Raphael Meade
Well-known member
If you're doing Inverness I would highly recommend an excursion down to the Caingorms and you can go up for the afternoon/day - just south of Aviemore and really lovely
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[Travel] Scotland: Holiday Help
- Thread starter crodonilson
- Start date
GT49er
Well-known member
Asking the great and good of NSC for some help. With Lyme likely to be overrun with staycationers from 4 July with hospitality reopening and our cruise with Dennis Taylor for August being cancelled we were looking at a week in Scotland late July/early August to get away from it all.
I've put together a very rough itinerary as below, one night in each place and drive on. Am I wasting my time though with the first few days in cities and head straight to the countryside and mountains? Anything or places and accommodation I should definitely visit? Also would like to have one night at the seaside, where's best to visit?
Edinburgh
Dundee
Aberdeen
Inverness
Fort William
Loch Lomond
One of the islands (Mull/Arran?)
Scotland is much bigger than most people who don't know it think - and it's not all accessed by motorway either. To be honest, with that itinerary you'll see bu**er all of most of the places you're staying. 80 or 90% of your 'holiday' will be just driving from place to place! And within that itinerary, just forget about the islands!
atfc village
Well-known member
Had a wonderful red pudding saveloy in Helmsdale . Dornach was a lovely place to stay would recommend it to anyone ,Tain down the road was an interesting night out on the other hand . The whole of the highlands is stunning . Also did a day trip to The Orkneys that was along day.
Norman Potting
Well-known member
I recall the Starrbank Tavern (or maybe Inn) at Leith had a bar with beer pumps thereon that seemed to stretch into infinity.
Leekbrookgull
Well-known member
Just be wary of the mileage required let alone drive time. Otherwise your be spending more time on the road than actual visiting places.
albionfan37
Well-known member
Hire a camper van and see it all mate there’s some absolutely beautiful scenery
Mr Bridger
Sound of the suburbs
Been to Scotland twice, once working in Glasgow which rained all the time we were there. Had tickets to Rangers v Hearts which was called off due to the rain.
Second time we had a flight 7am into Edinburgh , by 11 am we had checked our bags into the George Hotel, ( great location) on was on an open bus tour of the city. Spent two nights in Edinburgh and then booked a car to pick up from Waverley station.
Drove up to The Boat if Garten, just outside Aviemore, stayed in a great pub called The Boat and from there we had day trips to Inverness, Loch Ness and a days skiing at Aviemore.
On the way home we travelled the long way round through the Cairngorms for a drive by at Balmoral, then back to the Airport to drop the car off.
Loved the second trip and looking forward to going back soon.
Second time we had a flight 7am into Edinburgh , by 11 am we had checked our bags into the George Hotel, ( great location) on was on an open bus tour of the city. Spent two nights in Edinburgh and then booked a car to pick up from Waverley station.
Drove up to The Boat if Garten, just outside Aviemore, stayed in a great pub called The Boat and from there we had day trips to Inverness, Loch Ness and a days skiing at Aviemore.
On the way home we travelled the long way round through the Cairngorms for a drive by at Balmoral, then back to the Airport to drop the car off.
Loved the second trip and looking forward to going back soon.
Daughter lives in Galashiels so been there and the locality a few times. Wouldn’t make a special trip to the area otherwise I don’t think but scenery is beautiful. Spent loads of time on holiday and working in Edinburgh, agree plenty to do for several days in the city and nearby. Love Glasgow too.
Following this thread closely as a road trip beckons as soon as we have the time (sometime this Autumn hopefully).
Can’t beat a proper Scottish Breakfast either.
studio150
Well-known member
About the only good thing in Aberdeen is the Grill bar for the range of whisky
Very few good suggestions yet I'm afraid!
Best thing I've done in Scotland so far was get an island hopper ticket from Ullapool. Gets you across to Stornaway and then drive down through the Outer Hebrides down as far as Barra then get the ferry back across to Oban. Needs about three or four days and some pre booked stays in pubs or B&B's on the way and you get a few fantastic ferry trips between the islands on the way with rest joined by causeways.
Oban is great for food and drink and the distillery tour which someone else has mentioned.
Don't worry if you end up driving all day, it's the best part of getting around Scotland.
West coast from Oban above is stunning, right up as far as Kinlochbervie, loads of remote pubs and deserted beaches.
Wouldn't bother with the east coast, as someone said earlier, Aberdeen isn't great but if you insist on going that way, Stonehaven is a bit better. Edinburgh is ok, Glasgow really isn't. As for Inverness, it's a great base but wouldn't give it more than a couple of days.
Last Christmas we stayed about an hour down from Elgin, about half an hour from the Cairngorms near Aberlour, not somewhere I'd spent too much time around before but it was incredible and we're going again to the same place in August. The place we stayed was about as remote as I've ever seen.
Other good places Isle of Skye (Portee and the Cuillins), Poolewe, Mallaig, Ullapool and Lochinver (If you're after a days walking, try Suilven)
The people are great the further north you go.
Best thing I've done in Scotland so far was get an island hopper ticket from Ullapool. Gets you across to Stornaway and then drive down through the Outer Hebrides down as far as Barra then get the ferry back across to Oban. Needs about three or four days and some pre booked stays in pubs or B&B's on the way and you get a few fantastic ferry trips between the islands on the way with rest joined by causeways.
Oban is great for food and drink and the distillery tour which someone else has mentioned.
Don't worry if you end up driving all day, it's the best part of getting around Scotland.
West coast from Oban above is stunning, right up as far as Kinlochbervie, loads of remote pubs and deserted beaches.
Wouldn't bother with the east coast, as someone said earlier, Aberdeen isn't great but if you insist on going that way, Stonehaven is a bit better. Edinburgh is ok, Glasgow really isn't. As for Inverness, it's a great base but wouldn't give it more than a couple of days.
Last Christmas we stayed about an hour down from Elgin, about half an hour from the Cairngorms near Aberlour, not somewhere I'd spent too much time around before but it was incredible and we're going again to the same place in August. The place we stayed was about as remote as I've ever seen.
Other good places Isle of Skye (Portee and the Cuillins), Poolewe, Mallaig, Ullapool and Lochinver (If you're after a days walking, try Suilven)
The people are great the further north you go.
Doonhamer7
Well-known member
- Jun 17, 2016
- 1,286
The beaches around Kinlockbervie are stunning, you’ll be the only person on them
Tony Towner's Fridge
Well-known member
Arran a must . I hope to be back over next month and then spend the majority of the remainder of the year there. Golf, fishing, walking and relaxing. Heaven on Earth so it is!
If you come over drop me a pm.
Cheers
TNBA
TTF
If you come over drop me a pm.
Cheers
TNBA
TTF
Mr Banana
Tedious chump
Wouldn't stay in Edinburgh - it's nice, but dull compared to the rest of Scotland, even more so outside of the fringe. That said, if you do decide to go there, the Fruitmarket is great, and the walk from there to the Gallery of Modern Art - and the gallery itself - are also fantastic. You could also try Haggis Backpackers if you're there. They do tours of a day or a few days. I haven't used them for years but they used to be brilliant.
Would base yourself in Glasgow. I've grown ancient but the indie themepark city is still the best. Perfect for a week. Day in the city centre, loads of good places to eat, Gallery of Modern Art. Go to the Riverside and walk along the quay or visit the museum if you like transport stuff. Then a day at Kelvingrove and the park. Take the train a couple of stops and go for a massive walk in the countryside. West End for more cracking bars and restaurants. Botanic Gardens, Mausoleum, cathedral...all the good stuff. Sauchiehall Street for a bar crawl at night. Take a boat to Arran for at least a day and hire a bike.
Could take the train from Glasgee a bit further afield for a day trip to anywhere that takes your fancy. Arbroath's pretty interesting - old-world feel, fishing port, castle, pubs. I'd do that for Edinburgh as it's only an hour each way. If you do that on a Friday or Saturday night (assuming pubs are open) you get that added bonus of a guaranteed festival atmosphere on the train.
Not sure about Aberdeen. Spent a lot of time there, it's granite and bleak. Good people and cheap, as always in Scotland, but not sure what's there that you couldn't get elsewhere for a holiday (without needing to travel so far) apart from a decent gallery and some nice beaches and countryside if you go out a bit.
Would base yourself in Glasgow. I've grown ancient but the indie themepark city is still the best. Perfect for a week. Day in the city centre, loads of good places to eat, Gallery of Modern Art. Go to the Riverside and walk along the quay or visit the museum if you like transport stuff. Then a day at Kelvingrove and the park. Take the train a couple of stops and go for a massive walk in the countryside. West End for more cracking bars and restaurants. Botanic Gardens, Mausoleum, cathedral...all the good stuff. Sauchiehall Street for a bar crawl at night. Take a boat to Arran for at least a day and hire a bike.
Could take the train from Glasgee a bit further afield for a day trip to anywhere that takes your fancy. Arbroath's pretty interesting - old-world feel, fishing port, castle, pubs. I'd do that for Edinburgh as it's only an hour each way. If you do that on a Friday or Saturday night (assuming pubs are open) you get that added bonus of a guaranteed festival atmosphere on the train.
Not sure about Aberdeen. Spent a lot of time there, it's granite and bleak. Good people and cheap, as always in Scotland, but not sure what's there that you couldn't get elsewhere for a holiday (without needing to travel so far) apart from a decent gallery and some nice beaches and countryside if you go out a bit.