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Stuck between a rock & a hard place! Edinburgh or extend time in England?

Posted by (BC, Canada) on

In a nutshell, we will be travelling to the UK next July - July as I am a school secretary and we are in school until July 9th. Anyhoo, we have 3.5 weeks - right now I have us driving from Keswick in the Lake District, to spend three days in Edinburgh. This would include visits to Stirling, Doune and Rosslyn. Once the wee bit of Scotland fix, we head to Northumberland and make our way back towards London. We have everything figured out except feel rushed with only one day/night in Lake District, and just three days to visit Northern Wales.

Here's the question of the day - would it be wise to skip Scotland altogether this holiday so we can add an extra day in the Lake District and extra time in N. Wales? My heart wants to visit Edinburgh, but my sensibilities are saying relax, stop and smell the roses! Thank you!

Posted by
4140 posts

As much as it pains me to say this , you should skip Scotland on this one . Travel always looks much simpler on paper than it is in reality . Going to Edinburgh , Stirling , and Doune - ( Patsy , get the coconuts ) You will see little of Edinburgh . It always looks closer and simpler on the map . Even North Wales with only three days is cutting this close . Back off a bit , and plan on returning , you'll be glad you did !

Posted by
5678 posts

You could dip into Scotland by winding your way over to Northumbria. I love the Borders area. I really enjoyed the book, Steel Bonnets by George MacDonald Fraser it tells you all about the Border Wars--the rieving, the raiding, the craziness that went on for several hundred years. You could go to Carlisle first and get the English perspective at the Castle. Then head up into the Debatable Lands and see Hermitage Castle. Then drive through the countryside to Jedburgh. You could spend the night there. There's the Abbey to explore and I think Mary Queen of Scots was there as well. Then it would be on to Northumbria.

Of course, you'll make another trip just to Scotland in the future.

Pam

Posted by
7175 posts

Without knowing your wider plans in England it would appear that you are moving at a more leisurely pace. Time in Scotland at breakneck speed may be at odds with the rest of your trip, meaning adjustments overall, or rethinking Scotland entirely.

One suggestion would de driving from North Wales to the Lake District, then across the Pennines to Durham, and finally down to York. Drop your car off in York, and head to Edinburgh by train for 2 or 3 nights, before returning to London by train.

Posted by
16144 posts

Any day in Scotland is a good day, but that just my view. We spent a week there on our last UK trip and I am looking forward to going back. It doesn't have to be Edinburgh; there are places closer tothe Lake District where you will be already.

Posted by
6113 posts

Personally, I would drop north Wales and add in the Scottish Borders, if not Edinburgh itself. The scenery is far more stunning here than in Wales and you can still get your fill of castles and history.

Posted by
4509 posts

If you have 3-1/2 weeks for the UK you can spare 5 days for a proper Scotland visit, but more would be better.

Posted by
7175 posts

North Wales is wonderful - castles, coastline, and Snowdonia.
As the previous post says 3.5 weeks is a good amount of time to allow inclusion of a reasonable visit to Scotland.
7 days - London
10 days - England and Wales
7 days - Scotland

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