After receiving some feedback on my original itinerary, I am essentially starting over on the Scotland segment of my trip. Coming from York, we'll take the train to Edinburgh for Days 11-17 (7 days in Scotland). We are flying out of Edinburgh so we need to be in Edinburgh on Day 17. I'd like to spend at least 3 days for Edinburgh so that leaves 4 days where we can explore other areas. I know I want to visit Stirling Castle which I know is very doable. Other than that, I'm just not sure what is worth it. Isle of Skye? or rather Glencoe? Loch Lomond? We will be there this September. I'd appreciate any advice on my itinerary.

Day 11 - Arrive in Edinburgh from York, explore Edinburgh
Day 12 - Explore Edinburgh, stay in Edinburgh
Day 13 - ??
Day 14 - ??
Day 15 - ??
Day 16 - ??
Day 17 - Edinburgh, stay in Edinburgh
Day 18 - Depart Edinburgh for the States

Do you want to do this by public transport or are you renting a car?? But in any case, splitting Edinburgh into two stays complicates things and adds and extra/unneeded hotel check in/check out. With such a short visit that really wastes time. Instead take the train from York to someplace else - could be Inverness, or Stirling, or Aberdeen, or Oban, or Glasgow, or other options . . . Explore that area then take the train to Edinburgh for the final 3 or 4 nights.

You really don't have enough time for Skye -- it takes most of a day to drive there and most of a day to drive back to Edinburgh. You'd want a minimum of 2.5 full days on Skye - which would be rushed. That means close to 5 days Edinburgh > Skye > Edinburgh.

One very viable option would be to rent a car when arriving in Edinburgh, drive across the Forth into Fife and spend 3 nights there . . . Gorgeous fishing villages, St Andrews, Falkland Palace/garden, easy access to Glamis Castle, realtively easy access to Dunnottar castle, etc. Drive back to EDI, drop the car and take a taxi or the tram into the city centre and spend the last 3 or 4 nights there

Or - take the train or drive to Oban, visit Mull (either using your rental car or a coach tour from Oban). If you drive, with three nights you could do Oban, Mull, plus either Glencoe or Kilmartin glen.

If you haven't visited Stirling during your 'out-of-Edinburgh' days, then just do it as an easy day trip by train from Edinburgh.

Another option would be to do JUST Edinburgh and take a 2 to 4 day Rabbies small group tour -- https://www.rabbies.com/en-gb/tours/...from-edinburgh

You already have good advice from janis, will just recommend the Water of Leith walk whilst in Edinburgh in addition to the usual suspects - Arthur's Seat, Calton Hill etc.

Hi Janis,

You are right, I think I complicated my time by splitting Edinburgh in two different stays. I'm looking into Rabbies Tours now, they have some really attractive tours from Edinburgh which will fit into my timeframe.

They are tours -- but are small groups so not like those awful large group tours. Sixteen is the absolute maximum that fits in their small coaches. But often fewer - the tour will run no matter how many are booked. Because they use small vehicles, they can go lots of places 50 passenger coaches can't. Plus you can choose the level/cost of accommodations