visiting Scotland without a car
 

I would like to go to Scotland but neither DH nor I will drive there. I am thinking of a few
Days in Edinburgh with side trips to Stirling, Glasgow and maybe St. Andrews. I have looked
At multi-day trips by Rabbies or Timberbusch. To the countryside (Skye, Orkney Islands etc).

Has anyone done one of these multiway trips within the past couple years?

PAT

Edinburgh to Glasgow by train
Change stations in Glasgow (only a couple of blocks )
West Highland Line to Mallaig.
Overnight in a B&B.
CalmMac ferry to Sleat on Skye.
Bus to Portree.
Overnight in B&B
Bus to Kyle of Lochalsh
Train to Inverness
Overnight in B&B
Train to Aberdeen
Overnight in B&B
Train to Edinburgh

All trains very scenic except Inverness to Aberdeen

All B&B's found through local tourist offices. Nothing pre booked. But not high season, early June.

I have done exactly or almost waht Ackslander lists - a really sweet trip that takes little effort - investigate the Freedom of Scotland Pass (if still around) that covers trains and ferries and some buses in conjunction with them.

The highlight of Scotland for me was the desolate Rannoch Moor - no roads go straight thru the moor only the train - a very very weird thing.

For lots on Scottish trains, ferries check out http://www.visitscotland.com/; www.seat61.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.

Rabbies and Timberbush are both very good companies that have been around for ages.

Stirling, Glasgow and St. Andrews are very easy day trips by public transport on your own.

A trip to Scotland sans car is very doable - it just depends on <i>which</i> parts one visits. Picking the destination based on rail access helps a LOT. Areas that harder to visit by train include the Trossachs, large parts of the Highlands, the Borders, and some others.

All the routes Ackislander mentioned are pretty straightforward. But for a multi-day excursion into the Highlands/Islands it would be easy and likely cheaper to book w/ Rabbies or Timberbush, which is what I'd probably do since they are small groups, not big coach tours.

click on scotlib's name to find her trip reports of visiting Scotland without a car.

We Just returned from a trip very much as the hypothetical one you described.

We spent five days in Edinburgh and went on an all day tour on Timbernush tours to Loch Lomond, the foot of the highlands and Stirling Castle.

We had a great time! No car necessary.

Thank you all for responding to my post. I now have a lot to work with as I try to formulate a plan.
I have wanted to visit Scotland for quite some time but did not know if it would be feasible.

Pat

We are planning a trip to England/Scotland in September, all sans car so I will be watching this thread with interest. So far we have:
London to Inverness - DH golf and local distillery
Inverness - Kyle of Lochalsh by train
Kyle - Portree by bus Escorted day tour of Skye
Portree - Armadale - Mallaig Jacobite train to Ft. William
Ft. William - Glasgow and on to England

Looking forward to more comments on your question and thanks irishface for the link to scotlib's trip

I took the 3-day Isle of Skye tour and day tours of St. Andrews and Stirling with Rabbies last November. Saw Timberbush's van many times along the way, so I guess they stop at the same places as Rabbies.

The two companies are almost identical. They have similar itineraries and rates. Really the best option is to choose the one offering the tour(s) you want on the day(s) you need.

Both get very good reviews - maybe the edge <i>slightly</i> to Rabbies.

Hey, thanks for the mention, irishface :-)

Yes, I visit the UK without driving. Sometimes I wish I could rent a car, but when I chauffer a car-less friend and the stress of following directions gets me confusing my left and right, the idea of trying to find my way in a new country on a different side of the road seems an experience I will just leave to other tourists. So far the places I have wanted to visit have been doable with either public transport or mini-coach tour.

For public transport planning: http://www.travelinescotland.com/welcome.do

Something that just came across my Facebook news feed: http://www.snh.gov.uk/enjoying-the-o...rom-the-train/

Cheers.

ttt

Are their private tour guides in Scotland and was it safe to travel by bus and train?


Claydine

claydine: Please start a new thread of your own. This one is nearly 4 years old.