Scotland trip - ideas?
Discussion
Looks like we may have the use of my parents in Newcastle as childminders over the end of term week (w/c 9th April).
Thought me and the missus might spend some time in Scotland. Has been a long time since I was last there (bar a flying trip to gordon's) having been down in the Midlands 10yrs+ now and not sure my missus has ever been.
We will probably travel up from Newcastle by car on the Monday (probably won't be the porker unless my mother lets me take her boxster S...) and spend 3 or 4 nights.
So...looking for inspiration on where to go and what to do and where to stay etc etc etc. Looking for a relaxing time and taking in some of the sights, not necessarily a city break - quite happy to take in some fresh air!
SO WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND TO THE SADDO ENGLISH TOURIST LOOKING FOR SOME SCOTTISH INSPIRATION?
PS We're not millionaires so budget will be a factor...
Thought me and the missus might spend some time in Scotland. Has been a long time since I was last there (bar a flying trip to gordon's) having been down in the Midlands 10yrs+ now and not sure my missus has ever been.
We will probably travel up from Newcastle by car on the Monday (probably won't be the porker unless my mother lets me take her boxster S...) and spend 3 or 4 nights.
So...looking for inspiration on where to go and what to do and where to stay etc etc etc. Looking for a relaxing time and taking in some of the sights, not necessarily a city break - quite happy to take in some fresh air!
SO WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND TO THE SADDO ENGLISH TOURIST LOOKING FOR SOME SCOTTISH INSPIRATION?
PS We're not millionaires so budget will be a factor...
Never been bothered by Edinburgh myself...I would head West and do some of the West Coast which is utterly brilliant for "touring" (driving along in the car admiring the scenery) and walking (get a book).
For a petrolhead and anyone admiring the views things that should not be missed are:
Loch Torridon, the Applecross Pass - there's a pub there (Applecross Inn???) that you should eat at.
The Loch Torridon Hotel is something else - but very expensive. Right next door is a place you could stay called the Ben Damph Inn which is more cost effective. The location is truly fabulous. Pher GetCarter lives not far away I understand..and his pictures will tell you far more eloquently that I can why you should go there.
Loch Maree has a couple of hotels next to it.
If you want to look at Island life I'd suggest going over the Skyebridge to Skye. Plentiful accomodation of all sorts abounds there...I've no especial recommendation but I *would* strongly recommend a walk around the Quiraing and a beer at the Flodigarry Hotel. You could stay there and it was perfectly good - but I wasn't inspired.
A nice place to stay on Skye was the Cullin Hills Hotel in Portree which also gives you the option of walking into "town" for a grand night out.
But at least you could try some different restaurants.
If you don't fancy Skye, Mull makes a dramatic alternative. Further south - but no closer to Newcastle I'm afraid. From Mull you should visit the tiny Island of Iona - and don't just visit the cathedral/church - walk to the south shore around the "golf course" and see the stone cross - very old (allegedly) - but its a really nice walk anyway.
Errrm. If you don't want to go as far as the west coast (its a bloody long way on roads you do NOT make quick progress on) then the Trossachs are pretty good. Consider staying at the Lake of Menteith hotel. Simply lovely. You can sit in the Conservatory eating dinner looking over the lake to the Priory. The next day you can take a boat trip out to it (fun if you're into old ruins) I think its National Trust of Scotland so if you are NT members you can get in free...IIRC (check). From there you can take a day trip over to Rowardennan and climb Ben Lomond. Ben Lomond is a big friendly mountain like Snowdon with a well defined and safe path to the top. Or at least 70% of the way which is as far as I have ever got
as the weather can be bad and if it is one has to turn back. (Tried twice. Grrr.)
Scotland. Its a big place. You could travel for months and not see it all. My recommendation with just four days is to pick just one place and plan two full days of activities there. With a day of resting and a day of travel that should make a nice break.
Enjoy. (Can you tell I love the place?)
For a petrolhead and anyone admiring the views things that should not be missed are:
Loch Torridon, the Applecross Pass - there's a pub there (Applecross Inn???) that you should eat at.
The Loch Torridon Hotel is something else - but very expensive. Right next door is a place you could stay called the Ben Damph Inn which is more cost effective. The location is truly fabulous. Pher GetCarter lives not far away I understand..and his pictures will tell you far more eloquently that I can why you should go there.
Loch Maree has a couple of hotels next to it.
If you want to look at Island life I'd suggest going over the Skyebridge to Skye. Plentiful accomodation of all sorts abounds there...I've no especial recommendation but I *would* strongly recommend a walk around the Quiraing and a beer at the Flodigarry Hotel. You could stay there and it was perfectly good - but I wasn't inspired.
A nice place to stay on Skye was the Cullin Hills Hotel in Portree which also gives you the option of walking into "town" for a grand night out.
But at least you could try some different restaurants. If you don't fancy Skye, Mull makes a dramatic alternative. Further south - but no closer to Newcastle I'm afraid. From Mull you should visit the tiny Island of Iona - and don't just visit the cathedral/church - walk to the south shore around the "golf course"
and see the stone cross - very old (allegedly) - but its a really nice walk anyway. Errrm. If you don't want to go as far as the west coast (its a bloody long way on roads you do NOT make quick progress on) then the Trossachs are pretty good. Consider staying at the Lake of Menteith hotel. Simply lovely. You can sit in the Conservatory eating dinner looking over the lake to the Priory. The next day you can take a boat trip out to it (fun if you're into old ruins) I think its National Trust of Scotland so if you are NT members you can get in free...IIRC (check). From there you can take a day trip over to Rowardennan and climb Ben Lomond. Ben Lomond is a big friendly mountain like Snowdon with a well defined and safe path to the top. Or at least 70% of the way which is as far as I have ever got
as the weather can be bad and if it is one has to turn back. (Tried twice. Grrr.) Scotland. Its a big place. You could travel for months and not see it all. My recommendation with just four days is to pick just one place and plan two full days of activities there. With a day of resting and a day of travel that should make a nice break.
Enjoy. (Can you tell I love the place?)
Don said:
JONNY996 said:
if you are into a dram or 2 try spayside and tour the distilaries
Should have thought of that.
Pitlochry is a good spot for some walking and there's a distillery there that can be visited IIRC..
Smallest distillery in Scotland in fact. They also make the official "House of Lords" house whisky. Blair Castle is nearby - last place in GB where someone had their own private army. You can visit - a friend got married there. A few months later at a customer's I saw fab picture of a Diablo outside it - Car magazine had shot it there I think.
I agree with the man above - don't try to do it all at breakneck speed. Pick one or at most two really nice spots, chill out and enjoy it.
Get out in the fresh air and then find somewhere with an open fire where you can enjoy a whisky.
There is a very nice hotel up towards the north end of Glencoe. Warm comfortable, clean, god food and not over the top. I'll remember the name shortly and post it. The mountaineering and hillwalking enthusiasts use it a lot. Alternatively you might head down the Mull of Kintyre and cross over to Gigha. The Gigha hotel has always been good any time I have stayed there, and the fact that there is a short ferry crossing gives you a nice sense that you are away from it all. Another pleasant spot is the Pier House Hotel at Port Appin, on the west coast north of Oban.
Alternatively, if you go up to Oban, you could get the ferry to Tiree (3hrs) and stay in the Scarinish Hotel. Then you ARE off the map. It had just been taken over and refurbished when I was there about 18 months ago, it was being run with great enthusiasm, food was great and it wasn't unreasonable. The only problem with the islands is that you have to visit the beaches, and you would be better to do that in June. I've never been that fond of Skye - I just don't think its everything its cracked up to be. Mull is prettier and easier to get to.
There are quite a number of 'Chateau/Relais' quality country house hotels dotted around Scotland, but you will get a real shock when you get the bill. I think that there is scope for a guide book to good hotels which don't cost an arm and a leg.
There is a lovely part up round Tain/Dornoch/Golspie with lots to see, but you face the long trek up the A9, which I wouldn't recommend.
Get out in the fresh air and then find somewhere with an open fire where you can enjoy a whisky.
There is a very nice hotel up towards the north end of Glencoe. Warm comfortable, clean, god food and not over the top. I'll remember the name shortly and post it. The mountaineering and hillwalking enthusiasts use it a lot. Alternatively you might head down the Mull of Kintyre and cross over to Gigha. The Gigha hotel has always been good any time I have stayed there, and the fact that there is a short ferry crossing gives you a nice sense that you are away from it all. Another pleasant spot is the Pier House Hotel at Port Appin, on the west coast north of Oban.
Alternatively, if you go up to Oban, you could get the ferry to Tiree (3hrs) and stay in the Scarinish Hotel. Then you ARE off the map. It had just been taken over and refurbished when I was there about 18 months ago, it was being run with great enthusiasm, food was great and it wasn't unreasonable. The only problem with the islands is that you have to visit the beaches, and you would be better to do that in June. I've never been that fond of Skye - I just don't think its everything its cracked up to be. Mull is prettier and easier to get to.
There are quite a number of 'Chateau/Relais' quality country house hotels dotted around Scotland, but you will get a real shock when you get the bill. I think that there is scope for a guide book to good hotels which don't cost an arm and a leg.
There is a lovely part up round Tain/Dornoch/Golspie with lots to see, but you face the long trek up the A9, which I wouldn't recommend.
This topic has been visited before. Try the route recommended by my goodself
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=285912&f=48&h=0&hw=scotland+route
I am sure if you do a search, you will find equally good recommendations.
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=285912&f=48&h=0&hw=scotland+route
I am sure if you do a search, you will find equally good recommendations.
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