Honeymoon in Scotland

[Caradoc]

Looks like Glasgow and Edinburgh are our best bets. Thanks much for the advice. I've heard that Tattoo is the highlight of the festivals...would you recommend we see it?

If you get a chance to see the Tattoo, do it.

If you're in Glasgow, avoid The Brunswick Hotel.

B&Bs are better than hotels, everywhere we went (Edinburgh, Dumfries, Glasgow, Stirling, Oban, Ft. William, Inverness, St. Andrews) with one exception - also avoid the Corstorphine House in Edinburgh, as well as the other guest houses on either side of it.

I wouldn't recommend renting a car unless you're really, really sure you want to do it, and then you should still pay the extra to get a GPS unit with the car or bring your own UK-capable GPS unit.

Getting lost for four hours in a city in a foreign country on your honeymoon is not something I'd recommend if you can avoid it.

And, yes, I made that mistake and learned from it.

Read up on VAT refund policies and procedures before you go. There are a number of websites you can reference via Google.

HIGHLY recommended B&Bs, in my order of preference:

Ferintosh Guest House, Dumfries
Moyness House, Inverness
Greencourt Guest House, Oban

Things to see that aren't on the "usual" tourist lists for Scotland - everyone wants to see the castles and museums...

If you end up near Oban, make sure you see the Scottish Sea Sanctuary north of Oban. They rescue wounded and sick seals and nurse them back to health, and sick baby seals are the most pathetically cute creatures on the face of this fair planet of ours.

On the road between Inverness and Perth is a little roadside place called the Ralia Cafe. Prepackaged sandwiches, but their soups are homemade daily and they've got free wi-fi access, and they've got a nice selection of snacks and dessert-type yummies.

In Inverness is a rather nice bar/pub that serves Thai food and live Scottish music - called "Hootananny."

Hope this helps...

[Mike1]

If you're going to be spending any time in the Stirling area, I can recommend The Treehouse Bed & Breakfast, located near the Allan water in Bridge of Allan.

I stayed in the studio apartment for a week, back in late 2005 and Fiona was an excellent host. Bridge of Allan is a very nice community and you are only moments away from Stirling, the Wallace Monument, Stirling Uni, etc.

[McClef]

I checked up on Tattoo tickets and it's offical they are sold out - http://www.edinburgh-tattoo.co.uk/news/index.php

Doesn't mean you can't get them from a package however. I would avoid ticket touts offering you tickets when you are there though, they charge ridiculous prices and we have heard of tickets for many events not being genuine.

I am spending a couple of nights in Stirling next month so will no doubt share a few piccies on my return!