I will be flying into Glasgow in late May, and have a few days to kill before working as a volunteer on Iona, starting June 3rd. I haven't seen Edinburgh and would like to. I have been to Scotland before, so familiar with Isle of Mull, Glasgow, Oban. Where else could I easily go from Glasgow and Edinburgh for a week or less? I don't trust myself driving on the wrong side of road! Is there a nice (but inexpensible) inn or b/b or hostel close to Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh? Thanks for any help on this.
Posted by
Charlotte, NC, USA
3428 posts
Why not train from Glasgow to Inverness and stay a few days then train to Edinburgh. Or maybe reverse and do Edinburgh prior to Inverness. You could also stop in Aviemore between Inverness and Edniburgh- it is a really nice village with a great hotel across the street from the station that looks like a miniature castle. It also has wonderful food! In Edinburgh we like to stay the the Royal British. It is across Princes Street from the rail station.
Posted by
New York City, NY, USA
5678 posts
Susan, someday, you have to try driving. It's not as hard as you think. But it doesn't sound like this is the trip to experiment. I agree with Toni about Inverness. Here are some other places that are easy to reach by train. Pitlochry is a great town to visit particularly if something is playing in the Theater. Check it out on the web. Another place is Birnam/ Dunkeld. Dunkeld is 15 minute walk over the the Tay River from the train station, but it's a lovely little town, with walks that are easily accessible and the Music Bar in the evening often has traditional music sessions. Stirling has the castle of course, but there is also other historical sights and it's a nice sized city. I am sure you can catch a bus to Banockburn where Robert the Bruce defeated the English. Linlithgow is between Stirling and Edinburgh and has a wonderful castle.
In Edinburgh I've stayed at the Inverleith Hotel near the Botanic Gardens. It's not cheap, but neither is it outrageous. The breakfast is terrific, the wee residence bar is convenient, and the host are very nice.
Pam
Posted by
New England
317 posts
Hi Susan,
I envy you the trip to Iona. I will get there some day!
I stayed at the Dene Guest House in Edinburgh, http://www.deneguesthouse.com/. Good price, hosts, and breakfasts. Terrific location for bus routes (just around the corner #23 and 27 get you over Dundas St hill to Princes St, #36 stops just across the street when going to Waverley Bridge, coming from Waverley it stops just around the corner). It is not far from the Royal Botanic Gardens. Put in the post code at Google, EH3 5ES, and you can see.
Edinburgh has a lot of day tour operators and options. I took two, one from Rabbies and one with Heart of Scotland. Even riding a car on the "wrong" side of the road can give you a funny feeling (at least for me).