Scotland - would any of you be able to help me?

[ChippingIn]

We are planning a trip to Scotland in July (YAY - but please ask the mossies to stay away!).

2 adults, no children.

The current plan is:

Start in Inverness (3N) - do the Kyle of Lockhalsh train trip (1N Plockton) and have a day in Inverness.

Hire a car.

Drive down to do Loch Ness (well you have to don't you ), Urqhart Castle down to Fort William (3N).

Train out to Malig.

Day around base of Ben Nevis (waterfall walk etc) and Loch Linnhe.

Down to Lochaline a couple of nights on Mull then out to Oban (2N)

Down to Mull of Kintyre (1N) (bit of retro tragic recorder playing )

Over to Loch Lomond (singing You take the High Road...bigger ) (1N)

Glasgow (1N)

Falkirk wheel

Edinburgh (2N)

Can you tell us anything we shouldn't miss on that route (or a little off of it).

How long you think we need (we have allowed 14 days not including the days we arrive or leave). I know we could spend a lot longer but we would actually like to condense it a bit, but not sure where/how?

We would like to stay in at least one, preferably more, proper castles (cheap not expensive) and probably B&B's, budget hotels other than that.

Both more interested in scenery/architecture not so much (or at all really unless completely unmissable) museums, nightclubs or huge hikes.

If anyone can help with planning any aspect of it I' be very grateful :) I'll be back mid morning to see if anyone's made it this far and answer any questions.

(Hope it all makes sense, haven't been to bed yet!)

Glen Orchy

yy to Glencoe

Oban is a bit meh

www.visitscotland.com to choose accommodation.

From the Falkirk Wheel book a boat trip which takes you to Linlithgow, and go round the Palace there.

You can also go to Go Ape at Beecraigs, Linlithgow, for a treetop adventure course.

I'd second spending more time in Glasgow. Particularly as its at the end of your trip and all the museums and stuff are free, and its much cheaper to eat out, for pretty high quality meals. Try West End or Merchant City.

You can drive to loch lomond from glasgow in less than an hour, so you could stay in glasgow for the evening after spending a day at the loch.

Avon skin-so-soft is a great midgie repellant, by the way. I've found lavander and lemongrass oils work well too. You'll definately need it around loch ness. (Watch out for ticks as well, gross)

If you've not sorted the dates yet, it might be worthwhile going at the end of july/first couple of days in august to catch the opening of the edinburgh festival.

Thank you for all of your replies!!

Sorry - I mis-typed! The (2N) is on Mull, not in Oban!

We have already extended our trip from 3-4 days on Mull to this and we are going over to France etc so any additional days in Scotland is really going to make the other part of the trip very short. Of course it would be lovely to stay longer, but then something has to give somewhere else :(

Fanjo we are only doing one or two small walks around the bottom of Ben Nevis as we aren't spectacularly fit and we don't want to book 3 or 4 days around there hoping to get good enough weather to do it - so the Glencoe area was going to be done that day as well - do you think that's enough time?

FledtoScotland Oban is just a 'going through on the way to Mull of Kintyre, but it's nice to know we don't need to leave anytime to see it on the way through! The Inn is on the Loch Linnie side? Do you know what it's called? I don't like whiskey but you can't go to Scotland with having a tot or two can you?! Do you have any recommendations? I'll have a look at Fortrose - I love dolphin watching so it sounds lovely. A PM awaits you :)

Essie we may miss out MofK and LL, but they are both very nostalgic for me and they are things that have always been Scotland for me. So if it's not this trip it will be another but as it's taken me this many years to get there I kind of think I'd better try my hardest to go this time!!
We are going to Mull to take the boat trip to Lunga to see the Puffins as we believe it's a better option than Skye - do you know?

Then I got too bamboozled by all the replies I am going to have to pull the maps out and write all this down... but any more comments would be very welcome - however, if you could agree on things it would make my life much easier

The boat trip to Lunga is really special (by all accounts...many, many years in the area and I have still only been to Staffa once!!)

Mners agree??? Now that's just a little too much to ask

I just want to second what others have said really- don't spend as long in Oban, Plockton is lovely, haven't been to Mull, but do love Skye. Agree that if you can choose another month to go up do so, july is always very rainy.

Also, disagree with Beth, I think Edinburgh ahs lots to see, I'd be tempted to do 2 N Glasgow and 2N Edinburgh, very different cities and both lots to offer.

I thought the Grosvenor in Ashton lane had gone now though and that it's a pub? I don't think you need to stay West End Glasgow to enjoy it, if you get a good deal in city cnetre go for it, taxis are very cheap and west end is close by.

In Edinburgh, I'd try to stay city centre though.

Avon SSS does work to an extent but really be prepared to be demented by midgies whatever you use!

Gibberish - I know, I know... I just thought, you know... maybe just the once, for me...with cherries on top!!

Hehe. Sounds like you are going to have a fab trip. If you avoid the falkirk wheel and see the trossachs

Oh and do agree with folic re 2 days in glasgow and 2 in edinburgh.

I think MN generally agrees that Scotland is fab

If you go for Mull rather than Skye; don't miss out Calgary Bay. And I still think that you should reduce stay in Inverness and drive round to Plockton taking in Carbisdale (cheapest way to stay in a proper Castle) and a bit of Assytnt on the West Coast (honestly the bestest fabbest bit of Scotland) and possibly through Gairloch and Applecross (fab views to Skye). drive from Plockton to Fort W, taking in Eilean Donan on the way

Don't bother about the Trossachs after that.. that's just mini-highlands for those who can't be bothered to come and see the real thing

Have fun

Definitely go for Stirling castle - more impressive than Edinburgh IMO, also, the Wallace monument for architecture/scenery fans. Linlithgow palace is beautiful. If you can bear a detour into Fife, St Andrews is stunning - medieval architecture, stunning beaches, the ancient golf course, a ruined castle and cathedral, great wee shops. I love it.

I'm taking everything on board and trying to assimilate all the information and of course cos you wont bloody agree with each other it's more difficult

We were doing the Kyle Lochalsh train trip because it's supposed to be one of the top 10 in the world - is it not all it's cracked up to be? From what we could see on the map you can't really drive near where the train goes....

But Ori - that does sound fab :)

I think I may have to be 'FledtoScotland2'

I'm originally from the NE of Scotland, but I'm now in West Lothian. We don't do "abroad" holidays anymore and try to see a little bit more of "home" every year. It's on our doorstep after all!

If you are going through the Trossachs go to Loch Katrine near Callander and take a trip on the old Steam Ship The Sir Walter Scott. So romantic. We nearly got married on the ship but logistics and limited numbers pulled the plug for us. Its still our special place though and stunning scenary. I prefer here to Loch Lomond, less touristy(?).

If you go to Loch Lomond try to take a boat tour, not from Balloch though. There is an island near the top of the loch that has a wallaby collony(sp?). Story goes they were kept within the grounds of a stately home during victorian times and escaped. They are very good swimmers so set up home on the island! I like cute furry things and I'm a sucker for an escape story! I'll try to find the links for the boat tours we did and post back later.

Personally I would try to make it to Skye, but there is so much to see everywhere else. You'll have to let us all know where you end up going!

Sorry not had chance to read all this thread, but I can really recommend this book, it's ace:

www.amazon.co.uk/Scotland-Best-Peter-Irvine/dp/0007319657/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1294594329&sr=8-1

Inverness to Kyle has to rate as one of the most beautiful train rides in the world. Skye is the most beautiful place ever.

Try to see the Black Isle and the dolphins. There is a Clootie Well at Munlochy which is worth visiting and make a wish.

Have a lovely holiday.

YouCantTeuchThis is right, if you're going to Mull, you have to go over to Iona. One of the most beautiful places ever.

I'd spend 3 nights in Edinburgh and ditch Oban tbh. (I do love Edinburgh though)

OBAN is only a 'drive through' on the way to Mull of Kintyre, the (2N) was for Mull :) Sorry for the typing error, sleep deprivation kicking in!!

So what do I do - train or drive to Kyle??

if you go to Skye then drop in at the isle of Skye Brewery at Uig - owned by a good friend of mine Angus McRuary. (Yes, McRuary from the Brewery!)

Train to Kyle then hire a car at the railway station and drive over to Skye.

I would not stay 3 nights in Inverness, 1 will do, it is small, not much to do, then you will have more time to go elsewhere, I would aim to spend a night or two over the North West coast - you can see Loch Ness on the way. Ullapool is okay, but further North <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=www.ianmclarenwallace.com/photos/image/achmelvich-bay.jpg&imgrefurl=ianmclarenwallace.com/gallery/air/achmelvich-bay/&h=500&w=1000&sz=144&tbnid=0rh9tQ42byHPGM:&tbnh=75&tbnw=149&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dachmelvich&zoom=1&q=achmelvich&hl=en&usg=__vAiKj6TVsj9ue4sx7_YY2ptKalE=&sa=X&ei=9Q8qTYawG8SChQfxqOmLAg&ved=0CDIQ9QEwBw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Achmelvich is worth the amazingly beautiful, twisty drive. Stay and eat (if you can afford to) here as a special treat and a chance to take in the stunning scenery around Lochinver, Suilven and there might be sea otters and seals to spot there as well as porpoises.

Was goingt o say Glencoe. We go that way through Fort William and Kyle Of Lochalsh when we go visit MIL on Isle Of Skye.

Five orange pips, I half thought that myself about Inverness but didn't like to say as I have only ever been to Inverness for work so figure others know best. Is it not a place for people to do day trips from though so is a good base? I think it would be a struggle to spend three days there just in Inverness tho IMHO.

I think the train ride to Kyle will be good, but for much of the way the road and railway line run pretty much parallel. I think it's the bit from Plockton to Kyle that diverges most and will be most spectacular - but you coud stay in Plockton and do that as a daytrip from there. The rest of the route is nice - but I would prefer a detour to Applecross if I had the choice; and the Assynt landscape beats anything you'll find between Inverness and Lochcarron

GentleOtter - drove past the clooty well the other day - it's beginning to overflow and people are hanging up whole pieces of clothing. Weird to see a nightie flapping over the road...

And as 5OP says - Achmelvich is indeed beautiful, but if you are detouring just for the beach and find it at a hight tide on a crappy day and you can't afford the Albanach you might be a little disappointed (good fish and chips at the campsite though)

The Ceilidh place in ullapool does a mean cullen skink