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Itinerary Assistance for Scotland in December

My wife and I are travelling to Scotland this December from 12/28 - 1/3. We had tentatively planned the following itinerary:
28 & 29: Glasgow
30 - Oban
31 - 3: Edinburgh
We are finding accommodations in Oban to be problematic and the question is: does the city close down during the winter months and, if so, does anyone have any other destination suggestions?
Thanks for your time and input.

Posted by
265 posts

Why Oban?

It isn't a very big place and is not a city by any means. I've only ever used it to catch the ferry to Mull and so I don't know what's there by way of accommodation.

You plan to travel to Oban out of season and very close to Hogmanay and both these might be having an effect on accommodation available to you. Perhaps you should try Pitlochry which is closer to Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Posted by
5678 posts

If you're looking for small town Scotland, you might try Dunkeld in Perthshire.

Posted by
1634 posts

A large number of hotels and b and bs close the door at the end of October until March the following year as the season ends. Even greater outside the central belt.

One of the problems is going to be as well that places that are open are going to be booked well in advance for Hogmanay, and finding accomodation available now will be difficult. Try booking.com

Posted by
6113 posts

There are several issues:

Most places booked up months ago for Christmas and Hogmanay;
You only want one night's accommodation at a busy time:
A few places close up for the winter.

Add another night to Glasgow. Your two nights only gives you one full day there. Are you hiring a car? Much of the rail network shuts down between Christmas and New Year for track maintenance, so the fewer changes of accommodation you make, the easier it will be.

Inverness is far too much travelling just for one night as has been suggested by another poster.

Posted by
1443 posts

I would stay in Glasgow and Edinburgh and take day trips to Sterling or Lithlingow. Check Historic Scotland or Visit Scotland online sites for places to visit. I would not bother to go to Oban at this time of year. Remember you are at the same latitude as Canada.