I found kind of a last minute deal for tickets to London, so I have just over 2 full weeks on the ground from later this month through the first week of June.

Been to London, to Bath and the Cotswolds two years ago. Never been to Scotland.

But I was looking also to go directly from London to York for a couple of days. But the more I looked, the more I'm drawn to spending time in Yorkshire, in particular the Dales, for the picturesque verdant landscapes.

Spending more time in Yorkshire would mean not looking much beyond Edinburgh and maybe a day trip to Glasgow. I've bookmarked all the dramatic cliffs in Scotland, though it may be too much ground to cover in 2 weeks unless I skip York and Yorkshire altogether.

Do people who've been to both have a preference?

I could spend 4 nights or so in York and then go north or skip it and just go directly to Edinburgh and beyond.

Both York and Edinburgh have long day trip tours to see some of the countryside though, so maybe that's an option to avoid having to do a lot of the driving myself. That is one of the main things which make me hesitate because it's a long ways from Edinburgh to Inverness (though I guess I could take the train or even fly there) and then from Inverness into Potree and other dramatic landscapes on the Isle of Skye. And that's not even touching on Dunnet Head or Duncansby.

OK -- I will be of absolutely NO help at all I've been to Scotland many times (my favorite place on earth) and to / through Yorkshire several times and it is also a favorite. Both are truly fabulous.

I'd forget about Skye at this late date. Especially with the Bank Holiday accommodations may be hard to find. And Inverness is a nice city but not a place to stay.

Maybe do something like train to York, a couple of days in the city; pick up a car and do 2 or 3 days in the Dales, then drive up through Northumberland - maybe 2 nights (Hadrian's Wall, Alnwick, Bamburgh). Then a couple of days in the Borders (Lindesfarne, Traquair House, the Border Abbeys, St Abb's Head), Then into Fife for a couple of days (Fishing villages, The Isle of May - PUFFINS , Falkland) ; then return the car at EDI and spend 3 days in Edinburgh car-less.

I lve in Yorkshire and so I'm biased. Yes Scotland is wonderful, but I admit I prefer places like Orkney/Shetland to some of the more mountainous parts of the mainland

Yorkshire East, North, West has some beautiful ruined abbey, old churches, little towns with local stores, great walking, nice little pubs, great food, and the towns and cities have wonderful museums, artistic centres and a good train system. I don't know South Yorkshire that well. Yorkshire is not just about York in fact I seldom go there.

Gems might require a car, so places like Masham, Ripon, Fountains Abbey, Robin Hoods Bay, West Yorkshire Sculpture park, Bronte Parsonage would need a car. While Saltaire, Leeds, Harrogate, Hull could be done by train.

https://www.yorkshire.com/

have fun choosing, and come back for advice as your like

I think that you need to check the situation with accommodation in Skye and the Highlands first. If you're coming in the next few weeks, whilst it won't be peak season, you might find places to stay either difficult to find or more than you want to pay. That might help make up your mind for you.

Definitely. He mentioned the end of May through early June - thus the Bank Holiday issue I noted. Mid-May is super easy almost anywhere, but around the Bank Holiday makes things tough almost everywhere. Not just on Skye but the Dales as well as other scenic bits. It depends a lot of where you plan to be on specific dates. Cities are much easier over the holiday because a lot of people head to the countryside. So if you can work it out to be IN Edinburgh say over that three day but really four--day weekend and in rural places on either side would make finding accommodations more doable. Plus rural roads like in the Dales and mid/western Scotland get really congested so best to be in a city. The Dales will be teeming with motorcycles (really TEEMING) Friday evening through Monday,

When is this weekend, like the last weekend of May (30th and 31st) or the weekend before?

Yeah I haven't even looked closely at booking. If the rural areas aren't available I guess that simplifies the planning.

Spring Bank Holiday is May 25th.

Yeah it sounds like driving on some of these narrow country roads will be frustrating that week, not jut the 25th but apparently school holidays for the rest of the week.

So maybe I'll do one of those coach tours which show the beautiful rolling green hills but they don't say where exactly they will go.

Whitby also looks nice if there is a sunny day available.

The full bank Holiday is May 23, 24, 25 -- but really 22-25 because a lot of people get an early start on the Friday. Some book months ahead, even a full year sometimes. It is majorly busy in any scenic/tourist-centric area. Like Memorial Day Weekend but on steroids. . If you are leaning to Scotland -- then check out the Rabbies website. They are a long established very good small group tour company -- 1 day to multi day in 16 seat vans but often fewer passengers. https://www.rabbies.com/en-us (they also do tours of other regions/countries but built their reputation on Scotland). Though at this late date many may be fully booked. https://www.rabbies.com/en-us

So I have enough time to rent a car and drive around Yorkshire or from Edinburgh.

Can only do one or the other. From both York and Edinburgh there are many full-day tours, to the Dales, to the North York Moors or to the Highlands from Edinburgh.

I'm thinking of spending a few more days in Yorkshire and then mostly stay in Edinburgh and maybe do a long coach trip from there to the Highlands and Loch Ness.

Scotland is obviously a much larger place to explore in a week and Edinburgh probably merits at least 4-5 nights by itself.

The driving distances and times around Yorkshire are better, at least according to Google Maps. I wouldn't pick up a car until around the 28th or 29th so I will probably chance it.

Thanks for the feedback and please continue chiming in.

Loch Ness is the 'famous' one but is far from the most scenic loch. Scenery-wise it isn't even in the top 25. So on a short visit don't prioritize seeing Loch Ness.