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Scotland In Nine Days

My wife and I are taking a trip to Scotland from 8-17 May. We have planned the following itinerary and would like suggestions on places to stay. We prefer bed & breakfasts or small family run hotels.

8-10 May: Edinburgh, 2 nights
10 May: Culross, Dunfermline Abbey, St. Andrews & Glamis Castle, sleep in Pitlochry
11 May: Balmoral Castle & Drum Castle, sleep in Pitlochry
12 May: Dunkeld, Black Linn Falls, and Sma Glen, sleep in Inverness
13 May: Cawdor Castle, Culloden, Loch Ness, and Eileen Donan Castle, sleep in Portree
14 May: The Fairy Pools, Isle of Skye and Glencoe, sleep in Oban
15 May: Inveraray, & Loch Lomond, sleep in Stirling 2 nights
16 May: Stirling
17 May: Fly home

Posted by
5678 posts

Hi David!

May 10 has too much. You can either do Culross and Dumfermline or St Andrews and Glamis, but not all four. :)

On May 11 you have 5 hours of driving time per viamichelin. I usually add 25% to their time estimates. Drum Castle is a great castle, so maybe you should stay in Ballater instead of Pitlochry. It would be a nice drive from Glamis.

On the 12th you have a very full day. Culloden does open at 9 AM, but I am not sure when Cawdor opens. That is a very full morning. Think about stopping at Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness for great views of the Loch. Check out times on via michelin. I think you'll find yourself rushed to get to Oban. It's a four hour drive plus 25% Portree to Oban. (BTW do stop off at the Commando Monument north of Spean Bridge and admire Ben Nevis and honor the work done by the commandos during WWII.

The balance is probably fine. Play around with Viamichelin to make sure you understand the length of time it takes to travel. These can be wee roads and you will not be able to cruise at 65 MPH or even near it. And the scenery will make you want to stop and take pictures....

Pam

Posted by
1692 posts

A couple of the days (10th and 13th) both look a bit crowded. As Pam says the 10th realistically is better spread over two days. and so is the the 13th. Cawdor to Portree will be a fair hoof before taking into account the stopping for sightseeing, especially as you would be passing Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness.

14th May depends on the route from Skye to Oban but again it could be a very long day for you.