Hi, I am starting to plan a trip to the U.K. for next year. I am planning to spend 13 nights in Scotland as part of the trip. So far there is
Edinburgh x 4 nights then car hire with first overnight in Dunkfield (via Stirling and St. Andrews). Then up to Inverness for two nights to see the area (Cullodin, Loch ness, Urquhart castle and Fort George). Then drive over to Skye to spend two nights at Broadford and again do the local area. Finally drive from Skye (via the ferry) to Glasgow and spend four nights there ( without hire car).
I am in no hurry (also like visiting pubs) and am wondering if this a suitable itinary ? I am from Australia with big distances between places and little in between to see. Scotland seems to have small distances but LOTS to see.
On the way back from Skye, stop at Glencoe, which is quite a lovely area near Fort William. If the weather is good, you are fit, and have a full day, you could attempt to climb Ben Nevis. It's about a 5 hour return trip on a hiking trail - no climbing is required.
I wouldn't spend 4 nights in Glasgow on such a short trip. I'm from Glasgow myself and reckon you need maybe 2 days to see "the sights". Theres plenty to do in the evenings, live music, comedy and pubs/clubs, but from the other items on your itinerary, I think you would be better off taking your time coming down the west coast. Spend a night at Bridge of Orchy and then a day at Loch Lommond. The west coast is beautiful.
I'm also from Glasgow, take one of your nights from there and use it to break up the journey from Skye-Glasgow and see some of the scenery around there.
Glasgow is party time but to be honest there isnt much to do sight wise. Remember and take in a Partick Thistle football match when in Glasgow!
i agree with no spending too much time in glasgow.. i lived there for 10 years but originally from the highlands, so although there are loads of pubs in glasgow, you can easily do the 'sights' in a day or 2. I would spend more time if you have it in inverness-shire (although i am biased!). If you like castles, dunnotar is pretty spectacular, its on the east coast near stonehaven, or cawdor castle if you like shakespeare! and on the way to skye you should definitely stop (even just to take a photo) at eileen donan castle, very picturesque! also culloden has very little to see apart from the visitor centre and the battlefield (where we recreated the 'battle' on school trips many times!), but is on the main road (A96) to inverness easy to pop in past. I also agree with a day trip to loch lomond which is beautiful when the weather is nice (so if you happen to be coming for our 2 weeks of summer then great!) enjoy!
Yep, I would agree with the others, don't need 4 days for Glasgow, have an extra couple on Skye. Broadford is not the best place to stay on Skye and you really need 2 full days to do it justice (not including the day you arrive and leave)
For example, arrive into Skye, stay Portree day 1, do a full day sightseeing (in a loop) day 2 stay Portree again, do the other main loop of Skye on day 3 and catch a late morning ferry from Armadale to Mallaig (Skye to West Coast Scotland, 30 mins)
I have some road trip photos at http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/edinburghlove/TouristScotland# including the deatils of the B&B we stayed in at Portree which was FABULOUS.
Also, ideas for Edinburgh are on my blog at http://edinburghlove.wordpress.com/
Your itinerary is pretty dooable if you cut time off Glasgow and depending on when you are coming over i.e peak time or off peak, you may be able to rock up to B&B's you like the look of, rather than staying in set places. Compared to Oz, you're going to find driving in Scotland very small ! It's quicker to get from one coast of Scotland to the other than drive across Melbourne in rush hour !!
It will be 3 full days in Glasgow as most of day 1 will be driving from Broadford to Glasgow. I am planning to do this about now next year ( 26/4 - 8/5 ). Planning to do some of Skye on day 1 after we drive from Inverness and then all of the next day. I am having trouble getting my head around the distances. Stayed with some friends in country SA last week and they 'popped' over to their beach house - it was 200km away ! The B&B in Portree does look good !
"Dunkfield" - I take it you mean Dunkeld? If so getting there from Edinburgh via Stirling and St Andrews turns a 58 mile journey into one of 140 miles.
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