Going to Scotland, inspiration needed!
Going to Scotland, inspiration needed!
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Discussion

SoggyHonda

Original Poster:

65 posts

183 months

Thursday 6th May 2010
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Hi all!
My boyfriend wants me to plan a holiday in Scotland but I'm stuck for inspiration on where to stay and what to do. I've been told I have to go to Aberfoyle's Go Ape but after that I'm stuck! I think it'll be for 5 or 6 days and we have the car so don't have to stick to just one area if there's something amazing to be seen elsewhere. Finally, we are going towards the end of June so hopefully the weather will be ok although I'm sure that'll mean mozzies!
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks.

MrsMiggins

2,867 posts

251 months

Thursday 6th May 2010
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What kind of things do you want to do? Given that this is PH, are you guys interested in touring in the car?

SoggyHonda

Original Poster:

65 posts

183 months

Thursday 6th May 2010
quotequote all
Boyfriend loves driving and I like scenic stuff so that's an option. We like doing most things on holiday except maybe art gallerys.. I'd like to have a long list of options so we can go with the flow each day without having to umm and err over where to go over breakfast! Any suggestions of b&bs would also be welcome.

MrsMiggins

2,867 posts

251 months

Thursday 6th May 2010
quotequote all
Go up the A82/A87 from Glasgow all the way to Skye. Stop off at Plockton near Eilean Donan castle on the way up. Spend a day or 2 on Skye. Go to Applecross. Eat at the Applecross Inn.

Go back down to Fort William and then take the A86 east to the A9; go up to Aviemore, on to Nethy Bridge and then down to Braemar. Carry on to Glenshee and Blairgowrie.

Pop over to Stirling and go see the Wallace Monument. Big sword!

Can't help with B&Bs but you should be able to find something fairly easily on the road anyway.


SoggyHonda

Original Poster:

65 posts

183 months

Friday 7th May 2010
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Liking the driving suggestions! Any other touristy places that can't be missed? I tried the visit Scotland website but didn't find it helpful.

havoc

31,942 posts

251 months

Friday 7th May 2010
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Avoid Loch Lomond - it's busy, and while it's pretty, it's not as nice as the scenery further up. If at all possible, avoid the A87 along the side of Loch Lomond once you get to Tarbet - it's narrow and twisty yet for some reason coach-tours use it as a major artery, causing chaos when two meet each other!

A87 is an awesome road...only take it if you trust your boyfriend's driving...if quiet it's utterly sensational, if busy it's VERY frustrating. E-Donan, Skye and Wester Ross an excellent idea - prettiest of the areas we visited last weekend (see an older thread by me for our route). But miles away...so be warned.


Don't underestimate the time it takes to get places. From L-Lomond on there are no dual-carriageways, the A82 (main artery) is often too busy to overtake on, and most of the other roads are twisty A's and B's. June could well be busy, too...so expect to average ~40mph on the roads up there. Took us >2 hours to do Ballachulish (nr Glencoe) to Luss (by L-Lomond) on that A82.

v15ben

16,043 posts

257 months

Friday 7th May 2010
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
yes
I am doing this very route next week! 3 more working days and I'll be heading for 4 days and about 1000 miles in a stunning part of the world thumbup

Wadeski

8,683 posts

229 months

Sunday 9th May 2010
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Distilleries are good fun to tour. Glenfiddich and Balvenie (Speyside, near Aberdeen) do great tours and tastings. If you are westcoast, the Islay distilleries are fun too.

rlw

3,483 posts

253 months

Sunday 9th May 2010
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Just stay in Plockton for six nights and eat for two nights each at the 3 fabulous pub/restaurants there. You will leave a stone heavier but very happy. For amusement, see how quickly you can drive to Gairloch without frightening yourselves.

Don

28,378 posts

300 months

Sunday 9th May 2010
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Visit Steve's site.

Here

Have a wonderful time.

You simply must do the Applecross pass and eat/stay at the Applecross Inn. Fab.

SoggyHonda

Original Poster:

65 posts

183 months

Wednesday 12th May 2010
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Hotel is booked in Glasgow, now just need to know the unmissable places to visit! Pubs, restaurants, castles, museums, boat trips, ghost tours, any fun stuff...! If you've been there and you enjoyed it please tell me.

MrsMiggins

2,867 posts

251 months

Wednesday 12th May 2010
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Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery is always worth a visit, as is the Burrell Collection in Pollok Park. If you want to meet some 'real' glaswegians then a visit to the Scotia Bar is always fun.

If you drive up to Loch Lomond you can take a boat trip to the eastern side of the loch and walk along the West Highland Way to Rob Roy's cave. Stout shoes required (and midge repellent if it's not raining).

Edited by MrsMiggins on Wednesday 12th May 20:07


Edited by MrsMiggins on Wednesday 12th May 20:08

speed8

5,076 posts

289 months

Wednesday 12th May 2010
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If you're up Ullapool way, and the weather is nice, stop off at Achmelvich Bay for an afternoon on the beach. Take a picnic and just enjoy lounging about.

http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/lochinver/ac...

I find the undiscoveredscotland website a bit better than the visitscotland website for ideas.

If you haven't been up that way before then Loch Ness is always worth a visit. The Visitor Centre and Urquhart Castle at Drumnadrochit on the west side or drive up the east side and stop off at Falls of Foyers on the way to Inverness (although apart from the views and a better drive there's not much else on the east side).

As mentioned above, Eilean Donan, on to Plockton, Applecross, Ullapool, Inverness area, etc...... Edinburgh on the way home.

Tonto

2,983 posts

264 months

Wednesday 19th May 2010
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
Bloody Hell, its a small world! I've stayed at Cloisters twice in the past 5 years or so. The 2nd time, the owners filled us up with single malts before we went to the pub which sells ridiculously cheap wine.
Might be going there again this year.