5 days in Scotland

Posted by tboskin on 07/30/14 03:14 AM

Hello again!
I wanted to see what you all thought I should do with my first 5 days in Scotland. My second 4 will be in York, England, and my last 5 will be in Edinburgh. My main interests are history, particularly ancient, and nature. But everything is great, really. I have decided not to drive but to use public transit. I can fly into either Glasgow or Edinburgh...or London, for that matter. This will be in mid December....before Christmas. Thoughts? I had originally wanted to go to Oban...Mull and Iona, but have discovered that there is no transport from Oban to Mull at that time of year.

Thank you!
TB

Posted by Nancy

Bloomington, IL, USA

07/30/14 03:26 AM

9371 posts

Glasgow! You can stay out in Balloch, on the shores of Loch Lomond if you want - about a 30 minute train ride from the city. There is hiking (not sure of boat tours at that time of year, but well worth it if you can go). There is a lot to do in Glasgow and surrounding areas. The Riverside Museum, Kelvingrove (my favorite!), all of the Charles Rennie Mackintosh stuff.... art, great night life....

Posted by tboskin OP

07/30/14 02:08 PM

17 posts

Maybe it seems strange, but I want very badly to go to the York area. The train ride from Edinburgh to York is shorter than from London. And i thought that getting to and coming back from York, i might be able to make some stops to see some of southern Scotland.

Posted by Betsey

New England

07/30/14 02:16 PM

317 posts

Hi TB,

Depending on your originating airport, flying into Manchester is around an hour from York. I did that a couple years ago. My flight was a late arrival and I wasn't sure of public transport schedules for a weekend, so I used a car hire and got chauffeured to my York B&B .. it was the trip splurge and I liked it :-)

In York I stayed at Number 34 Bed and Breakfast, http://www.number34york.co.uk/ . It had an easy walk to the center, also walkable to the rail station (after I got there and saw the signs near the B&B to the rail, walked it, and then walked back to learn it).

Posted by tboskin OP

07/30/14 02:22 PM

17 posts

Thanks Betsy!
Maybe I will check out flying into Manchester. I actually tried the b&b you suggested. Many are closed on Christmas and Boxing Day.....the whole month of December for that matter. I did however reserve at what seems to be a lovely place. Thanks for your help!
TB