Scottish holiday suggestions?

RainbowsInTheSpray

I have a foreign couple visiting this summer and apart from staying with us they would like to visit Scotland for about a week.

Sadly I don't know the country at all well and, even more tragically, they've asked me for ideas! Apparently this is a bit of a blow-out for them (25th anniversary) and they would like to stay at a good quality hotel in a scenic area with plenty of visitable things within driving range…. they would have a car.

Apart from that, all I know is that they wouldn't be interested in the cities particularly, being lovers of countryside and the open air.

Any Scots around or could anyone in the know make a suggestion or two? Very grateful for any ideas I could pass on.

sheramber

Have a look at Pitlochry area

Possibly a stay in Gleneagles Hotel for a blow-out.

RAS

I'd suggest that they check a couple of things as Scotland is very varied. They can't everything. And be warned that the 500 means high prices and limited availability.

Are they after classic Highland scenery? Do they understand midges and have midge hoods, mitts and appropriate clothes (mid-May-September).

How much do they want to drive, as that means the driver sees much less. There aren't many places that you can stay for a week and have lots to do except walking. And they will need at least one Lowland night before driving north.

Suggest they check out Torridon, with reasonable access to Inverewe Gardens, Gairloch and Plockton for trips and coast. Google maps will give them an idea.

One of my favourite walks is on Skye between the Black and Red Cuillin, from Camasunary to the Sligachan Hotel, although you need transport from the other end.

And they need to book now. They'll struggle to find anything better than "decent" in Inverness at this notice for example and in the North accommodation is sparse.

If they are in the US, try and book direct with the hotels. I notice that prices quoted in dollars through US booking companies can be much higher than European providers, here and in Europe. And good quality isn't cheap anyway.

la531983

Another vote for the Torridon area here. Beautiful part of the world. Not too far from the Applecross peninsula too, that drive up to the top from the east is fantastic if a bit hair raising at times!

strawb_shortcake

I spent some time working around Inverness last year, sadly work budget doesn't allow for fancy hotels so can't advise there.

But we had some free time and went to Cullen and that was beautiful there, I just wanted to keep driving and not come home

Skiddaw1

As has been mentioned, it'll be the height of the tourist season/school holidays when they're over here from the sound of it and the more popular parts of Scotland (the Highlands, Edinburgh, etc) are likely to be busy. Just a thought, but perhaps they'd be interested in spending some time in a less frequented spot? I was thinking Southern Uplands- Dumfries &Galloway for example. There are some attractive towns (Kirkcudbright springs to mind), fantastic scenery (including the Galloway Forest and the highest Corbet in the Southern Uplands as well as the lovely and relatively unfrequented Solway coast) and accommodation is likely to be both cheaper and more available. Worth considering anyway.

oldernonethewiser

As mentioned already in the height of the season places, such as Skye, will have little or no availability for accomodation.

Other areas to look at might be Oban & Mull, Arran.

daveyjp

I've been visiting Scotland for over 40 years and there are not many corners I haven't explored. I will however be ticking a few more places off this September.

"Summer" runs from June to early September, so a specific time would be useful. Scottish school summer holidays are earlier than England and Wales, they start in early July and finish in mid August. We have found end of August an ideal time as not many English families head north of the border.

One thing Scotland does have is some amazing hotels and high end guest houses in spectacular scenery. However a week isn't long, especially when Torridon is mentioned. Its spectacular, but a long way. Its a full day journey from the England Scotland border to Gairloch.

For a first time visit I've always recommended to friends they head towards Loch Tay. Not too far north, but ideally located for amazing scenery and very well located for visiting lots of places in any direction if they are happy driving - you decide where to visit based on the weather forecast!

East to the coast, north to Glen Lyon, Tay Forest Park and Queens View, Pitlochry and the dam and salmon ladder, Cairngorms, Aviemore, Balmoral, west for Glencoe, Oban, south for Loch Lomond, Stirling or Edinburgh which is worth a visit for a day if the festival is on (August) and you can catch a train there.

RainbowsInTheSpray

It will be in August, so the height of the holidays I'm afraid. I don't think they'd mind going somewhere less frequented provided they have good scenery and good accommodation.

Many thanks for all the suggestions so far.

Are the midges a huge problem, then? I have heard about them, certainly. Maybe somewhere more coastal would reduce the nuisance?

Worried_fool

To optimise their time, they might consider arriving in Scotland by Caledonian Sleeper. In particular, the Fort William sleeper is supposed to be a very good experience.

That way, they would travel in their sleep, arrive early (after a good breakfast on the train) and could then hire a car to begin their day in Scotland with lots of energy.

sheramber

Midges can be vicious little things.

They frequent warm , damp areas.

They dot fly in windy conditions as they are too light to fight the wind.

They do not like the sun.

So dry sunny/ windy days are ideal- no midges

They are less of a problem on the east coast as it is drier than the west coast.

You can get midge forecasts such https://www.smidgeup.com/midge-forecast/