Hi all - I've been lurking here for the past week and have gotten some good tips, but am a little stuck on how to work out my itinerary.

With a good deal on a ticket to Glasgow, I'm off to Scotland for 8 days at the end of September. My must-see places include:

CR Macintosh sites in Glasgow
Kilmartin Glen in Argyll
Edinburgh (esp Museum of Scotland)
Plus, I really, really want to spend a couple of days in Orkney and see some of the prehistoric sites.

If I could catch some live Celtic music along the way, that would be great. My dilemma is how to get to Orkney Islands and back and still get to see other places - should I just buy a plane ticket from Glasgow? I appreciate any suggestions. Thanks in advance.

About me: I'm an American woman in her 30's travelling alone. I can drive, but would rather not.

Do you have 8 days in country - or does than include you travel days to/from Scotland?

If the whole trip is 8 days you rrally only have 6 days for sightseeing and going to the Orkneys will be problematic. Of course you can fly up to the islands - in fact you would have to to have any chance of completing this itinerary.

But Glasgow will take at least two full days if you want to get up to Hill House (a MUST for Macintosh fans), Edinburgh will need about 3 days, and the trip over to Kilmartin is worth at least an overnight.

So I would probably drop the Orkneys - they are worth several days by themselves.

As for traditional music in the cities, start with the Scotia Bar in Glasgow and Sandy Bells in Edinburgh.

Whistle Binkie's, just off the Royal Mile in Edinburgh often has locals jamming on traditional instruments.

8 days not including travel. I arrive at 8 AM on a Sunday (overnight flight) and leave at noon the next Monday. Hopefully I won't be too jet-lagged the day I arrive.

Monday of the *next* week, that is.

You can fly LoganAir to Kirkwall. But with only 8 days that is a loooong ways to go.

The orkneys are out of this world - but in little over a week you are trying to cover an awful lot of territory. The neolithic sites in Kilmartin are not nearly as extensive/impressive as those in Orkney.

If it were me and Orkney was a "must" I would fly into Glasgow and spend the first 2+ days there. Then I'd fly to Kirkwall and spend 3 days in Orkney and finish up with 3 days in Edinburgh (or you could reverse them Edinburgh > Orkney > Glasgow. Skip Kilmatin this trip).

It seems you are REALLY interested in the ancient sites. There are plenty in the Orkneys - and the days are already getting shorter that far north so 3 days would be about right to see things on the various islands.

Of course, if you drop the Orkneys, then you would have a lot more time to see things in the south.

Hi Deborah

The way to do what you want is:-

Day 1 arrive Glasgow and take the day to see the sights. Do see the House for an Art Lover in Bellahouston Park as well as the "real" CRM stuff.

On Monday morning, take the train and a taxi too see Hill House at helenburgh, then come back into Glasgow.

You are going to HAVE to drive twice. Hire a car on Monday evening and drive up to either end of Kilmartin Glen. Take Tuesday to go through the glen slowly (starting at the visitor centre is a good way of getting orientated), then drive back to Edinburgh.
Get the first flight to Kirkwall on Wednesday and hire a car again. Get the first flight back on Thursday and spend the rest of your break in Edinburgh, getting the train to Glasgow and the airport to leave.

I have some details on most of the places you want to visit. Let me know if you want me to send them to you

Thanks for all your help so far - after thinking about it, I decided to fly to Stornoway Tuesday morning and come back Thursday evening. It was only $174 RT!

Of course, now I see Sheila's advice. Hopefully starting in Stornaway won't throw me off.
Sheila -I'd love to get your info - will email you soon.

So now you've decided on Lewis/Harris instead of the Orkneys?

Oops - how embarrassing. I mixed up Stornaway with Stromness. Back to Travelocity I go.

Leaving on Saturday! I'm so excited.

I got a flight to Kirkwall - so my current plan is:

Day 1 & 2 - Glasgow/Helensburgh
Day 3 - Glasgow? then 5:30 flight to Kirkwall, Orkney from Edinburgh
Day 4 - Drive around Orkney mainland
Day 5 - fly back to Edinburgh in early AM
Days5 to 8 - rest of trip will be spent in Edinburgh, plus a side trip to Kilmartin Glen, maybe Stirling too.

I want to be able to take the weather into account. When is sunset this time of year?

It's full dark about 7.30pm.