd love to see you. We're on the trail of guidebooks and maps, but first we have to get Italy sorted out next week.>>

when you have time, let me know when and for how long, and I'll come up with some ideas.

maitai: we visited Yorkshire using the same suggestions from Morgana, and it was one of our all time favorite trips. The ruined abbeys and the national parks were spectacular.

Our stay in York was mediocre but we then moved to one of our favorite lodgings, ever:

http://brickfieldsfarm.co.uk/index.htm

This is in the countryside, and might not suit you. We don't drink so driving home from dinner wasn't an issue, but this place is fabulous. I don't mean to be presumptive; I just read your trip reports.

Our first trip to the UK was on Air New Zealand. Good leg room, pretty decent food and wine, nice entertainment options on the plane.

Lee Ann

After our apartment disaster of 2013, I was wondering if anyone had a hotel suggestion in the South Kensington area? Thanks.

((H))

wow San Diego State rocks!

There is a Nadler Hotel in South Kensington. We have stayed with them twice but not in that location.

Millennium Bailey's, across the street from the Gloucester Road tube stop.

The Hotel Rembrandt has a great location, excellent breakfast buffet and is overall a nice place. A four minute walk to South Kensington tube, a number of restaurants, across from V&A and a ten minute walk to Harrods.

Millennium Bailey's Hotel it is. Best price of the ones I wanted.

Thanks carolyn...

((H))

Millennium Bailey's is an excellent location. Lots of eateries nearby. We love the local Waitrose for snacks and wine. Gloucester Road tube across the street.

Couple of comments/suggestions.

First Tom, really enjoy your TR's.

You do not have time for of these but after London, my wife and I enjoyed Wales, Cornwall, the Lake District and of course Scotland. Sounds like several trips. We are fortunate as we have travelled to the UK as the result of business and my nephew lives there.

Secondly, I want to plug Google Flights as a source of pricing info. Price alerts can be programmed into your phone/computer to advise you of price drops. Found a $411 dollar ticket to Zurich in August from CVG (one stop) this way. You cannot purchase tickets from Google but it will allow you be directed to that specific sight and will allow you several alternative choices. I have someone else on Fodor's whom recommended this site to thank.

Huggy...Thanks. We really wanted to visit Wales, but not enough time on this one. Next time we get a good fare to London (and we have time) Wales it will be.

((H))