Updated Itinerary Feedback (Highlands and NE England)

I would add 25% on to those driving times. August is peak season. Also don't forget to add in time to park and walk to the attraction and then back to the car. This can easily dd 30 minutes to thise driving times.

Saturday looks very optimistic. The drive alone is going to take at least seven hours with a clear run and NO STOPS. I assume you will need a comfort break at some point and something to eat? If so you can possibly add another 90+ minutes to that time. What are you expectations of Glencoe and how long would you envisage spending there?
Inverary Castle - most people recommend allowing two hours for the visit.

The direct route down the A9 past Edinburgh is going to take five hours plus any stops.

Welcome back,

Aug 1 is going to be rushed. Without knowing where you're picking up your rental, I wouldn't expect you to get to Dunrobin before noon without stops along the way.

Carn Liath Broch, from the Iron Age, is a 5 minute drive from Dunrobin.

Tarbat Discovery Center closes at 4pm!

Aug 2 with your current plan, as lovely as Inverary Castle is, I would skip an inside visit and just buy a ticket for the gardens which will also give you access to the tearoom. Assuming the weather cooperates, just enjoy the drive and the spectacular views. Your going to have a very long driving day with some stops for views along the way including Loch Ness and Loch Lomond, as well as a couple castle ruins.

Otherwise, driving back south you could travel back basically the same route you took north adding a few stops that you've missed on your drive north. Here's a few:

• Ruthven Barracks
• Cairngorms National Park
• The Gardens at Blair Castle
• The Queen's View overlooking Loch Tummel
• The Hermitage
• Drummond Castle Gardens

And I haven't even mentioned any of the beautiful gardens and towns in the Scottish Borders with castles, abbeys and stately homes.

And I totally get having something etched in your brain, even if it doesn't make sense to anyone else. Enjoy!

Ford and Etal are nice but very small. It's a long way from Inverness. There's the Borders - Kelso, Melrose, Selkirk

Go to Berwick-upon-Tweed. Rothbury. Too much really https://englandsnortheast.co.uk/

It's not compulsory to go to York.

I agree with the others that you seem to be racing through the area. And it's a shame that you are not spending more time in Northumberland, which is one of the most wonderful regions in England. If it were me, I would omit York, and spend 3-4 days in Northumberland, staying in one of the coastal towns and visiting places like Holy Island, Bamburgh Castle (yes, I know that's on your list), Dunstanburgh Castle, Seahouses, Alnwick, Anmouth. The list goes on. :-)

I enjoyed York and love York Minster, but compared to the wild coast of Northumberland, it pales in comparison.

Wasleys: Thank you for the drive time recommendation. I wasn't considering parking time, so that is very helpful!

Jean M: thank you for the list of ideas going straight back down! We will look into them. I think we definitely want to visit Carn Liath Broch!

Ramblin' On: I haven't looked into those Border towns, we will check them out!

Mardee: Good point, we will look into those other towns and make our decision. I think I also need to look more closely at what to do in York before we decide!

Thank you all!

Bloom. Are you still ending your trip in London? Your original post you were questioning visiting Westminster Abbey as a tourist or attending a service.

As history buffs, I highly recommend touring the Abbey either with the included audioguide or on a Verger tour. The Abbey has witnessed centuries of coronations, weddings, funerals. Seeing the tombs of Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots, the centuries old Coronation chair, walking over the burial place of Chaucer, Robert Browning, Dickens, Kipling and more at Poet's Corner. The Abbey is breathing history.

Attending morning prayer or Evensong, while it can be a special experience, will severely limit what you will see inside the Abbey.

Jean M,

Yes! We do still plan to end in London, and I am glad you chimed about Westminster. We DO want to go on the tour for the history, exactly!

We have decided to just go to a service at St. Pauls, instead of a tour there as well.

Do you have other places in London, or possibly Oxford that you would recommend a tour for?

Take a look at London Walks. They offer a variety of walking tours in different areas of London with knowledgeable guides. In April I spent a beautiful Sunday in Hampstead in northern London and joined their morning Hampstead Village and Heath walk.

At the Tower of London you can join the Yeoman Warder Tour included with your admission.

The British Museum has a vast collection and can be overwhelming. It had been years since my last visit, so in March I booked the Around the World in 90 Minutes tour. The guide did an excellent job moving our group through the crowds and hitting the highlights of the museum while providing just the right amount of commentary.

Don't forget to take time for some pub breaks. The historic Blackfriar is less than 10 minutes from St. Paul.

It's been years since I've been to Oxford, so I'll let others help you there. However, you will have another opportunity for Evensong service at Christ Church Cathedral.

My adult daughter, son and I stayed in a B&B only five minutes from Clava Cairns. It was interesting, and I'm glad I visited. Even if you read all the signs, though, and take lots of pictures, I wouldn't plan on more than a half an hour at the VERY most.