Touring Scotland - what/where is on your bucket list?

[longtompot]

Dh and I are just chatting about going away in a couple of years, which would be our 25th wedding anniversary. I've always wanted to see the Aurora Borealis, and to tour Scotland, so hopefully we can combine the two.
We would like to tour in a camper, either owned or hire one, and take our dog (hopefully she will still be with us as she will be 8).
So, where would you go, what would you say we must see, where we must go?
We would also like to stop by the Lake District on the way up.

Second St Andrews and the East Neuk - beautiful and quaint and interesting. Fab fish and chips at Pittenween and Anstruther. Lovely coastal walks. Cute shops. Favourite place in my homeland.

Avoid Edinburgh in August - heaving with tourists and natives! For the fringe and festival.

Orkney is beautiful, interesting and different. It’s like nowhere else in Scotland. If it wasn’t so far away I would go every year.

Perthshire is great too. PItlochery, Killicrankie Falls, Loch Tummel are all stunning. Speyside and Royal Deeside are gorgeous too.

You know what, I’m revisiting the East and North this year! I live in Inverclyde, which has stunning views but not really attractive towns.

I am planning our trip to Scotland for April before schools break for Easter for 4 adults in my family.

I am thinking of flying to Edinburgh on Friday night and spending Saturday and Sunday sightseeing there. Then hire a car and drive North-West and maybe to plan the rest of our stay alongside the North 500 for a week.
I've been to Glencoe and walked mountains there for a week long time ago in winter.
I want to plan for us to see as much as possible as we are likely to spend just one night in each accommodation and then drive on.
We like history and sightseeing but would also do short walks if weather permits.

Crimsonhair remember your holidays may not be the same as the ones up here, just to be aware.

good point @Iggi999 ,need t ocheck that as well!

Glasgow!!! Im a Scottish west coast lass! I've never seen the northern lights yet! Ive been on the east coast a good few times! Iceland is your best bet for them. But the west coast and up north is stunning! Loch lomond, Arran, further up the beaches of Uist are Caribbean class! Edinburgh is good, busy and expensive. Glasgow is a beautfuil city if you remember to look up and not jusy at the pavement. The architecture is stunning. The style mile is compared to Milan and princess sqaure, you can have a lovely meal while your kids play with other!! Get a camper van and just explore! We have our very own route 55, i think its called the route 500!! Link attached! We can't wait to do it with pur boys!

www.visitscotland.com/user/loginredirect?returnurl=/see-do/tours/driving-road-trips/north-coast-500/

School holidays are the first 2 weeks of April.

Edinburgh not on holiday till the 6th April

It depends if you want off the beaten track a little. The Borders and Galloway are stunning and less touristy. But would take time and stop you seeing the bits everyone is desparate to see.

How outdoors are you?

If I was in a camper van, I would probably head up from the Lakes via Melrose for a night. The into Edinburgh for a couple. Stay somewhere like mortonhall for east bus access to the city. Then after that I would head for the trossachs - Loch Lomond perhaps and then up through glencoe and heading north maybe near Ben Nevis but not in fort William. I adore the northwest - gairloch, poolewe, achmelvich beach is stunning (maybe hard with a large camper though) or torridon (applecross Road is amazing). Most would head to Skye but I personally would avoid the crowds. I would do mull (Calgary bay!) and Iona or Harris/Lewis for the islands or instead come back south via the stunning Cairngorms and stay in nethy bridge. Or further by dunkeld.

But then there is the north coast 500.

So many decisions.

I personally wouldn’t do the east Neuk. It is lovely but not a must do IMHO.

called: perfect day trip from Edinburgh.