Scotland - Nov/December

[MK1 GIT]

Going for a 3-4 week tour round Scotland in November and December.

Looking for advice on places to see, places to eat, places to stay.

Have read this in The Scotland forum but if anyone else has any advice other than don't go it'll be much appreciated.

[GetCarter]

The main problem with a lot of Highland hotels is that many shut at the beginning of Nov.

However the Torridon keeps itself open for some of each week (thur-sun for the Inn, wed-sun the hotel) .

Well worth a visit (you can eat in the hotel whilst staying in the Inn or vice versa)

http://Torridon.com

Applecross Inn stays open until Christmas

Edited by GetCarter on Friday 15th August 11:21

[Nezquick]

I'd definitely recommend eating at The Cameron Grill at Cameron House, Loch Lomond. Fantastic restaurant if you like steak! Also a stunning hotel/grounds.

[MK1 GIT]

Didn't realise some hotels shut but then it makes sense.

Thanks for the recommendations, both noted.

[a311]

Any reason you're doing this at that time of year OP?

My OH is from Oban, we got married up there. With that length of time I'd do some island hoping, Mull, Islay etc. I'd also consider heading out to Uist, but it could/will be wild weather up there at that time of year. It's beautiful over there though.

Will be up at over the bank holiday weekend. We stop off at Loch Lomond, plenty of places to stop off but can also confirm Cameron House is awesome, expensive to stay though. Oban has plenty in the way of accommodation and restaurants but will be much quieter at that time of year. The distillery tour now runs all year round excluding January so def worth a look. Drive up Glen Coe is a must. Driving further north the scenery only gets better, Fort William however has to be up there for ugliest towns in the nicest settings. Gondola ride up Anoch Mor could very well be snow up there in November.

We've stayed here several time sand got married here. It's a bit south of Oban but a stunning setting and all rooms have awesome views.

http://www.lochmelfort.co.uk/

Uist

[rossub]

Bear in mind it's dark from 3pm until about 9am at that time of year!

[sjabrown]

3-4 week tour? That's a lot of time to explore a lot of Scotland so I'll list some ideas below in a random order:

Islay: easy to get to (ferries rarely get cancelled there), plenty of distilleries and some spectacular beaches even in the storms.
Glasgow: could easily pass 2-3 days there between museums, shopping, eating and drinking. Kelvingrove, Byers Road, loads of pubs
Glencoe: spectacular in any weather with the Kinlochring for a good stretch of road
Edinburgh: again good for a couple of nights. Very different to Glasgow.
Mull: Tobermory, Glengorm Castle, Iona, Dervaig
Skye then Applecross for mountains, coast
Oban is a nice ferry port town with some good places to eat
For desolation and isolation head north from Ullapool and follow the coast.
Speyside is full of market towns and distilleries
Deeside for castles, Royal Deeside, Braemar
Outer Hebrides though ferry crossings are more fickle at that time of year. Barra is a very special place to me. You'll be made welcome but it is isolated. Lewis and Harris have mountains, beaches, desolation, history, and the lively town of Stornoway. Just don't expect anything on a Sunday

[lamboman100]

One or two ski resorts should be open for sliding by then. Take the cable car up Nevis Range, near Fort William. Or the chairlift up Glencoe Ski. Aviemore will prolly have the most snow at that time of year.

Generally speaking, western Scotland is the prettiest part. And the far-northern islands feel like a separate country to the UK.

[g3org3y]

a311 said:

Any reason you're doing this at that time of year OP?

Good question!

But then again, we did a road trip in Janauary! Write up here.



Glen Coe, For William, Loch Lomond should all be on the list of places to visit. St Andrews is also worth a look.

Nezquick said:

I'd definitely recommend eating at The Cameron Grill at Cameron House, Loch Lomond. Fantastic restaurant if you like steak! Also a stunning hotel/grounds.

Stayed here as part of the above trip - was great. Highly recommended.

[MK1 GIT]

g3org3y said:

a311 said:

Any reason you're doing this at that time of year OP?

Good question!

But then again, we did a road trip in Janauary! Write up here.

Liked your write up g3or3y

Thanks again everyone.

Edited by MK1 GIT on Friday 5th September 13:27

[MK1 GIT]

Ok, So all places to stay booked now thanks for advice.

In no particular order we are staying in the following places for over the course of 3 weeks.

Arran, Oban, Skye, Fort Augustus, Cairngorms, Stirling, and Edinburgh.

Now looking for places to see at all these and places to eat.

Thanks in advance

[GetCarter]

Best place to eat on Skye (and probably Scotland) http://www.threechimneys.co.uk

Second best place http://www.kinloch-lodge.co.uk

Both fine dining... not pub grub... but no dress code.

Edited by GetCarter on Wednesday 12th November 17:55

[MK1 GIT]

GetCarter said:

Best place to eat on Skye (and probably Scotland) http://www.threechimneys.co.uk

Second best place http://www.kinloch-lodge.co.uk

Both fine dining... not pub grub... but no dress code.

Edited by GetCarter on Wednesday 12th November 17:55

Three Chimneys is closed for winter unfortunately. I'd already looked at that. Will look at Kinloch Lodge now thanks.

[MK1 GIT]

Ok, So all places to stay booked now thanks for advice.

In no particular order we are staying in the following places for over the course of 3 weeks.

Arran, Oban, Skye, Fort Augustus, Cairngorms, Stirling, and Edinburgh.

Now looking for places to see at all these and places to eat.

Thanks in advance

[a311]

MK1 GIT said:

Ok, So all places to stay booked now thanks for advice.

In no particular order we are staying in the following places for over the course of 3 weeks.

Arran, Oban, Skye, Fort Augustus, Cairngorms, Stirling, and Edinburgh.

Now looking for places to see at all these and places to eat.

Thanks in advance

In Oban there are quite a few good restaurants If you like seafood you're particularly spoiled for choice. Ee-usk on the pier is excellent view-although will be getting dark well before dinner time, there's also an Italian in the sae complex-Piazza. Platform 9 and Coast are al a carte type places and both good.

There's a new Chinese just opened which I've yet to sample, but the Crystal Palace is decent if not outstanding. The Taj Mahal do a very good curry and the restaurant is quite nice inside-not your stereotypical curry house décor. They don't seem to have a tandoor though otherwise it would really be up there. You can of course get these anywhere so would try something a bit more Scottish.... I've always liked Cuan Mor, pubby atmosphere with good grub.

Oban seems to have had quite a protectionist policy until late not allowing many chain type places in the town, however in the last 12 months a Subway, Costa, and Wetherspoons have opened.

I could advise on Edinburgh but other will be far better placed.

Where will you be staying in Oban? A trip to the distillery is a must, the testing room at the end of the tour is awesome-plan not to drive afterwards

[MK1 GIT]

Thanks a311.

We ate in that fish restaurant when we went there for the day last year and will be visiting again. Thanks for the other recommendations.

We are staying in the Centre of Oban in an Apartment and though Mrs GIT doesn't know it yet we are doing the Whisky tour!

[a311]

MK1 GIT said:

Thanks a311.

We ate in that fish restaurant when we went there for the day last year and will be visiting again. Thanks for the other recommendations.

We are staying in the Centre of Oban in an Apartment and though Mrs GIT doesn't know it yet we are doing the Whisky tour!

Chances are we've possibly stayed there, the Mrs is out and the name of the place is on the tip of my tongue..... Although the wife's family are up there we tend to stay in B&B's/apartments rather than kipping on couches etc or as we usually take the dog stay in some chalets just outside Oban, nothing flash but in a nice setting.

[Catz]

MK1 GIT said:

GetCarter said:

Best place to eat on Skye (and probably Scotland) http://www.threechimneys.co.uk

Second best place http://www.kinloch-lodge.co.uk

Both fine dining... not pub grub... but no dress code.

Edited by GetCarter on Wednesday 12th November 17:55

Three Chimneys is closed for winter unfortunately. I'd already looked at that. Will look at Kinloch Lodge now thanks.

Also in the South of Skye I'd recommend Duisdale House for fine dining, or its sister hotel Toravaig House.

[sherman]

The christmas markets and ice rinks etc start in edinburgh on the 24th of november and run until the end of the year