Help me expand my Scotland itinerary, please.

[Chocolino]

Staying put this summer in the UK.

We have a trip moved from last year to this July and we would like to add on some more highlights as we won't be going anywhere else this year.

So far our trip is 2 nights in Edinburgh in a house and then 5 nights in Loch Melfort. We are driving up there from the SE.

We would like to add on up to another week, perhaps a few days on the way and then after Loch Melfort, or we are flexible and could do a week after LM.

We have 2 teens. We love nature, sport, physical activities, culture, history and great food (both expensive and hidden inexpensive gems). We love a road trip and an adventure. I am a bit of a romantic and would love to stay in a castle

Another option is to stop off and see things on the way/ way back. I've never been to Northumberland.

Those in the know, WWYD. I want to turn this into a memorable adventure if we are allowed to travel that is. I'd love to turn our staycation into a very memorable holiday.

Aviemore has loads for teens to do.

Stirling is worth a shout - the castle, the Wallace Monument, a fabulous safari park and loads of great walks. The Trossachs are nearby if you have capacity for more beautiful lochs.

Hopefully you will get some sunshine!

If you get to Lewis visit the stones at Callanish and the Black Houses but PLEASE book at least one of your nights on Harris while you are there. Drive down from Lewis and visit the best beaches in the world at Luskentyre and Seilebost. Buy some of the best gin in the world at Isle of Harris distillery and have a tour of the building .

I would say Uig sands and nearby reef beach on Lewis are an easy rival to luskentyre but we maybe don't want the whole world to know

Don't panic op. We go to Mull every year. The isles are dependant on tourism. Some people won't want them but the majority will be desperate and exerted a lot of pressure last year to get open in July. I think they will want the full May to October season this year and with vaccination there's no reason no to have it. The isles were largely Covid free until residents bought it back from Christmas mainland trips btw.

I wouldn’t cancel at this stage. It’s early Feb - a lot can happen between now and summer. And the fact is that if the country is open for domestic holidays then Scotland will be too. There hasn’t been that much difference between the way Scotland has handled COVID and the way the rest of the U.K. has - the Scots govt has made a lot of noise about small differences in policy to promote an independence narrative.

In reality they have handled it nearly every bit as badly as Boris!

I’d keep the accommodation as if opened up it will get really booked up especially Edinburgh!

I'm in Scotland and I really don't know. I have a lovely cottage that I used to rent out but I've just had planning permission come through for change of use so it'll be residential and sold. I just don't have faith the industry will recover this year.

I travelled to Arran last year and honestly no one was hostile. Or if they were, it was behind my back and I didn’t notice! It was lovely.

Sorry late to this. Your trip sounds amazing, so I hope it will go ahead. It's more likely that mainland Scotland will be OK and there are some fantastic places to visit.

Also placemarking!