In April my wife and I are going to follow (for the most part) RS self-guided car route in Scotland.
We will be adding a couple extra days for a slower paced tour.
We land on a Thursday in Edinburgh getting us to out accommodation around noon.
Thinking that half day could be a little slow and groggy.
So my question is, should we consider four nights in Edinburgh and two in Glasgow, or three and three?
Posted by
Delaware
1376 posts
Hi, rc,
First of all, Merry Christmas!
How many total days do you have in Scotland, outside of Edinburgh and Glasgow? Best thing to do to get over your jet lag is to stay up as long as you can that first day, then go to sleep around 9:00 p.m. You'll wake up on your first full day after a good night's sleep, ready to take on the city.
After you've checked in to your accommodation on the first day, find some things to do that are fairly close to where you're staying. With the guidebook recommendations, you shouldn't have any trouble finding things to do. Don't eat too much the first day, especially in the evening, so that you can get that good first night's sleep.
As your first day will not be a full day, and the if first night is included in your four nights in Edinburgh, I'd say go for four nights in Edinburgh, two in Glasgow. However, you should leave for Glasgow early in the day, so that you have at least two full days in Glasgow. As you're traveling in April, you shouldn't have any trouble finding accommodation in Glasgow if you change your mind and go three and three. Unless you're over during Easter hols.
Best wishes for a wonderful holiday!
Mike (Auchterless)
Posted by
OP
Fort Myers, FL
89 posts
Hello Mike,
Merry Christmas and thank you for the input!
Total nights stay is 18, landing the 11th and leaving the 28th.
So 17 full days with half a day arrival day.
That first (partial) day I think we will just stroll the neighborhood, gather host information, and head to Leslies for a few pints.
RC
Posted by
Lynnwood, Washington
8339 posts
I wouldn’t add extra time to Edinburgh. Spend it out exploring.
Posted by
172 posts
If you like cities I recommend four nights in Edinburgh and two in Glasgow. Go by train between them and pick up the car when you leave Glasgow.
If you like hiking I recommend only three nights in Edinburgh and an extra day in the Isle of Skye.
If you like just scenic driving I recommend only three nights in Edinburgh and an extra day in Inverness. The city of Inverness itself takes only a few hours to see, but it’s a great base to drive from. Many scenic loops are possible in any direction for a day returning to Inverness.
Posted by
Washington DC
27047 posts
I count 16 full days and the partial, jetlagged arrival day. The departure day doesn't count.
Posted by
RIchmond, BC,Canada
849 posts
As a couple of other people suggested I would also do four days Edinburgh and two days Glasgow. I glanced quickly at the tour itinerary, and it is done in ten days so you should be good with 16. By starting in Edinburgh for four days, then taking the train to Glasgow for a couple of days before renting a car this would also mean you should be well rested by the time you start driving. You could do the tour itinerary in reverse from Glasgow and finish up back in Edinburgh.
Posted by
Edinburgh
2637 posts
It is very easy to travel between Glasgow and Edinburgh, why not just stay in the city you want to spend most time in and take day trips to the other city,45minutes by train city centre to city centre and about an hour by bus