Driving Scotland...Where to go??

[jhosking1981]

Hi all, my partner and I have decided to pack our bags up and drive Scotland for a week. We have wanted to do it for ages. Do any of you have any recommendations of places we MUST not miss as we want to squeeze as much in as possible.

Also any experience with guest houses/B&B's..Thanks in advance

[vehelpfulguy]

Web sites:

http://www.visitscotland.com/

http://www.visithighlands.com/

http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/home/scotland/touristi nfo.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism_in_Scotla nd

http://www.highland-holiday-home.co.uk/11.htm

[vehelpfulguy]

Useful book

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1405311924

[Machecoul]

This is a fantastic book

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Collins-Scotland-Best- Peter-Irvine/dp/0007216734/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b /203-3087980-6981566

[DONNA1458]

got to go to the vaults in edinburgh you will see tickets for sale in the town its great but scary!!

[annie0000]

How far north do you want to drive, and do you have any particular preferences e.g. dramatic scenery or fishing villages, cities or beaches?

[Senga 2]

Not much time in a week to see the "musts". Lots to see in Glasgow & Edinburgh and beautiful scenery all over. The Borders area is lovely, green and hilly, but the Highlands are spectacular at every time of year, mountains, rivers and lochs. please remember that to see the best of the country means driving on single track roads. As a local it can be very frustrating when tourists don't know how to negotiate these, so please take care. There's no motorway north of perth so give yourself a bit more time. Hope you enjoy it and come back again for a longer visit.

[jhosking1981]

Thank you all for your answers so far. So far we have in the itinerary:

Inverie, Knoydart (found this place in DItch the Donkey travel book)

John O Groats
Loch Ness
Ben Nevis
Loch Lomond

Ending up in Edinburgh for the last nights fun!

I have a big map of Scotland in front of me so if you know the rough location of any of the places you recommend it would be a HUGE help!!

Thanks again guys.

[wayne42]

yes try calender its a very nice place

[cruella]

Ullapool, Glencoe not to be missed. Scenery is beautiful. Loch Lomond is lovely too.
Have a nice week.

[annie0000]

You could do a nice circular route doing most of those places and you would go through glencoe ( would recommend a trip to the Clachaig Inn either for lunch, dinner or to stay) on the way from loch lomond up to fort william - I would recommend going further north then and going to ullapool and sitting in the ferryboat inn for a drink there are some beautiful beaches and mountains north of ullapool i.e. Achmelvich-and see Stac Polaidh (mountain) A trip through Kintail and a visit to Skye would be nice if you can squeeze it in. Only place I haven't been to is John O'groats, so I can't say whether that would be worth a visit or not.

[nickmo]

Check your route with the expected weather too - Knoydart for example has the most stunning mountains/lochs - but make sure you get to see them too..

go along Loch Awe and dump the car at the end of the road and walk Glen Dessary to the bothy for a stretch of the legs...

Keep fuel in the tank - not as many places to fill up as in some parts of the UK so don't get stuck...

Use your map properly and take the B roads to see some of the better sights - the A9 is a nightmare most of the time if you end up on that one - one road that really thinks it is a motorway and traffic can be bad.

John O Groats - named after a Dutchman - one little hotel and visitor centre - nothing like Lands End though. If weather is good you will see Orkney - and lots of sea...not the furthest north in Britain though - go along coast to Dunnet Head for that one....

If you do Knoydart - go up to the north coast to Durness and Smoo cave - Britains biggest cave entrance - along the north - wild rough and beautiful - go to Talmine - the food in the pub is fantastic - road goes on to J O G and then you can come south through Wick - stop at Dunrobin Castle too at Brora - the most picturesque fantasy castle and grounds.

Dornoch Firth - dolphin spotting - Black Isle - quiet, nice mico brewery - back south to Callender, Perth - pretty place - and stop at Scone Palace...then to Edinburgh...

[nickmo]

B & Bs will be a bit quieter now as the peak season is past.

The VisitScotland site - linked above by VHG - is as good a directory as any.

Few special places to stay - get to Glenelg - before Eilean Donan Castle on the Road to the Isles - loads of very good b&bs plus eat at the Glenelg Inn....

Good idea to also ask at the local pub where to stay - or stay at he pub if they have accommodation too - VisitScotland now have categories for things like restaurants with rooms, inns, pubs and so on, so its not just a hotel or b&b any more...

In the northernmost places, you may find some of the bars and restaurants have earlier finishing times for the kitchens than you might expect so don't necessarily plan on a late supper...

Last note recommend you get a copy of 'Scotland The Best' by Peter Irvine - darn good directory of really the best sights, views, eateries etc...pick it up at any bookshop..revised annually too.....

[nickmo]

Oooooh forgot - last note re Loch Lomond - go to the Drovers Inn, at Inverarnan - welll kent walkers bar plus has accommodation - if you dare!........

You'll see why when you get there but in short it hasn't been touched since built in the 1700's..................

Have fun..

[Scotland1993]

Here are some of my fav places in Scotland

Dufftown in Moray - For all the old whisky distilleries - theyre's 7!
Edinburgh - For the castle and the old town - one of the best cities in the world
Loch Ness
Skye
The Aviemore area - Especially Loch Garten
Glasgow
The Cairngorms
The little old fishing villages on the Aberdeenshire coast
Stirling - go to the wallace monument and climb the stairs for an incredible view from the roof - well worth it

Just a few ideas
Obviously theyre's not enough time to visit everywhere in Scotland!

[jhosking1981]

Thank you all so much for your help, I will be printing all these answers off and taking them with me.

Finally, we are planning on spending a night "roughing it" in the Jeep, go a gas bomb, frying pans etc. Do you think it's worth taking my fishing rod/reel etc to try and catch lunch?? or are the fishing places regulated? also, what to use as bait if not fly fishing??

Thanks again guys.

[cml]

hi

Three suggestions for great drives in Scotland.

Do the circular route involving Glencoe, the coast road down towards Oban, inland to Lochawe, Kilchurn castle and Glen Orchy, across Rannoch moor and down to Glencoe again.

Also, the Pass of the Cattle towards Applecross, just north of Kyle of Lochalsh - it's a twisting drive up to the summit and you get great views of Skye and the Cuillins.

Finally, from Drumnadrochit on Loch Ness, head to Cannich and drive into Glen Affric. A secluded gem.

Have a great trip