Scotland - Help please?

[justgirl]

My DP has wanted to visit Scotland for as long as I've known him (10years!) it's his 30th this year and so I want to make it happen.....reason I've never looked into it before is because I don't really know where to start. Scotland is obviously a big place and I don't have anything more to specific to go which part should we go to?! What should we see/do! My brain is fried!

day 1 and 2 Edinburgh.

day 3 St Andrews

day 4 Aberdeen

day 5 Inverness

day 6 Isle of Skye

day 7 Fort William

day 8 The Trossachs (Loch Lomond )

day 9 Dumfries and Galloway (via Ayrshire)

Best by car although you could do it by train or even bus.

If you want to do it in a week skip days 4,5 and 7. For a more laid back week Edinburgh for two days and then Arran (Scotland in minature is true) which has a lot of accommodation,public transport(buses) and some famous tourist tracks up mountains that you could take if you go in summer. You can get to the Arran ferry which is in North Ayrshire by train from Edinburgh - change at Glasgow. Edinburgh hotels can be dear. I reckon the best value is at airport hotels and hurling into the city in the new tram.

Hi. Interested in going to Scotland too and this thread is very helpful. How likely is it we will find somewhere to stay each night if we go as post below suggests- family of 4?

Tram is dear to/from airport though!

Tram is £5 each person each trip I think.

Hercules1- just depends when your looking to travel but there's always loads of b&bs etc so I'd imagine you's be fine.

Oh and I just want to recommend aviemore! Love it there! Loads of outdoor activities and good wee pubs and places to eat.

If your feeling flush a stay in the Cameron house would be fab at Loch Lomond x

If you don't come during Festival season you can get Premier Inns for £29 a night (you'd get 4 people in there hercules) - the one at Gyle Park very useful, clean and cheap, a minute walk from a train station too and it costs very little to get into town and see the tourist stuff.

I would avoid Aberdeen like the plague - nothing to do there. Aberdeenshire though has lovely, usually empty beaches.

I went on the Hogwart's Train yesterday! It is a stunning journey, probably the best scenery on a train I have ever seen. We went from Fort William to Mallaig. It really is gorgeous scenery. Then we came back to Fort William and drove to Newtonmore, near Aviemore. Then we came back to Stonehaven (where we live) which is south of Aberdeen on the coast and very popular with tourists.

Our trip in entirety was:

Stonehaven to Glencoe

Glencoe to Fort William

Fort William on the train (Jacobite Express) to Mallaig, 4 hours in Mallaig, then back on train

Fort William to Newtonmore

Newtonmore to Highland Safari Park (ace!)

Drove home through Deeside (so past the Queen's summer castle)

Thanks. It would be august 10th onwards for 7 to. 10 days.

It all sounds great. Please don't say my planned time is festival time!

Either Skye, coming up through Glencoe ( for mountains and striking scenery) or the north east near Dornoch and Kyle of Tongue for open spaces and stunning beaches. I wouldn't bother with Glasgow, unless you want to do the restaurants (which are very good) or particularly want to see the Kelvingrove or Riverside museum. Edinburgh castle is lovely but Stirling castle (between Glasgow and Edinburgh) is also good.

If you are heading north go to the north of Loch Lomond at least. The southern shore is a bit too touristy imho.

I haven't been right up north to Shetland or Orkney but lots of historical things to do there I suspect.

Can I add a quick question? If you were heading north to Aviemore from the North West (about a 5/6 hr car journey, with 3 children, youngest is 5) would you stop over-night en route (and if so, where?) or would you rather crack right on with the driving and have an extra night in Aviemore and the surrounding area?

Mandy I'd just get stuck in and complete the journey. There's loads for the kids to do in aviemore, trails, quad biking,off road driving, pony trekking that I'd spend extra time there.

We caught the a train from rannoch moor there is a lovely restaurant next to station very remote though. Stunning scenery.

Thank you

I'd suggest a few days in Glasgow - friendly, loads to do, great shopping, nightlife etc - followed by a few days on Arran, which is described as Scotland in miniature. You could also easily spend a day in Edinburgh using Glasgow as a base as it's only 40mins on the train.

Yes, Hercules Festival time then