england scotland tour

Glencoe and Fort William area have stunning scenery but are only a few hours drive north of Glasgow, ideal if you haven't long in Scotland and want to get a taster of it. You can get regular buses from Glasgow and the scenery on the bus to Glencoe and Fort William is wonderful.

Further north, the scenery in the Torridon area and on the Isle of Skye is wonderful, very awe inspiring. However, of you haven't got long it is a long way up. You can get a bus from Glasgow to many points on the Isle of Skye.

What do you call budget? There are numerous campsites, and free camping is allowed in many places if you have a tent etc. Check first before you free camp, and make sure you leave no trace of your stay. If you need serviced accommodation, there are numerous hostels, both SYHA and independent. Check out www.syha.org.uk, www.macbackpackers.co.uk, www.bugeurope.com and www.hostelz.com for booing and lsits of hostels. There are LOADS on the Isle of Skye and a large number in the Glencoe and Fort William area. Failing that, the small B&B's are fairly cheap for a private room.

Getting around - megabus is the cheapest travel between London and Edinburgh - from there you can get another bus or train. However, you won't see much scenery. The buses stick to motorways and often drop off and pick up at service stations. National Express are the main coach carriers. They also mainly stick to motorways. Try www.megabus.co.uk and www.gobycoach.com. For trains, you can get some deals if you book a long time in advance - you can do this online and pick up your tickets at the station. Try www.qjump.co.uk. In Scotland, Scottish Citylink provides buses to most places. I think the webasite is something like www.scottishcitylink.co.uk (or perhaps .com). Again, you can book ahead online, though many travellers turn up and pay at the time of travel. If I was using my computer at home I could open these links and check them but I cannot on this computer so I am guessing at the links. You can get overnight buses between London and Scotland on megabus and national express, probably better to do that and miss the motorways at night and enjoy the beautiful Scottish scenery by day.

Also, consider budget flights. Again, tese need ot be boked a while in advance but the routes are competitive between London and Glasgow/Edinburgh. Try doing a websearch for British Airways, Easyjet, BMI baby, Flybe etc. I know you want to see the scenery but really, the buses only cover mainly motorway and the scenery in Scotland is so magnificent it is worth trying to arrange to spend more time there than on the road. Booked well ahead, especially at quiet times or if there are any seat sales, a domestic flight can be cheaper than a train ticket. I onlce flew from Newcastle to London for £30. The train tickets were far higher in price and the coach tickets were around £25, so the extra was worth it. If you cannot book online, in London you can buy national express tckets at Victoria and train tickets at the station, though if you cannot book ahead it will cost you an arm and a leg for a train ticket. I think Megabus and the budget airlines only have online or telephone bookings so you probably need a credit card. For flights, a travel agent in your home country can probably book domestic flihgts in the UK if you cannot book online but that won't come cheap and the budget airlines don't use agents.

I'd fly to Scotland and then get a citylink week or 5 day bus pass (www.citylink.co.uk). Parts of the highlands are served by train (www.nationalrail.co.uk) and will take you to good walking spots. The far north takes some time to reach and you're best sticking to the central highlands and grampians. If time is short, you could join a bus tour (from Edinburgh, Glasgow or even London Victoria). Accommodation:- youth hostels (SYHA.co.uk), lots of B&Bs and in the mountains and on the wilder coasts, free camping.

Dear Femaletraveller and Old european:

Thank you so much for the detailed and informative suggestions. I wish all the ppl in this world were as friendly as you guyz. I'd definitely follow your suggestions.

Thanks a lot.

See you someday
Ank