Planning our first trip to Scotland - Need your help!

[Jock Scot]

Y'all have no idea how much we appreciate all this info!!! This is fabulous and makes us wish we could leave tomorrow!!!
Our target date is May or August/September. I am allergic to sustained cold. I know, sounds like a joke, but I'm serious! Also, for all of June and most of July, I work summer camp at a Boy Scout camp. So, from what we're hearing from y'all, those seem to be the best times to shoot for.
We are very definitely listening to your advice about getting out of the cities as that is what we enjoy anyway. Even when we go to "touristy" places, we try to get as much local flavor as possible. We are around crowds of people so much in our everyday lives (Delta Airlines, scout camp, my large family, our kids and their assorted friends, etc., etc., etc.,) we try NOT to do too many crowds on our rare breaks!! Don't get me wrong, we love all the kids, but.........

Potentially silly question about B&B's in Scotland, but I find it better to ask than get surprised later. I know some of this would probably depend on the individual place, but generally, what kind of privacy and toilet facilities are there? And, I have heard that the rental cars are relatively small compared to most American cars. (I drive a Jeep Grand Cherokee.) Is this true?

I drive a Jeep Cherokee. Jeeps would be regarded as moderately large here, by most people and certainly judging by the cars that people hire, when they fly up to see us, it would be larger than any hire car that I have seen.

I think it is fair to say most(not all I am sure) B&B facilities are very modern and at a guess, en suite facilities could almost be considered as the norm these days. I think there is some sort of star system handed out by the Tourist Boards that classify the quality of the B&B. Be warned! The water in parts of the highlands is brown! Well OK, a distinct brown tint to it. It is fine to drink and bathe in, but it can be a little disconcerting to run a bath and see peat stained water for the first time!

[Jock Scot]

There are many wonderful pictures on this website of Scotland taken by far better photographers than me! To pick one,set of pictures is really unfair, but have a look at the pictures section and go back to 18th Dec 08 you will find Pour1Malt's "We holiday fur Pour1Malt". Wonderful pictures of the Highlands and some of its attractions in the early winter.Just in case you were planning a winter trip?

[ChubRock]

Mrs. Chub Rock and I landed in Glasgow, immediately took a train to Edinburgh where we stayed in a lovely Bed and Breakfast for five days. The B&Bs are very affordable and give you a chance to work on your understanding of regional Scottish accents. We did the entire Edinburgh thing including walking, taxis and a local daily bus pass to get all around the area outside of tourism spots.

We then hopped a train to Inverness. That train ride was beautiful! Once in Inverness we rented a car and drove to the castle we were staying in near Loch Ness. The Glengarry Castle provide us a huge beautiful room which included delicious four-star meals and service. It wasn't cheap, but it was our anniversary treat for three nights. We rented a car to explore the Highlands the all south and west from there.

We then drove down to Glasgow, returned the car there, and took bus tours of the city.

We rented a car so we could go around and visit castle ruins, which we did and enjoyed. We didn't spend time souvenir shopping, you can get that stuff online, but we did spend time on the Royal Mile looking for great food and to explore the closes. We used that time instead in the highlands to see Eilean Donan Castle, Castle Urquhart on Loch Ness and many many other ruins.

All in all in eleven days we discovered the following:

1) B&Bs are affordable and a great way to experience Scotland.
2) We wish we had gone to the eastern and northern coastal areas.
3) We wish we would have spent more time in and north of Inverness.
4) GlenGarry Castle is a great vacation spot.
5) I can eat tons of different varieties of shortbreads without getting full.
6) Get out of the cities and check out the lovely country.
7) It takes planes, trains and automobiles to see what you need to see.

We are now considering a month long stay in a cottage near Inverness to get away from it all.


Hope that helps!

[ForresterModern]

Take a camera. On a sunny day take lots of pictures. On the other 364 days take some pictures too but be prepared to be wiping your camera dry a bit more often.

Wear a kilt. Everyday. Yes you will stick out from the locals, but you will stick out as a tourist in your regular clothes anyway as soon as you open your mouth or pull out your camera or walk into a souvenir shop. May as well be kilted and in the right spirit, showing your heritage and respect for the Scots national dress. Beside it actually starts a lot of interesting conversations with both tourists and locals, and provides fodder for good photos whether the sun is out or not. Otherwise plan on dressing warmly everyday---you can always take clothes off if you get too hot but if you don't have them you cannot put them on if it gets cold or rainy (excuse me---"When" it gets cold or rainy).

Although it is worth spending some time in the cities to see the major sites, GET OUT OF THE CITIES and see the countryside through your own eyes (and camera lenses). IMHO the best way is with a rental car, a good map, a navigator, and a loosely preplanned route and list of activities each day.

Attend a highland games, if at all possible.

Most of all enjoy yourselves, each and every moment, good or bad, rain or shine, every meal, every drink, every site, every smell, every sound, breath it in and let it become a part of you, bath in it and wear its scent on you proudly.

Oh, and post pictures, because here at xmarks: NO PICS, IT DIDN'T HAPPEN!!

[Phil]

Train and bus travel between the main cities is good and frequent but if you plan to visit smaller out of the way places a car is essential. There are direct transatlantic flights into both Edinburgh and Glasgow (Continental from Newark) and plenty of car rental firms in either city. Just because Scotland appears fairly small on a map don't be misled into thinking you can cover it all in a couple of days. Also the main cities, Edinburgh and Glasgow, have enough sightseeing to take a few days each, depending on what you want to see. Dont plan on driving in Edinburgh as it is fairly compact and virtually everything is within walking distance or reached by an excellent bus service. Glasgow is more of a "working" city and although it has some excellent museums and art galleries is not really in the same historic league as Edinburgh.

[Pleater]

A sat nav will help with finding your way about, and so save time, both driving and walking.

I was surprised by how much time it saved finding places to park, places of interest, petrol, - once I got used to using it.

It does need to be up to date - my son failed to do that and was directed into a mid town area that had been pedestrianized, twice.

When hiring a car some places will provide a can for fuel - if you request it, as they have an interest in getting their vehicle back on time.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[BEEDEE]

Consider a rental RV. Jude and I got one in Glasgow for two weeks. Campgrounds averaged 25Stg a night. We had a unit with shower and toilet and good kitchen. Saved a bundle on meals and could change our itinerary on a whim.

Brian

[ChubRock]

Our B&B experience was a little more homey. Common, but clean bathroom and shower. Our rental car was a Fiat Punto. Smaller than our Dodge Durango here, but fine for us (and we are bigger people.)

[Phil]

If you haven't already then look at this website - http://www.visitscotland.com/ which should give you some ideas and also has lists of accommodation. Don't worry about toilet facilities, most places in Scotland do have indoor ones nowadays so you don't need to nip behind a hedge at the foot of the garden anymore. No worries about privacy then. They also usually have bathtubs and washbasins and some even have showers. These have two taps (faucets), one for hot and one for cold water. Some may still have a shared bathroom but most have ensuites nowadays as well as tea/coffee making facilities in rooms.
Car rental companies have a variety of vehicle sizes and I am sure some will have Jeeps for hire if you want. Remember that many roads here are narrower and some have lots bends in them so you might be better with a European-type car which is more suited to cope with the different style of driving. They also use less petrol (gas) which at current prices varies between £1.05 and £1.15 a litre ($1.70-$1.86) compared with something like £0.45 in the US and is due another increase next January when VAT goes back up to 17.5%. Petrol is also more expensive in remoter areas of Scotland so fill up in cities when you can.

[Sir William]

Okay, guys! Gather the tourist info I'm really looking forward to your answers!!!

Scott and I are planning our first trip to Scotland in 2011. (I know it's a long time from now, but in order to do it right, we have to have a lot of advance planning and saving!)
1. When is the best time to go (although we would have loved being there for the Gathering, and other than Games and Festivals, we don't generally like huge crowds.)
2. What are your top five items on your must see and/or do list?
3. What's on your "don't bother, huge waste of time/money" list?
4. Where are the best places to eat and stay and why?
5. Any further advice?

First off, its not too early to start planning. Check out some guide books from your library and do some research in advance. After browsing the guidebooks I hit the internet for more information. I made a list of places I absolutely wanted to visit, then a list of places I'd like to visit time permiting or if I had to adjust my original plans. Mapped out the route to minimize travel time and maximize sightseeing time, though allowing plenty of time to stop and see something that caught our eye, or have a leisurely meal or do a little shopping along the way.

My first question would be how long do you plan to stay? I've been twice and haven't begun to scratch the surface on what I want to see or do. My first trip was by coach and I went where the coach went - but it was a nice introduction and I didn't have to worry about driving or hotels, and fortunately we got along well with our fellow passengers. My second trip was a self-drive to visit those places I didn't see the first time. My third trip (planned for 2013) will probably be focused on the Borders and the West Highlands. My fourth trip will be to the Highlands beyond Inverness and to some of the islands.

My second question is what are you interested in? I like history but not all history - and I know there are many that one museum visit is either too much or just enough. If you are interested in history, art or architecture (or not), visit a castle, a manor house, and a cathedral/church. I also think a visit to Culloden Battlefield is worth a visit - but only if you're interested in Scottish history. We also did a few hikes, played golf (at least the wife did), took quiet walks through the towns or along the river (there seems to always be a river), stopped to admire the scenery, and shopped (woolens and whisky topped the list this trip).

I'd recommend seeing the Tattoo in Edinburgh, which is only in August, if you can. I don't like crowds either but the Tattoo is worth seeing. Note that tickets go very quickly so reserve them early. Then get the heck out of town and go somewhere, anywhere, else.

Visit a distillery. Its very informative and fun.

Do the tacky tourist thing and look for Nessie. Its fun. And, you might be lucky.

I like B&Bs, though my wife prefers hotels, so we stayed in a mix of both. Though after some of the B&Bs we stayed in this last trip I think she is coming around.

The wife prefers restaurants and I prefer pubs for food, so we compromised on that as well. No complaints. Pub food can be rather plain, if filling, while restaurants can provide some very interesting and delicious dishes, though often much more expensive.

If you drive take along a GPS if you can. I took our TomTom (after purchasing the UK maps) and it made getting from point A to B much easier, particularly as my wife can't read a map and has trouble understanding British road signs.

Pack clothing for all kinds of weather - you'll probably have it. Its been hot and sunny, cold and wet, cold an sunny, and everything in between, all in a couple of days. Don't let the weather stop you.