Scotland Bound - Planning (smalltown USA)

[lucylou1978]

A friend and I are in the stages of making plans to vacation in Scotland, possibly the Edinburgh area. We'll be traveling across the big lake (smalltown USA). We'd love to do our own touring, visiting landmarks, castles, scenic areas, museums, foods, nightlife, local pubs.... I'd love some ideas of places to visit. We're thinking of a 2 wk vacation, and want to take in as much as we can on the days we feel like getting out and about, and maybe staying pretty local with shopping/food/beer on the days we don't. Suggestions? Because this is going to be a girls trip, I'm open to striking up conversation/friendship with anyone living in that area that could throw a few pointers on the hotspots or when the best time(s) of year is to come. Thanks in advance!

[Polwarth]

I'm female, which I need to make clear!

A two week holiday in Scotland? Hardly long enough to scratch the surface! If you intend to start in Edinburgh, allow at least 4 or 5 days to 'see,do' the sights... and that's a fairly conservative estimate. We have castles, palaces, museums, art galleries and of course, our wonderful new parly building. There's Arthur's Seat, Duddingston, Gullane and Cramond all in easy reach of the city centre.

St Andrews, the East Neuk of Fife, Glasgow, and into the highlands all beckon; but two weeks is too short a time to see what our country can offer - not taking into account the Borders and the Isles.

[Alan B]

Polwarth ~ Americans, apparently, don't get much vacation time.
My friends from Florida made two visits to Scotland (2009 and 2010), each time they spent a week, 2 days in Edinburgh and on the Monday, hired a car and drove round the Highlands, returning to their Edinburgh b&b on the Friday, and one more day in Edinburgh then flew home on the Sunday.

[Polwarth]

I know, Alan - but they all seem to think this is a country where 'If it's Tuesday, it's Belgium'.
They see it as a 'few hundred miles' - not understanding that our miles are full of history

[scotty68]

Agree, Many Scots come over to Florida to spend a few weeks in the winter and think they have seen America.

[kathyv]

lucylou, you might want to invest in one of the DK travel guides. They have one just for Scotland and it's very useful. Has times, prices, contact info, maps, suggestions for everything from hostel housing to fine dining. It is well worth the money and small enough to take with you.

Have fun!

[Alan B]

Scotland does not have good roads. It takes nearly 6 hours travelling from Edinburgh to Wick in the top part of Scotland and thats pretty much without stops. Skye is about 5 1/2hrs taking the A9, Dalwhinnie Pass route west. The further north you go the more single track roads with passing places, you come across. If your travelling to the Outer Hebrides, the Isle of Barra is 5 hours on the Cal Mac Ferry. So if you look at a wee map of Scotland while planning a trip, keep those travel times in mind.