Trip Advice

Too much travelling. A good rule is no one night stops, you never get a chance to see anything that way.

Are you picking up the car at one of London's airports immediately after an intercontinental flight and driving to Bath?
That may not be a good idea, especially if this is your first time driving on the correct (left) side of the road, with different signs and road rules. Consider bus or train to Bath and picking up the car there.

At the end, are you planning to drive direct from York to your departure airport, or are you spending a night in London?
Consider one of the following options:
A) Fly home from Manchester. A lot shorter trip from York, and less traffic.
B) Dump car in Glasgow, train Glasgow --> York and York --> London. Both 125 mph trains and no grief trying to drive to your hotel in London.
C) If Glasgow is just to break up the trip, skip Edinburgh on the way north (Lake District to Glen Coe direct), then do Edinburgh at the end after the Cairngorms. Dump car on arrival in Edinburgh (a car is useless in the city), then onward to York and London (or York and Manchester airport) by train as above.
D) If London not required, do York on the way north, Edinburgh at the end and fly home from Edinburgh.

I vote Plan C.

Please don't think I'm being critical or mean, But, I think that moving around so often the countryside scenery that you will be seeing mostly will be from the inside of a car.

I think if you would stay fewer places and that way longer in each place, you could take the time to have countryside walks, and have more interaction with the local people.

Whatever you decide is best for you I hope you have a great trip!

And Chris has given you some good advice!
Mimi

Thanks heaps Chris & Mimi! Really appreciate the help. It can get so overwhelming!

In response to Chris's questions;
Yes we are picking the car up after coming from overseas but have 3 days in London before beginning the drive. We are from Australia also so we drive on the same side of the road.

We fly home from London and will have, depending on the final trip plan, a day or 2 before we fly out.

I also like plan C, I think we will do that instead.

I have just had a look at accommodation in Isle Of Skye and there is absolutely nothing. Do you have any suggestions of somewhere else we could spend that time?

we are picking the car up after coming from overseas but have 3 days in London before beginning the drive.

I hope you don't mean you are staying with a car in London for 3 days. Hotels in London don't have parking. You can't drive to places you want to go to in London, none have any parking, they are only accessable on foot or by public transport, and you pay a daily toll for driving in central London (The "Congestion Charge", £11.50, see here: https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/congestion-charge ).

We have friends there who have a house

In Edinburgh, the Fringe Festival takes over the town for most of August. The Fringe is the largest performing arts festival in the world: street theater, plays, music, improv, comedy- all the bases are included. I've been there several times and plan to return- it's just so much fun. However, that means that hotel rooms increase in price dramatically and availability decreases. I would definitely go, but would want at least two full days if you want the Fringe experience. And- don't forget the Tatoo at the Castle!

You can still do a day trip to Skye; just stay on mainland and drive over bridge; maybe stay in Ft William. Take your own food and picnic as all the food vendors are too busy. Be prepared for crowded parking at main sights. I would suggest checking the National Trust UK web sight for interesting destinations in England and Wales: many are nature preserves besides estate houses, gardens and castles. You can get a members or overseas visitors pass. Visit Scotland web site also has passes available. Secret Scotland and Undiscovered Scotland may lead you to less trod upon areas in that country. I feel that you may be doing the "Candy Box" tour; trying too hard to try a little of everything. I wish that you could try free form travel, but unfortunately August is just too busy with "Outlander" devotees and Whisky lovers from around the World.

TOO MUCH TRAVELING

It takes a full day of touring to take in Bath. If you go to Bath, check out the Brooks Guesthouse, great B&B. Also, the Scallop Shell is a wonderful restaurant nearby, with the best Fish and Chips ever.

Two nights in the Cotswolds you can take in the small towns and perhaps Cirencester. However, if you are a Shakespeare fan, you will miss wonderful Stratford Upon Avon.

Going from Chipping Campden in the Cotswolds to Keswick in the Lake District, you will pass through highly congested highways around Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool. You will lose a day just getting there. Two nights at the Lake District will give you one day there, not enough.
You are skipping wonderful places in the North of England like York and Durham! The Yourshire Moors are amazing. Also, Whitby.