David Adler

My wife and I will be visiting Scotland for a week in June. I've
bought a guide book, and it's clear that there's a lot to see - it's
overwhelming to try to determine where to go! I'd like some help
narrowing down the possibilities and with possible itineraries.

I see another post from earlier today, which had some good advice.

Basically, we'd like to spend a week in the Highlands and Hebrides.
Castles, historical sites, and gorgeous scenery are what we want to
see (I know, that doesn't exactly narrow it down!). Access to museums
and choices of restaurants is a plus. We've been to Edinburgh, and
we'll spend some time in Glasgow before starting the rest of the trip,
so no need to include these in the itinerary.

Rather than staying in a different place each night, I'd like to pick
2-3 places to use as a base and explore from there. I'm thinking
Inverness as one base, and someplace in the Hebrides (Isle of Skye?)
as a second base. Any thoughts on this plan? Better
suggestions/additions? What are the "must-see" sights around those
places?

We'll rent a car for the trip - is an international driver's license
needed, or will one from the US suffice?

Thanks in advance!

John Hewitt

David,

We spent two weeks in Scotland last May, on the following itinerary,
all stays in b&bs: 2 nights at Linlithgow (near Edinburgh) to see
Falkirk Wheel, Stirling Castle, etc.; 1night at Burntisland (across the
firth from Edinburgh); 2 nights at Tomintoul, access both to Cairngorms
and to Speyside distilleries; 1 night at Nairn; 2 nights on Skye; 2
nights at Oban; 2 nights in Edinburgh; 1 night at Jedburgh in the
Borders; and a final night in a motel near the Edinburgh airport. Had
we to do it over, we'd have made all stops (except the last) at least
two nights; but this was our first trip to Scotland and we wanted to
sample as much as we could. The next trip we will probably concentrate
on a single place, such as the highlands and islands -- Islay, as well
as Skye, and hopefully the outer isles.

Favorite and recommended places? I'm a single malt fan, so distilleries
were great fun -- Glenfiddich, Glenlivet, etc. Good tours, a wee dram
to sample (sometimes a bit more than a wee dram!). Just driving through
the highlands is an experience -- the trip to Tomintoul, then to Elgin,
Nairn, Inverness, the length of Loch Ness, and to Skye was brilliant. I
can't say enough about Skye itself; we'll return there some day and
spend three or four days so we can hike extensively (I can recommend an
excellent b&b and guide if you contact me); the scenery is wonderful,
the sea is everywhere, and the people are friendly. Oban and the west
coast was also enjoyable -- pretty villages, historic sites,
outstanding seafood, etc. And at the end of the trip, a visit to the
Borders and its abbeys was outstanding, as was a trip to Scott's View
(I'm a Sir Walter Scott fan, and read or re-read a bunch of his novels
to prepare for the trip).

Castles are everywhere in Scotland -- I'd strongly recommend either
buying a pass or even joining Historic Scotland, which will admit you
to almost all of them at no cost. Favorites: Urquehart Castle on Loch
Ness, Stirling Castle, Linlithgow Palace, Huntingtower, the Borders
abbeys, St. Andrews.

Driving requires only a U.S. driver's license. We found driving easy in
Scotland (except for a few crowded A roads) with light traffic loads
and general courtesy. There are a great many single track roads in the
highlands and islands, and they take a bit of getting used to. Passing
places are frequent, however, especially (in my experience) compared
with rural England. Locals have it down to a science, timing their
approach to one another so that they arrive at a passing place at the
same time. When in doubt, yield. Petrol is about the same as in England
-- about 75p/liter last May, probably higher now -- $5 or better per US
gallon.

Hope this helps a bit!

Jack Hewitt


On 2004-03-04 09:06:01 -0700, (David Adler) said:

    > My wife and I will be visiting Scotland for a week in June. I've
    > bought a guide book, and it's clear that there's a lot to see - it's
    > overwhelming to try to determine where to go! I'd like some help
    > narrowing down the possibilities and with possible itineraries.
    >
    > I see another post from earlier today, which had some good advice.
    >
    > Basically, we'd like to spend a week in the Highlands and Hebrides.
    > Castles, historical sites, and gorgeous scenery are what we want to
    > see (I know, that doesn't exactly narrow it down!). Access to museums
    > and choices of restaurants is a plus. We've been to Edinburgh, and
    > we'll spend some time in Glasgow before starting the rest of the trip,
    > so no need to include these in the itinerary.
    >
    > Rather than staying in a different place each night, I'd like to pick
    > 2-3 places to use as a base and explore from there. I'm thinking
    > Inverness as one base, and someplace in the Hebrides (Isle of Skye?)
    > as a second base. Any thoughts on this plan? Better
    > suggestions/additions? What are the "must-see" sights around those
    > places?
    >
    > We'll rent a car for the trip - is an international driver's license
    > needed, or will one from the US suffice?
    >
    > Thanks in advance!

Owain

"David Adler" wrote
    | Rather than staying in a different place each night, I'd like to
    | pick 2-3 places to use as a base and explore from there. I'm
    | thinking Inverness as one base, and someplace in the Hebrides
    | (Isle of Skye?) as a second base. Any thoughts on this plan?
    | Better suggestions/additions? What are the "must-see" sights
    | around those places?

Although strictly speaking Grampian rather than Highland, you could look at
Forres-Elgin-Findhorn area. Forres is a very pretty town.
http://www.forres-net.co.uk/town.html

Try Mr & Mrs Leslie (or maybe the Nobles run it now) at the Park Hotel for
accommodation; unless they've changed the room numbering No. 3 has excellent
views to the Findhorn sunset.

    | We'll rent a car for the trip - is an international driver's license
    | needed, or will one from the US suffice?

The US one will suffice.

Owain

Frank F. Matthews

I would suggest two places for the week instead of three, Probably in
that time you cannot manage much island hopping. I would suggest Skye
which I loved & Oban or somewhere thereabouts. In any case you will
have fun. FFM

David Adler wrote:
    > My wife and I will be visiting Scotland for a week in June. I've
    > bought a guide book, and it's clear that there's a lot to see - it's
    > overwhelming to try to determine where to go! I'd like some help
    > narrowing down the possibilities and with possible itineraries.
    >
    > I see another post from earlier today, which had some good advice.
    >
    > Basically, we'd like to spend a week in the Highlands and Hebrides.
    > Castles, historical sites, and gorgeous scenery are what we want to
    > see (I know, that doesn't exactly narrow it down!). Access to museums
    > and choices of restaurants is a plus. We've been to Edinburgh, and
    > we'll spend some time in Glasgow before starting the rest of the trip,
    > so no need to include these in the itinerary.
    >
    > Rather than staying in a different place each night, I'd like to pick
    > 2-3 places to use as a base and explore from there. I'm thinking
    > Inverness as one base, and someplace in the Hebrides (Isle of Skye?)
    > as a second base. Any thoughts on this plan? Better
    > suggestions/additions? What are the "must-see" sights around those
    > places?
    >
    > We'll rent a car for the trip - is an international driver's license
    > needed, or will one from the US suffice?
    >
    > Thanks in advance!

Mark Hewitt

"David Adler" <> wrote in message
news:...
    > Rather than staying in a different place each night, I'd like to pick
    > 2-3 places to use as a base and explore from there. I'm thinking
    > Inverness as one base, and someplace in the Hebrides (Isle of Skye?)
    > as a second base. Any thoughts on this plan? Better
    > suggestions/additions? What are the "must-see" sights around those
    > places?

I generally find in Scotland there is lots of little nice things to see,
rather than big, you gotta see this! type attractions. I would recommend
getting a route planner e.g. www.theaa.com and finding out driving times,
it's easy to think places don't look too far away but on some of the roads
in Scotland it can take a long time!

Inverness is good for the North East, if you are wanting the West coast then
Oban is a nice place to stay. You can get a ferry from here to some of the
islands too.

    > We'll rent a car for the trip - is an international driver's license
    > needed, or will one from the US suffice?

That'll be fine. I would recommend renting a smallish car, Fiesta kind of
size, much more comfortable on some of the roads in the highlands which are
often very narrow.

Oxygene2002

Here is a list of non-smoking restaurants in Scotland
http://www.smokefreeworld.com/scotland.shtml

Mark Hewitt

"Oxygene2002" <> wrote in message
news:...
    > Here is a list of non-smoking restaurants in Scotland
    > http://www.smokefreeworld.com/scotland.shtml

Take your spam elsewhere.