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!)

Hi all,

Thank you for the suggestion and what a great thread.
We will move to Travel now, where it will 'stay around'.

MNHQ

Thanks Rebecca :)

Hi all :)

I'm looking at accommodation in Glasgow & Edinburgh. Sadly the budget is suffering and we are trying to do hostels where we can. Can anyone recommend a good one in either city? If not, if you have time, could you look at thisGlasgow link & or this Edinburgh Link and tell me where location wise we should be looking.

I know a few of you said West End in Glasgow but not sure exactly where you mean...

We'd like to be near places to eat out, walk to the 'highlights' in the day, but it doesn't need to be in the busiest part at night as I think we'll be so done in & we aren't 'clubbers' . We just don't want to end up in some office area/university area that is completely dead at night! Or somewhere that's very dodgy (every city seems to have 'somewhere' that's not great at night!).

Thank you!!!

Glasgow

I second sebs link ChippingIn. Your links don't seem to be working for me though so they might be the same!

Hows the lingo coming on???? :)

Didn't know this thread was still going and not sure if you got an answer about the puffins on Lunga.

Do it! We did the trip tp Lunga last year (combined with Staffa in about a 5 hour trip). There are LOADS of puffins and you can just sit there looking at them about a metre away from you. Also a little cliff walk to a rock covered in birds. We also got off the boat on Staffa although to be honest the best bit of staffa is the view from the boat.

Thanks Seb - it looks like a nice hostel, but it seems quite far from any sign of life?!

Lis - the lingo has taken a bit of a back seat, though I'm listening very carefully to the pronunciation of any places when I speak to people. Mind you... one divvy the other day suggested I try the Bunk House in Sspdfjslkfjlkfjl and when I asked him how you spell it he said, b u n k h o u s e ..... I was PMSL so couldn't ask him about place name LOL

The links were just for Hostelworld in both G&E. We would like somewhere that's quite central.

Essie - Hi :) We were doing Lunga from the start -that's what started this whole trip off!! A long weekend in Scotland>>>> 3 weeks! LOL

Did you do the Turas Mara one or the Gordon one??

They both sound good tbh but at the moment we think we will do the TM.

How gruelling is the walk from the boat to where you can see the Puffins?

What about the Youth Hostel in Edinburgh? It is right in the town centre, opposite the Playhouse Theater (next to John Lewis). It is very new. here

I bought the Scotland The Brave book after it was recommended by so many MNetters. It lists

Smartcity Hostels - in Edinburgh
www.royalmilebackpackers.com
www.st-christophers.co.uk

and of course there are the Premier Inn/Ibis/Travel Lodge type places which may be quieter than the hostels.

Glasgow:
Again, try Travel Lodge/Ibis etc - Mum always stays at the Ibis. It is soulless but clean and cheap.

www.strath.ac.uk - is the student accomodation in the centre of Glasgow.

and euro-hostel.co.uk quite close to centre.

We stayed here last time we were in Glasgow. It was fine and is right between Argyle Street and Merchant City.