hopingtotravel

Tentatively beginning some planning because my husband wants to go back to Scotland. In 1998 on our whirlwind trip through, I thought Ft. William looked like a neat place to come back and spend some time. Now, Fodorites say 'no'.

We've seen Edinburgh, Inverness, Loch Ness, the Whiskey Trail, Oban and Glasgow.

So: how many nights for the Isle of Skye? 2?

Has anyone taken the ferry to Isle of Lewis? What do you do with your car? Did you have to go to Ullapool for the ferry? Any reason to go to Ullapool?

If Skye and Ft. William aren't a place to pick for 3 or 4 nights, where in western Scotland would Fodorites recommend? My husband is tired of these one night stops!

mr_go

I think you and your husband are wise to cut out all the one-nighters. Scotland is such an enjoyable place, I'd hate to feel rushed.

You say you've been to Oban before...have you stayed there? We did, for 3 nights, and found it to be an excellent base for the Western shore.

As far as Skye is concerned, we stayed only 2 nights...but wished it was longer. We did not take the ferry out to Lewis, but there are others here who can help you plan that.

Here is a link to our full trip report. I hope this helps:

http://www.onelittleworld.com/scotland_1.html

sheila

Really Fort William isn't a great time, although it's in a great location.

You could spend as long as you like on Skye. 2 days strikes me as a bit on the short side; maybe 3?

I've never been to Lewis, but I have caught the ferry to North Uist from Uig. You can sail from Uig (on Skye to North Uist or to Tarbet on Harris. If you want to go to Lewis you need to sail from Ullapool. Lewis and Harris are joined to each other. The ferries are car ferries. You don't HAVE to take your car, but Lewis and Harris are BIG islands.

What sort of places do you like to stay in?

MarkY

Mr_Go: I just finished reading your trip report, only I found it via Google instead of your post here.

My wife, her sister, and I are planning an England/Scotland trip for next May. I've booked marked your site for reference.

We'll have about 10 days in Scotland. At this point, we're planning on spending 4 nights in London, training to Edinburgh for about a 3 night stay and then picking up a car to make our way back to London. I figure we'll have about 6 or 7 days to make the trip.

If you have any suggestions, please post them. Our only European experience is a few trips to Italy.

BTW Hopingtotravel, I didn't mean to hijack your thread, just thought maybe we could share info.

Mark

sheila

MarkY

Since your question is so unlike hoping's, perhaps you'd like to strat a new thread of your own?

Could I suggest that you give us some background, too, so that we can be more helpful with input.

Pausanias

We spent three happy days on Skye last summer, in Portree, and would gladly have stayed longer. There are some spectacular, if somewhat strenuous, walks. We passed on Fort William and went to Glen Coe, again, for the walking. I wouldn't recommend staying there though if you do not enjoy hiking. Next trip will include Mull and Iona.

If you want to stay on the mainland, the Kintyre penninsula has a surprising variety of activities. We stayed in Inverarry and drove down to Kilmartin which has a vast collection of prehistoric through late medieval sites and less demanding walks.

hopingtotravel

Thanks for lots of ideas.
Somewhere I read that if you take a car on the ferry, you have to reserve ahead--thus knowing the weight of your car. (Since one never knows for sure what the car rental agency will dish out, that doesn't seem possible). Do I have this right/wrong?
Mark, don't worry, I've hijacked (not deliberately) plenty of threads myself!
When we stayed in Oban, I think it was the Columbia Hotel (?) not too crazy about it.
What kind of places do we like to stay? I like to mix small boutique hotels, country inns and b&bs.
I would like to see the standing stones on the Isle of Lewis, but am wondering if all that's involved would be too much hassle.

sheila

You don't HAVE to book, but if you want to get on a specific boat at a specific time, it's a good idea, just in case. Calmac will take booking on the basis that it will be a rental Group whatever car, so don't let that put you off.

If it were me, I'd spend three nights on Skye, get the boat to Tarbert from Uig, spend the night at the nice palce next to the beach on the west coast of Harris (Duh- brain dead tonight), see Callanish the next day, get the evening ferry from Leverburgh to Berneray, stay at the Lochmaddy Hotel, and either spend a day in the Uists, and get the boat back from Lochmaddy to Uig, or two days in the Uists and get the boat back from Lochboisdale to Oban.

hopingtotravel

Sheila, thank you for your detailed answer--I'm printing it out. Over the years I've collected things on where to stay on Skye--I assume Portree. Do you have any recommendations there?

sheila

I always have a bit of a difficulty about where to stay on Skye. I love the Eilean Iarmain, but it's down in Sleat, which isn't very central.

If I could afford it I'd like to try the House Over By (which is the accommodation at the Three Chimneys). I hear good things about the Flodigarry.