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Original poster

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

158 replies

ChippingIn · 09/01/2011 07:38

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 Grin), 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 Grin)

Over to Loch Lomond (singing You take the High Road...bigger Grin) (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!)

OP posts:
gabity · 09/02/2011 22:37

No pampering?! Hmm Are you sure?

Def book a weekend at Stobo when its all over then!! - and come and see my new house!!!

My Aunt would make you sooooo welcome! - she has a hot tub over looking the loch, great but for the midges! Lots of watersports too if you are feeling energetic?

Best thing in Glasgow, em....struggling but thats just me. (unless you are there for West End Festival, that is something) (Just asked OH and he says Kelvingrove Art Gallary shouldn't be missed, I haven't been, not that cultured!)

Best thing in Edinburgh, difficult, I just like the atmosphere of Edinburgh. Be a proper tourist for the day, wander along princes street and garden, do an open top bus tour and freeze your bits of! What time of year are we talking? Missed that bit, but if you could time it for festival would be good.

ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak · 09/02/2011 22:45

June

Spent the last hour trying to find car rental that wont kill the budget!!!

LOL at the KGAG Grin

Why don't we book an overnight at stobo for when this is over? DH must owe you a night off by then! Grin

ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak · 09/02/2011 22:54

One bottle of wine is just not enough for this agony... would it be really bad to open another bottle now???

weegiemum · 09/02/2011 22:55

If you are without kids This is a very nice place to stay in Fort William.

LemonDifficult · 09/02/2011 22:58

Just seen this and skimmed all the advice and I have to second the not bothering too much with Oban or Inverness, def not more than a night. There are lovely places to stay around there. Just would fancy the town centre of either.

Also, Glasgow... I am very biased but if you are pushed for time, Edinburgh is just so great. Sorry, I am really biased about that. Edinburgh is fantastic, Glasgow less so! (Though I'd recommend the amazing Burrell Collection)

gaelicsheep · 09/02/2011 23:06

Personally I would stick with the Highlands and skip the boring Central Belt cities. Parp at the person who suggested Edinburgh rather than Oban. Edinburgh is very very very overrated. And after the Highlands, Loch Lomond is quite a let down IMO (although I am biased). I do think it would be a real shame to go all that way and miss the amazing amazing things north of Inverness. But if you do want to do the Central Belt I'd do your trip in reverse tbh.

The southern side of Loch Ness is MUCH nicer than the main tourist route and a more scenic drive (but don't tell anyone!) At the very least, do try to see the view down Loch Ness from Dores beach - stunning.

Do try to do the Black Isle. Cromarty is lovely and the dolphins off Chanonry Point, nr Fortrose, are totally amazing.

gabity · 09/02/2011 23:08

Oh another 'not so fond of Glasgow' joins the group. New it wansn't just me.

Yes Cheese come and do Stobo castle with me, you won't regret it! It is heaven. Are you sure it wouldn't be lovely to have a break from sightseeing for a day of pampering in beautiful surroundings?

So is your friend going to have you to NZ? Or have you been? I'd love to go, have got friends there but don't have the courage to fly that long!

gaelicsheep · 09/02/2011 23:10

Give me Glasgow over Edinburgh any day. Grin But at the end of the day they are both very mediocre cities.

gabity · 09/02/2011 23:12

Have to agree to disagree on that one! But both agree that its better up North! The central belt is nothing particularly special compared to the jaw dropping scenery that is Up North / Highlands / Islands.

gaelicsheep · 09/02/2011 23:15

I think I'm put off Edinburgh by having to go there frequently for meetings with people I really really don't like!

gabity · 09/02/2011 23:17

I used to really like the Scottish Borders but then had to commute 90 miles there every day for 6 months and rapidly started to dislike the place!! In fact never been down since!

threefeethighandrising · 09/02/2011 23:20

How is Edinburgh over-rated?!

It's a stunningly beautiful city, and brilliant for tourists. I've never met anyone who didn't fall in love with it when they first went there.

The OP isn't talking about moving there, just visiting!

gabity · 09/02/2011 23:23

presume you have read this Cheese but in case you haven't...

Puffins

threefeethighandrising · 09/02/2011 23:24

"mediocre"?! Shock

This is the same place that's a world heritage site, right?!

Where would you consider to be exceptional? I'm intrigued!

LemonDifficult · 09/02/2011 23:31

3fts right. What's an exceptional British city if not Edinburgh? It's got a mountain and a coastline and stunning Georgian architecture and an amazing history and a castle towering over it all.

YourCallIsImportant · 09/02/2011 23:42

I live at Loch Lomond, I'd love to meet up for a cuppa and show you round.

Glasgow beats Edinburgh hands down for me too.

gaelicsheep · 09/02/2011 23:54

Sorry, I just don't like it there. I'm not that keen on York either. Both are too sanitised and touristy.

Cities wise I like Liverpool, Hull and London. Inverness is lovely but a city in name only. It has the loveliest river of any UK city that I've seen, and you can see seals in the city centre if you're very lucky!

I am merely suggesting to the OP that it would be better to spend more time in the stunningly beautiful Highlands, rather than rush for the sake of a couple of cities. She can make her own mind up, I'm sure.

LetThereBeRock · 10/02/2011 00:10

Glasgow is far superior to Edinburgh,though Edinburgh is also lovely.
There's nothing mediocre about Glasgow.Angry

gaelicsheep · 10/02/2011 00:15

I guess I don't like cities very much. That's why I live where I do! I do quite like Glasgow, but not so much since getting trapped on the motorway through the city with no obvious means of escape. Grin

dispondantandthensome · 10/02/2011 00:20

If youre visiting the central belt you would be welcome to pop in to see me and mine also. for tea and shortbread.

we would wear our JIMMY hats Grin

(seriously you would be, Pm me if you want)

HighHeidYin · 10/02/2011 00:24

Meh to Glasgow

Yay to Edinburgh and all that LemonDifficult has said!

Oh, that reminds me, as well as shortbread, do remember to sample some Edinburgh Rock - yummmmy.

gaelicsheep · 10/02/2011 00:29

Scotland's own fairytale castle. The Undiscovered Scotland website is very handy for touring.

gaelicsheep · 10/02/2011 00:36

Beach at Achmelvich in Sutherland

gaelicsheep · 10/02/2011 00:42

Dolphins

I could go on all night! Must go to bed. Grin

Cain · 10/02/2011 00:58

I am a teuchter and can say in all honesty you could spend the entire summer on the west coast and not see all of the best of it.

I don't tell everyone just you Chipping and the rest of Mumsnet and the interweb but I cannot recommend enough a beach to camp on called Sandwood Bay on the very North West coast. It is one of the most atmospherically beautiful places I have ever spent a night and has something of a mysterious feeling about it. It has history. I adore this place.

My first and foremost bit of advice is that it is not the mozzies you need to be worrying about its the midgies. They come in a thousand times more quantity than the mozzies and will darken the skies with their clouds.

If you smoke, this can keep them at bay, barbecue might also work. Very effective is citronella oil or a candle but some people seem to swear by a substance from Avon - google it and I'm sure it will be named.

Just don't underestimate the midges, they can drive you insane. Chiffon scarves are very, very useful. Jungle juice is kind of effective.

Have a lovely time! Grin

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