How to spend a week in Scotland?

emilyka

Good Morning,

I was hoping that either a helpful Scot or a lover of Scotland would be able to help me:)! I have never been to Scotland before but it has always been a place I'v wanted to go- it looks beautiful and being in the UK I'm quite ashamed of myself for never having been before:eek:.

OH and I were thinking of having a late summer holiday and I have suggested we do Scotland instead of the usual Egypt/ Spain/ France however as yet I have been unable to sell him the idea! We were thinking about driving to Scotland (from Surrey) spending a week there but travelling around staying in hotels for two nights/ one night at a time and exploring the surroundings.

We are both very active 20 and 30 somethings who love thinks like canoing, cycling, walking, picnics and culture however I have no idea where to start with Scotland. We love being by the water (whether the sea or a loch).

Do you know of some breaktaking views or fantastic outings to do in Scotland? Please could you suggest a trip or week itinerary?

Thank you very much in advance.:D

Emily

OrkneyStar

What about Orkney ?
You can get a boat or fly, there is sea all around, lochs, archeological 'things', lovely beaches, nice B and B's, camping site, lovely eateries, some lovely local shops, great produce (cheese, fudge, meat, wool, shell fish), trips to small islands (take the shortest flight in the world!).
http://www.visitorkney.com/
I am biased as I live here lol, but seriously from what you say sounds like you might enjoy it.

amersall

http://www.visitscotland.com/
hope this helps

emilyka

OrkneyStar wrote: »

What about Orkney ?
You can get a boat or fly, there is sea all around, lochs, archeological 'things', lovely beaches, nice B and B's, camping site, lovely eateries, some lovely local shops, great produce (cheese, fudge, meat, wool, shell fish), trips to small islands (take the shortest flight in the world!).
http://www.visitorkney.com/
I am biased as I live here lol, but seriously from what you say sounds like you might enjoy it.

Thank you- Orkney does sound lovely. May sound like a bit of a stupid question but is there a ferry you can take your car on or is it reached by plane? (OH is very picky about where he leaves his new baby (bloody cars!! :rotfl:)

Thank you very much

ailuro2

I'd fly up to Inverness/ Glasgow/Aberdeen/Edinburgh and hire a small car that you can chuck around on the little country roads up here.

You really don't want to drive or be a passenger all the way up from Surrey.:eek:

Find a nice little cottage in the area and drive somewhere different every day.

There's loads of things to do, canoeing, castles, etc. Find an area you like and plan it from there.:)

Remember above the central belt there isn't much in the way of motorways, so don't plan on driving lots of miles every day, there's loads to do you'll be spoilt for choice.

Have a look at Spree.com and see if there's a voucher booklet for the area you'll be going to, for £25 you'll save money on eating out, activities, even the cinema.

OrkneyStar

emilyka wrote: »

Thank you- Orkney does sound lovely. May sound like a bit of a stupid question but is there a ferry you can take your car on or is it reached by plane? (OH is very picky about where he leaves his new baby (bloody cars!! :rotfl:)

Thank you very much

Yeah there are a few options:
1, Passenger only ferry from John O'Groats - John O'Groats Ferries
2, Car Ferry from Gill's Bay to St Margarets Hope, northern Scotland (Catamaran - sorry if sp wrong!)- Pentland Ferries
3, Car Ferry from Scrabster to Stromness, northern Scotland - Northlink Ferries
4, Car Ferry from Aberdeen - Northlink Ferries

2 or 3 would be best, although a long drive to ports, the crossings are only 1 and 1.5 hrs respectively. St Mgts hope is south of Kirkwall (main town) and Stromness is west. Both will have own B and B's or are about half an hour drive from Kirwall if accomodation there. There are also more crossings on these two routes normally.

4 would be ok, but Aberdeen boat arrives at about 11.30 (not so good for arriving at a B and B, hotel etc) and takes about 6 hours (fine if nice seas!)

I think most of this info would be on the website I mentioned.
This said there are some lovely parts of mainland Scotland too, so don't decide on an island straight away!

Re hiring a car, although it would save you a drive it will cost more, and I don't really recommend chucking them around either!
All the best!

daveyjp

We have been all over Scotland and the area I would recommend for a first timer is the area between Callendar and Pitlochry.

Being in the centre you can reach lots of areas easily and head away from rain!

Loch Tay is on the doorstep, River Tay has rafting etc, plenty of Monroes to conquer! Glen Lyon is one of Scotland's hidden gems.

Head west for Glencoe and spectacular scenery. If the weather in the west is bad head East and you can visit Perth, Dundee, Fife, St Andrews.

Drive north and you are in the Cairngorms and to the South you have Stirling and a little further on Edinburgh.

Plenty of distilleries around there too including my favourite - Edradour which is the smallest, or Dalwhinnie, the highest, Glenturret, large distillery with excellent visitor centre.

emilyka

Thank you very much for the suggestions and advice- I appreciate it very much! Whilst it would make sense to hire a car after flying there OH insists that the driving is part of the fun and would like us to stop over around half way possibly in the Lake District for one night.

I want to see it all! It all sounds so lovely, I think the problem I'm going to have now is whittling down areas!

Thanks

m_curiousity

I'd really recommend the Isle of Arran, my aunt used to have a B&B there and we loved it.....scenery is amazing, local wildlife includes red squirrels, deer, wildcats and seals, really fresh tasty seafood and some really good walks if you like that kind of thing....:)

Muse

I've just come back from spending a week at Kenmore which is on Loch Tay, Perthshire with hubby and two kids. Absolutely stunning.

We drove all over - up to Loch Ness one day, called off in Aviemore to see the ski resort/Cairngorms. Took a ferry (with the car) from Oban to Isle of Mull to see Tobermory/Balamory!!). We went down to Glasgow to the Science Museum.

This was my first holiday in Scotland and we will definitely be going back. I sent off for some brochures from Visit Scotland website and they were very useful when planning our trip.

Good luck!

daveyjp

Emilyka - Muse's trip is exactly what I was describing - Kenmore isn't far from Pitlochry.