Scotland trip?

[sdtech]

We went on a bus tour that just touched on southern Scotland. It was wonderful and we'd like to go back and see a lot more. Any recommendations on any tours or experiences?

 

[DrRoy]

We visited Scotland in 1995 and went to Edinburgh, Stirling, Loch Ness, Caithness Glass, and the Orkney Islands, among other places. I want to go back and do the Isle of Skye. I do not recommend tours. They go by and through places too fast.

 

[braumeister]

I do not recommend tours. They go by and through places too fast.

I agree with that, but I don't like organized tours in any case so I'm kind of biased. Many independent visits to Scotland, with more to come.

But with that said, we did take one tour we thoroughly enjoyed. There is a small ship (only a few dozen passengers) called Lord of the Glens. A few variations, but the typical one is a one week cruise starting from Inverness through the Caledonian Canal to Fort William, then on to Kyle of Lochalsh via Oban so you visit some of the inner Hebrides. We did it through Lindblad/NatGeo, but there are other tour operators.

SECRETS OF THE HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS CRUISE

 

[BlueberryPie]

If you're into Scotch, make sure you look up a few distilleries to visit. If you're really into Scotch, I recommend spending a few days in Islay. Reserve accommodations early.

 

[Pointby2]

We spent six days in Edinburgh/Glasgow/Inverness Scotland in 2023.

• Edinburgh: Stayed at the Blackfriars lofts - loved it, right off the Royal Mile
• Ate at Karen's Unicorn - Cantonese Restaurant
• Did a self tour of the Royal Mile, hit a few pubs and all the touristy spots
• Booked a tour of Edinburgh Castle - can't miss
• We woke early and hiked up Arthur's Seat to watch the sun rise - unforgettable
• Had a tour of Mary's Close - good tour
• Did a whiskey tour and a Ghost tour
• Had dinner at Cold Town House Pizza and entertainment by the castle
• Glasgow: Glasgow cathedral and the Necropolis
• Whiskey and Chocolate Tour at Clydeside Distillery - very nice
• Porter and Rye for dinner - excellent!
• Crabshakk-Finnieston - Excellent
• Inverness: Inverness castle, walked along the river Ness, cocktails and beer at the Uilebheist Distillery and Brewery
• Day trip to Isle of Skye and Eilean Donan Castle - all day bus tour

 

[athena53]

If you're into Scotch, make sure you look up a few distilleries to visit. If you're really into Scotch, I recommend spending a few days in Islay. Reserve accommodations early.

And stop at Cadenhead's on the Royal Mile! They take casks of whisky from the major distillers and pretty much dump it from the cask into the bottle (they do sell blends that mix some brands)- no mixing even from the same malting, no filtering, no coloring. You can't get them at retail stores in the US. Not open on Sundays. They also have a shop in London called The Tasting Room. I always schedule a couple of overnights in London on my way home from Europe and make a stop there.

 

[shortstop14]

We explored a bit of the Highlands last November. Very much enjoyed the Highland Malt Whisky Experience at MacGregors Bar in Inverness, an evening with a combination of whisky tasting, history stories and Scottish music.

I enjoyed driving the single track roads. We based ourselves in Plockton, a fishing village near Isle of Skye. Explored Skye and some of the west coast from there. I'd definitely go back and do more of the North Coast 500 route around the northern Highlands, and would like to get out to some of the islands.

 

[Fermion]

+1 for Edinburgh, at least back in the late 1990s when we were there. Such a cool castle/city. My wife bought a set of bagpipes and never learned to play them thank goodness.

 

[Retired Expat]

Have been many times especially Edinburgh for the theatre festivals in August which can be incredible. Have also done a driving tour or two of the country and highlands which is a bit harrowing driving a stick with the wrong hand on the wrong side of the car on the wrong side of the road if you can call those little donkey cart paths roads!

Fair warning to all, it gets cold and damp even in summer and what they call Scottish mist we call rain! Go see the Tattoo at Edinburgh Castle!

 

[brett]

It is on our bucket list. We were there a long time ago. Most of my tribe is from the Perth and Inverness areas.

I had to enlighten DW as to what good shortbread tasted like. Ditto for oatcakes, treacle scones, Scotch meat pies, etc.

She had never heard of Hogmanay or Robbie Burns'day. Just imagine! Or why Hogmanay was as, or more significant than Christmas Day in our family. First footers was a mystery to her!

Time to go back. Wonderful when the sun is shining and the sky is blue. Not so much when is is pouring rain and the skys are grey or black.

 

[RunningBum]

This Dufftown distilleries walk is excellent! Some great stories, and you get to sample about 11 different scotches along the way. About 3.5 miles of walking total.

Speyside Tours - Dufftown Distilleries Walks

At Speyside Tours we wish to take the hassle out of planning your holiday so let us help in organising your accommodation. We have contacts with several local self catering lets....

www.speysidetours.co.uk

 

[Souschef]

We visited Scotland in 1995 and went to Edinburgh, Stirling, Loch Ness, Caithness Glass, and the Orkney Islands, among other places. I want to go back and do the Isle of Skye. I do not recommend tours. They go by and through places too fast.

Some other suggestions:
We visited the Isle of Skye by taking a tourist train from Inverness to the Kyle of Lochalsh. We toured Eilean Donan Castle, one of the most photographed in Scotland.
Cross the bridge to Skye and visit Talisker Distellery, then stay overnight. Take the ferry to the islands of Harris and Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. Visit Stornoway and tour the Standing Stones of Callanish, which predate Stonehenge.

 

[OldConch]

We spent three weeks there in May 2022 and combined a stay in an AirBnB in Glasgow, a "Highlights of Scotland" small group tour, and an eight day West Highland Way walk. Great trip. Our time in Edinburgh was cut short because we had to race back to Glasgow to claim our luggage that BA lost for 11 days. A disaster then but a good excuse for a return visit. We actually really liked our time in Glasgow. Highly recommend Guido's Coronation Restaurant on Gallowgate for fish and chips and Paesano Pizza on Miller. Both were packed with locals and we visited each multiple times. Paesano's has the best Neapolitan pizza we've ever had. Also bought two frozen meat pies at the COOP that we cooked at our AirBnB that were absolutely delicious.

Safe travels - we just arrived in Negombo and it looks like a beautiful day.

 

[MuirWannabe]

If you enjoy learning more about the reformers, the John Knox museum in Edinburgh is good. His gravesite is now a parking lot unfortunately. The ‘thundering Scott’

 

[braumeister]

Go see the Tattoo at Edinburgh Castle!

That was on my wife's bucket list, and we did it in 2018. She still talks about it. Buy tickets online as early as possible.
As I recall, the fringe festival was going on at the same time, so loads to do.

 

[euro]

Some other suggestions:
We visited the Isle of Skye by taking a tourist train from Inverness to the Kyle of Lochalsh. We toured Eilean Donan Castle, one of the most photographed in Scotland.
Cross the bridge to Skye and visit Talisker Distellery, then stay overnight. Take the ferry to the islands of Harris and Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. Visit Stornoway and tour the Standing Stones of Callanish, which predate Stonehenge.

I second this suggestion. I was born and raised in Europe and train-travelled every European country extensively back then. Saw amazing landscapes in many places, but for good reasons, the train ride from Inverness to Kyle o Lochalsh is edged in MY memory as the single most beautiful trip! I also second going over to Skye - back then there was no bridge and you had to take a ferry. From Kyle of Lochalsh, I took a small passenger boat (maybe 20 people) to Mallaig where you can catch the train again to Ft William or Glasgow, etc. Absolutely stunning boat ride along the rugged shores.

Took DW to Scotland fo her first visit a few years ago and she absolutely loved it. We spent a lot of time on the Northwest Coast which is amazing but was not accessible to me back in the day because no trains run up there. One more thought, if you visit Inverness, definitely make time for a brief excursion to the Culloden battlefield nearby. Very impressive.

 

[Phroig]

Mallaig to Ft. William is the Jacobite Steam Train, which was Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter movies. Also very special.

 

[tulak]

Don’t forgot to try haggis, neeps, and tatties.

Mallaig to Ft. William is the Jacobite Steam Train, which was Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter movies. Also very special.

We rode this a couple of years ago. It was fun, and no regrets, but not much to do in Mallaig while waiting for the return train.

An alternative is to drive the route and time it so you can see the train as it crosses the Glenfinnan viaduct. You’ll
have a nice view from below.