Ok so please give this mom some grace on this . We have a trip to Scotland planned from 7/1-7/9 and so far all i have planned is that we are in edinburgh from 7/1-7/3. This is a HS grad gift for my daughter, we are a family of 4 with two teenagers. Ideally we would love to see the highlands after seeing edinburgh but are open to whatever. So, if you were me, where would you go, where would you stay ($$ not an issue) and and what would you see so that when we are on that flight back home the kids would have gotten the whole scottish experience :) editing to add the daughter would love a night or two at a castle somewhere so open to all suggestions. Thank you all in advance for any suggestions!
Posted by
1770 posts
A little more information would be helpful. For example: Will you have a car? Do you like to hike? Are you interested in history?
Posted by
OP
3 posts
yes we will have a car. we can hike but likely wont hike daily. we just want a mix of history and nature. Fun ideas to keep teens engaged would be very welcome. We like to be outdoors but also like museums. We really are super flexible
Posted by
Chicagoland
630 posts
Okay. What airports are you flying in and out of? How old is your youngest? I see now that you're driving.
Since this is your daughter's graduation gift, I will assume a castle stay is a priority. I just checked Barcaldine Castle near Oban. We stayed there in 2023, but they are booked up.
I did find a real castle available during your dates. Check reviews. You would then need to build the rest of your trip around the castle stay.
Leslie Castle currently has 2 rooms on July 7 available. It's located in Aberdeenshire, an area filled with castles, about a 3½ hours from Edinburgh.
You could include the Glencoe Valley and Highlands on your way north and down the east coast
on your way back to Edinburgh.
This will give you spectacular scenery, beautiful lochs, historical sights and a lovely Scottish experience.
Posted by
Land of La
9659 posts
Got a library card? Nearby book store?
Could check to see if they have the Rick Steves Scotland Guidebook.
Tons of great intel including where to go and what to see.
I’ve not been to Scotland so unable to provide first hand intel.
Lastly, if you use the search engine on this site and type in Scotland Must Sees pretty certain you’ll find suggestions.
Posted by
USA Southwest
118 posts
My kids are a bit younger, but some things we really enjoyed includes: In Edinburgh the National Museum of Scotland, the castle of course, and the Real Mary King's Close tour would probably be a lot of fun for teens. Leanach Farms near Inverness for a sheep dog demonstration.
A scenic drive through Glen Etive (just off the road from Glen Coe) which was jaw droppingly beautiful.
We really loved the ruined castles we visited in Aberdeenshire, one that is a bit more off the beaten path is New Slains Castle which you can just freely explore, no cost or anything, and it sits on some of the most beautiful rocky coastline you'll ever see, and just a mile up the road is the Bullers of Buchan which is a short and easy but very scenic walk/hike stunning views and thousands of sea birds.
My kids also really enjoyed finding street art in Glasgow, there are maps available to help you find murals around the city centre.
Any part of the country you visit, there will be something beautiful and interesting to see and do, so once you find what's most exciting to you and your family, choose a region and enjoy!
Posted by
East Coast
18 posts
I have found Gemini AI and ChatGPT to be quite helpful. I simply ask for an itinerary for a trip of "x" days by car/bus/train (your choice), with stops in destinations you choose. I've also found that breaking the request into smaller segments helps. For example, you might write, "Plan a 4 day trip from Fort Augustus with 2 nights in Portree, to end in Fort William." That will give you a lot of ideas. You can also ask for hotel recommendations. I haven't used the actual itinerary prepared by Gemini, but I have used bits and pieces to plan my trip. The booking sites like Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com, and Kayak are quite helpful in finding accommodations. Oh, and Rick Steves. Don't forget Rick Steves.
Posted by
SoCal
1767 posts
I'd check out the Fife Arms in Braemar. It's in the actual Highlands, near Balmoral, and it's spectacular. Very classy place. Spendy. Not an actual castle, but I don't think your daughter would complain.
Posted by
Glasgow
79 posts
The Fife Arms is amazing, an absolute stunner since the major refurbishment but certainly hold on tightly to something before you check out the prices!
There are also country house hotels which were once Victorian Shooting Lodges and are built in the castle style - eg Glengarry Castle Hotel which is lovely and in beautiful woodland grounds beside lonely Loch Oich. Gem of a place. Also The Torridon, much more expensive, drop dead gorgeous location and offering 5 star luxury.
A link below to a list of some which are available per night but securing the accommodation you want at this late stage will be the thing.
https://www.celticcastles.com/explore/castles/castle-hotels/scotland/
I'd factor in some time in Glencoe and with 6 days or so, you also have time to have a few days on Skye.If you go as far as the island , Glengarry is an obvious place to break the 5.5hr journey from Edinburgh - most of it through outstanding Highland scenery.BUT - accommodation on Skye at this stage will be like gold dust.You could also check out the FB page which advertises late availability of rooms, often because of cancellation-
https://www.facebook.com/groups/221078814100026/
There is another similar FB page for the Highland area in general.
If you don't want to go as far, consider the beautiful Isle of Mull which also offers superb mountain, loch and sea coast scenery plus is wildlife central.A trip over to Iona and the superb boat trip to Staffa for Fingal's Cave would be an exciting one for everybody.
Ferry bookings need to be got however and the Oban runs books up fast - plus Mull accommodation is as hard to find at short notice as Skye's.
Glengorm Castle on Mull is glorious but likely booked up.Worth a check.
There are also a range of excellent boat trip on Skye - from Portree and also Elgol (into the Gothic splendour of Loch Scavaig and Loch Coruisk.)