Planning a trip to Scotland for late May 2018. There will be 4 of us (me, wife, son (13), daughter (11)). We are taking a transatlantic cruise that will end in Barcelona on morning of Saturday May 26. Plan is to take an evening flight to Edinburgh and start touring the next day (Sunday). Goal is basically a road trip to see the landscapes, visit a few castles, and enjoy time away. Wife and I have been to Stirling and Edinburgh once before. Itinerary as follows:
Day 1 Edinburgh
Day 2 Edinburgh
Day 3 Stirling
Day 4 Drive from Stirling to Mallaig - stops in Ft William, Glenfinnan and anywhere that looks interesting
Day 5 Ferry to Isle of Skye
Day 6 Isle of Skye
Day 7 Isle of Skye in morning, drive to Inverness in afternoon
Day 8 Explore area around Inverness (Loch Ness, Culloden Battlefield)
Day 9 Drive from Inverness to Edinburgh (stop anywhere interesting)
Day 10 Flight home to US
questions: a) Planning to take train from Edinburgh to Stirling. Would you do this evening of Day 2 or morning of Day 3?
b) Day 4 - would you plan on staying in or near Mallaig or take ferry onto Isle and stay there?
Any other thoughts on this plan are welcomed. Thanks!