Need help to plan a 5 Night trip to travel in Scotland

Thanks Emma for your prompt response. Let mem be more specific on what help I need from you to plan my trip which are listed below :

1. Train travel options from KGX to EDB. Which train should be better as I want to travel from London in the morning after 9 AM around.
2. Centring from Edinburg what all places I can plan to visit during my 5 nights stay as I mentioned in my post. If day wise plan could be suggested by you that would be really nice.

Thanks and Regards.

Windermere and the Lake District are quite a ways from Edinburgh. I would recommend more time in Scotland as the scenery such as the many lochs and forests for hiking, and the many historic sites such as castles available are just as good and in my opinion more spectacular than the touristy Lake District.

Edinburgh is on the main line from King's Cross either services operated by Virgin East Coast. They are your best start for times and prices. As for trips out if staying in the capital to go by train. Dundee, Glasgow, Stirling are all close in , the Scottish trains are operated by ScotRail.

I agree about the info on the Lake District being far from the other places in Scotland you wanted to see. Might have to make some tough choices. I was on the Isle of Skye and Oman as well as Strathpeffer last year before heading down to Edinburgh but I had a car. Oman and Isle of Skye are not to be missed. If you are a hiker or climber Isle of Skye is a dream. Be careful with restaurants there...all the good ones demand reservations. Was researching one of my family branches, the Youngs. Do not know how you can do these areas justice without a vehicle. Edinburgh the castle (had a gorgeous lunch there) and the walk up to the castle is pretty much what I expected. Lots of tourists even in May. Barbara

You don't have time for the Lakes, as they are not en route. Leaving by train after 9.30 when the cheaper fares start is sensible, however, you won't be there until early afternoon.

Are you proposing to hire a car? If not, then you will have to scale back your itinerary. You need at least 2 and preferably 3 full days on Skye, to make the journey worthwhile, so you can cover this and Edinburgh in your timescale. Loch Ness is a tacky tourist trap and there are much nicer lochs to visit. Alternatively, instead of Skye, you could go to Inverness, which is a drab city, but gateway to the Cairngorms, which merit a visit.

If you aren't hiring a car, look at tours such as Rabbies.

I will be travelling to Europe for the first time in the Fall. England first and then Scotland.

Please tell me what I need to do!!! I want to see castles and water...

Oh, and what's the best hotel in London in the Kensington area for a first timer...