Scotland Itinerary from Edinburgh, Glencoe, Oban and Borders

When you say "about 12 days," how many nights do you have?

Assuming 12 nights, I think you're trying to squeeze in too much. Five destinations with travel days leaves you so little time to see anything.

You could simplify by staying an extra night in Edinburgh and doing St Andrews as a day trip. Two nights in Edinburgh is really not enough anyway. I just don't think you have time for an overnight in or near St Andrews.

But I think you need to prioritize the other destinations on your wishlist. When you say "to make it a bit worse," that's exactly what you risk doing by trying to see too much.

What are the dates of your flights? When do your three nights in Peebles fit in to the 12 nights total? Ideally, you'll arrive and go directly to Peebles. Then from there to Oban. And save Edinburgh for the end, so you can drop your car (which you won't need while you're in Edinburgh) and you'll be close to the airport for your flight home.

Is it best to stay in Oban or stay on Mull? I found a great place on Mull, but it is west of Tobermory, but that would add time from lodging to ferry to Iona and if we start our day with ferry, what to do with luggage? Or first explore Mull for a day, check-in, then the following morning for the other two islands? Or would it be best to stay in Oban and if weather is bad, do some day trips from there?

I'm confused by this. You have a rental car so put the luggage in the car, surely.

I also don't understand what three islands you are talking about. Mull, Iona and ?- you might mean Staffa, Ulva and the 8 Treshnish Islands- of which Lunga (the best known for puffins) is just one.

If you mean Mull, Iona, Staffa and Lunga that makes four.

But from Oban you could also mean Kerrera or Lismore.

I think you need to get a map out of Scotland, find out how far apart these places are, with realistic drive times and come up with a draft plan.
Golf Courses- Oban has Glencruitten, Mull has Tobermory and Craignure, even Iona has a course. Peebles also has a course= that would be an idea if you are there for 3 days.

Renting clubs at any of those is a different question.

St Andrew's is the obvious for golfing.

Driving straight off a long haul flight on the other side of the road just isn't a good idea, especially in the Borders where the roads are far from freeways. Peebles has a very good bus service from Edinburgh. Presumably you won't be using the car during the Ridings/Beltane Festival.

Oban to Glencoe will take you via Glencoe- about 4 hours, Plockton to Edinburgh around 5. So that is a night in the Plockton area or maybe the Inverness area.

Sorry for the confusion. The only days dedicated to a location are June 16th, check-in and check-out June 19th for the Peebles leg. Looking at 12 nights in total. The rest is up in the air. I was limiting Edinburgh to two nights to get a feel for the city as my daughter really wants to see the country. While we were in Italy a few years ago she said, I need dirt, lol. I am good with the two nights there.

That is a fantastic idea to save Edinburgh until the end. I have not booked the trip yet, but based on the schedules I see we are looking at a very early landing, 8 am. The only thing I was thinking is if we do Peebles last, we leave before schools let out for the summer, which is why I was thinking of saving it for last.

We looked at St Andrews, but looks like two need to play and at 195 for one, we are going to opt for somewhere else. I was thinking of doing the first day out of Edinburgh to travel up to St. Andrews area for a half day then travel west to stop for a night or two to explore that area before heading to Glencoe. I wanted to find a location that wouldn't have a long drive to get to Glencoe, perhaps to see the sunrise on the day we go there.

As for Oban, the three islands, Mull, Iona and Straffa.

And the reason for the luggage question, we do not leave luggage or valuables in the car for long periods of time due to possible theft. In Italy, the same thing, just being cautious as I know some who have had luggage stolen and well... that would ruin the trip. I haven't researched if theft is bad in Scotland, but here in America, you just don't tempt fate.

These are the sunrise times in June for Glencoe- https://sunrise-sunset.org/gb/glencoe/2024/6

So 4am or earlier to catch the first rays.

So unless you are staying in Glencoe itself you are talking Bridge of Orchy (which means either the eponymous hotel or the hostel on the railway station platform (The West Highland Way Sleeper).
The nearest place with something to it is Tyndrum.

B of O is about 3 hours from St Andrew's.

Luggage theft from vehicles isn't a problem in rural Scotland. Not tempting fate, but it would be really unusual.

So 12 nights-
Nights 1 and 2- Edinburgh
3 (and 4?)- 'Bridge of Orchy' etc
5 to 7 Oban for Mull- B of O to Oban allow 90 minutes, then 45 minute wait in the ferry queue. So a lunchtime ferry over.
1st day drive to Tobermory via Ulva and Calgary. 2nd day Iona, 3rd day Staffa.
8 Plockton ish- 5 hour (all day) drive routing off Mull on the Fishnish to Lochaline ferry, then the Corran ferry; or maybe via the Tobermory to Kilchoan ferry then the Mallaig ferry onto Skye then the Skye Bridge to the Kyle of Lochalsh for Eilean Donan and Plockton
9 Gleneagles (maybe actually Perth or Stirling)- close to 5 hours, so another full day.
10 to 12 Peebles

Seems to be a roughish itinerary