Travel from England to Scotland

piddleypops

I am planning a celebratory holiday for my husband's 50th birthday next year. He mentioned he'd like to go to Scotland as we've not been to anywhere other than Edinburgh. 

I am looking for recommendations for travel up there and places to go. There are a number of complications, which is why I'm asking for advise:

* It would have to be in August due to school holidays

* Although we both drive and would be happy to hire a car once up there, we live on the South coast and due to back problems my husband can't sit for hours in the car. Therefore driving up there, even with one or two overnight stays is probably out of the question.

* We have a dog, a 14 year old child and possibly our uni daughter who may join us. 

* We have a limited budget so the £600+ for sleeper train travel I was quoted for, is far too expensive given the fact that we will need to pay for accommodation when up there. 

Any advice gratefully received

born_again

Slightly tongue in cheek. But very MSE.

Leave Uni daughter to look at 14yr & dog. Go & enjoy some time on your own. Will make the budget go a lot further.

4 days left in Aug, trains on strike. Plane will destroy the budget. 

Maybe pop over to Wales instead?

JGB1955

I was going to suggest flying and leaving the daughters and dog at home.  Loganair flights from Southampton to Barra (landing on the beach), via Glasgow.  Hire a car and travel the length of the Outer Hebrides.  The added bonus is that you should avoid the midges by being out on the islands.

daveyjp

I'm just back from Scotland.  Scottish schools go back in mid August so that isn't an issue if you leave it until after the third week.

What you are doing isn't difficult.  I spoke to a German couple whilst up there and they had flown to Edinburgh for a two weeks stay.  They had done Speyside, Inverness, Torridon and Applecross and were working their way to Skye, Oban or Fort William, Glencoe, Loch Lomond and back to Edinburgh.


You can do similar.  Train to Edinburgh or Glasgow (just choose cheapest tickets) use railcards to reduce costs.

Overnight in central belt, pick up hire car, tour the areas you want to see, train back.  Plenty of dog friendly accommodation.

If you don't want to tour hire a car and a cottage somewhere central (Loch Tay area is worth a look) and do day trips.  

annabanana82

Flights from Bristol to Scotland can be really quite reasonable, Inverness used to be one of the cheaper routes, but would mean no dog on this trip. 

We booked 4 years ago to fly to Scotland for a holiday, with car hire and renting a cottage it wasn't that different in price to going abroad.

la531983

I did the west of Scotland a couple of years ago and spent an absolute fortune. If you are on a tight budget you really need to be looking at self catering accommodation and cook yourself, although this takes the fun out of it all. 
Not being able to drive is an issue, not going to sugar coat it. You will need to hire a car, relying on public transport outside the central belt is a non starter if you want any freedom whatsoever. Arranged coach trips probably wouldn't accept your dog anyway. 
The single track bumpy roads in some places won't help his back either btw.

Also, who has quoted you train tickets 12 months in advance? The cheaper tickets won't be out for ages yet. Also the sleeper will be very bumpy and probably won't help his back again, this really depends how bad his back is. 

twopenny

The dog is the clincher for a short trip. He needs to stay at home with someone.
Otherwise it's cheaper to take the train to London and Glasgow from there.
Fly to Glasgow.
From there gett the Waverley paddle steamer round the coast.
Day trip to loch lomond, walk or boat.
Train to Oban. Ferry to small islands. Local trips inland.
Train from Glasgow to the highlands and viaduct or steam train up the coast. One of the best in Europe for scenery.
But going away at the last moment in one of the busiest times is going to be what you can get.

la531983

twopenny said:

The dog is the clincher for a short trip. He needs to stay at home with someone.
Otherwise it's cheaper to take the train to London and Glasgow from there.
Fly to Glasgow.
From there gett the Waverley paddle steamer round the coast.
Day trip to loch lomond, walk or boat.
Train to Oban. Ferry to small islands. Local trips inland.
Train from Glasgow to the highlands and viaduct or steam train up the coast. One of the best in Europe for scenery.
But going away at the last moment in one of the busiest times is going to be what you can get.

I wouldn't call next August the "last moment" tbh. 

frugalmacdugal

Hi,

check out the RAILCARDS, then book advance tickets, usually priced about 12 weeks before intended travel.

sheramber

What would you intend doing when you get there will deermine where you should go.

What do you want todo or see.?

That would determine where you go- city, town, rural.?

Does a 14 year old want to sit in a car touring around  admiring the scenary or visiting castles , ruins etc.walking ?

Would 14 year old and older duaghter want shops, entertainment?

Where and how does a 14 year old dog fit in?

theoretica

Try to avoid needing any accommodation in Edinburgh in August - it is mad with the Fringe.  In fact either go for the Festival/Fringe or Edinburgh is not the place to be in August.  Perhaps look at stops along the West Highland line?