I have a short amount of time--2 weeks-- while I visit a friend in Edinburgh. What do those who have been there recommend?--something that is near the city? I plan on getting to see as much of the town as possible, but might like to make a daytrip or two. My dates are May 25-June 8, so late spring!

Also, I have an offer to visit a friend in Galway for a few days during that time. What do you think: worth the flight to and drive from Shannon?

As I mentioned, two weeks is short. But it's all I've got left of my vacation for this year! The flight was under $500... ( ) Should I make the cheap side trip to Galway, too, or force him to meet me in Dublin, or skip it altogether??

Any ideas or suggestions are appreciated! It's my very first trip to the UK (and maybe also Ireland). I don't want to be ambitious. Just sensible.

I've never been to Culross, but was fascinated to learn something about it in the BBC series tracing the coastal areas around the British Isles called Coast. It looked absolutely charming with a fascinating history and is apparently only 12 miles from the Forth Bridge. Certainly close enough to be considered if you wnat to do day trips in and around Edinburgh.Here's another link with more information.

I was going to suggest Culross too. It's also not pronounced as you might think from its spelling.

You could possibly combine a visit with one to Hopetoun House.

I would also strongly recommend visits to Glasgow and Stirling.

Only you can decide whether to try and do both Scotland and Galway....

There is so much to do and see in Edinburgh and surrounding area that you can easily fill in the time - and that's without getting further afield like the Highlands, Argyll and the islands off the west Coast of Scotland....

One of the best web sites to get you going is Undiscovered Scotland. It has lots of information and pictures of 'must sees' and also the off the tourist beat places. It can be slow to load but is worth the wait.

If you haven't a car then you will have to use public transport - this is OK but takes a bit more planning and will be slower.

You've already had suggestions of Glasgow (amazing city and very different to Edinburgh - lots to do and see) which is easily reached from Edinburgh as there is an excellent rail service between the 2.

Stirling again is easily reached by train. There is the castle , and Argyll's Lodgings, nice church, good shopping....

Between Edinburgh and Stirling (again on the train) is Linlithgow Palace.

Across the Forth Road bridge you are into Fife and also here. . Culross has already been mentioned. There is a lovely drive round the coast through the small fishing villages. You can even do a walk

St Andrews

St Andrews is a delightful small town (no train service, have to go by bus). It has miles of sandy beaches, a lovely ruined castle and ruined cathedral. The town is small and intimate with some very nice shops.

A bit further afield are Perth and Scone Palce or Dundee and surrounding area. This give you access to the Angus Glens . Scenically these are good but they are off the recognised tourist beat so will be quieter.

Come south of Edinburgh for delightful small sea side towns of North Berwick, Dunbar and the ruined castles of Dirleton and Tantallon.

In the Borders, there are the stately homes like Floors Castle Thirlestane, and the oldest inhabited Scottish Castle of Traquair.....

This is just for starters.... there are so many other places to see and do.....

If you do decide just to do Scotland you won't regret it.

Eleanor

{edited to fix link}

This message has been edited. Last edited by: TourMama,

I've just realised you like archaeology so this place is a MUST for you - but you will need a car...

Cairnpapple Hill is one of the most amazing places. There's more information here and here. You climb down a ladder into the centre of the site. There is a video on the last link showing you what to expect.

If you like sculptured stones there are two excellent museums with some beautiful examples of Pictish stones at Meigle and St Vigeans. This has only recently reopened with a new exhibition centre. Do a google image search and you will pull up lots of pictures.


Eleanor

This message has been edited. Last edited by: TourMama,

Thanks, everyone, for your replies! Some of the ideas are fabulous, and I might not have found out about them without your help. A couple were thoguhts that I also had as I did soem more research.

So, since I first wrote, my travel plans have taken a bit of shape. Ireland and the rest of the UK are no-gos. I am staying in Scotland. :-)

Here is the outline/plan:

1. Tue May 26th--> Fri May 29th
Stay with my friend in her flat in Edinburgh and explore the city on my own or with her. I also plan to visit the Royal Dick Veterinary School just outside of the city, too, for 1/2 a day (I am going to apply--finally--this year). I might use one of those days for an excursion. I am tempted to take train somewhere. I think she may have a day off, too, and might like getting out and about rahter than rehashing the sity that she mst show people often.

2. Fri May 29th-->Mon June 1st
I'll connect with my two English mates who are coming to visit me while I am in the UK. We will be staying in a rental flat for the weekend in a slightly different neighborhood of Edinburgh. Friday we have to do tourist stuff. I am going to be meeting up with some people from another online community that Saturday and Sunday for a lot of food/drink :-). One my English friends is driving up so we have a car for the weekend, but we'll probably use it minimally, if at all.

3. Mon June 1st --> Mon June 8th
One of my firends goes back home and the other stays. We are picking up a rental car and driving to a cottage in Argyll, near Loch Awe and Oban. I am very excited about this part of the trip. I think we'll definitely visit the prehistoric sites further south (Kilmartin/Dunadd), take a day to the Island of Mull, a day further north on the coast to Port Appin area and Glencoe, etc., maybe a day on one other island, and a day down to Island of Bute to see Mount Stuart...

This region (Argyll) was by far the one that intrigued me the most after I read some more and considered how long the drives can take on all these small roads. (An exception might be the Isle of Skye and the very very northern part of the country, but I think it's too far for this trip). The landscape looks gorgeous and I am so excited for to be in a rural landscape. Getting out of the city is my favorite thing to do on trips. The only downside is that the ferries to most of the islands are so infreuqent and have funny schedules; getting to and from the islands is a challenge without overnighting. I'll need gather the timetables and really consider what's doable. We are renting a little Ford Focus, which is what I drive at home. My friend will be at the wheel, though, because I am concerned about my ability to drive on the other side of the road.

I'll be looking into how I might incorporate that other archaeological site (Cairnpapple Hill). I just love to be outdoors and see old things. Maybe on our drive to Argyll?
My initial thought for a stopever was Stirling Castle. I'm not 100% sure we'd have time to do both, even though we are picking up the car rather early and getting on the road. SO MANY CHOICES!!!

If you think of anything you might recommend now that you know I'll be in Eidnburgh one week and Argyll the second, let me know! Also, if you have any experience with the islands (there are so so many) near Oban/Kintyre, please tell me what you think. My guess is that we'll get to visit two. Mull is easy to get to. The others a bit more complex.

Hi Sarah, I'll be watching for your impressions of Argyll with great interest.

The first of our four weeks, June 20-27 will be in a rental cottage on the southern tip of Seil. We drive through Oban to get there.

We aren't planning to try for any of the northern islands either. Sticking to Seil, Mull, Iona, Islay, & Jura. I would really LOVE to go visit the area of Jura where the Corryvreckan whirlpools are and where George Orwell wrote 1984. We'll have to see if Dan has the patience to drive a five mile muddy rutted road to get there. :grin:

Deborah,

I'll fill you in on everything I can. It sounds really great that you are going to be on Seil. One thing I thought was that actually it seems almost easier to get from island to island (in some cases) than from mainland to island. This is due to the convoluted twists and bends of the mainland coast (and how rural it is/the types of roads). It is also because there are so few ferries servicing the islands (and the ferry ports are really hard to reach becasue you have to keep driving around a bunch of coastline ).

I read about that northern tip or Jura and I, agree, it sound so breathtaking and unusual, too.

Are you planing to overnight on Islay or Jura? I just don't think they are easy daytrips... Effectively you will be in the same kind of location I am. Seil is connected to the mainland by the "Bridge across the Atlantic" but appears to have no ferry service to other islands from it. I thought, for example, that we would be able to visit Colonsay and Oronsay ona daytrip, but when I looked at the ferry schedules, the only way to do a daytrip is to catch the ferry on Kintyre (way south) and then return to Oban. Not sure how that would be doable without someone dropping you off in one location and picking you up in the other...

Also, the lodge we are letting is only like 8 miles from Oban, but because it is one (I think) a single, unpaved road, they said it takes 30 minutes to get there!!! So I think I'm going to have to scale down the distance I would normally travel on a daytrip. Scotland moves at a slower pace. that's okay with me, but it makes planning a bit challenging!!!

I'll keep posting on here to let you know what we are thinking and planning. I am now having loads of fun reading because I know which areas I can explore and which to not even tempt myself with. Before I was unsure of where we'd spend the second week and so I was getting so lost and confused trying to keep all the castles, lochs, glens, bens and islands straight!

You know, it's funny; my interest in Scotland is really a recent phenomenon. The more I read about it, though, and the photos I see of the landscapes, the more I wish I could spend a year walking, sailing, biking and driving around. I have so much respect for this country!

I think I will have to go back, for sure. (Okay, I've said that about Portugal and Italy, too, and I've spent about 7-12 weeks in each and feel liek I've seen a sliver).

I know what you are saying Sarah, we won't get to even a third of what we are planning on. But that happens with every trip.
As teeny-tiny as Montenegro is, we still missed huge chunks of it.

My wanderlust for Italy is pretty much satiated after so many trips. So, I don't have that urge for discovery about it. However, it feels like homecoming every time we go there, so I'd jump at every opportunity.

Lisbon is the only "big" city in the world I think I could live in for a very long time. I fell head over heels in love with her. Except for our drive south to Lisbon, we spent all of our countryside time in the Alto Minho. There are months and months and months of Portugal left for us.

I think you are so right. I think I'm going to feel the same way about Scotland.

Okay, Deborah, so i did actually solve my daytrip to Colonsay conundrum. In summer the ferry from Kennacraig heads north to Oban and drops you off around 11:30 AM on COlonsay. When it returns south, it picks you up on Colonsay at 6:05 PM...

So, it IS possible in summer to do a daytrip to Colonsay. It's a long day, though... You get back on teh peninsula at about 10 PM... I am going to see how long the drive is between Oban and Kennacraig.

Easy to read instructions to Colonsay

And one person's experience:

Daytrip to Colonsay


There is a pdf of the ferry schedule available online, too... but while it looks simple, I trust using other sources to confirm my thinking before I book, plan, step on a ferry!!!

I'm not 100% sure we'll do it... depends on all the ideas I gather. But now I at least know it's an option.

I also found a couple of day-long boat trips leaving from Oban that go to Staffa and other islands... the Treshnish Isles (for wildlife watching) or Iona, etc.. So I am looking into those. I'll let you know what I decide.

We only came across Culross by chance but it is certainly a little gem. Another easy trip from Edinburgh that nobody else seems to have mentioned is to North Berwick, where you could visit the National Sea-bird centre and get a boat trip around the gannet-intensive Bass Rock.

An island I particularly like is Barra which can be done from Oban. Also, when in Argyll, do try and see Glencoe -fascinating though terrible history and stunning scenery. This would combine with a trip to Skye via Mallaig-Armadale ferry. See if it's possible to get as far as Elgol and take a boat trip to Loch Coruisk - fantastic!! http://www.gla.ac.uk/medicalge..._cuillin_coruisk.htm

And while in Edinburgh don't miss the Royal Botanical garden - free entry to the huge garden and only £3-50 for entry to the extensive glasshouses.

I'm an unashamed Sassenach by the way.
David

David,

All great ideas. I love recommendations. I was actually thinking that it might be nice to organize a picnic with our online group (not slow trav, but another) in the Botanical Garden... Think that is a good location (or possible)? I love picnics and so rarely get to enjoy them. Plus we don't have to spend all day indoors if it is nice outside. I imagine it will be hours of talking, food and drink...

Do you think it is crazy to do a daytrip to Skye? I thought about it originally and then dismissed it... like someone trying to see Rome in one day... but I have to say, I'm so keen to go! I wish we were staying there for a week... I ask because it looked like the drive to Mallaig is about 2.5 hours from Oban!!! That's pretty long... Do you think it's worth the long haul?

So Barra, huh? Interesting. I just read about it and am surprised there is a ferry from Oban there because it is pretty far northwards. We could take an evening ferry, sleep in the hostel and then spend the day there and leave the next evening... It looks like it is lovely... I'd love to ride around as much of it as possible with bikes (they rent them there). Hmmm... a good possibility!! There is also a beautiful website for kayaking... Now I'm thinking that this is definitely something I'd like to do up there!
Clearwater Paddling

My difficulty has been WHICH islands to visit? We can only go to 2-3 (b/c of time and cost and ferry schedules, but I cannot decide which I want to see most. Mull and Skye look very interesting... but they are huge and really deserve lots of time... Barra sounds great. Many of the others so-so--all with pros and cons. If I can only do a couple, which are the most sensible and most beautiful? I am interested in beauty... landscapes, wildlife, etc..

Also, have you spent much time on the Ardnamurchan peninsula? It sounds lovely, and fairly remote... worth a trek? And with Glencoe, what do you recommend?--Taking a well-worn hiking path?

I need to list my options. Some things I am having trouble figuring out if I can fit them in. I'd love to either drive or ride the train on the Road to the Isles... whichever is a better view. That's a day in itself, I think...

I'm going to explore your other ideas more, David. Keep them coming! what are day trips you'd make given our location and that we'll have a car and just the two of us!? We are in good shape, too... so walking/cycling a bit is fine.

My only recommendation is not to try to pack in too much travel. It takes longer than you think to get between places. Try to schedule what you want to see close to where you're staying.

You can always go back and center yourself further north on another trip.

I've been 3 times and still haven't seen everything and put an average of 1500 miles on the rental cars!

Deborah,

Here's a way you can see the Corryvreckan Whirlpool without having to travel to Jura... This tour guide appears to know what he's doing AND the boat trips leave from Balyicar, on the Isle of Seil!

Sealife Adventures

Just an alternative... It seems Jura is a challenge to get to without your own boat.

There is so much to do and see in Scotland and the danger is you can go into overload - especially as we keep suggesting yet more beautiful places for you to consider!

You won't do everything. If you are going to Mull I'd be inclined to give Skye a miss - particularly when you consider how much of the day you will spend in the car just to get there and back. Your estimate of 2.5hours driving time from Oban to Mallaig is about right.

Similarly Ardnamurchan will be a long days drive from Oban area. Once you are past Salen the road will be very slow. The other alternative would to be to get the ferry from Tobermoray to Kilchoan. Timetable here.

Barra is 5 hours on the ferry from Oban. Timetable here.

Have you come across the AA Route Planner? It is useful to get an estimate of time needed for a drive. Take these times as a minimum as you need to build in time for stops to take pictures, admire the views and do things.

The Oban area is beautiful and there is so much to do and see round there that you could easily fill the time without driving very far.

Kilmartin30miles south Oban on A 816 will repay time spent. Have you seen the interactive map?
More information here and here.

Somewhere else you may be interested in are Bonawe Iron Works.. Details here.

Eleanor

In reply to your question about a picnic at the Botanical Garden - yes, it would be great if the weather is right.
Your question about which islands would be horrible because it's so difficult, except that it brings back such great memories. You must get sick of people saying it depends on what you want - but it does depend on your own priorities. The three in question, Mull, Barra and Skye all offer very different things. Unquestionably Skye is the best for mountains - in my view the Coolin ties with the Torridon Highlands for the UK's very best. The mountains of Glencoe come third. If you are into mountains, I hate the idea of your leaving without seeing any of these but, given the distance of Skye, I fear you might return frustrated by the lack of time to get the best from it - perhaps go farther north another time?? Torridon is way too far and that leaves Glencoe. If you are into ridge walking, Aonoch Eagach is one of the two best ridge walks on the mainland. Otherwise you might prefer something on the other side of the Glen - it's al magic. A round trip up the coast and back via the road to Tyndrum would give a grand day out.
I have not been up Mull's gighest peak but I think it is way behind the others mentioned. If you decide on Mull, there's a lot to be said for concentrating on the south coast. I have not done the full walk from Lochbuie to Carsaig Arches but I m sure it's great. The beaches south of Bunesan are wonderful. Obviously Iona calls but I'll give you a heartfelt tip. If you want to feel the famed spirituality of Iona, it's worth getting yourself up in time for the first boat from Oban (7.45 Tues - Fri). Otherwise the mass of tourist buses at the ferry will be enough to warn you there won't be any room left for spirits on Iona. Incidentally, if you park at the St Columba centre on your left as you are approaching the ferry, you will avoid a fairly steep parking charge on the road.
The thing going for Barra is that it seems like an island. At the northern end, you can leave your car at the airport, walk very easily to the west coast and walk right round the north tip to return to your car. Neighbouring islands give a smashing view to your left for most of the way. On the road on the west side of the Island, there is a beach known to the locals as 'seal beach.' It's well named!