Scotland Itinerary Set....

If you will still have your car when you return near Edinburgh, drive down and visit the Border Abbeys along with Roslyn Chapel. Also nearby, several ruined castles (we are choosing Dirleton because it also has gardens), St. Abbs Head is supposed to be scenic, and just across the border is Lindisfarne Abbey (Holy Island.) We are visiting this area in June and staying in Melrose. The only one of my suggestions that we have previously visited is Dryburgh Abbey which is a beautiful and evocative ruin. However, I have researched our trip for over a year before choosing our sites.

I think you've got a bit too much planned for that first Monday. Seeing Pitlochry and St. Andrews and driving almost all the way to Inverness is going to be a bit much. Check out www.viamichelin.com for driving times. Many of the roads in Scotland are not like our interstates. More like country roads. Very pretty, but not good for going 65 MPH. And watch out for the speed cameras. They'll take your picture without you ever knowing it.

We did a similar trip last year and I think your itinerary is OK. We drove from Inverness to Edinburgh and visited both Pitlochry & Stirling Castle along the way and still were in Edinburgh in time for supper. We found the highways pretty easy driving.

We did St. Andrews as a day trip from Edinburgh and liked it so much we wound up spending most of the day there.

for your tuesday daytrip from edinburgh i would choose either st andrews or touring south over glasgow.

Bev - I would do St Andrews as a day trip when you return to Edinburgh. It is along drive from St. Andrews to Piltchory.

Bev -

First, you're going to have a great time!

As for suggestions I have:

In Edinburgh, consider doing something like the Literary Walking Tour or the Real Mary Kings Close tour. These are entertaining - you may be able to fit them in on Sat or Sun. The Botanical Gardens are quite nice as well, and may be visited via the HOHO bus.

I aggree with the suggestions to drop St. Andrews from the first Monday and consider it for your day trip from Edinburgh after you return there - it'll make your drive to Inverness much less rushed IMO.

On your way to Thurso you may enjoy Dunrobin Castle just north of Golspie. It's fairy tale looking and has lovely gardens.

On the way to Skye you might want to stop off at Eilean Donan Castle, time permitting.

On Skye, a day can easily be spent driving around the Trotternish peninsula. You can stop off to see things such as the Old Man of Storr, the Quiraing, Kilt Rock and further north the Museum of Island Life is nice.

Heading towards Oban you have a choice. You could drive back over the bridge and go past Eilean Donan this way, OR, you may want to consider taking the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry from Armadale (extra cost for the car though - about 20 pounds I think) which would take you to Mallaig. This gives you opportunity to see the sands of Morar, the monument at Glenfinnan, Harry Potter steam train viaduct. Either way you will go past Ft. William and Ben Nevis. You could also depending on time stop at Glencoe and visit the center there and learn of the sad history of the glen, stop for tea at the Castle Stalker View Cafe and look out over the castle.

Just a few thoughts. No matter what you choose to do I'm sure you'll have a great time!

Happy travels!

Eric

Thank you all for your input and lovely suggestions and I will definately look into all of the stops and driving routes. I do appreciate it all. I can't wait till we go we fly out of Florida 9/3 :)

Thanks again and as always keep the suggestions coming:)

Bev

I second Eric's recommendation of doing either the Literary Pub tour or Real Mary King's close in Edinburgh. The city took much longer to wander than I expected. It's good to have something you can do in the evenings since most other sites close at 5pm.

Rick Steve's gives an ok review to the John Knox House in Edinburgh, but I thought it was the biggest waste of five pounds in all of Britain.

I love it! You're going places on my list. This would be a dream trip for me...I think I'll just copy your itinery but add the Black Isle (no reason ..just because). You've done done your homework well. Just be sure to get a good look at The Forth Bridge on your way.

Bev, this looks great. Although I agree with the people suggest putting St. Andrews at the end of the trip when you're back in Edinburgh. I think too that you may find that you've energy to do more on the first day. You want to have some physical activity that day and you really want to keep doing things until dinner time so that you can stay away until 8 or 9 PM. I like to go to the Castle that first day. The reason is that a lot of it is outside so you get fresh air. There are views, there excitement, you can have mid afternoon tea at the cafe and you can take it at your own pace.

If you do skip St. Andrews think about detouring over to Aberfeldy and over the mountain to Tummell Bridge or even more adventurous the single track road to Kinloch Ranoch. It's beautiful and isolated and very highland. You can make your way back to the A9 via the B846 and take quick stop at the Queensview. If you don't want to do this, there is a a folk museum in Kingussie.

Don't miss Culloden and the Clava Cairns are quick and lovely little detour from Culloden.

Pam