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Scotland and England for 2 weeks

Hello!! I'm hoping to get input on my itinerary idea. I've read SOOO many things, but nothing seems quite tailored to our interests. We are a group of 5 - 3 of us in our 40s, but my sister in law suffered a severe stroke, so has some complications in communicating and being active for long periods, and my folks, in their 70s, but still very active. Ideally we'd like to do some train travel, and pick up a car at some point. We have not chosen an airport to fly into yet, but we are flying out of LHR, because we're meeting friends from England at the tail end. Our only "must see" is St Andrew's, because hubs is an avid golfer. We aren't really hikers, more into the culinary, pub and castles scene. I'm thinking 9 days in Scotland, and the last 5 making our way to London (we've all been to England). Here is what I was thinking -

Fly into Aberdeen
2 nights
Drive Aberdeen to St Andrews for the day
Drive St Andrews to Glasgow
Drop off car
Glasgow
4 nights
Train Glasgow to Edinburgh
Edinburgh
3 nights
Train from Edinburgh to Durham
2 nights Durham
Train Durham to Lincoln
Stay with friends 2 nights
Train to London

Does this seem like a well put together itinerary, or too much, too all over the place?? I'm very open to suggestions.

Posted by
505 posts

If you like castles, you may wish to visit Stirling Castle en route from St Andrews to Glasgow.
We loved the Durham cathedral. We also drove out to the coast one evening. Enjoyed a couple of stops along remote beaches.
Have you been to York?

Posted by
2 posts

I'll put Stirling on the itinerary, thanks!! No, I've not been to York, but my folks have - maybe I'll take a look and add that as well 😊

Posted by
7967 posts

Another castle, just a bit northwest of Stirling and one we really enjoyed, is Doune Castle. The small town of Doube is very easy to navigate, and the castle happened to be used in the Monty Python and the Holy Grail movie. Here’s a clip: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pPcmECkRpsg

As for the rented car, if there are 5 of you, plus luggage I presume, you’ll likely need a van. not just a sedan. That, or more than one car. Will golf clubs be coming along, too?

Posted by
7977 posts

To the question is it well put together, or too much all over the place- yes it is, no it is not too much, it's actually logically sequenced.
For the train to Lincoln you will have to change en route - Doncaster being the most obvious of several possibles. But there are several through trains a day from Lincoln to London (quite a new route) to make that leg easier.
To f!y into Aberdeen you will have to change planes at Heathrow, Amsterdam or Dublin.