Yet another Scotland itinerary
 

Would love some comments -- we decided to play it by ear as to what we actually do, for the most part, but we want to sketch the outlines and get the hotels booked.

Saturday: Arrive in London. Night in London.
Sunday: London. The Cranley Hotel.

Monday: Fly to Edinburgh. Stay at the Windmill House.

Tuesday: Edinburgh

Wednesday: Pick up rental car. The East Neuk and St. Andrew's. Night in Dunkeld at the Birnam Wood House B&B (couldn't find a place in St. Andrews for the price and availability. Cuts driving the next day). (Could we fit in Stirling this day, or is that too much?)

Thursday: Drive to Speyside. Stay at the Craigellachie Hotel.

Friday: Culloden. Stay at Braelangwell House in the Black Isle (near Inverness).

Saturday: Inverness and Braelangwell.

Sunday: Drive up north a bit. Stay at the Summer Isles Hotel in Ullapool (other suggestions?)

Monday: Drive to Skye. Stay at ?

Tuesday: Skye

Wednesday: West Highlands. Sightseeing. Stay at Drover's Inn.

Thursday: Drover's Inn.

Friday: Grand Country House Hotel. Big Splurge. I'm leaning towards Ardanaiseig -- any other suggestions?

Saturday evening: Fly to London.
Sunday: Fly home.

Would love hotel/B&B suggestions and critiques, as well as things to see and "Lordy you're driving too much/not enough"s.

This is pretty good. Do tell us what you think of the Windmill House once you've stayed.

I think adding Stirling would be more than I would want. You have to factor in all the places you want to stop along the way. But if you're going to do it anyway, do it first, for a logical route.

When in Birnam/Dunkeld, take a walk in the evening. I would suggest the Hermitage, which is STUNNING in the summer.

Don't waste time in Inverness. The railway line needs a station and that's about all Invernes is good for. Do read the prophesies of the Brahan Seer before you go. Spen the time driving to Cromarty and round the Black Isle instead.

Summer Isles is about as good as it gets in Ullapool.

Looking at the places you are staying elsewhere, I'm inclined to suggest the Sligachan Hotel on Skye for you. As you may know the Hotel Eilean Iarmain is my best preference, but I like the Slig too and I suspect you would too.

You could, on the other hand do the big country House bit here and stay at the Kinloch Lodge.

The Ardaneisig is on my list of very desirable places to try- but it's not a Grand Country House Hotel. Another one you should look at in the same (general) area is the Monachyle Mhor at Balquhidder. The Taychreggan is more Country House than Ardaneisig (tho' FWIW, I personally would far rather stay at Ardaneisig)

Would just add some info re your Sat/Sun on the Black Isle. Do skip I'ness - after Culloden/Clava Cairns you might want to visit Ft George. It is HUGE and right on the water across from the Black Isle. it is still an active garrison but also has lots of historical exhibits abouth early military life, the clearances, etc. And you can walk around on the top of the massive outer walls and see bottle nosed dolphins in the firth less than 50 feet from shore. You could spend 1/2 a day at Ft George and not see it all.

On the Black Isle itself - you can visit Chanory (sp?) Point which is directly across from Ft George, Hugh Miller's house in Cromarty, Fortrose Cathedral, and just the general scenery. There are dolphin watching boats - but often you can see them almos as well right from shore.

I would second the vote to skip Inverness. Nice town, nothing special. However, I have a recommendation for a B&B in Skye -- Tir Alainn, south of Broadford. Delightful host, nice sized, clean rooms with plaid everywhere, and wonderful view of the water/isles. (the host sang to us at breakfast!) :D

Thanks for all of your suggestions. We've refined it a bit -- we're staying at the Birnam Wood House in Dunkeld, the Braemore Square B&B outside Ullapool instead of the Summer Isles Hotel, and the Limestone cottage on Skye in Broadford. Anyone stayed at any of these places? Any comments?