UK in July -- early planning stages
 

Hello all -- it's been awhile seen I've posted. We were expats in Derby for 3 years and I'm planning our first return trip around the first two weeks of July (14-15 days, flexible at this point). There are 4 of us (DD18 and DS15).

Rough plans would be to fly into LHR/MAN/BHX and hang out with friends in Derby for a few days. We would then (with friends) spend 5-7 days in Yorkshire and 5-7 days in "Scotland" and then fly home from Edinburgh (or MAN??). We'd rent/hire a car the entire time. Sound reasonable so far?

Our friends are going to take the lead on the Yorkshire planning. We are on our own for Scotland.

We took 3 separate holidays in Scotland previously. We love it there and hence the desire to return. However, DW wants to visit a different part. So, I'll start looking into that in addition to scoping out flights.

For reference, we have visited:

Edinburgh
http://ukfrey.blogspot.com/2011/07/edinburgh.html

Callander/Skye/Loch Ness
http://ukfrey.blogspot.com/2012/06/s...highlands.html

St Andrews/Royal Deeside (Aboyne)
http://ukfrey.blogspot.com/2013/06/s...-cows-and.html

We've not spent any time in southern Scotland (Dumfries/Galloway, Borders) so that's an option but there's a strong pull to the Highlands. If I recall, Oban and Isle of Mull were also areas of interest that we missed. At any rate, I've got some more work to do there but I'll take suggestions.

You can't really go wrong with any ogf those three suggestions. What sort of things are you wanting to do or see during your time, as that could well be the decider. Have a look at this website for ideas.
http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/

Outdoor mainly: walks and views. The occasional stately manor/castle is fine as well. Thanks!

I'm beginning to come round to Dumfries and Galloway. There are lots of suggestions for all levels of walking here:
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/galloway/
The scenery is also like the Highlands but not quite as high. There are plenty of ruined castles.
http://www.welcometoscotland.com/thi...tegory=castles
There are also some rather nice gardens
http://www.touristnetuk.com/scotland...tely-homes.asp
Houses include Broughton House in Kirkcudbright, Threave house (guided tours only). A bit further to drive are Dumfries House and Drumlarig Castle.

There are also the ruined abbeys of Sweetheart, Dundrennan, Glen Luce and Whithorn Priory.

Don't miss the gemrock museum in Creetown.

The Borers area is stuffed with stately homes - suggestions here
http://www.touristnetuk.com/scotland...tely-homes.asp
as well as the ruined abbeys of Jedburgh, Melrose, Dryburgh and Kelso. The scenery is probably gentler. Ideas for walking here. The Eildon Hills walk is good.
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/borders/

Mull has dramatic scenery and excellent walking.
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/mull/
This is also the place to go for wildlife. The only stately home is Duart Castle. If you get there, make sure you also go to Iona which is a short ferry ride.

Hi IndyDad - the kids are 18 & 15 already! Time flies.

For this trip I'd strongly recommend you consider the Borders w/ maybe a short foray into Northumberland.

The Border Abbeys, St Abbs Head, Tantallon Castle, Traquair House, Holy Island, Alnwick and Bamburgh Castles and MUCH more.

It will be totally different than your other visits but still some terrific scenery and great walks.

I don't remember if you guys have visited Hadrian's Wall -- but if not, whether you do the Borders or the SW definitely squeeze in a day for the Wall.

Also -- on your drive up from North Yorkshire I'd plan a several hour stop at Beamish.

http://www.beamish.org.uk

Hi janisj -- I hoped and assumed you would still be around to advise. This is somewhat of a HS graduation present for DD if you can believe it! We did see Alnwick and Holy Island on one of our first trips as well. Forgot to mention that.

So what a good base for the Borders? and Dumfries?

What's the best way to find self catering or Guest House type accommodations these days? Any specific recommendations?

Thanks ESW -- you've given me a lot to consider!

Yep, we stopped at Hadrian's Wall on the way back from trip #3.

Ok -- Northumberland and Hadrian's wall - check :)

If you have 6 or 7 days I'd do 3 in Dumfries/Galloway and 3 in teh Borders. They are near enough to each other that you wouldn't lose a day traveling between the two.

I'd base in/near Dumfries/Carsthorne/New Abbey/Rockcliffe ( a fodorite who I haven't seen posting in a while actually lives in Rockcliffe) Be SURE to visit Threave Castle/gardens and the Osprey Centre)

In the Borders -- in the Innerleithen/Gallashiels/Melrose/Dryburgh corridor. Just soooo much to see/do in the area. Smailhollm Tower, the Abbeys, Abbotsford Traquair, and St Abbs for sure (WONDERFUL walking there)

I don't really have one 'go to site' for finding rentals or B&Bs anymore since I know most areas pretty well and have a 'nose' for what to look for. -- I just do a google search something like >>Dryburgh self-catering<< or >>Carsthorne B&B<< and see what pops up. Since all the typical sites will pop up it is easy to sort/assess the returns.

Melrose makes a nice small town for the Borders Abbeys- you can walk to several abbeys if into longish walks and Melrose has its own old abbey.

Dryburgh Abbey was my favorite of the three I saw - Jedburgh, Melrose the others -lovely sylvan setting near banks of Tweed (?) River.

How nice to see you posting, indydad! I'll let the Scotland experts weigh in. Just wanted to say 'hi'! I always enjoyed your family's trip reports.

We are spending time in this area as well this year. My borders experience has always been as day trips from Edinburgh, usually with the Pipe Band. We liked it well enough to spend more time on our own. It is beautiful and offers lots to do and see. We also loved Mull last trip. I just booked a self catering place near Kirkudbright last week for June and there were already several places that were booked up. You should probably lock that in soon.

Flight prices to/from LHR dropped considerably today so I may pull the trigger. LHR/EDI open jaw is about $300 more per person ($1200 total). That's a pretty stiff price to pay for the convenience.

Other than driving from the Borders to LHR (we'll have a car recall), are there other good options?

What carriers should I look into for EDI to LHR one-way tickets?

Thanks.

Dumfries might be better.

337 miles, 5:45 Google time (I know, I know)

I'd to that for $1000. Insane?


Looks like one-way flights are ~$100pp. So, save $800 and take the risk of separate bookings?

Appreciate the input.

You can fly EDI to LHR (not part of an open jaw) for a lot less than $300 on BA.

What time is your flight out of LHR?

The drive is very long so you'd want to break it somewhere so I wouldn't do that.

(Even flying easyJet to LGW and taking the coach to LHR would be less cheaper than $300)

Flights from 11 all the way to 15:30 though I haven't looked at connections, etc.

The one-way or drive question can be answered later I think. Bottom line is one of those should be way better than $300 pp so go ahead an pull the trigger on the ~$1000pp LHR flights (they've been trending at $1300-1500), right?

oh - I didn't see your 2nd post . . . yes, that is what I'd do. (and I'm one who always recommends not booking separate tickets -- but I've actually done it on the EDI/LHR route twice)

Flights booked! (I am a man of action!)

In/out of Heathrow. 14 nights in country plus 1 on the flight over.

I can revisit the logistics later as we may rejigger things to work our way back to LHR.

For example:

Derby
Dumfries and Galloway
Borders
Yorkshire (Moors and/or Dales)
Derby

(we can stay with friends in Derby--last Derby stop would be optional)

Return flight is 15:45 so lots of options.

indy_dad -- So happy to see your post here. I don't have anything to contribute about your coming trip, but I have always loved hearing about your great family travel adventures. Hard to believe your daughter is graduating from high school. Look forward to a new report with great pictures.

Yes, great to see that you're coming back Indy_dad.

Looks as if our paths probably won't cross and I can't really add anything to the excellent advice you've already had, but I'm sure that I'll enjoy reading about it.