I'm planning a trip to see my son who is doing his University Exchange year in Glasgow. His girlfriend and I are flying Portland (Oregon) to Glasgow on April 5 and flying out of GLA on April 19th. I'm in my late 40's, short hikes ok (I have hip issues), they are early 20's. Since I know we will need to rent a car and I will be the driver I'm trying to see how realistic it is to work in a few trains into the trip to break up the driving (I'm a bit nervous of driving on the right side of the road but I'm sure I'll be fine - with gritted teeth lol). However, I don't know if it's feasible to have multiple car rentals (cost?) or just rent once for the long haul. Since we are only there for about 2 weeks, I know we are going to scratch the surface and we are just fine with exploring a bit. I love pagan, ancient sites, castles (maybe 2-3 would be ok), Roman history, nature/birds/cliffs/beaches, whisky, local foods (we are foodies). I am budget conscious as well so that figures in to this trip. Airline tickets are already purchased!
List of what's on our list to see (please feel free to add places/sites you'd recommend):
1. Glasgow (4-5 nights) plan to train to Edinburgh/Stirling and see these sites this way (my son has done this so he will be the tour guide).
2. Kelpies (even a quick stop is fine!!)
3. Isles of Lewis/Harris (2-3 nights?) (I want to see the Callenais stones/other sites/beaches)
4. Orkney (2-3 nights?) Stone Circles, other neolithic sites, birds, museum there-thinking of visiting other than just main island.
5. Culloden (My son loves history and wants to stop here - 1-2 night around there - I know people stay in Iverness but I was thinking of avoiding there but will stay 1-2 nights). Thinking of Clava Cairns here and maybe a whisky tour if we want to do more.
6. Shetland - thinking if we went from Orkney to Shetland then could either fly to Glasgow or ferry to Aberdeen then train back to Glasgow. Shetland is on the wish list for this trip - not sure if there is enough time but thought I'd add it in for your thoughts.
7. Want to spend at least 1-2 night back in Glasgow for our fair-wells to my son who is finishing out the year at University of Strathclyde...
We want to have days where we can relax and not move too fast -
We like self-catered accommodations.
Best way to get from Glasgow to Isles of Lewis/Harris - should we stop in Skye or skip?
Then getting from those Islands up to Orkney without too much back tracking.
Is Aberdeen worth a night stopover? Would maybe need to do this after if we go to Shetland and take the ferry back?
Accommodation recommendations are much appreciated!
I have been reading everyone's posts and have learned so much!
Your Help is Much Appreciated!!
Posted by
Isle of Skye, Scotland
1547 posts
I honestly don't think you have anywhere near enough time for everything on your wish list.
You have already allocated 5 of your 14 nights to Edinburgh/Stirling. But you also want to see Culloden (near Inverness), Orkney & Shetland and Lewis & Harris. There is no direct way to get from Lewis & Harris to Orkney or Shetland. I live in Skye. It takes me 7.5 hours to drive to Aberdeen to get the overnight ferry to Shetland. I think you are going to have decide between either the Western Isles (Lewis & Harris) or Orkney & Shetland. My personal choice would be the latter.
So here is a potential plan for your remaining 9 nights.
If you wanted to rent a car you could do so on departure from Edinburgh and drive up to Inverness to see Culloden. My husband and I are both history buffs and he is Scottish. Even he was underwhelmed by Culloden. But if it's a must for you then so be it. You could overnight in the area and then spend the next day driving to Aberdeen, maybe taking in a whisky tour on the way as you will pass close to Speyside where there are many distilleries.
Then take the ferry to Kirkwall in Orkney - it arrives very late at night (around 11pm), so you'd need to ensure your accommodation could check you in that late. Second night near Kirkwall. Then you could spend 2 days and the 3rd night more in Orkney exploring the main archeological sites of the main island (mainland). The fourth night you'd spend on the ferry to Lerwick in Shetland arriving around 7am. You could spend 3 nights on Shetland and depart on the evening ferry on the 4th day. You'd sleep on the ferry back to Aberdeen (that takes us to 8 nights). This would leave you a day to get back to Glasgow where you'd spend your final night.
You would definitely want a car to properly explore Shetland. The above is only scratching the surface.
You could fly to Orkney and then on to Shetland but flights are very expensive and prone to cancellation. I personally find the ferry more reliable and a great way to get to Shetland. The cabins are fine but if you do take the ferry you will definitely want a cabin and not a 'pod' (basically just a seat).
The beaches in Shetland are beautiful and you wouldn't be missing out on beaches by not going to Harris.
Hope that's a start for you.
Jacqui (Skyegirl)
Posted by
OP
Coos Bay, Oregon
28 posts
@Skyegirl,
Thank you for your quick response and recommendations. I will see if my son will agree to forgo Culloden as I'd rather spend the time in the Isles.
If we do this, would it be feasible to train from Glasgow to Aberdeen then rent the car there and take the ferry to see Orkney & Shetland then drop the car back off in Aberdeen and train back to Glasgow?
Thank you again for your help!
Posted by
Western Canada
3968 posts
You will be driving on the left, not the right as you said. ?Typo?
Posted by
OP
Coos Bay, Oregon
28 posts
yes of course, I meant drive on the left. thank you!
Here's the rough updated itinerary:
1. Glasgow 4 nights
2. Train from Glasgow from Aberdeen
3. Ferry from Aberdeen to Orkney - arrives at 11 PM
4. Orkney 3 nights
5. Overnight ferry from Kirkwall, Orkney to Lerwick, Shetland
6. Shetland 3 nights
7. Overnight ferry from Lerwick to Aberdeen
8. Possible 1 night stay in Aberdeen
9. Train from Aberdeen to Glasgow
10 1-2 nights in Glasgow then fly back to US
I am thinking of renting car in Aberdeen and then dropping if off there, however if it would work better/cost less I can rent the car in Orkney and then drop off and rent one again for the Shetland leg of the trip. Are there any suggestions on this?
Thank you again!
Catherine
Posted by
Isle of Skye, Scotland
1547 posts
Catherine
I've never rented a car as obviously we take our own when we visit Shetland, but Bolts are the go to car rental on the island and are very close to the ferry terminal. No idea for Orkney but there's bound to be a local agent. The ferry should be cheaper without a car. You'll want to carefully check the ferry timetables as the ferries don't stop in Kirkwall every day.
Jacqui
Posted by
Lake District, England
10817 posts
Given the price of taking a car on Northlink it would seem way more prudent to do all ferry legs as foot pax, then rent local cars in both Orkney and Shetland.
In principle you should be able to connect by air at Inverness Airport from Stornoway (Lewis) to Kirkwall or Sumburgh (Shetland) on Loganair. Without looking I don't know it that works out in practice.
The other way from Aberdeen to Orkney in principle is to fly from Aberdeen to Wick, then the evening Northlink ferry from Scrabster (Thurso) to Stromness (Orkney).
At the moment the Wick flight is suspended after the financial failure of the operator (Eastern Airways). An announcement is awaited from the Scottish Government about a replacement carrier.
There are also daily flights from GLA to Stornoway (Lewis) on Loganair.
You would do the Kelpies the same day as Stirling or Edinburgh as Falkirk is on the way.