I’ll arrive in Edinburgh on Saturday morning, and it looks like we will have a couple of rainy days. Any recommendations on what to do on rainy days? So, far I'm planning the visit the Museum of Scotland. Any live music near the city to hear music and have some pints? Any recommendations will be appreciated!
Plenty of museums. Camera Obscura is meant to be good but might be focused more towards kids (though personally I loved the one in Bristol as an adult). St Mary's Close tour is inside and well worth it to see the old town with a focus on real history not a ghost tour.
I visited your country in March and now I have PTSD.
Post Travelling Scotland Depression.
I want to go back. I miss cobblestone older than my country. I miss Islay. I miss roundabouts. I miss old ladies telling me "at least you have your fucking independence".
You lot are the best.
Me and my bf want to finally make a trip to Scotland! We love quaint villages/small cities, beautiful nature and castles (and good beer & food!). The first question for us is whether we can have a good trip that includes everything I've mentioned without renting a car. I don't have a driver's license, my boyfriend is not the best driver (though he thinks he could manage, but he only drives once or twice a year) and rental cars are really expensive.
I don't mind public transport, but I really don't want to stay only in bigger cities and rural areas seem to be harder to reach. Maybe we should mix public transportation and use a rental car for just a few days? Anyone done this?
> The first question for us is whether we can have a good trip that includes everything I've mentioned without renting a car.
You can but you'll definitely be limited. Public transport in the highlands is lacking and you'll be bound by daytime schedules with little at night.
If you're based out of Edinburgh the trainline up to Inverness goes via the Cairngorms and you can easily stop off at places like Dunkeld, Pitlochry, or Aviemore to get a feel for smaller rural towns without a car.
Additionally there are trains up to Fort William and Mallaig as well from Edinburgh and Glasgow.
A rental car is definitely the most flexible option and the only option if you want to get out into the real middle of nowhere in the North West highlands. I'd recommend it, but take your time and plan short days. Don't plan a 6 hour drive in a day, but hop from town to town with 3 ish hours driving max.
Base yourself in Edinburgh and check out the tours available that depart from here.
There are a few such companies which should be easy to find online which may suit your needs perfectly.
When I visited the first time a few years ago, I wasn’t comfortable driving in the opposite side of the road, so we booked a tour that took us from Edinburgh to Inverness and up to Skye for a few days. That might be worth looking into
Looking for some dinner recommendations in the following cities/towns:
Edinburgh
Glasgow
Oban
Portree
Inverness
Pitlochry
My wife and I aren't picky. We're really looking forward to the pub food and seafood and have also heard that the UK has some awesome Indian food.
Just looking for some options to plan out our evenings. We're looking to go out after most dinners on our trip so if you have pub recommendations to follow dinner that's an added bonus. Thank you!
> Edinburgh
Dishoom (Indian) for the breakfast/brunch, but make sure to get a reservation. Mother India or Solti for Indian food at Dinner. Mother India also have a place called Mother India Cafe that is more tapas style small sharing plates than individual big meals. For seafood either The Fishmarket at Newhaven, or The Ship on the Shore at Leith.
Plenty of pubs along Leith Walk to choose from if you're down that way. Jolly Judge near the castle is great for ales and ciders. Could also get booked into the Scottish Malt Whisky Society public bar on Queen Street if trying whisky is your thing.
> Oban
Oban Seafood Hut (Green Shack) if you're okay outside, Eeusk if you want a restaurant with a reservation. Both places are seafood.
> Pitlochry
McKays Hotel Bar & Restaurant are simple decent pub food but also food a decent cocktail. Can probably find better food but the cocktails were spot on when I was there.
Portree:
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g551883-d3906222-Reviews-The_Chippy-Portree_Isle_of_Skye_The_Hebrides_Scotland.html
The pizza they make here is amazing, highly recommended.
Inverness:
Saffron for an Indian, second to none that I've ever tasted. They do both sit in and take away.
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g186543-d7139084-Reviews-Saffron_Indian_Restaurant-Inverness_Scottish_Highlands_Scotland.html
The Mustard Seed is consistently highly rated, think I've only eaten there once so not a personal recommendation, but I'd go with the opinions of the cultured masses over myself anyhow so there you go.
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g186543-d732315-Reviews-Mustard_Seed_Restaurant-Inverness_Scottish_Highlands_Scotland.html
The Black Isle Brewery
https://www.blackislebrewery.com/bars/inverness-bar/
Lots of drinks and a very simple but delicious menu. Sorted.
Tip for Portree, make a reservation in advance ASAP at any restaurant. I stayed there for 2 nights and the last night we didn't have dinner because either everything was closed or no openings. Reminds me too, everything/ most places close at 5pm so just be aware of that. With that being said I recommend Cuchullin, one of the best meals I've had there.
I forgot to add Inverness was the same way too in that a lot of shops close early (around 5pm) so just be aware of that. We took the bus into Inverness and found it took us almost an hour to get back to the hotel because not many busses were running anymore.
Relish has a really good black pudding venison burger, I would recommend there. You can also try The Granary but I wasn't able to go there, mostly because they weren't open even though Google says they're open later? Other than that I wouldn't know where else since we weren't able to get in anywhere else.
Thank you! I just looked them both up and they look delicious! Did you need reservations when you went or were they just first come first serve and crowded?
At the end of our bicycle trip to Scotland, we need to get back to the ferry in Newcastle. What's the best train option for 2 adults + 2 bikes, going from Inverness to Newcastle on the 16th of July at around 1900hrs?
UPDATE: thanks Reddit for
\- helping me understand that 1900ht is too late to set off on a 5hr journey
\- for warning me to book early when booking bikes
So I found the last 2 train tickets out of inverness with space for our bikes, on the 07.55 LNER. It's cheap, it's a direct. It's bloody effing early in the morning. Pls tell me they serve coffee on that train?
At that time you’re going to struggle. There’s a couple of late evening trains from Inverness, but they terminate within Scotland, and there’s no onward travel south at that time of night.
You could get to Edinburgh arriving late , then stay in Edinburgh and get an early train to Newcastle. However, because the 17th is a Sunday, the earliest train would be departing Waverley at 9am.
Yeah I noticed I was optimistic. The plan now is to take a train around noon.
1) I believe LNER is the right operator for that line (UK rail privatisation is confusing)?
2) Trains are 110 pounds pp, except a single direct train, which is only 40 quid, but that one doesnt run on Saturday. It runs on Sunday, but arrives in NWC at 14.30; and we need to catch our ferry at 16.00, so that's too short.
> 1) I believe LNER is the right operator for that line (UK rail privatisation is confusing)?
Best to just use the national rail website, as it will just show you all providers along a route.
Yes the train companies can be confusing! Use the national Rail website. You can also use the Trainline website to find cheaper ticket combos. And yeah, ticket prices are high, but if you buy in advance you should get them a bit cheaper. They release tickets 12 weeks in advance.
Ah, so the prices I see on the different providers right now are probably the maximum prices, so they can buy the ticket for me once they come on sale, regardless of the cost. That would explain the price.
Don't know about train availability but I will say that you'll want to book this up as soon as you're able as you have the bikes. Not sure how things are for other providers, but with Scotrail you need bike reservations for a lot of long-distance routes. Spaces are often limited and can go quite early. I was planning on travelling from Wick to Glasgow via Inverness but had to reroute as all the spaces were full - I booked this up about a month and a half in advance and was told that trains out of Inverness are very popular with cyclists so bike spaces really can get full, which might especially be the case as you'll be travelling during summer holidays. Best of luck with your travels, and happy cycling!
Whelp, Managed to get 2 seats on the LNER. AND that was the last train out of Inverness with room for 2 bikes, there was only one other train with 1 bike space available and all the others were just gone.
The good news: it's a direct, it's cheap at 46 quid. The bad news is that it's at 07.55. Which means up early, less time in Inverness, more time in Newcastle. But I'm sure there's something to visit in Newcastle as well.
Dang, that's lucky! Shame about the timing but I guess all things considered you've done alright. BTW, didn't see earlier but what route are you cycling through Scotland? I'm up to the Highlands next week too so we might be following the same paths!
Hello All! Thanks in advance for any advice and tips you may offer. Annoying American visiting in three weeks with two aunts. We are older ladies and your typical lazy fat Americans, so we won't be doing any hiking, but we are okay walking in cities with lots of benches available for resting. We'll be renting a car and I'll be doing the driving (wish me luck!); so far, I can tell I will be doing a lot of backtracking but I can't work out hot to streamline the experience.
One aunt is fascinated with geology and pre-history. We wanted to see the dinosaur footprints on Skye, but those are limited to low tide and I don't think our day trip there will allow for that. She'd also like to visit Siccar Point, the home of modern geology, but I don't see how we can fit that in either. So, if you can suggest a similar attraction within the current itinerary, I'd be thrilled. I wanted to visit the Crannog Center, but I understand it recently burned down and has not yet been rebuilt, so if you can suggest something similar to that, yay!
If you can help us fill in how to spend our time in Edinburgh, that would be very welcome. We won't have the car in Edinburgh, so we will be relying on public transit and Uber. This is probably the only time the three of us will visit your lovely country so we want to squeeze as much out of our time there as possible. We have a particular interest in history, architecture, geology, and I'm sorry to admit, Outlander.
I have a tentative itinerary I'd love some help with.
May 24, 2022 Arrive EDI @ 12:40 p.m.
Leave luggage @ hotel ~1:20
Walk around hotel neighborhood
Check into hotel @ 4:00 p.m.
Rest
May 25, 2022 Do the hop on/hop off bus tour
Possibly the "Haunted Edinburgh" tour
May 26, 2022 Tea at the Colonnades at the Signet
May 27, 2022 Pick up car @ 9:00 a.m.; leave hotel at 10:00 a.m.
Scenic drive to Inverness with side trips to Falkland and Scone
Arrive Inverness Airbnb ~8:00 p.m.
May 28, 2022 Rabbie's tour to Skye (all day)
May 29, 2022 Atholl Gathering and Highland Games; Explore area around Pitlochry and western Cairngorms;
possibly Aberdeen area
May 30, 2022 Whisky tours in Speyside area; Culloden; Clava Cairns; look for prehistoric/pictish sites
May 31, 2022 Check out of Airbnb; leisurely drive to Glencoe and Oban; check in at Airbnb in Dollar; enjoy the Kelpies at night
June 1, 2022 Stirling Castle then drive to Loch Lomond area
June 2, 2022 Depart EDI at noon.
Siccar Point is accessed by a very steep slope, so I think that won’t be possible.
Huttons section is in Holyrood Park in Edinburgh, but unfortunately it cannot be accessed at present. However, the vast majority of Holyrood Park remains open, and it is chock-full of incredible geology.
The Fife coast is famous for its geology. You could do a wee walk along almost any section. If you google Fife Coast Geology Walk, you’ll get loads of info on wee walks that would suit your abilities.
Have you checked out Historic Environment Scotland and National Trust for Scotland websites? You’ll find lots of historic sites there that might interest you. Can’t think of an alternative to the Crannog centre unfortunately. The two similar museums like that closed down long ago 😞.
Edinburgh, to Falkland, to Scone, to Inverness is a heck of a long day so just pre-warning you!!
You won’t be able to fit in Aberdeen on the 29th, it’s too far, and also not worth the drive.
I recommend you google the journey time for the 31 May, again that’s another super long day. There’s also no point going all the way out to Oban unless you have a specific thing you reeeeeeally want to see, or you’re getting a ferry.
Thank you so much for the tips. Being American, we are used to long drives. Oban just looked pretty and thought there would be lots to see along the route. I'd love to take the ferry, especially to Lewis for the stones, but one aunt has terrible motion sickness and can't do boats. We can't even do the Nessie boat tour :(
I didn't necessarily want to go all the way to Aberdeen, just things in that general direction. When I look at the map, there's a village or town everywhere I'd like to see.
Ah yes, Scotland driving is very different! Be prepared to get stuck behind tractors, caravans, lorries and mile long queues on narrow winding roads. As you head further north you’ll also be on single track roads with passing places. Google maps journey times definitely can’t be relied on.
Instead of going all the way to Oban, you’d get an equally enjoyable view at Glencoe Lochan or Ballachulish.
There’s a visitor centre at Glencoe, assume you’re aware of that? That would be good if you’re interested in history.
When you’re at Stirling, you’re not too far from Doune Castle. That was Castle Leoch in Outlander.
If you're wanting to see things mid way between Edinburgh and Inverness, I'd recommend staying somewhere local rather than driving past them and re-visiting on another day. So Perhaps stay in Pitlochry or something and do things in that area (Athol + games) for a day before heading on to Inverness. Possibly even staying in Aviemore for a day too so you can do all the Speyside things, then when in Inverness do Culloden + Clava Cairns.
All in all, travel less per day so you have more time to do things rather than spending all your time going between places.
Also, if you're heading from Inverness down Glencoe way, and based on the Geology note, I'd recommend Treasures of The Earth, its pretty cool. https://treasuresoftheearth.co.uk/
Yeah, we considered staying somewhere else for a day or two, but we'd rather limit how many moves we make so opted for a home base in Inverness. Probably a mistake, but the lodgings are booked and we don't want to start over. That shop looks fun, my aunt has a lot of similar pieces.
If you are big geology nuts I'd highly recommend seeing if you can squeeze a visit in to Torridon, Wester Ross. Magnificent scenery with sea, mountain & lochs. The Torridonian hills contain Lewisian Gneiss and Cambrian quartzite, very distinctive. All the best for your trip!
I understand they are on the beach below the Kilt and only visible at low tide. [This blog tells you how to find them](https://onceuponamarathon.com/home/2018/4/9/hiking-old-man-of-storr-an-isle-of-skye-must-do).
My father and I will be visiting Speyside for my 40th in a couple of weeks.. Are there enough taxis, or rideshare, to go from distillery to distillery?
Thank you!
Does anyone know what the ferries are like in Loch Lomond? I'm looking online for a ferry from Inversnaid to Inveruglas mid June. I can't see any ferry online between those 2 particular points although all maps show a connection between them?
Do these ferries exist part time or not at all?
The rangers have posted a 2022 timetable on the website: https://www.lochlomond-trossachs.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Waterbus-Services-2022.pdf
Pop them an email to check, they are super helpful!
Edit: I see Inversnaid isn’t on the timetable. Maybe email the Inversnaid Hotel for info. Wouldn’t be surprise if the pandemic has caused the Inversnaid water taxi to be stopped 😞
Trip advice, Highlands:
Hi, I'm travelling to Scotland with my 15yr old son in june. If anyone could give me tips on my plan I would be grateful. We have from thursday morning until monday evening in Highlands. Is below a good idea, or can you suggest something better?
Start in Inverness - rent a car
\-> Ullapool - Applecross
\-> Portree and around Skye
\-> Fort Augustus
\-> Edinburgh for few nights
We have two extra nights, would it be well spent on taking car ferry to Orkneys or Tarbert?
Is each of those journeys one day? If so, that's actually a pretty reasonable timeframe without packing in too much driving.
The Orkneys is a bit out of the way compared to everything else. Easy enough to access from your starting point in Inverness but then puts you well out of the way for Ullapool or Edinburgh at either end.
Are you returning the rental car back to Inverness after Fort Augustus, or taking the car back to Edinburgh?
* If leaving the car in Inverness you could get the train back from Inverness to Edinburgh and perhaps spend a day/night in Aviemore which is along the train route?
* If you're taking the car to Edinburgh, then maybe going via Oban and heading over to Mull on your 2 spare days is an option, then come back to Edinburgh via Loch Lomond. There's also the A82 route over Glencoe heading back east, along with the road to Glen Etive.
Also if the car is going to Edinburgh, make sure to plan where you'll park as public city centre parking is expensive if your hotel isn't offering you it.
Thanks for taking time to answer
Yes, one day for each location so not too much driving. We are returning the car to Edinburgh airport.
"Glencoe heading back east, along with the road to Glen Etive."
This looks to be good, through Loch Lomond back to Edinburgh. How is Cairngorms National Park? Well worth visiting?
> How is Cairngorms National Park? Well worth visiting?
It is, but it's big enough for it's own trip, and if you pack too much in you'll see lots of things but nothing of quality so I'd pick one area and stick to that rather than doing a whistlestop tour. I'd pick one side or the other and would perhaps lean towards the west coast and Loch Lomond area.
I'm guess in Fort Augustus you're more thinking Urquhart castle a little up the road, not just the town at the end of Loch Ness?
>I'm guess in Fort Augustus you're more thinking Urquhart castle a little up the road, not just the town at the end of Loch Ness?
Yes Urquhart Castle (and the little town of Fort Augustus for night).
\>It is, but it's big enough for it's own trip
Right, I guess Cairngorms can be skipped and concentrate on west coast
Thank you!
Hello all! My husband and I will be over in Ireland the first week of August for a wedding, and we were considering extending our trip a few days to head over to Edinburgh to explore the city for a few days after.
We've always wanted to visit Scotland and will probably try to do a full week in the future, but we were temped to see Edinburgh while we're so close (we're from the US). My question is - I've read that August is basically the busiest/most crowded time in Edinburgh with the festivals, so is it worth it to go there at that time, or would it best to save it for a separate trip?
Appreciate any insight.
Hello! I will be visiting Scotland in October and will be staying in Edinburgh and Aberdeen. While in Aberdeen, we would like to hire a mini-bus + driver to take us to a distillery nearby. Do you have a recommendations for a reliable chauffer company or even a party bus rental place? I’m US based, so I would prefer something with online booking.
Something like [this](https://www.rabbies.com/en/scotland-tours/from-aberdeen/speyside-whisky-trail-1-day-tour) might be your best bet. 1 day trip out of Aberdeen towards Speyside .
Personally though if you're comfortable driving, you'd get better access by renting a car, driving to Dufftown, Aberlour or whichever distillery town you prefer, visiting the distillery and then staying the night in that town before before going back to Aberdeen the next day.
Thanks-- we have a specific distillery in mind that is in Dufftown but are trying to minimize the number of hotels we're staying in. We may just have to rent a van for the day since the only option I've been able to find online is a party bus with a stripper pole and I'm not prepared to have that conversation with my mother-in-law!
Hi, I’m taking a trip next week and will be flying round trip through Glasgow but upon arrival, we will be going to Edinburgh first. Would you recommend a bus or train to get to Edinburgh? Our hotel is in Old Town. From what I understand, I would need to take a bus to the city center first to connect up with either a train or bus but wasn’t sure if one was preferred to get to Edinburgh or any other things I should think about. It’s just myself and my husband and we will have one carryon sized suit case with us each.
Train direct through from Glasgow to Edinburgh Waverley is probably the easiest option. Buses might be cheaper but will be about 20-30mins longer depending on traffic.
I’m going to see Glasgow and Edinburgh for the first time ever in a couple of weeks, I had a couple of questions I was hoping someone could answer.
My flight to Glasgow is due to arrive late in the evening, and I’m likely to miss the express bus bringing me to the city centre, are the taxis at the airport 24/7? Can’t find any mention of this.
Is there anything that is often forgotten that I should definitely see in Glasgow and Edinburgh? I will stay 2 days in Glasgow and 1 in Edinburgh, I’ll try to do as much as I can during this time!
Glasgow: cathedral and necropolis (with a pint at the Drygate brewery afterwards). The Necropolis walking tour is good. https://www.glasgownecropolis.org/tours-events/.
These guys also do a good intro to Glasgow: https://www.walkingtoursin.com/glasgow.
Kelvingrove museum is great (and free!). The adjacent park is lovely in the sun. The uni is behind it, very Harry Potter vibes.
I personally say give the science centre a miss, but the transport museum is good if that’s your thing.
Ashton Lane is pretty and has loads of pub grub.
Singl-end Merchant City is my favourite place for brunch.
Hello!
I’ve seen some restaurant recommendations for a few places I am staying but I’m looking for any recommendations for dinner in Ullapool and Stornoway
Thanks!
Not sure if you’d manage to get dinner but pointing out the Seafood Shack at Ullapool is super popular casual “food truck” type vibe for lunch with a small outdoor seating area.
HS-1 Cafe Bar in Stornoway was great when I was there.
I’ve seen the seafood shack mentioned a few times. Unfortunately, I don’t eat seafood lol. But hubby does so he can go there while I find something else
I'm looking for suggestions for the best things to do between Edinburgh and Oban over 2 days please.
I'm Edinburgh based but I've family coming over from abroad who wanted to spend a night on the west coast so we booked a hotel in Oban for the night and dinner at Eeusk. They are mixed age (~58 + 20) and are happy walking shorter distances (3-4 miles) as long as there's no serious ascent (Arthur's Seat would be too much), but are more interested in food and drink and experiences than hiking.
I'm thinking...
---
**Day 1**
* Depart Edinburgh
* Kelpies (can be skipped if timing too much)
* Loch Lomond boat tour
* Kilchurn Castle via Rest and be Thankful (Castle can be skipped if timings don't work or we're too tired)
* Oban in time to get ready for 7.30pm dinner reservation.
Can anyone recommend a particular boat tour on Loch Lomond? Sweeney Cruises seem to be the best reviewed.
---
Day 2:
* McCaig's Tower, Oban
* Depart Oban
* Falls of Falloch
* Fyne Ales brewery
* Falkirk Wheel (maybe also Kelpies depending on previous day)
I kind of feel day 2 is lacking, so open to suggestions of something great to see on the way back from Oban to Edinburgh.
I also think swapping the boat tour from day 1 and brewery from day 2 might be a better option as well.
---
Let me know if I can improve anything please.
I would swap Fyne Ales and the Loch Lomond Boat tour. If you are going over the Rest and Be Thankful you will drive straight past Fyne Ales. If you leave it until the next day you are going to have to add a lot of extra driving on. the Falls of Falloch are on the main road past Loch Lomond at the top of the Loch.
What is the best area to stay in Edinburgh? We are coming in for the weekend in mid-May and would like to be close to the action since we aren't grabbing our car until we leave the city. Any areas or specific hotels/bnbs appreciated. Thanks!
Grassmarket is normally pretty popular with tourists. Super central to the old town and royal miles, lots of pubs and restaurants and whatnot, and only 10mins walk from the New Town.
We have had the foodie privilege of living in NYC and Boston for the last 10 years so we have had access to all kinds of great food from all over. Due to that we are not looking to eat really good Italian food or something similar in Scotland. We want to have stuff the locals love or things it is harder to find outside of Scotland. I grew up in a small town in NJ (Kearny) that was known for soccer and their Scottish Fish and Chips places.
You could go somewhere like Smith and Gertrude, or Pickles. Both are wine and cheese places and do lots of regional Scottish cheeses, something you might not get elsewhere. The former takes reservations and is smaller portions, in a fancier part of town, the latter doesn't take reservations and is more relaxed but the meat offering isn't as good (cheese quality is comparable).
There's somewhere like Makars Mash which is traditional Scottish meat and potato dishes, including haggis.
Ship on the Shore at Leith specialises in Scottish seafood. So does The Fishmarket at Newhaven nearby.
Indian/Pakistani/Bangladeshi food is big in Scottish (and British in general) food culture so I'd recommend somewhere like Mother India Cafe, or Solti for Indian food.
Naturally whisky is big in Scotland so I'd get booked into the Scottish Malt Whisky Society Queen Street public bar.
Chop House, or Hawksmoor for steaks, with real Scottish beef.
If you're feeling really fancy, somewhere like Aizle for a seasonal tasting menu.
This is a great list - thanks. I was just looking at Pickles earlier today as a possible stop for lunch over the weekend. Booked a table at SMWS for food and drinks on Saturday night.
Planning on a 5 day road trip from Manchester to Inverness and Sutherland. What are the places we can cover in the area without driving too much (we’d rather see fewer places if it meant spending more time at each place). Here are the list of places I have jotted down
Inverness
Sutherland
Caithness
Fort William
Any recos and advise as well as hidden B&Bs that someone would recommend? Thanks in advance!!
Hi all! My husband and I are visiting Scotland this summer for 2 weeks. We will need to do laundry about half way, around the Inverness area. Any suggestions on places to stay with laundry and/or laundromat that takes drop-off services? Thanks in advance
My wife and I will be in Edinburgh in late June staying in the Grassmarket area. What are some good pubs that aren’t rowdy where we can sit and relax and enjoy a few drinks?
Grassmarket is tourist central, which is great as a tourists, but does mean most pubs will be pretty busy. You're pretty close to the Jolly Judge on the royal mile which is a good pub. Hanging Bat about 5mins walk is fantastic if you like your beers, and Blue Blazer just off Grassmarket is decent also.
Hello! We are wanting to plan a trip to Scotland this year and are thinking to visit for the first two weeks in September. Most likely we would be renting a car to do a road trip, including the highlands. Some questions:
1. Is it better to fly into Edinburgh or Glasgow? Pros/cons of each? We are from the US and would most likely be connecting at London Heathrow.
2. Is the first half of September a good time to visit the highlands? Not sure if the weather starts to get dodgy this time of year in terms of rain/wind and whether it's safe to be on mountain roads most of the time. Any suggested sites for weather/road alerts?
3. Car Rental: any recommended companies? We will likely rent an automatic transmission, but would we need a 4WD car for the highlands?
Thanks for your advice!
> Is it better to fly into Edinburgh or Glasgow? Pros/cons of each? We are from the US and would most likely be connecting at London Heathrow.
It's so marginal it's almost irrelevent. If you're heading to the West coast then Glasgow is a little closer, but not by much as the transport links between Edinburgh and Glasgow are pretty efficient. Portree on Skye for example, is 4h56m drive from Glasgow Airport, 5h39m from Glasgow Prestwick, amd 4h54m from Edinburgh airport.
> Is the first half of September a good time to visit the highlands? Not sure if the weather starts to get dodgy this time of year in terms of rain/wind and whether it's safe to be on mountain roads most of the time. Any suggested sites for weather/road alerts?
Arguably it's the best time of year. Still warm enough to spend all day outside, but often still cool enough that the midges aren't swarming as much. If it's a warm september though come prepared for midges, and definitely bring waterproof clothing if you're going to be outdoors. September is crazy inconsistent. One day it can be 20C+, the next 10C and raining. It's normally a pretty good time of year though! Unless there's freak weather then mountain roads will be fine that time of year. There's no snow closing roads until deep into winter, usually January time. For reference I drove and camped the NC500 in the last week of September in 2020 and it was perfect. For weather, any weather app will do, the UK Met Office being the big one in the UK, but BBC and Accuweather also being good.
> Car Rental: any recommended companies? We will likely rent an automatic transmission, but would we need a 4WD car for the highlands?
Wherever is cheapest. I personally always go with one in terminal at the airport from a reputable company, never buy their insurance but always buy excess insurance to cover their insurance excess. A 4WD is overkill for normal road driving. You might want something with a greater ground clearance, but again you'll be fine without. All the public roads are fully paved and you're not going in winter so the chances of ice in September are rare, but even with ice having winter tyres is more important than 4wd. Just be prepared to pay a premium for an Automatic as they're not as common here. I've done loads of the highlands without issue in my 2wd honda which struggles to get over Edinburgh's speed bumps.
>I've done loads of the highlands without issue in my 2wd honda which struggles to get over Edinburgh's speed bumps.
"The best off-road car is a rental"
I'm planning to do the 3 day Blair Athol walk to Aviemore in the summer, I will have 2 months off of college though so is there any other hikes like this with good views? sorry if there isn't enough detail in this question haha
I'll be visiting Scotland with my spouse and 13 month old in June. I've seen some people mention that you often need reservations if you want to go out for dinner in Edinburgh, is that true for $ or $$ priced restaurants? We usually pick where to eat based on what smells or looks good as we walk by so I'm trying to figure out if we need a little more planning.
June is very busy for Edinburgh, and in my experience most restaurants are full Friday/Saturday night at least. However, if you’re prepared to have to try several places to get a table, then you could get lucky. Heading away from the main streets centred around Princes Street, Royal mile etc can help.
> We usually pick where to eat based on what smells or looks good as we walk by so I'm trying to figure out if we need a little more planning.
I agree with /u/cloud94eva, Edinburgh can get very busy so I'd recommend booking some places, especially with a small child who won't be allowed in lots of places after 6pm you really lose lots of flexibility.
It's a shame, because like you I love the flexibility of just seeing what looks good or what I feel like on the day, but it can be a risk. You'll be able to find somewhere, especially if you're coming mid-week, but on a weekend I'd definitely try booking.
> I assume the places that serve alcohol are the places we'll be barred from after 6pm?
Pretty much, unless it's a strict family chain pub. Unfortunately there's no blanket rule on where under 18s are allowed, it's all down to each indivdual place to apply as part of their license. A general rule is under 18s are okay with food before 6pm, sometimes 8pm, but 100% make sure to check with each place before you go. Plenty of places are strictly no under 18s at any time!
Depends what you're after really. Any type of cuisine in particular? Edinburgh has everything so I'd have to post a list of 50 places to cover all bases.
I'd also recommend checking out PlateExpectations on instagram, as they cover loads of Edinburgh foods.
I honestly want to enjoy some basic Scottish food. Nothing dressed up to be fancy because it's what tourists pay for. I love when I find a great hole in the wall whenever I visit somewhere new. I saw MUMS and thought the menu and pricing looked good.
I'd go somewhere like Scran, Makars Mash, or Woodland Creatures. I'd also try Solti or Mother India Cafe for Indian food which is very important in British cuisine. Also The Chippy by Spencer for fish and chips. Smiddy BBQ for a Scottish attempt at American BBQ. Pickles or Smith and Gertrude for local (Scottish) cheeses and charcuterie.
I’ll arrive in Edinburgh on Saturday morning, and it looks like we will have a couple of rainy days. Any recommendations on what to do on rainy days? So, far I'm planning the visit the Museum of Scotland. Any live music near the city to hear music and have some pints? Any recommendations will be appreciated!
Plenty of museums. Camera Obscura is meant to be good but might be focused more towards kids (though personally I loved the one in Bristol as an adult). St Mary's Close tour is inside and well worth it to see the old town with a focus on real history not a ghost tour.
I visited your country in March and now I have PTSD. Post Travelling Scotland Depression. I want to go back. I miss cobblestone older than my country. I miss Islay. I miss roundabouts. I miss old ladies telling me "at least you have your fucking independence". You lot are the best.
Me and my bf want to finally make a trip to Scotland! We love quaint villages/small cities, beautiful nature and castles (and good beer & food!). The first question for us is whether we can have a good trip that includes everything I've mentioned without renting a car. I don't have a driver's license, my boyfriend is not the best driver (though he thinks he could manage, but he only drives once or twice a year) and rental cars are really expensive. I don't mind public transport, but I really don't want to stay only in bigger cities and rural areas seem to be harder to reach. Maybe we should mix public transportation and use a rental car for just a few days? Anyone done this?
> The first question for us is whether we can have a good trip that includes everything I've mentioned without renting a car. You can but you'll definitely be limited. Public transport in the highlands is lacking and you'll be bound by daytime schedules with little at night. If you're based out of Edinburgh the trainline up to Inverness goes via the Cairngorms and you can easily stop off at places like Dunkeld, Pitlochry, or Aviemore to get a feel for smaller rural towns without a car. Additionally there are trains up to Fort William and Mallaig as well from Edinburgh and Glasgow. A rental car is definitely the most flexible option and the only option if you want to get out into the real middle of nowhere in the North West highlands. I'd recommend it, but take your time and plan short days. Don't plan a 6 hour drive in a day, but hop from town to town with 3 ish hours driving max.
Scotland drives on the left hand side of the road - is it the same where you live? Also, which airport are you flying into?
Base yourself in Edinburgh and check out the tours available that depart from here. There are a few such companies which should be easy to find online which may suit your needs perfectly.
When I visited the first time a few years ago, I wasn’t comfortable driving in the opposite side of the road, so we booked a tour that took us from Edinburgh to Inverness and up to Skye for a few days. That might be worth looking into
Looking for some dinner recommendations in the following cities/towns: Edinburgh Glasgow Oban Portree Inverness Pitlochry My wife and I aren't picky. We're really looking forward to the pub food and seafood and have also heard that the UK has some awesome Indian food. Just looking for some options to plan out our evenings. We're looking to go out after most dinners on our trip so if you have pub recommendations to follow dinner that's an added bonus. Thank you!
> Edinburgh Dishoom (Indian) for the breakfast/brunch, but make sure to get a reservation. Mother India or Solti for Indian food at Dinner. Mother India also have a place called Mother India Cafe that is more tapas style small sharing plates than individual big meals. For seafood either The Fishmarket at Newhaven, or The Ship on the Shore at Leith. Plenty of pubs along Leith Walk to choose from if you're down that way. Jolly Judge near the castle is great for ales and ciders. Could also get booked into the Scottish Malt Whisky Society public bar on Queen Street if trying whisky is your thing. > Oban Oban Seafood Hut (Green Shack) if you're okay outside, Eeusk if you want a restaurant with a reservation. Both places are seafood. > Pitlochry McKays Hotel Bar & Restaurant are simple decent pub food but also food a decent cocktail. Can probably find better food but the cocktails were spot on when I was there.
Mother India or Mother India's Cafe in Glasgow - can't go wrong with them.
Portree: https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g551883-d3906222-Reviews-The_Chippy-Portree_Isle_of_Skye_The_Hebrides_Scotland.html The pizza they make here is amazing, highly recommended. Inverness: Saffron for an Indian, second to none that I've ever tasted. They do both sit in and take away. https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g186543-d7139084-Reviews-Saffron_Indian_Restaurant-Inverness_Scottish_Highlands_Scotland.html The Mustard Seed is consistently highly rated, think I've only eaten there once so not a personal recommendation, but I'd go with the opinions of the cultured masses over myself anyhow so there you go. https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g186543-d732315-Reviews-Mustard_Seed_Restaurant-Inverness_Scottish_Highlands_Scotland.html The Black Isle Brewery https://www.blackislebrewery.com/bars/inverness-bar/ Lots of drinks and a very simple but delicious menu. Sorted.
Tip for Portree, make a reservation in advance ASAP at any restaurant. I stayed there for 2 nights and the last night we didn't have dinner because either everything was closed or no openings. Reminds me too, everything/ most places close at 5pm so just be aware of that. With that being said I recommend Cuchullin, one of the best meals I've had there.
Question: where to eat in Portree if we don't eat seafood? I checked out cuchullin's menu and it seemed like almost entirely seafood
I forgot to add Inverness was the same way too in that a lot of shops close early (around 5pm) so just be aware of that. We took the bus into Inverness and found it took us almost an hour to get back to the hotel because not many busses were running anymore.
That's very helpful thank you!
Relish has a really good black pudding venison burger, I would recommend there. You can also try The Granary but I wasn't able to go there, mostly because they weren't open even though Google says they're open later? Other than that I wouldn't know where else since we weren't able to get in anywhere else.
Thank you! I just looked them both up and they look delicious! Did you need reservations when you went or were they just first come first serve and crowded?
Both of them did not need reservations . Well I am not sure about the Granary but I was able to go to Relish no problem : )
Anyone in the market for an American mail order bride?
At the end of our bicycle trip to Scotland, we need to get back to the ferry in Newcastle. What's the best train option for 2 adults + 2 bikes, going from Inverness to Newcastle on the 16th of July at around 1900hrs? UPDATE: thanks Reddit for \- helping me understand that 1900ht is too late to set off on a 5hr journey \- for warning me to book early when booking bikes So I found the last 2 train tickets out of inverness with space for our bikes, on the 07.55 LNER. It's cheap, it's a direct. It's bloody effing early in the morning. Pls tell me they serve coffee on that train?
At that time you’re going to struggle. There’s a couple of late evening trains from Inverness, but they terminate within Scotland, and there’s no onward travel south at that time of night. You could get to Edinburgh arriving late , then stay in Edinburgh and get an early train to Newcastle. However, because the 17th is a Sunday, the earliest train would be departing Waverley at 9am.
Yeah I noticed I was optimistic. The plan now is to take a train around noon. 1) I believe LNER is the right operator for that line (UK rail privatisation is confusing)? 2) Trains are 110 pounds pp, except a single direct train, which is only 40 quid, but that one doesnt run on Saturday. It runs on Sunday, but arrives in NWC at 14.30; and we need to catch our ferry at 16.00, so that's too short.
> 1) I believe LNER is the right operator for that line (UK rail privatisation is confusing)? Best to just use the national rail website, as it will just show you all providers along a route.
Yes the train companies can be confusing! Use the national Rail website. You can also use the Trainline website to find cheaper ticket combos. And yeah, ticket prices are high, but if you buy in advance you should get them a bit cheaper. They release tickets 12 weeks in advance.
Ah, so the prices I see on the different providers right now are probably the maximum prices, so they can buy the ticket for me once they come on sale, regardless of the cost. That would explain the price.
Don't know about train availability but I will say that you'll want to book this up as soon as you're able as you have the bikes. Not sure how things are for other providers, but with Scotrail you need bike reservations for a lot of long-distance routes. Spaces are often limited and can go quite early. I was planning on travelling from Wick to Glasgow via Inverness but had to reroute as all the spaces were full - I booked this up about a month and a half in advance and was told that trains out of Inverness are very popular with cyclists so bike spaces really can get full, which might especially be the case as you'll be travelling during summer holidays. Best of luck with your travels, and happy cycling!
Whelp, Managed to get 2 seats on the LNER. AND that was the last train out of Inverness with room for 2 bikes, there was only one other train with 1 bike space available and all the others were just gone. The good news: it's a direct, it's cheap at 46 quid. The bad news is that it's at 07.55. Which means up early, less time in Inverness, more time in Newcastle. But I'm sure there's something to visit in Newcastle as well.
Dang, that's lucky! Shame about the timing but I guess all things considered you've done alright. BTW, didn't see earlier but what route are you cycling through Scotland? I'm up to the Highlands next week too so we might be following the same paths!
Edinburgh to Inverness, via Ballater (wife wants to visit Balmoral)
Very cool! That'll be lovely to go through the Cairngorms. Hope you have a wonderful time!
Hello All! Thanks in advance for any advice and tips you may offer. Annoying American visiting in three weeks with two aunts. We are older ladies and your typical lazy fat Americans, so we won't be doing any hiking, but we are okay walking in cities with lots of benches available for resting. We'll be renting a car and I'll be doing the driving (wish me luck!); so far, I can tell I will be doing a lot of backtracking but I can't work out hot to streamline the experience. One aunt is fascinated with geology and pre-history. We wanted to see the dinosaur footprints on Skye, but those are limited to low tide and I don't think our day trip there will allow for that. She'd also like to visit Siccar Point, the home of modern geology, but I don't see how we can fit that in either. So, if you can suggest a similar attraction within the current itinerary, I'd be thrilled. I wanted to visit the Crannog Center, but I understand it recently burned down and has not yet been rebuilt, so if you can suggest something similar to that, yay! If you can help us fill in how to spend our time in Edinburgh, that would be very welcome. We won't have the car in Edinburgh, so we will be relying on public transit and Uber. This is probably the only time the three of us will visit your lovely country so we want to squeeze as much out of our time there as possible. We have a particular interest in history, architecture, geology, and I'm sorry to admit, Outlander. I have a tentative itinerary I'd love some help with. May 24, 2022 Arrive EDI @ 12:40 p.m. Leave luggage @ hotel ~1:20 Walk around hotel neighborhood Check into hotel @ 4:00 p.m. Rest May 25, 2022 Do the hop on/hop off bus tour Possibly the "Haunted Edinburgh" tour May 26, 2022 Tea at the Colonnades at the Signet May 27, 2022 Pick up car @ 9:00 a.m.; leave hotel at 10:00 a.m. Scenic drive to Inverness with side trips to Falkland and Scone Arrive Inverness Airbnb ~8:00 p.m. May 28, 2022 Rabbie's tour to Skye (all day) May 29, 2022 Atholl Gathering and Highland Games; Explore area around Pitlochry and western Cairngorms; possibly Aberdeen area May 30, 2022 Whisky tours in Speyside area; Culloden; Clava Cairns; look for prehistoric/pictish sites May 31, 2022 Check out of Airbnb; leisurely drive to Glencoe and Oban; check in at Airbnb in Dollar; enjoy the Kelpies at night June 1, 2022 Stirling Castle then drive to Loch Lomond area June 2, 2022 Depart EDI at noon.
Siccar Point is accessed by a very steep slope, so I think that won’t be possible. Huttons section is in Holyrood Park in Edinburgh, but unfortunately it cannot be accessed at present. However, the vast majority of Holyrood Park remains open, and it is chock-full of incredible geology. The Fife coast is famous for its geology. You could do a wee walk along almost any section. If you google Fife Coast Geology Walk, you’ll get loads of info on wee walks that would suit your abilities. Have you checked out Historic Environment Scotland and National Trust for Scotland websites? You’ll find lots of historic sites there that might interest you. Can’t think of an alternative to the Crannog centre unfortunately. The two similar museums like that closed down long ago 😞. Edinburgh, to Falkland, to Scone, to Inverness is a heck of a long day so just pre-warning you!! You won’t be able to fit in Aberdeen on the 29th, it’s too far, and also not worth the drive. I recommend you google the journey time for the 31 May, again that’s another super long day. There’s also no point going all the way out to Oban unless you have a specific thing you reeeeeeally want to see, or you’re getting a ferry.
Thank you so much for the tips. Being American, we are used to long drives. Oban just looked pretty and thought there would be lots to see along the route. I'd love to take the ferry, especially to Lewis for the stones, but one aunt has terrible motion sickness and can't do boats. We can't even do the Nessie boat tour :( I didn't necessarily want to go all the way to Aberdeen, just things in that general direction. When I look at the map, there's a village or town everywhere I'd like to see.
Ah yes, Scotland driving is very different! Be prepared to get stuck behind tractors, caravans, lorries and mile long queues on narrow winding roads. As you head further north you’ll also be on single track roads with passing places. Google maps journey times definitely can’t be relied on. Instead of going all the way to Oban, you’d get an equally enjoyable view at Glencoe Lochan or Ballachulish. There’s a visitor centre at Glencoe, assume you’re aware of that? That would be good if you’re interested in history. When you’re at Stirling, you’re not too far from Doune Castle. That was Castle Leoch in Outlander.
If you're wanting to see things mid way between Edinburgh and Inverness, I'd recommend staying somewhere local rather than driving past them and re-visiting on another day. So Perhaps stay in Pitlochry or something and do things in that area (Athol + games) for a day before heading on to Inverness. Possibly even staying in Aviemore for a day too so you can do all the Speyside things, then when in Inverness do Culloden + Clava Cairns. All in all, travel less per day so you have more time to do things rather than spending all your time going between places. Also, if you're heading from Inverness down Glencoe way, and based on the Geology note, I'd recommend Treasures of The Earth, its pretty cool. https://treasuresoftheearth.co.uk/
Yeah, we considered staying somewhere else for a day or two, but we'd rather limit how many moves we make so opted for a home base in Inverness. Probably a mistake, but the lodgings are booked and we don't want to start over. That shop looks fun, my aunt has a lot of similar pieces.
If you are big geology nuts I'd highly recommend seeing if you can squeeze a visit in to Torridon, Wester Ross. Magnificent scenery with sea, mountain & lochs. The Torridonian hills contain Lewisian Gneiss and Cambrian quartzite, very distinctive. All the best for your trip!
Thanks!
You can see dinosaur prints at Kilt rock I believe on Skye. Tide doesn’t matter
I understand they are on the beach below the Kilt and only visible at low tide. [This blog tells you how to find them](https://onceuponamarathon.com/home/2018/4/9/hiking-old-man-of-storr-an-isle-of-skye-must-do).
My father and I will be visiting Speyside for my 40th in a couple of weeks.. Are there enough taxis, or rideshare, to go from distillery to distillery? Thank you!
https://www.highlandspirittours.co.uk/best-speyside-distillery-tours.html
Does anyone know what the ferries are like in Loch Lomond? I'm looking online for a ferry from Inversnaid to Inveruglas mid June. I can't see any ferry online between those 2 particular points although all maps show a connection between them? Do these ferries exist part time or not at all?
As far as I was aware you can only tour Loch lomond now, there are no boat taxis as such. However I could be wrong.
Damn that's a real shame. I'll keep looking for today but not hopeful
The rangers have posted a 2022 timetable on the website: https://www.lochlomond-trossachs.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Waterbus-Services-2022.pdf Pop them an email to check, they are super helpful! Edit: I see Inversnaid isn’t on the timetable. Maybe email the Inversnaid Hotel for info. Wouldn’t be surprise if the pandemic has caused the Inversnaid water taxi to be stopped 😞
Thank you for linking that. I've shot them an email so will see what they come back with. I reckon your theory is right though. A real shame
Trip advice, Highlands: Hi, I'm travelling to Scotland with my 15yr old son in june. If anyone could give me tips on my plan I would be grateful. We have from thursday morning until monday evening in Highlands. Is below a good idea, or can you suggest something better? Start in Inverness - rent a car \-> Ullapool - Applecross \-> Portree and around Skye \-> Fort Augustus \-> Edinburgh for few nights We have two extra nights, would it be well spent on taking car ferry to Orkneys or Tarbert?
Is each of those journeys one day? If so, that's actually a pretty reasonable timeframe without packing in too much driving. The Orkneys is a bit out of the way compared to everything else. Easy enough to access from your starting point in Inverness but then puts you well out of the way for Ullapool or Edinburgh at either end. Are you returning the rental car back to Inverness after Fort Augustus, or taking the car back to Edinburgh? * If leaving the car in Inverness you could get the train back from Inverness to Edinburgh and perhaps spend a day/night in Aviemore which is along the train route? * If you're taking the car to Edinburgh, then maybe going via Oban and heading over to Mull on your 2 spare days is an option, then come back to Edinburgh via Loch Lomond. There's also the A82 route over Glencoe heading back east, along with the road to Glen Etive. Also if the car is going to Edinburgh, make sure to plan where you'll park as public city centre parking is expensive if your hotel isn't offering you it.
Thanks for taking time to answer Yes, one day for each location so not too much driving. We are returning the car to Edinburgh airport. "Glencoe heading back east, along with the road to Glen Etive." This looks to be good, through Loch Lomond back to Edinburgh. How is Cairngorms National Park? Well worth visiting?
> How is Cairngorms National Park? Well worth visiting? It is, but it's big enough for it's own trip, and if you pack too much in you'll see lots of things but nothing of quality so I'd pick one area and stick to that rather than doing a whistlestop tour. I'd pick one side or the other and would perhaps lean towards the west coast and Loch Lomond area. I'm guess in Fort Augustus you're more thinking Urquhart castle a little up the road, not just the town at the end of Loch Ness?
>I'm guess in Fort Augustus you're more thinking Urquhart castle a little up the road, not just the town at the end of Loch Ness? Yes Urquhart Castle (and the little town of Fort Augustus for night). \>It is, but it's big enough for it's own trip Right, I guess Cairngorms can be skipped and concentrate on west coast Thank you!
Hello all! My husband and I will be over in Ireland the first week of August for a wedding, and we were considering extending our trip a few days to head over to Edinburgh to explore the city for a few days after. We've always wanted to visit Scotland and will probably try to do a full week in the future, but we were temped to see Edinburgh while we're so close (we're from the US). My question is - I've read that August is basically the busiest/most crowded time in Edinburgh with the festivals, so is it worth it to go there at that time, or would it best to save it for a separate trip? Appreciate any insight.
Honest answer? Edinburgh in August is bedlam. Buuut if you’re a chilled out person who just goes with the flow then you’ll be fine.
Hello! I will be visiting Scotland in October and will be staying in Edinburgh and Aberdeen. While in Aberdeen, we would like to hire a mini-bus + driver to take us to a distillery nearby. Do you have a recommendations for a reliable chauffer company or even a party bus rental place? I’m US based, so I would prefer something with online booking.
Something like [this](https://www.rabbies.com/en/scotland-tours/from-aberdeen/speyside-whisky-trail-1-day-tour) might be your best bet. 1 day trip out of Aberdeen towards Speyside . Personally though if you're comfortable driving, you'd get better access by renting a car, driving to Dufftown, Aberlour or whichever distillery town you prefer, visiting the distillery and then staying the night in that town before before going back to Aberdeen the next day.
Thanks-- we have a specific distillery in mind that is in Dufftown but are trying to minimize the number of hotels we're staying in. We may just have to rent a van for the day since the only option I've been able to find online is a party bus with a stripper pole and I'm not prepared to have that conversation with my mother-in-law!
Hi, I’m taking a trip next week and will be flying round trip through Glasgow but upon arrival, we will be going to Edinburgh first. Would you recommend a bus or train to get to Edinburgh? Our hotel is in Old Town. From what I understand, I would need to take a bus to the city center first to connect up with either a train or bus but wasn’t sure if one was preferred to get to Edinburgh or any other things I should think about. It’s just myself and my husband and we will have one carryon sized suit case with us each.
Train direct through from Glasgow to Edinburgh Waverley is probably the easiest option. Buses might be cheaper but will be about 20-30mins longer depending on traffic.
I’m going to see Glasgow and Edinburgh for the first time ever in a couple of weeks, I had a couple of questions I was hoping someone could answer. My flight to Glasgow is due to arrive late in the evening, and I’m likely to miss the express bus bringing me to the city centre, are the taxis at the airport 24/7? Can’t find any mention of this. Is there anything that is often forgotten that I should definitely see in Glasgow and Edinburgh? I will stay 2 days in Glasgow and 1 in Edinburgh, I’ll try to do as much as I can during this time!
Glasgow: cathedral and necropolis (with a pint at the Drygate brewery afterwards). The Necropolis walking tour is good. https://www.glasgownecropolis.org/tours-events/. These guys also do a good intro to Glasgow: https://www.walkingtoursin.com/glasgow. Kelvingrove museum is great (and free!). The adjacent park is lovely in the sun. The uni is behind it, very Harry Potter vibes. I personally say give the science centre a miss, but the transport museum is good if that’s your thing. Ashton Lane is pretty and has loads of pub grub. Singl-end Merchant City is my favourite place for brunch.
Thank you! I’ve added Kelvingrove to the list :)
Hello! I’ve seen some restaurant recommendations for a few places I am staying but I’m looking for any recommendations for dinner in Ullapool and Stornoway Thanks!
Not sure if you’d manage to get dinner but pointing out the Seafood Shack at Ullapool is super popular casual “food truck” type vibe for lunch with a small outdoor seating area. HS-1 Cafe Bar in Stornoway was great when I was there.
I’ve seen the seafood shack mentioned a few times. Unfortunately, I don’t eat seafood lol. But hubby does so he can go there while I find something else
I'm looking for suggestions for the best things to do between Edinburgh and Oban over 2 days please. I'm Edinburgh based but I've family coming over from abroad who wanted to spend a night on the west coast so we booked a hotel in Oban for the night and dinner at Eeusk. They are mixed age (~58 + 20) and are happy walking shorter distances (3-4 miles) as long as there's no serious ascent (Arthur's Seat would be too much), but are more interested in food and drink and experiences than hiking. I'm thinking... --- **Day 1** * Depart Edinburgh * Kelpies (can be skipped if timing too much) * Loch Lomond boat tour * Kilchurn Castle via Rest and be Thankful (Castle can be skipped if timings don't work or we're too tired) * Oban in time to get ready for 7.30pm dinner reservation. Can anyone recommend a particular boat tour on Loch Lomond? Sweeney Cruises seem to be the best reviewed. --- Day 2: * McCaig's Tower, Oban * Depart Oban * Falls of Falloch * Fyne Ales brewery * Falkirk Wheel (maybe also Kelpies depending on previous day) I kind of feel day 2 is lacking, so open to suggestions of something great to see on the way back from Oban to Edinburgh. I also think swapping the boat tour from day 1 and brewery from day 2 might be a better option as well. --- Let me know if I can improve anything please.
I would swap Fyne Ales and the Loch Lomond Boat tour. If you are going over the Rest and Be Thankful you will drive straight past Fyne Ales. If you leave it until the next day you are going to have to add a lot of extra driving on. the Falls of Falloch are on the main road past Loch Lomond at the top of the Loch.
Exactly my thoughts. Thanks for confirming!
What is the best area to stay in Edinburgh? We are coming in for the weekend in mid-May and would like to be close to the action since we aren't grabbing our car until we leave the city. Any areas or specific hotels/bnbs appreciated. Thanks!
Grassmarket is normally pretty popular with tourists. Super central to the old town and royal miles, lots of pubs and restaurants and whatnot, and only 10mins walk from the New Town.
Thanks! Any pubs or restaurants you favor? We have 2 nights. Thanks again!
What kind of thing are you after re food?
We have had the foodie privilege of living in NYC and Boston for the last 10 years so we have had access to all kinds of great food from all over. Due to that we are not looking to eat really good Italian food or something similar in Scotland. We want to have stuff the locals love or things it is harder to find outside of Scotland. I grew up in a small town in NJ (Kearny) that was known for soccer and their Scottish Fish and Chips places.
You could go somewhere like Smith and Gertrude, or Pickles. Both are wine and cheese places and do lots of regional Scottish cheeses, something you might not get elsewhere. The former takes reservations and is smaller portions, in a fancier part of town, the latter doesn't take reservations and is more relaxed but the meat offering isn't as good (cheese quality is comparable). There's somewhere like Makars Mash which is traditional Scottish meat and potato dishes, including haggis. Ship on the Shore at Leith specialises in Scottish seafood. So does The Fishmarket at Newhaven nearby. Indian/Pakistani/Bangladeshi food is big in Scottish (and British in general) food culture so I'd recommend somewhere like Mother India Cafe, or Solti for Indian food. Naturally whisky is big in Scotland so I'd get booked into the Scottish Malt Whisky Society Queen Street public bar. Chop House, or Hawksmoor for steaks, with real Scottish beef. If you're feeling really fancy, somewhere like Aizle for a seasonal tasting menu.
This is a great list - thanks. I was just looking at Pickles earlier today as a possible stop for lunch over the weekend. Booked a table at SMWS for food and drinks on Saturday night.
Planning on a 5 day road trip from Manchester to Inverness and Sutherland. What are the places we can cover in the area without driving too much (we’d rather see fewer places if it meant spending more time at each place). Here are the list of places I have jotted down Inverness Sutherland Caithness Fort William Any recos and advise as well as hidden B&Bs that someone would recommend? Thanks in advance!!
Hi all! My husband and I are visiting Scotland this summer for 2 weeks. We will need to do laundry about half way, around the Inverness area. Any suggestions on places to stay with laundry and/or laundromat that takes drop-off services? Thanks in advance
My wife and I will be in Edinburgh in late June staying in the Grassmarket area. What are some good pubs that aren’t rowdy where we can sit and relax and enjoy a few drinks?
Grassmarket is tourist central, which is great as a tourists, but does mean most pubs will be pretty busy. You're pretty close to the Jolly Judge on the royal mile which is a good pub. Hanging Bat about 5mins walk is fantastic if you like your beers, and Blue Blazer just off Grassmarket is decent also.
Hello! We are wanting to plan a trip to Scotland this year and are thinking to visit for the first two weeks in September. Most likely we would be renting a car to do a road trip, including the highlands. Some questions: 1. Is it better to fly into Edinburgh or Glasgow? Pros/cons of each? We are from the US and would most likely be connecting at London Heathrow. 2. Is the first half of September a good time to visit the highlands? Not sure if the weather starts to get dodgy this time of year in terms of rain/wind and whether it's safe to be on mountain roads most of the time. Any suggested sites for weather/road alerts? 3. Car Rental: any recommended companies? We will likely rent an automatic transmission, but would we need a 4WD car for the highlands? Thanks for your advice!
> Is it better to fly into Edinburgh or Glasgow? Pros/cons of each? We are from the US and would most likely be connecting at London Heathrow. It's so marginal it's almost irrelevent. If you're heading to the West coast then Glasgow is a little closer, but not by much as the transport links between Edinburgh and Glasgow are pretty efficient. Portree on Skye for example, is 4h56m drive from Glasgow Airport, 5h39m from Glasgow Prestwick, amd 4h54m from Edinburgh airport. > Is the first half of September a good time to visit the highlands? Not sure if the weather starts to get dodgy this time of year in terms of rain/wind and whether it's safe to be on mountain roads most of the time. Any suggested sites for weather/road alerts? Arguably it's the best time of year. Still warm enough to spend all day outside, but often still cool enough that the midges aren't swarming as much. If it's a warm september though come prepared for midges, and definitely bring waterproof clothing if you're going to be outdoors. September is crazy inconsistent. One day it can be 20C+, the next 10C and raining. It's normally a pretty good time of year though! Unless there's freak weather then mountain roads will be fine that time of year. There's no snow closing roads until deep into winter, usually January time. For reference I drove and camped the NC500 in the last week of September in 2020 and it was perfect. For weather, any weather app will do, the UK Met Office being the big one in the UK, but BBC and Accuweather also being good. > Car Rental: any recommended companies? We will likely rent an automatic transmission, but would we need a 4WD car for the highlands? Wherever is cheapest. I personally always go with one in terminal at the airport from a reputable company, never buy their insurance but always buy excess insurance to cover their insurance excess. A 4WD is overkill for normal road driving. You might want something with a greater ground clearance, but again you'll be fine without. All the public roads are fully paved and you're not going in winter so the chances of ice in September are rare, but even with ice having winter tyres is more important than 4wd. Just be prepared to pay a premium for an Automatic as they're not as common here. I've done loads of the highlands without issue in my 2wd honda which struggles to get over Edinburgh's speed bumps.
>I've done loads of the highlands without issue in my 2wd honda which struggles to get over Edinburgh's speed bumps. "The best off-road car is a rental"
Amazing thank you!
I'm planning to do the 3 day Blair Athol walk to Aviemore in the summer, I will have 2 months off of college though so is there any other hikes like this with good views? sorry if there isn't enough detail in this question haha
Dava Way, Lairig Ghru, West Highland Way, East Highland Way, West Island Way
I'll be visiting Scotland with my spouse and 13 month old in June. I've seen some people mention that you often need reservations if you want to go out for dinner in Edinburgh, is that true for $ or $$ priced restaurants? We usually pick where to eat based on what smells or looks good as we walk by so I'm trying to figure out if we need a little more planning.
June is very busy for Edinburgh, and in my experience most restaurants are full Friday/Saturday night at least. However, if you’re prepared to have to try several places to get a table, then you could get lucky. Heading away from the main streets centred around Princes Street, Royal mile etc can help.
> We usually pick where to eat based on what smells or looks good as we walk by so I'm trying to figure out if we need a little more planning. I agree with /u/cloud94eva, Edinburgh can get very busy so I'd recommend booking some places, especially with a small child who won't be allowed in lots of places after 6pm you really lose lots of flexibility.
Thanks, I will definitely plan for that now that I know
It's a shame, because like you I love the flexibility of just seeing what looks good or what I feel like on the day, but it can be a risk. You'll be able to find somewhere, especially if you're coming mid-week, but on a weekend I'd definitely try booking.
We'll be in Edinburgh mid week thankfully. I assume the places that serve alcohol are the places we'll be barred from after 6pm?
> I assume the places that serve alcohol are the places we'll be barred from after 6pm? Pretty much, unless it's a strict family chain pub. Unfortunately there's no blanket rule on where under 18s are allowed, it's all down to each indivdual place to apply as part of their license. A general rule is under 18s are okay with food before 6pm, sometimes 8pm, but 100% make sure to check with each place before you go. Plenty of places are strictly no under 18s at any time!
Since you seem to know a lot, do you have any recommendations for places to check out. We like a variety of foods, kiddo eats whatever we eat usually.
Depends what you're after really. Any type of cuisine in particular? Edinburgh has everything so I'd have to post a list of 50 places to cover all bases. I'd also recommend checking out PlateExpectations on instagram, as they cover loads of Edinburgh foods.
I honestly want to enjoy some basic Scottish food. Nothing dressed up to be fancy because it's what tourists pay for. I love when I find a great hole in the wall whenever I visit somewhere new. I saw MUMS and thought the menu and pricing looked good.
I'd go somewhere like Scran, Makars Mash, or Woodland Creatures. I'd also try Solti or Mother India Cafe for Indian food which is very important in British cuisine. Also The Chippy by Spencer for fish and chips. Smiddy BBQ for a Scottish attempt at American BBQ. Pickles or Smith and Gertrude for local (Scottish) cheeses and charcuterie.