NatalieM

Hello again, I'm still struggling with an itinerary for a week (much too short, I know) in Scotland. We arrive in Glasgow on a Saturday at about 4 p.m. (from Ireland, so no jet lag), and have until Wednesay when we will be starting a 3 day stay in Edinburgh. So, we have 4 days/nights to spend elsewhere in Scotland. I'm hesitant to give up on going to Skye, so am thinking: 1st night in the Trossachs region or farther northwest (Ballachulish?); 2 nights on Skye (suggestions for which town to stay in?); 1 night on the mainland in prep. for drive to Edinburgh the following day....maybe Plockton? Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks as always.

janisj

You'll do fine which ever plan you choose - I know you've been trying to work this out for a while.

Just a couple of comments - "which town on Skye" really isn't an issue. there is only one -- Portree. Not that you necessarily will stay there - but it is the only town.

If it were me I'd either stay in Portree (if you want some "civilization"

janisj

Shoot - didn't mean to hit post . . .

(Cont.) If it were me I'd either stay in Portree (if you want some "civilization" around) or more central like Sligachan or thereabouts.

For your last night I would not stay in Plockton - but somewhere farther towards central Scotland - just so your drive to Edinburgh isn't so long.

janisj

Someplace like Balir Atholl would be good for the last night on the road - or near Aberfeldy or Dunkeld. someplace like that.

So night 1 near Callander or Glencoe/Ballachulish, nights 2 and 3 on Skye, and night 4 in the middle somewhere . . . .

NatalieM

Thank you SO much...I'm the trip planner in the family, so I always feel a sense of obligation to make the best choices...Of course nobody else is doing any research or looking at a map. Nice to have a team of planners at my disposal!

sheila

Ballachulish is a good shout for your first night. The Holly Tree at Kentallen is good (and you're only a few miles north of my (nearly) all time favourite, the Pierhouse at Port Appin. If you stay south of Fort William, you may be tempted to go the long way round Ardnamurchan to Arisaig on the way to get the ferry. The only problem with that is that the Glenfinnan road is very top, too.

Me, I'd stay at the Slig, but I like being in the country and I truly don't rate Portree that much. Try eating at Cafe Arriba on the Harbour. It's gettinga good name (AND it belongs to clients of mine).

ON leaving Skye, you'll barely have left the island before you get to Portree, so i would agree with janis and suggest you get a bit further on.

Depending on your route-Kingussie- the Osprey's good or Pitlochry- try the Moulin Inn; or somewhere about Balquhidder.

janisj

Just to clarify something sheila said (not that she usually needs clarifying )

I'm sure she meant &quot;<i>ON leaving Skye, you'll barely have left the island before you get to <u>Plockton</u>, so i would agree with janis and suggest you get a bit further on.</i>&quot;

sheila

Umm, yes, I did

Doriana

My sister and I are planning an 8 day trip to Scotland in mid-May. I wanted to do more research before posting here, but am having trouble finding the time and we're getting nervous about making reservations. Please bear with my multiple questions! We're flying in and out of Edinburgh and planned to stay there the first 3 nights (we have a reservation) and the last night (before flying out the next morning). Is that too much Edinburgh time? Should we include a night in Glasgow? A friend raved about Harris and we'd hoped to go, but fear it'll take too long. Is Skye a good substitute? Thanks for any thoughts as we continue to research.

janisj

Doriana: You can spend as long as you like in Edinburgh - and get a lot out of it. But it is a compact city and if you only have 8 days total I don't think I'd personally spend 4 of them in Edinburgh. But I also would not go all the way to the outer Hebrides/Lewis/Harris.

Think about 2 days Edinburgh, 2-3 days for touring around a bit of the highlands, 2 days on Skye and 1 day someplace like Callander/Stirling/Aberfoyle/Loch Lomond (which are all w/i a reasonable drive of EDI).

Depends on how early your flight out is. If it is very early, then tour around Callander/Stirling/Aberfoyle and then drive in the evening to Edinburgh or an EDI hotel for the last night's stay.

Doriana

Thanks for your quick response janisj! What are your thoughts on Glasgow?

janisj

Glasgow is a great city - but it mainly depends on how you want to spend your very limited time. Scotland is a biiiiiiig place. W/ barely a week you don't have time for Edinburgh, Glasgow and much countryside.

Dividing all of your time between Edinburgh and Glasgow would be a wonderful trip. But I doubt that is what you foresee as your dream trip to Scotland. If you are trying to squeeze Scotland into a week - you need to make the hard choices . . . .

NatalieM

Just a heads up to Doriana...I've been making lodging inquiries for our trip (mostly for mid-range b &amp; b's &amp; guesthouses) and am finding that many are full. Surprised me as lots of people I've talked to have said we won't need reservations in early to mid May. Just thought I'd mention this to help with your planning...A great site is www.undiscoveredscotland.com if you haven't already seen it. It provides a detailed map you can click on &amp; get lots of local info, as well as many lodging listings.

Doriana

Thanks to both of you. We do have reservations in Edinburgh at the beginning and end of our trip, but you are right that we need to hurry up and reserve for the rest of the trip. We are planning to rent a car when we leave Edinburgh -- any suggestions as to whether it's more sensible to pick it up and drop it off at the airport or in town? I've driven in England and Ireland (including Dublin) so I'm not overly intimidated by the left side issue, though I don't have a sense of how difficult Edinburgh is to drive in.

janisj

Driving out of Edinburgh isn't that bad - depending on the time of day. It is the driving around in Edinburgh and having to deal w/ the parking that makes a car useless in the city.

So I'd just go w/ whichever gets you the best rates - EDI or city center. You can take the airporter bus out ot EDI so both locations are pretty convenient.

sheila

I'm a great believer, Doriana, in people going to where their heart takes them, so would do exactly what you had planned.

Go to Edinburgh. Stay as long as you think you'd like to (2 days would do me, for a first trip), then fly to Stornoway. Hire a car and drive down through Hrris. Take the ferry from Uig to Skye and drive back to Edinburgh

janisj

Doriana: sheila is right about doing what you truly want and finding a way to make it work. One problem you might have tho' is finding a car hire on Harris that would let you drop the car in Edinburgh.

bob_brown

My remedy for obsessing is simple.
Quit.

Just plan with options. Don't like your first choice? Go elsewhere. Buses, trains, etc. all over.

If it gets out of hand, beat your head on the wall until the wall breaks in, or you knock yourself out, or you decide it hurts and quit.

At any rate, nothing so far has improved the trip.

I never know until I get there whether I was right or wrong in my choice of trip objectives.

As for giving/receiving advice I recall a classic - a classic backfire. Last summer I visited the Klein Matterhorn viewpoint from Zermatt. I thought it was the most fantastic, rewarding view I have seen. (Still do; and would return.)

I was raving about it to another traveler. His reaction: I've seen ski slopes before.

The point being this: You cannot always base your judgment on what someone else has to say, expert or not, unless you know well his or her values. There are afterall people who will say anything for a price.

Doriana

Just be clear, I'm not the original obsessor -- I just glommed onto this thread! I appreciate the advice I've received so far, and my sister and I are determined to nail down our hotels today. Then I can move on to obsessing over shoes and coats . . . .

NatalieM

Good advice...and it's true...I am the original obsessor here. I think much of it has to do with the fact that I'd much rather be thinking about my trip, then all the work I have to get done before I leave!!