Help by travelplan May/juni 2026

Amber, welcome to the forums. Your plan looks pretty good. Here are my thoughts and questions.

Have you already booked your flights? Could you fly into Glasgow and depart from Edinburgh?

Regardless, I would drop the car off upon arrival in Edinburgh unless you are planning to stay outside of the city center. You could travel to Glasgow by bus or train from Edinburgh.

Are you arriving in Glasgow from an overnight flight? If not, I would head to Oban and Mull upon arrival in Scotland. While Oban is a nice town, I would spend all 3 nights on Mull, unless there is a reason to sleep in Oban.

3 nights on Skye is good. Book your lodging as soon as reservations become available. The better places get booked up quickly.

As an alternative to busy Ullapool, consider Lochinver, less than an hour further up the coast.

Why Durness? It's a relatively short drive from Ullapool or Lochinver. Although the scenery is outstanding, Durness is very limited in lodging and restaurants. Consider continuing along the coast to Tongue or Bettyhill (with its wonderful Strathnaver Museum on the Highland Clearances).

Staying in Tongue or Bettyhill would also shorten the drive to Aviemore and allow more time for stops along the way.

A 3 night stay in Aviemore or elsewhere is a good idea after your one night stays.

What are your plans for Dundee? It's a good size city. There may be better options depending on what you want to see and do.

If you are keeping the car the entire trip, you could save Stirling Castle for the drive between Edinburgh and Glasgow. This would give you time to stop at some of the historic sites and fishing villages in Fife on your way to Edinburgh.

Goedeavond Jeanm.

Er gaat een wereld voor mij open bij dit forum. Ik gebruikte alleen forum voor vakantie naar Amerika.

Bedankt voor je reactie.
We hebben nog geen tickets geboekt.
Goede tip om 2 verschillende luchthavens te boeken.

Ik had op het forum reeds gelezen over Autohuur via Arnold Clark. Hier las ik dat je in de stad * bijvoorbeeld glasgow en of Edinburgh) auto kan ophalen terug.
Ik zit zeker niet te wachten op auto in 1 van beide centra. Dus als dat kan via deze verhuurder super.

We landen in de ochtend in Glasgow.
Ik wilde de dag en 1 nacht daar doorbrengen.
Dan in ochtend naar Oban vertrekken.

Idee om 3 nachten Mull te doen ipv 2 en 1 in oban, gaan we aanpassen.

Ik ga ben aan het wachten op opening agenda's van hotels/b&b op skye. Realiseer mij dan ik snel moet boeken.

Is Ullapool niet leuk genoeg voor 1 nacht slapen of is een bezoek voor paar uur voldoende en dan doorrijden naar bijvoorbeeld Lochinver, zoals je voorstelt.

Is een kort bezoek ( cave, beach) Durness voldoende om het te ervaren? En dan doorrijden naar bijvoorbeeld Tongue of Bettyhill?

In Dundee wilde we het museum en gebouwen bekijken. Ik twijfel over deze plaats?
Welke andere plaatsen vanuit Aviemore richting Stirling/edinburg zou jij adviseren?

En welke plekken of plaatsen bedoel je met : Zo heeft u tijd om onderweg naar Edinburgh enkele historische bezienswaardigheden en vissersdorpjes in Fife te bezoeken.

Ik hoor het graag.

Nogmaals super bedankt voor je input.

simple google translate from Dutch

Good evening Jeanm. This forum has opened up a whole new world for me. I only used the forum for a vacation to America. Thanks for your reply. We haven't booked any tickets yet. Good tip: book two different airports. I'd already read on the forum about car rental through Arnold Clark. I read there that you can pick up a car and return it in the city (for example, Glasgow or Edinburgh). I'm definitely not looking forward to having a car in either city center. So if that's possible through this rental company, that's great. We're landing in Glasgow in the morning. I wanted to spend the day and one night there. Then leave for Oban in the morning. We're thinking of spending three nights on Mull instead of two and one in Oban. We'll change that.

I'm waiting for the opening schedules of hotels/B&Bs on Skye. I realize I'll have to book quickly.

Isn't Ullapool nice enough for one night, or is a visit for a few hours sufficient and then drive on to, for example, Lochinver, as you suggest?

Is a short visit (cave, beach) to Durness enough to experience it? And then drive on to, for example, Tongue or Bettyhill?

In Dundee, we wanted to see the museum and buildings. I'm unsure about this place.

Which other places from Aviemore towards Stirling/Edinburg would you recommend?

And which places or locations do you mean? This way, you'll have time to visit some historical sights and fishing villages in Fife on the way to Edinburgh.

I'd love to hear from you.

Thanks again so much for your input.

At Durness, as well as the Balnakiel Craft village and Smoo Cave you can also go to Cape Wrath lighthouse, the most North westerly point in the UK.
That is a 3 1/2 hour round trip. You park at Keoldale, just south of Durness then take a foot ferry, followed by a minibus.
Check your dates as access is sometimes closed for NATO military exercises.

The trip to Cape Wrath lighthouse is amazing. We did it many years ago - we hadn't planned it but were passing just before the ferry was due to depart. The minibus takes you across one of the wildest, most remote and desolate parts of Scotland. It is definitely worth doing if you have the chance.

We also loved Smoo Cave too.

Ullapool is bigger than Lochinver, for sure and is where I'd go for groceries. Personally, I think Ullapool lacks some of the stunning scenery of Lochinver, though I do enjoy the harbor, etc.

Amber,

Ullapool is fine for 1 night. There will be more choice in shops, restaurants and hotels. It's just a bit too busy for me.

For Durness, allow about 2 hours for Smoo Cave and the beach. If you want to add Cape Wrath, mentioned by others here, you will need a lot more time. Traveling to Cape Wrath is dependent on tides and weather for the ferry to operate.

Between Aviemore and Edinburgh there are lots of interesting places. In Perthshire there is The Hermitage, Blair Castle, Scone Palace and more.

If you're going to Dundee, Glamis Castle is nearby. They have a great tour.

Between Dundee and Edinburgh is the Kingdom of Fife. This is where St. Andrews is located. Here are a couple links to help you.

The Coastal Villages of Fife

9 Reasons to Visit Fife

Amber, if it were me, I would skip the night on Oban and spend at least 3 nights on Mull. I love Mull, possibly more than Skye, and would recommend you stay in Tobermory as opposed to Oban. Tobermory is charming and there is a lot you can see and do there. I stayed 4 nights in one of the harbor B&Bs and parked in one of the free car lots on the harbor. It's lovely to be able to walk down through the shops and restaurants that line the harbor. Bring your camera as it's very photogenic. You can visit the Isle of Mull Cheese Shop (Sgriob-ruadh Farm), which is about a mile from the harbor. There are self-guided tours to meet the farm animals and learn about traditional cheese making. There is also a cafe and a farm shop.

Also, there is a short walk from the harbor car park along the wooded hillside to Aros Park with woodland trails, a lochan and really nice waterfalls. A walk from the other end of Main Street leads along a coastal path to the Rubha Nan Gall Lighthouse. There are amazing views out over the Sound of Mull. And another short walk up the hill towards Baliscate leads to the Baliscate Standing Stones. Nearby is the site of the Baliscate Chapel, the subject of a BBC archaeology dig.

You also might want to stop at Isle of Mull Pottery, which is just beautiful. They sell some in the shops along the harbor but the main shop is in the town up above Main St. (you will pass it if you go to Calgary).

The Tobermory Bakery is wonderful—definitely stop here for one of their delectable pastries, take-away sandwiches and coffee or tea. Their Millionaire's Shortbread is incredible! There is a shop at the end of the harbor that is farthest from the ferry terminal that sells handmade chocolate with a tea room, and along the way are some very nice gift shops - I bought half my souvenirs in Mull (and I'm picky about stuff like that). Lots of nice restaurants, too. There is also a catch-and-release aquarium that is interesting, too.

And don't miss Calgary Beach, which is about a 30+ minute drive—probably more like 40—from Tobermory. It's very narrow and the single track roads run through the mountains with some switchbacks, so you will need to go slow through much of it. It's well worth a visit to see the beautiful beach. On the way back from Calgary, you can stop at Glengorm Cafe (about 3-4 miles from Tobermory) and have some lunch or pastries at the lovely cafe there. There are some beautiful coastal views as well.

And of course, there is the Isle of Iona, the birthplace of Christianity in Scotland and filled with so much history. It makes for a wonderful day trip from Tobermory. You can drive to Fionnphort, then take the 10 minute ferry over to Iona, see the ruins and the history there, have some lunch, walk on the beach. It's an amazing day.

Can you tell how much I loved Mull? :-)

And just in case...

Amber, als ik jou was, zou ik de nacht op Oban overslaan en minstens drie nachten op Mull doorbrengen. Ik ben dol op Mull, misschien wel meer dan op Skye, en ik zou je aanraden om in Tobermory te verblijven in plaats van Oban. Tobermory is charmant en er is veel te zien en te doen. Ik heb vier nachten in een van de B&B's in de haven verbleven en geparkeerd op een van de gratis parkeerplaatsen aan de haven. Het is heerlijk om langs de winkels en restaurants aan de haven te lopen. Neem je camera mee, want het is erg fotogeniek. Je kunt een bezoek brengen aan de Isle of Mull Cheese Shop (Sgriob-ruadh Farm), die op ongeveer anderhalve kilometer van de haven ligt. Er zijn rondleidingen met gids om de boerderijdieren te ontmoeten en meer te leren over het traditionele kaasmaken. Er is ook een café en een boerderijwinkel.

Er is ook een korte wandeling vanaf de parkeerplaats bij de haven langs de beboste heuvels naar Aros Park met bospaden, een lochan en prachtige watervallen. Een wandeling vanaf de andere kant van Main Street leidt langs een kustpad naar de Rubha Nan Gall Lighthouse. Je hebt er een fantastisch uitzicht over de Sound of Mull. En nog een korte wandeling de heuvel op richting Baliscate leidt naar de Baliscate Standing Stones. Vlakbij ligt de Baliscate Chapel, het onderwerp van een BBC-archeologische opgraving.

Je kunt ook even stoppen bij Isle of Mull Pottery, een prachtig oord. Ze verkopen het in de winkels langs de haven, maar de belangrijkste winkel bevindt zich in het stadje boven Main Street (je komt er langs als je naar Calgary gaat).

De Tobermory Bakery is fantastisch – stop hier zeker voor een van hun heerlijke gebakjes, afhaalbroodjes en koffie of thee. Hun Millionaire's Shortbread is fantastisch! Er is een winkel aan het einde van de haven, het verst van de veerbootterminal, die handgemaakte chocolade verkoopt met een theesalon, en langs de route zijn een paar hele leuke souvenirwinkels - ik heb de helft van mijn souvenirs in Mull gekocht (en ik ben kieskeurig wat dat betreft). Er zijn ook veel leuke restaurants. Er is ook een interessant aquarium waar je vissen kunt vangen en weer vrijlaten.

En mis Calgary Beach niet, dat op ongeveer 30 minuten rijden – waarschijnlijk eerder 40 – van Tobermory ligt. Het is erg smal en de eenbaanswegen lopen door de bergen met wat haarspeldbochten, dus je zult er langzaam doorheen moeten rijden. Het is zeker een bezoek waard om het prachtige strand te zien. Op de terugweg vanuit Calgary kun je stoppen bij Glengorm Cafe (ongeveer 5-6 kilometer van Tobermory) en daar lunchen of gebak eten. Je hebt er ook een prachtig uitzicht op de kust.

En natuurlijk is er het eiland Iona, de geboorteplaats van het christendom in Schotland en vol geschiedenis. Het is een prachtige dagtrip vanuit Tobermory. Je kunt naar Fionnphort rijden en dan de veerboot van 10 minuten naar Iona nemen, de ruïnes en de geschiedenis daar bekijken, lunchen en over het strand wandelen. Het is een fantastische dag.

Kun je zien hoe geweldig ik Mull vond? :-)

Unless you particularly want to see Glasgow, I would head for Oban and overnight there.Plenty to see on route and the scenery is lovely from Loch Lomond onwards - Luss, Glen Croe, Inveraray, Kilchurn Castle, St Conan’s Kirk.
I’d definitely add at least another night to Mull, unless you can make a ferry over that afternoon in which case, get over to the island itself. It’s around 2hr 15 drive without stops from Glasgow airport to Oban.

Your quickest route to Skye from Mull is via Ardnamurchan and Lochailort, joining the road to the isles then over on the Mallaig-Armadale ferry to Skye.However, if you prefer less winding, narrow single track roads, then stick with Oban to Skye.

I really like Ullapool, it’s a buzzy, busy wee place in a lovely situation on Loch Broom.It’s not large so a couple of hours strolling about and you have seen it, unless you plan a boat trip from the harbour perhaps (though the best boat trip to me is to Handa Island, further north.)

If you get the chance, don’t miss the stunning drive out to Achnahaird Beach along by Loch Lurgainn and below the towering pinnacle of Stac Pollaidh.Fabulous drive.

Lochinver holds many memories for me of holidays when my two boys were young, great wee place though much quieter and with fewer amenities than Ullapool.The drive up to Lochinver is a belter, stunning.

Similarly to Durness, terrific scenery and excellent roads for the most part from Ullapool onwards,better than many further south with the exception of the final miles to Durness which are single track but with long sightlines.
A stop at Knockan Crag is well worth it too - fantastic views over the iconic mountains there.Good path though easier if you stick to the southern section rather than the slightly exposed northern end of the loop route which can be missed out entirely to no ill effect!

Is Dundee for Scott’s Antarctic ship/ the V&A Museum? It’s not the loveliest city.

Jupiter Artland is very interesting, unusual to say the least.

Durness to me is about Balnakiel beach and the other smaller, pretty coves that dot that coast.

Good evening,

I've been quite ill for a few days, so my response has been delayed.

Thanks for your reply, tips, and advice.
I've made some adjustments to our route because of this.
The overnight stay in Oban has been cancelled, so we've added an extra night in Mull, and we're staying in Tonque instead of Durness.
And finally, Dundee has been cancelled, so we'll be staying in Pitlochry instead.

Car rental has been arranged through Celtic Legend, which is excellent service, and all the accommodations are booked.

Greetings Amber

Aanvulling:

We vliegen nu op glasgow en terug via edinburg. Auto kunnen we hierdoor eerder inleveren en scheelt Reistijd.
We overnacht niet in tomberly, maar in knock, de islands pods zagen er zo goed uit.

Tip van mardee -> pottery en bakery gaan we zeker bezoeken.