Hey Scotland peeps... Advice!

Hi all - so I'm heading back to the US with the DH in a few weeks as he starts a new fancy job, but before then we decided to do a UK road trip to finally, after 8 years of marriage, see more of this place than the SE and midlands. We've done a few other road trips, but this time we want to go to Scotland.

I am slightly at a loss about what to do and where to go. We'll of course go to Edinburgh and Glasgow. But we really want to spend some time in the Highlands.

So all ideas welcome! We have a healthy budget, are thinking of at least 4 days in the Highlands. We'll have hiking attire, definitely want to do something whisky (for the DH)... Help!

I recommend this all the time, but here I go again:

1. Train to Oban (whisky there and lots of music) it is a great train trip to take when light out, you get some dramatic scenery. Spend the night.

2. Take one of the Bowman Ferry day trips over to Iona and Staffa.  Iona is where all the Scottish kings were buried.  Staffa inspired Mendelssohn to write the Hebridean Symphony.  It is nice whenever you, but if it is the early/mis summer it is filled with puffins and they practically land on you. 

3. You could either spend the night on Mull or back to Oban

4. If you have enough time you could then take the train up to Fort William and see the West Highland line.   You can see Ben Nevis. 

5. If you get the timetable for the Jacobite steam train you can walk a little way and follow the Great Glen Way out of the city and on to the bridge and get there in time for the steam train to go by (it has it's own bridge right next to the walkers' bridge) We didn't do it on purpose, but it was pretty awesome. 

 

Completely agree with bookgrl! 

If you do decide to stay on Mull (which I think you should!) stay in Tobermory. Beautiful little village, has a distillery tour that's pretty good value and The Mishnish is a great little pub with rooms upstairs. I think they also do whale watching tours, and there are some standing stones and castles nearby.

Unless you want to go hog wild and go up to the Orkney Islands which are amazing, but that is really far.

Also, the Isle of Aran is really nice. 

I have taken 5 people on the Oban route and everyone has loved it.  Even if the puffins failed to be there for my husband.  Which he still sort of holds against me.

Sorry I can't really help... I have lived in Scotland for most of my adult life, but sadly, we don't holiday here, so I don't know where the good places to go/things to see are!

I can, however, point you in the direction of a few good pubs and/or restaurants in Glasgow.  

The only place I have ever been on holiday in Scotland is the isle of Islay, where I went every summer for the 10 years of my previous marriage.  It is quiet and beautiful with sandy beaches, and has lots of opportunities for people who like the peaty variety of whisky.

http://www.islayinfo.com/index.html

Here in the Highlands!

We have all the distilleries, mountains, sea, hiking, history, loch ness monsters, sheep, beautiful scenery, amazing food, castles, ruins, more sheep, real ale pubs, traditional music, beaches, golf,snow, lochs, tons and tons and tons to do. Isle of Skye, Grampians, Caringorms, Sutherland, Great Glen,Moray Firth, John o' Groats...
I am never, ever, ever bored!

Even if the puffins failed to be there for my husband. 

How rude!

I'm going to look into every one of those options, bookgrl! We hadn't thought about taking trains since we are hiring the car. However I  bet the best scenery is seen from the train.

Sorry I can't really help... I have lived in Scotland for most of my adult life, but sadly, we don't holiday here, so I don't know where the good places to go/things to see are!

I can, however, point you in the direction of a few good pubs and/or restaurants in Glasgow. 

That's one of the reasons for this trip. We thought about splashing out on some big fancy holiday to SE Asia, but DH had never been to Scotland even though he's lived here all his life. So we decided that since this was likely our last time living in the UK, we'd see as much of it as possible. I can't wait!

So definitely PM me your restaurant/pub recommendations!

Here in the Highlands!

We have all the distilleries, mountains, sea, hiking, history, loch ness monsters, sheep, beautiful scenery, amazing food, castles, ruins, more sheep, real ale pubs, traditional music, beaches, golf,snow, lochs, tons and tons and tons to do. Isle of Skye, Grampians, Caringorms, Sutherland, Great Glen,Moray Firth, John o' Groats...
I am never, ever, ever bored!

I know - I don't think 4 days is nearly long enough!

How rude!

I'm going to look into every one of those options, bookgrl! We hadn't thought about taking trains since we are hiring the car. However I  bet the best scenery is seen from the train.

Having done both the train to Oban and the drive to Oban, I would say the drive is better scenery wise. Quite stunning, actually. As for other routes to other places, I can't say! 

Okay - over one year later and I have finally got up here to Scotland - and it has not disappointed! We are on Skye at the moment and are heading in to just south of the Cairngorms for a couple of days of self catering by Loch Tay. The weather has been glorious and I am quite sad to leave this island. Definitely recommend it for anyone who has not been. Stunning scenery, so much to do: we've been hiking on tidal islands, frolicking with seals and eating some amazing local food.

Though, if you ask me, Skye needs more pubs 

Skye is so beautiful!

Very awesome.  Glad you're enjoying yourself in this beautiful part of the world. I pinch myself all the time at how lucky I am to live in such a beautiful, amazing country!    Anyways, enjoy the rest of your holiday as well! It should not disappoint!! 

I'm so glad I've not been driving (DH has) so I can take in all the scenery. Blowing my mind is an understatement. I'm actually watching the Scotland Grand Tour programme on BBC2 right now looking over the loch... I may never leave!

We live in Orkney and we try to go to somewhere new to us in Scotland once a year.  This is what we recommend:

Oban - great little town with lovely views and some nice B&B's,

From Oban jump onto one of the ferries; if you have the time head to the Outer Hebrides (I see lots of folks have mentioned Inner Hebrides - quicker to get to).  We visited South Uist last year and found it beautiful.  If you go, read the Peter May trilogy.  You could stop at Castlebay where Whiskey Galore was filmed.

From North Uist you can take a ferry over to Sky and then drive to Fort William and over to Inverness.  Check out the Highland Games on the way - lots of places have them.  This is also County Show season and worth a stop too.

Worth a visit is Loch Ness; there are supposed to be some good hiking trails around the lake - we jumped on one of the boats which was good too.  Although we didn't actually see Nessie the possibility was in the air.

If you enjoy history visit Culloden, I found it a totally emotional experience and would recommend it to anyone.

If you are going to visit only one castle in Scotland - make it Stirling.  Great views and you can really get a sense of history and how the surrounding countryside contributed to battles; plus the castle itself is stunning.

Take a couple of extra days and visit Orkney.  We have stunning skies, tremendous archeology (exciting digs are going on as I write this) and we have two distillaries: the famous Highland Park and the lessor known but superior Scapa (no tours). ( A top tip for saving money is to buy Scapa at World of Whiskies at Heathrow on your way Stateside - it is £12.00 cheaper there than locally - believe me - my family will pick me up at the airport any time of night for a bottle of Scapa!)

Our friends just posted pics of their trip to Glencoe and although we haven't been it looked extremely rugged and appealing!

Have a great trip.