Scotland Itinerary Questions

I can answer your question about the whiskey. As a private party, you can't ship alcoholic beverages. Fedex and UPS won't accept it, nor will the US Postal Service. Bring it back in your luggage, but be sure to put it in your checked luggage. Otherwise it'll be confiscated when you go through a security check because of the 3-ounce rule.

Do you have nine days total, including your two days in Edinburgh. If so, this is way too much to try to cram into the time you have. I think you should forget about Aberdeen and Lewis and Harris for sure. That would narrow your geographical focus and allow you to work in the other places in nine days. For example, you could stop in Aviemore on the way to Inverness if you drop Aberdeen. Then you have four days left after Inverness. You could spend two days in Skye, a day in Glasgow (stopping in Glencoe on the way) and a final day in Edinburgh.

If you put it in your luggage, wrap it very,very well in bubble wrap or just buy it at duty free shop when you get to your home airport.

Duty free shops are for outbound passengers only.

Thanks, Tom. Do you know will the distilleries ship for you for a fee? I'll get some bubble wrap and pack it in my checked luggage if I have to. Carroll, yes, 9 days total, landing in Edinburgh on the 13th and flying out at 7 am on the 22nd. I think getting to hear the music and storytelling like this is a rare treat that we don't want to miss. We can save some of these areas for our next trip. Thank you Gail & Ed. Is there a duty free shop on the departure side at Edinburgh airport?
As of today, 21 days until we go!!! I'm so excited!

I think there is but don't remember, sorry.

There is.

Thank you Gail & Ed. I can always get something on the way home, if I haven't gotten it before at one of the distilleries. It's always good to know, even if I do have to manage it in my carry-on luggage. Pam

"even if I do have to manage it in my carry-on luggage." Just remember that if you're going to have to make a plane change in the U.S. as part of your journey home, at most airports you WILL have to go through another security check & they WILL confiscate any liquid over 3 ounces in your carryon. If this is your situation, and you're carrying liquor that you purchased in the duty-free shops, you have to transfer it into your checked luggage after you land in the U.S., before the security check for your next flight. I don't know if there are Scottish distilleries that will ship whiskey home for you. All that being said, you might find that most Scotland-distilled whiskeys are available right down the street in your local liquor store.

Thank you Tom. I'm lucky. I fly into Boston and that's my only stop in the states. And I'm sure the whiskey I'm getting is available right here, but it is for a gift that was specifically requested. I totally think it is crazy to get something there that I can get here, but hey, he's a sweet old man who is almost 90 and that's what he wants. I'm thinking that I may get a wee bottle of something that isn't available here and hold it for his birthday. ;-) Pam

We have never felt any need to visit Aberdeen, but have been to Scotland several times and have visited the other sites you mention. Here is a possible itinerary, see if you can make it fit your calendar: Edinburgh, drive to Inverness stopping at Culloden on the way, skipping the town, heading down the north shore, stopping one night at Tigh na Bruach, a really lovely B and B in Invermorriston............Drive to Skye, stopping at Eileen Donan and Plockton if you have time....overnight in Portree on Skye (we liked Ben Tianavaig). Next day, drive to Uig ferry port, head to Tarbert, Harris. Drive around, stay two nights.....ferry back to Skye, see some more of Skye, then drive to Armadale, take ferry back to Mallaig, head up to Glencoe (we enjoyed Huntingtower Lodge, just west of Fort William)........from there, head to either Edinburgh or Glasgow.......You will be driving quite a bit, but the scenery is lovely.....FORGOT TO ADD: lots of highland cow photo opps in Duirinish, on the way to Plockton. The cows roam freely in the middle of the tiny village......and if you have time, add Glen Torridon and Loch Torridon, what we considered the most scenic part of Wester Ross........Rough Guide for the Scottish Highlands had lots of detailed info and good maps.

Hi Cynthia,
I don't mind the driving at all. The goal is to see Scotland in all its glory and get as many photos that I can paint from when I get home. We'll see what fits into each day. I got the stuff I ordered from Rick Steves.com today. I want to run home and pack right now. Thank you for the ideas and the recommendations on where to stay. Pam

When we were in France about 10 years ago my friend was searching for a very expensive ($300 a bottle here) French wine as a gift. Every place we stopped all over France did not have it. While waiting for our flight home, she went into a wine store at airport and there it was. Who would have known.

Hi Gail, That totally figures. They have some wonderful things at the duty free shops if I remember right from my trips to Europe back in 72 & 98. Pam

I did a wine enthusiasts tour in Bordeaux and other wine regions. The really good wines were only available at the cahteaux. I could not find any other than routine wines in the wine shops- even in "specialist" stores in Bordeaux. Except for one wine store in paris run and owned by an Englishman. There must be some with the good wines, but I didnt find them. We are spoiled in USA