Ok....One more Itinerary question so I can nail this down!!!

Edinburgh is worth seeing - much more so than York. I would devote more time to Edinburgh than York, even if meant skipping York entirely.

Hi homeby51 -

Whisper it, because a certain amount of 'swearing in church' is about to take place, but I prefer Glasgow to Edinburgh (not sure what that says about me, but...) but I would forsake both in a heartbeat if it meant more time in the Highlands.

As a Yorkshireman - and thus extremely biased! - I would advocate York everyday of the week, not just because of the city itself, but because of the amount of stuff to visit comparatively nearby. Although 2-3 days can be cheerfully filled in the City of York itself.

However, I'm mindful of the fact that this is YOUR trip, so, the question really is 'which city do you feel you could go home without seeing and not regret it forever?'. I think we can advise and recommend but not, ultimately, decide.

Whatever you do decide, I'm sure you'll have a great trip. And Edinburgh and York have been around for a while and will be for a while yet if you consider a return trip is in order to cover the ground that you didn't cover this time around!

Ian

The thing is...we seriously don't know and will take you all's advice. You see...I am getting my "city" time in London for a week.
Let me ask...Is Edinburgh a big city also? Not sure I want to spend much more big city time outside of London?
I know we are at least going to spend two nights at Isle of Skye. That's set in stone. It's simply the other 4 nights before we are due to arrive in London on the 16th. I guess we could skip Edinburgh and York both and spend 4 more nights in the Highlands but never really considered that. I assumed that was simply too long and that York was at least worth seeing since we are traveling right by it.
Decisions, decisions......

I loved York but I would allocate at least as much time to Edinburgh. To me, the essential sights in York are walking the wall, preferably with the free local guide who is great, and seeing the Minster. I did love the museum(I think it's called the York Castle Museum?)-it was very well done-but not essential. Edinburgh National Museum is great, as is St. Giles church. I think most people want to see Edinburgh castle but it was not a priority for us. Another possibility is skip the drive to the Highlands yourself and take an informative day trip there from Edinburgh with Rabbies.

We spent two nights and a full day in Edinburgh before we caught a train up into the Highlands (via Glasgow). It did not feel like “city time” to us as we spent the morning walking up Arthur’s Seat, and wandered the university campus in the afternoon (amazing to see how many of the 19th and 20th Century icons of science, medicine, industry, and other disciplines attended that university). We did go into the museum for a bit when it started to rain and enjoyed that as well. Edinburgh actually felt more like a small city than a big one; perhaps because we walked everywhere and did not cover that much of it. Nor did we visit the castle.

So my two pence worth is to go with your final choice - two nights in both Edinburgh and York. In terms of “big city time”, Edinburgh is nothing like London, so not really a duplicate experience. With two nights in Edinburgh, you’ll be there just long enough to realize you have to return to see everything you missed. York is lovely (we’ve been there a few times), and two nights will enable you to see most of the “important” sights without having to feel rushed.

While I've never been to Edinburgh, I have been to York and absolutely LOVED it. I can't recommend it enough.

Not certain what I’d do in York proper for 3 nights, 2 full days. I’d have to take a day trip. Historic Edinburgh is good for a couple days, then I’d need to take a day trip from it too.

Edinburgh is a small city, and it’s a stunner. I don’t know of any other city in the UK quite like it. The castle dominates the skyline. The Royal Mile is full of very old buildings that reek of history. The New Town is more than 200 years old and yet feels modern in comparison.

I love it. The minute you step foot in Edinburgh I think you’ll wish you had a couple of days to stay there. Or at least ONE FULL DAY in which to tour the castle then walk downhill down the Royal Mile from there.

I’ve spent time in both Edinburgh and York and love them both. However I wouldn’t give up the day of exploring in the Highlands because that’s what it feels like you are really looking forward to. And it will be wonderful and relaxing! For that reason I like the second option best, cutting a day off of York, to spend a night in Edinburgh.

I love how your trip is evolving!

Thanks guys... From you all's help.....we decided to cut a day in York and make sure we stay at least 3 days in the Highlands. We feel this will be enough time in York. Your input is exactly what I needed.This will be our itinerary:
May 9th - Fly to Edinburgh and stay at airport Hotel (booked). Rent a car on the 10th and spend two nights at Isle of Skye (B&B booked for 10th and 11th).
May 12th - Leave Isle of Skye and explore the Highlands and stay somewhere the night of the 12th (not sure where...just exploring)
May 13th - Arrive back at Edinburgh mid-day of 13th and turn rental car back in. Stay somewhere in Edinburgh the night of 13th and see the sites that evening and half of next day.
May 14th - Take train to York sometime midday and stay in hotel in York on 14th and 15th (not booked yet).
May 16th - Leave York by train in the afternoon and arrive in London that evening where I will stay until the 23rd when I will catch my flight back to the States.

But let me ask one other question? As you see in the itinerary above...we will stay 3 nights in the Highlands and one night in Edinburgh. We were wondering is there enough interesting spots to drive around in the Highlands to make it worth 4 full days and simply skip Edinburgh? It would look like this:
May 9th - Fly to Edinburgh and stay at airport Hotel (booked). Rent a car on the 10th and spend two nights at Isle of Skye (B&B booked for 10th and 11th).
May 12th - Leave Isle of Skye and explore the Highlands and stay somewhere the night of the 12th and 13th (not sure where...just exploring)
May 14th - Arrive back at Edinburgh mid-day and turn rental car back in. Leave to go to London.
May 14th - Take train to York sometime midday and stay in hotel in York on 14th and 15th (not booked yet).
May 16th - Leave York by train in the afternoon and arrive in London that evening where I will stay until the 23rd when I will catch my flight back to the States.

What do you guys think now between the two?

I wouldn't skip Edinburgh. Personally I preferred your original third choice with equal nights in Edinburgh and York. Whilst the Highlands are gorgeously impressive it does involve a lot of driving around. Edinburgh is not a big city and the main historic part is easily covered on foot. I have visited a number of times and would still enjoy visiting again and again, likewise York.

A big transformation from your original itinerary!

Yeah...it has evolved LOL!!
Anyway...just booked our two nights in York (14th and 15th) so it looks like we will be staying in Edinburgh for one night (the 13th) to take it in. This was itinerary #2 on the original post. Thanks again for all of you all's feedback!!

Here you go homeby51: My Heart’s in the Highlands

Do spend the last night in Edinburgh before taking the train to York...in case of rain or (not likely) car trouble, it gives you a cushion. And it’s well worth seeing a bit of Edinburgh...you’ll definitely want to return, I suspect.