Scotland for a weekend - 2 days travelling. WWYD/AIBU

[Passthedamnhamplease]

Boyfriend of 7 months has an annual BBQ at his mum's place in scotland for all his mates in august. He will go up for a week. He wants me and 22 month DD to go, however due to work, I could only go for 2 nights. I am not sure I can be arsed to go all the way from london to scotland for 2 nights - means 2 whole days of travelling for 1 day there. Plus the BBQ is for his mates and none of them have kids. I think it will be pretty boozy - DD will be fine, but not exactly totally child friendly. I obviously haven't met any of them

Should I make the effort to go? I was single for 5 years before this and am very independent and set in my ways. Sometimes I have to check that I am not being too independent and I am letting him in enough! He is very easygoing and always very happy to fit in with my life and doesn't make many demands or requests of me. Am I being churlish not going?

Typing it out, I feel like I am BU - so would welcome your thoughts. thanks!

I live in an extremely remote part of Scotland and travel often to London, via Edinburgh or Glasgow.

Both those cities are really easy and surprisingly quick to reach from down south.
East Coast trains go between London and Edinburgh.
Virgin Trains go between London and Glasgow.
ScotRail runs modern, clean, fast, quick shuttle services between Edinburgh and Glasgow (and vice versa), every 15 mins during working hours and every 30 minutes at less busy times. Journey time around 45 mins .

Don't be put off by seasick refs to Virgin Pendolinos. I use them often - and, while they may affect a few people, I am often sick travelling by road but have never been troubled by them. Am not a fan of what Richard Branson stands for politically etc, but really do I take my hat off to him re trains between London and Glasgow. The East Coast trains are good, but less luxurious, in my opinion. But for both you have to be canny:

a) book in advance and if possible online to get cheapest fares
b) Virgintrains website virgintrains.co.uk - will give you probably the best fares for west coast AND east coast routes.
c) expect sleeper trains to be very, very busy in July/August. People will have been booking them for weeks already. But if you can get a berth, your DD will probably love the adventure. It IS romantic - tho' to be honest it's quicker and more efficient to travel by day.
d) expect all trains, everywhere in the UK, to be busy on Friday and Sunday afternoons
e) RESERVE SEATS It's free and makes all the difference in the world. You can ask for reservations in the quiet coach, if that's what you like.
f) If travelling on Sat or Sun, consider Weekend First - only £15 extra, free snacks and drinks, and much, much more space and comfort
g) Get a FAMILY RAILCARD before you start to book - gives you big discounts

I don't live in Dundee but it has some very good things to see - eg Shackleton's Discovery ship and exhibition about the Antarctic, historic wooden warship, wonderful science exhibitions, great art gallery (and soon, an outpost of the V&A), old castles, country parks, heritage trails and sites...www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attractions-g186518-Activities-Dundee_Scotland.html

Agree that Edinburgh Airpost bus is excellent - sets down and picks up right outside airport departures/arrivals and goes to city centre. Frequent, too. Edinburgh is officially one of the most beautiful cities in the world, with stunning views, historic sites, posh shops, lovely gardens, great museums and art galleries and - at festival time - the most astonishing range of entertainment, from staid or hip to really wierd and wonderful. At festival and fringe times (basically, August) there is a real buzz in the air, even if you are not actually going to any of the concerts or shows.

Have you got somewhere to stay when you;re up here?
Edinburgh in Fringe/festival is madness for b and b, hotels etc
ie expensive

At the airport the blue bus stops right outside the terminal and will take you into the centre ie Princes St/Waverley Bridge, but it also stops along the route
Youll see everything from bagpipes to mime artists as soon as you set outside the bus at waverley

Are you staying at your boyfriend's mum's? If you need to book accommodation best to do it early as Edinburgh gets really busy that time of year.

I've not been on a tram (like vast numbers of the Edinburgh population I don't live on the route and rarely go to the airport) but I hear they get very hot and don't have air conditioning. The airport bus is brilliant for getting into town. Echo whoever said that the Botanics are amazing.

Much prefer the train to the plane when doing Edinburgh to london even with a wee one. Too much fannying about with the plane, lots of queueing, putting bags down, locate small child, picking bags up, locate small child, queueing, stripping off, being felt up, locate small child, redress, sit down, stand up, queue, locate small child, lose tickets, find tickets and that's before you even get on the plane!

Train is much simpler, buy magazine and loads and loads of nice food from M&S and maybe even a cute little bottle of wine. Once your both on the train that's you for the next 4.5 hours, cuppa tea from the trolley, booster seat for the Bairn and you're good to go. If your little one is a cutie they will charm the person opposite who will then keep them amused and you can read your magazine, eat your food and then you arrive un frazzled bang smack in the centre of Edin!

You should definitely go OP.

Oh and I think the fact that he has invited your DC, it's at his mums and all his oldest friends will be there is maybe his way of wanting to show you off to them. I'd be pleased to be asked and think you should go, get to know his mates, his mum and see him in a different environment from the one your used to. Sounds fun & Edinburgh is great too

I live in Edinburgh and frequently do day trips to London for work. My colleagues do it at least once a week (I get the train, they fly). If BBQ is in the afternoon you could leave DD with someone for the day, fly up in the morning and get the last flight home.

Another one slightly shocked at the slagging off of Dundee particularly for DCs. Great park, science museum, farm parks within easy reach, lovely beaches close by, castles and palaces nearby, 2 historic ships, great new leisure centre, easy access to some of the most beautiful glens - an hour away from Scotland's best skiing etc etc. Still it's a good thing most people think it's dull, keeps it quieter for the rest of us.

I think there's plenty to do in Dundee but wouldn't go there if just in Ed for the weekend. We were in Ed at the weekend and used the tram which does go to the airport. Friends of mine like them now they are there, it was the endless trafffic disruption whilst they were being built and the financial mismanagement they disliked.

I travel to London from Glasgow all the time to my hubbies friends. A flight to Glasgow. 55 minutes Scotland is vast though. It's not a tiny place. Glasgow, Edinburgh, fine. Further north. Not so much.

The kids will love it. Huge open spaces. Lots of nature. Beautiful scenery. What's not to love