wales & scotland 13-day itinerary: insane or do-able?!

Yes, you won't need your car in Edinburgh, but you will need for the rest of the trip, so make sure that your B&B/Hotel has a place you can stash it while you're touring Edinburgh. You can see spectacular highland scenery without going all the way to Inverness and with your more limited time you might want to spend a bit more time in one place and explore outward from it. You could go to Pitlochry. First, there is distillery there you can tour, there is festival theater, there is easy access to Blair Castle, there is easy access to some wee roads through spectacular scenery, and there are very nice walks with a short drive. You could stop off at Scone Palace on the way north and see the wee hill where the Scottish lords swore fealty to the King. If you want to hear some Scottish fiddle music check out the Music Bar in Dunkeld. Pam

I just checked--it's about 250 miles from Edinburgh to Portree, Skye. So you could drive there one day, back the next. The drive, which is beautiful, would be the event. However, I would suggest you check out the Trossachs area for scenery which resembles the Highlands but is not so far. There are several pretty lochs between Edinburgh and the eastern shore of Loch Lomond. Callander is supposed to be a nice town (haven't tried it personally) and you could also visit Doune Castle which was all of the castles in the Monty Python and the Holy Grail movie. Glencoe is also an evocative spot you should visit and it isn't too far from Edinburgh. If you have more highland questions, send me a PM. I have been researching Scotland extensively for our two week trip next summer.

Chris, I would say this is somewhere in the middle. It's definitely not insane, but it won't be extremely relaxing either. A lot depends on your tolerance for driving and moving around a lot. Too many one night stands can make a trip tiring and stressful. But if you are the type that gets energized by being someplace new, you might be fine with this itinerary.

The first thing I would suggest, if you have not already done it, is go to a site like Michelin and get all the driving distances. You don't want to spend so much time in the car that you don't have time to really see the places you are going. If you can have the driving done by lunch or early afternoon, then you can spend the afternoon sightseeing or just walking about and the evenings in a pub talking to locals and drinking beer.

One thought I have is about your first day. Do you have any experience with jet lag? You may be so exhausted on your first day that you don't get a chance to appreciate Cardiff, which is a city I like very much. Even if jet lag is not a problem for you, you haven't given yourself much time there.

Regarding your stop on the way to Edinburgh -- Chester is a nice town and would make a great stop, but you might want to drive further to be closer to Edinburgh. Again, check the driving distances/times.

I do think you've got a great itinerary here. Scotland is absolutely wonderful. I haven't been to any place in Wales besides Cardiff, but it's on my list, adn I know I will love it. Northhumbria is also on my list. I've been to York twice and it's fantastic.

Have a great trip!

This link may help in understanding the impact on your experience of travel times and help make realistic estimates of these travel times

http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/helpline/index.cfm/rurl/topic/32066/bhelp-with-itinerary-planning--travel-timesb.html

My favorite travel time/ mileage site is theaa.co.uk. I have used it for several trips and found it to be very useful.

For your day 6, you might consider driving to Chester for a couple of hours stop, then heading up to Windemere in the Lakes District, which is pretty but not, IMO, spectacular.

Day 7, see a bit more of the Lakes District, being sure to stop at Castlerigg Stone Circle near Keswick, which is beautifully atmospheric. Head on up to the Abbeys area , spending the night near Dryburgh Abbey, the most atmospheric of the four abbeys.

Day 8, stop at Roslin Castle before heading into Edinburgh. Everyone on tripadvisor forums who is familiar with Edinburgh says not to drive there, especially now, because a lot of the streets are torn up for some sort of roadworks.

Day 9. Enjoy Edinburgh all day.

wow -- such quick & excellent replies -- many thanks! i will take all of these suggestions & comments into serious consideration.

regarding the highlands, i've heard about the isle of skye and it sounds lovely, but it's also quite a drive within a tight itinerary. can anyone suggest a closer, more southerly alternative that would still give me a good sense & feel for the highlands?

Chris,

Yes your trip is do-able. I would allow for a little extra time in Cardiff to recover from jetlag (if needed) and/or for exploring. Consider also driving in a new country is an experience in itself and driving somewhere everyday can be tiring. Be sure to allow time for traffic getting to and from the airport. I haven't driven in Great Britian so I don't know times, but driving in Ireland always takes longer than one expects. Definitely find a place close in to stay and stash your car in Edinburg. Check out Rick's Great Britian guide book and refer to the travel time links that others have posted. Happy Travels J

Have you considered using trains? The train system in the UK is excellent= and it covers where you are wanting to go. I'd suggest you consider the village of Aviemore. It is between Edinbrugh and Inverness. Very good "adventrue/outdoor" activities in the area- including hiking on the Caringorm Mts. Also has beautiful scenery and a local microbrewery that gives tours with samples. Lots of whisky distilleries nearby, too.