What's best place to spend one month in Scotland
 

I will be in Scotland for the month of August. I'd like opinions on where would be the best place for a " home base". Opinions please.

You could do a search on Scotland and Sheila if you want instant gratification...I think she's on holiday just now, but she might respond...

Do you want a city? town? village?

Mountains? coast?

If coast, east? west? north?

An island or on the mainland?

Do you have a car? or are you reliant on public transport? (very sparse in some areas).

I could list dozens and dozens of places I'd like to spend a month, but I don't know if you would like any of them.

You haven't given us much to work with. If you answer mjdh1957's questions we can offer useful advice.

What sorts of things do you want to see/do?

One thing pretty sure is it won't be in Edinburgh. W/ all the festivals/tattoo totally filling the place, finding a room for a month (or even 3 nights) would be VERY difficult.

Fife is nice and not too far from Edinburgh. Take a look at this url for some ideas on the east and north coasts plus the Orkneys and Shetlands:

http://postcards-pfte.blogspot.co.uk/

I don't know enough about Scotland to ask a question on city, town, etc., which is why I asked the question. I thought some people may have some experiences that they particularly enjoyed and would offer up an opinion.

Thanks for Fife, the Orkneys and Shetlands. I will look at those areas.

One of the most important considerations is whether you will have a car or if you need to rely on public transportation.

And, what are you interests ?

Please get a map of Scotland if you don't already have one.

Our responses are dependent on your answers to the above questions. It's really irrelevant as to whether we particularly enjoy a place if it doesn't meet your criteria.

We weren't being snarky. Scotland is a VERY big place. How would you respond if someone asked "I'm going to to the west coast of the USA. Where should I base for a month?"

There would be no way on earth someone could give useful advice w/o info like do they want a beach? Mountains? Big city? Wine country? Movie Stars or museums or hiking or whatever.

So we'll ask <i>again</i>:

What sorts of things do you hope to see/do? (after all you picked Scotland for some reason, there must be something you dream of seeing)

Do you plan on renting a car or doing this by public transport?

Fife and/or Orkney isn't that useful unless you want to see things like fishing villages (Fife), or neolithic sites (Orkney)

There are quite literally hundreds of places you could stay . . . but I can't recommend ANY of them w/o more info from you.

My favorite place in the West Coast is San Francisco. And my next favorite place in the West Coast is Monterey.

In San Francisco, you can walk on the Golden Gate Bridge, visit the wharf, and visit any one of the many little neighborhoods, which offer up all kinds of ethnic restaurants. and several museums right at the park. Don't miss China town and the cable cars!

In Monterey, there is the Seventeen Mile Drive, which would take you to the famous and beautiful Pebble Beach Golf Course, also there is the equally famous Aquarium that could keep you busy for most of a day. It is located on Cannery Row made known through the writings of John Steinbeck. Steinbeck country can be reached by driving about 20 minutes to the John Steinbeck Museum - a trip worth seeing.

Vpikcs: thanks, that is exactly what I was looking for.

Vpikcs is obviously a mind reader. That's not something I can do, so I was unable to provide exactly what you were looking for without more information.

The Stirling area may suit, as there are so many places, including many castles, to visit nearby. The scenery around Kyle of Lochalsh is superb with easy access to Isle of Skye.

I give up. It is like pulling teeth. I <i>know</i> all those things about SF and Monterey. Does that mean you want a seaside city in Scotland too?

None of the suggestions so far BTW address whether you are driving or using public transport . . .

And do understand it is very late to be looking for accommodations - if you mean <u>this</u> August.

Thank you Susanna, I look at both of those ideas.

Hmm, you should answer some simple questions. The people asking them of you have an invaluable amount of information they could easily and willingly provide you if you give more details. You truly are missing out.

If it were me, I would divide my time up for two weeks somewhere north (castle country) and two weeks somewhere south. But I know that I would have our own transportation. I don't think I'd stay in one location for a month.

Why must it be one place? You'll be restricting yourself as to where you can go and what you can do

Yeah the more I think about it, I'd actually do 4 different places, a week each. But that would be based on my interests.

How about basing yourself in Pitlochry, in Highland Perthshire for a fortnight. The town itself has a ‘salmon ladder’, and extremely popular festival theatre, (often fully booked.) Monday night’s a ‘highland night’. (& if you like ‘putting’ the green there is the best I’ve ever played)
There are many walks, clearly signposted but to enjoy the surrounding area A CAR IS A MUST. (? Advisable to hire one from Glasgow, Edinburgh or possibly Perth? ) We’ve thoroughly enjoyed trips over many years from Pitlochry to the following:
Half Day trips: Aberfeldy - Crieff - Dunkeld - House of Bruar - Queen’s View - Pass of Killiecrankie -
Full Day trips: Balmoral Castle + Crathie Church + Breamar + Tomintoul
Perth (45 minutes by car) - Edinburgh (2 hours in car or you could catch train) –
Culloden (Famous Battle site) (+ Inverness ?) - Killin - Stirling Castle - Queen’s View/Kinloch Rannoch -
There is of course many lochs, castles, and much history (& whisky!)

Thanks everyone for your ideas.

Mmmmm.....

Janis knows somewhere in Scotland that is very similar to Monterey!

I would base anywhere, I would just tour : two to three nights in each place. Use the ferry system to "hopscotch" around.

Btw are we talking about this August? We are up in Oban in 3 weeks, booked late. Rooms are tight.

In fact I would revise that. I the past we have really enjoyed touring for a period and the renting a cottage for a week to it our feet up at the end. Makes for a well balanced trip.

belted_galloway: I like your idea. I’m going to do just that. Instead of a base, I’ll do three or four here and three or four there. If I get tired (I’m 74 years old) I’ll stop longer somewhere comfortable. Thanks for your advice.

I had a great time, first in Edinburgh, then Blowgowrie, the the Orkney Islands. I found a room in Edingburgh, a hotel in Blowgowrie and a lovely hostel in Papa Westray. I had a great time sort of 'winging it'. Those of you who offered suggestions, here is a genuine thank you. I was gone for a bit over one month.

My year long journey is over. I'm now in Istanbul with only 3 more days before I go back to America. By the way, I'm writing a book about my journey. I'm 75 years old. If you helped me in anyway, here's a big thank you.