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Old Dec 31st, 2003, 04:21 AM
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Scotland Fly/Drive

I would like to plan a Scotland fly/drive trip for the Spring, but I am having trouble finding Web sites that offer such. Ideally, we would like to fly into Edinburgh or Glasgow and pick up our rental car there, along with vouchers for bed and breakfasts around the country. Also, any suggestions for route? We will be there for a week. Thanks!
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Old Dec 31st, 2003, 06:50 AM
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There is absolutely no need for B&B vouchers in Scotland. Simply fly to Scotland, pick up a rental car and head out.

A week is not a terribly long time to see Scotland so you need to focus on what sorts of things you want to see. What are some of your interests and anything in particular you want to visit?? With some of this info we can give you good ideas for an itinerary . . . . .

But - If you have never been there before plan on a couple of days in Edinburgh and then you have 4 or 5 days to go elsewhere -- that is where we need to know the kinds of things that interest you.
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Old Dec 31st, 2003, 07:12 AM
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I seem to keep agreeing with Janis today. It's unlikely that you will ever find a fly and drive deal to Scotland that is better than doing it on your own. I used vouchers once and we paid way more for the rooms than we would have if we had just picked them up as we went. We also found ourselves with very limited choices. There a re a number of pretty good books and websites that include B&Bs in the UK.

Bill
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Old Dec 31st, 2003, 07:47 AM
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Well, we have seen so many beautiful pictures of Scotland, so we are def. interested in seeing scenic spots, a few castles, theatre, and anything that you think we should not miss on our trip. So do you have to make reservations ahead of time at B&Bs or do you just show up? We are going late May. Was alsowondering what a typical price per night would be. Thanks!
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Old Dec 31st, 2003, 07:54 AM
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There are a number of good websites for finding hotels, guest houses and inns in Scotland:

http://www.visitscotland.com/
http://www.destination-scotland.com/
http://www.travelscotland.co.uk/
http://www.scotland.com/
http://www.scotland2000.com/accom/

You can also check out tripadvisors.com for reviews on accommodations.

I've been planning our trip to Scotland, also in May, for the last couple of months. I think I've looked at every hotel and B&B in the country!!
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Old Dec 31st, 2003, 09:13 AM
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The last weekend in May is a British holiday weekend and many places book up - but except for that three days you don't need to make advance reservations (except in Edinburgh where it is always a good idea to book ahead)

If your entire trip is one week you will need to limit your itinerary - except for the main roads/motorways the driving can be pretty slow. In Edinburgh you can see the Castle of course, plus the Royal mile, the National Gallery of Scotland, the amazing Museum of Scotland and possibly a theatre performance. Plus just the city in generay - one of the loveliest in all of Europe.

The you could choose between

1) going up the east coast through St Andrews, Glamis, Crathes Castle, along the Dee, down to Pitlochry (a "theatre" town) and back to Edinburgh or Glasgow to fly home.

2) going up the center of the country through Stirling (another fabulous castle), Pitlochry, towards Inverness (do not stay IN Inverness but somewhere in the general area), Culloden, Cawdor Castle, etc and then south along the great Glen through Ft William (again - do not stay IN Ft William), GlenCoe, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs. Or you could do a short day trip or 1-night detour over to the Isle of Skye.

Either of these would fill a week easily

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Old Jan 3rd, 2004, 08:43 AM
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Be really careful about just turning up for accommodation - towards Easter time it really is better to book ahead. My husband and I spent a very uncomfortable night in a lay-by one evening when we were too confident about just turning up. If you contact the Scottish Tourist Board, they run a 'Book a bed ahead' scheme where they will reserve reasonable accommodation for you.

If you want to see Scotland at its best then hire a car from Glasgow airport, drive up through Glencoe and on to Fort William, then up towards Kyle of Lochalsh and into Plockton (the Plockton hotel is wonderful and serves the best prawns going!). Don't bother going to Skye (everybody does and as a native Scot I have no idea why!).

Hope this helps. Enjoy your trip - the weather in Spring can be wonderful and the midges aren't around at that time.
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Old Jan 4th, 2004, 10:26 AM
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There are a heap of 4 of 5 day options fo this glorious country. Janis has mentioned two.

Unless tehre are places that you DEFINITELY want to stay in I wouldn't bother with booking ahead. The place doesn't fill up till July, really.

For other options, think West Coast Islands, Central Highlands, or even Orkney.

Glynis, where were you when you had to stay in the car?
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