I want to take my two teenage boys to Scotland the first week of April. Not sure they'd like a bus tour, but I'm not comfortable driving. Thoughts on staying in Edinburgh and taking day trips? What would be great sites for teenage boys?
Posted by
Downingtown, USA
2450 posts
We did not do day trips but my son enjoyed Mary King's Close which is just down the hill from the castle and he really enjoyed the museum and the tour of the crew rooms at the Royal Yacht down in the harbor. Enjoy, we loved Edinburgh.
Posted by
Charlotte, NC, USA
3428 posts
No need to drive! We always use the trains in Scotland. While Edinburgh is nice (and I'd recommend a a couple of days there), Inverness makes a better base for day trips. There are lots of options (we always book throught he tourist information office) including a long day trip up to see the Orkney Islands. You can do a trip over to see Isle of Skye and it usually includes at least a photo stop at Eliean Donan Castle (if not a tour) and a drive through one or more of the lovely glens (Great Glen, Glen Coe, etc.). And there are curises up Loch Ness that include a visit to Urquart Castle ruins. Aviemore is also nice and there are lots of things to do there in the village, especially if your boys like hiking, canoeing, horseback riding, etc. If you can stretch your visit to 9 or more days you could maybe do something like this: fly into Edinburgh- spend 1 or 2 nights train to Aviemore- 2 or 3 nights train to Inverness- 4 nights with 2 or 3 day trips
train to Glasgow- 1 or 2 nights fly home from there or train to Edinburgh to fly home.
Posted by
Pittsburgh, PA, USA
2778 posts
We took my two sons to Edinburgh as part of a trip to Great Britain when they were teens, and their favorite things were the castle and climbing up Arthur's Seat. They also enjoyed seeing wherer Greyfriar's Bobby lived. We did not take any day trips, but I'm sure they would have loved Stirling Castle and any place where they could hike.