Scotland - What is there to do!

[Matblack]

OK the title is a bit tounge in cheek, I know there are loads of things to do in that slightly less civilised northern part of what remains of the English Empire ;)

Aitch and I will be making our way up to the frozen north during the week leading up to the Edinburgh meet and I was wondering what to do on the way. I plan to drive up to the Lake District and overnight there on the first day and then on the second day get our passports in order and make our way through the security cordons and break out the weapons.

I've been refering to a guidebook and I'm conerned about how big the place is!

'Scotland,' it says 'is big. Really big. You wouldn't believe how vastly hugely mind-bogglingly big it is. I mean you may think it a long way down the road to the chemists but that just peanuts to Scotland. Listen...' and so on.

So I need a plan of some sort and an idea of place to visit in what I will for want of a better phrase I'll refer to as the bottom bit of Scotland.

We like looking at amazing landscapes, wildlife, and general act like pre-emptive OAPs and we'd like a relaxing time. I don't mind driving but I think that after the first day and with the prospect of driving back on Sunday in one long trip then it might be better to stay in the aforementioned bottom bit. We'll only have a couple of days and we'll probably make for Edinburgh quite early on the Friday to spend some time in the city :)

So, over to you......

MB

[Pumpkinstew]

Stealing from Douglas Adams for your own ends, are you?

Things to do in Scotland: Whiskey, Golf, Irn Bru, Whiskey, Deep fried Mars Bars, haggis, Whiskey, Neeps and Tatties and Whiskey

If you like nice scenery you'll be very happy in Scotland.

[LeperousDust]

There is absolutely tonnes you can do just in and around Edinburgh alone, only straying a little away, doing the whole of scotland would be more of a mammoth task i reckon. Its up to you entirely but i'd just stick close to Edinburgh.

Although if you want to get away somewhere else i can whole heartedy recommend Ben Nevis and/or the ranges and coastline that surrounds it :) Loads of things to do in and about Glasgow too

[Matblack]

Loads of things to do in and about Glasgow too

Glasgow! I said we'd be taking weapons not full riot gear and antipersonal nukes :shocked:


MB

[Belmit]

Where would one visit in Scotland if one desired simply to och aye the noo? I'd like to och aye it once before I die.

[Matblack]

Where does that monster live? Is that close?

MB

[Muban]

Loch Ness, near Inverness, gateway to the Highlands. If you are venturing up this way there is loads I could recommend. Of course I am biased and think if you want to see the Scotland of breathtaking mountains and scenery you need to be up here :p ;) There is plenty to do in the central belt though. Especially around Edinburgh/Glasgow. A direct drive up from Edinburgh to Inverness is about 3.5 hours (well a bit less if you drive like me). Though you could always drive up halfway and see the tayside area stay over night and then drive the rest of the way up.

EDIT: feel free to email/phone/text/PM me for anything :)

[Admiral Huddy]

I know a one eyed monster that lives in Chelmsford ;)

Love to go to scotland. I'd like to tour around by train. In fact, I'm pretty sure there is a glass top train that goes to Oban/Fort William.. I think.

[karbon]

Glasgow! I said we'd be taking weapons not full riot gear and antipersonal nukes :shocked:


MB

my city's not all that bad! well... some bits are.

[SCM]

Yeah another recommendation for the Loch Tay area from me plus Stirling for the Castle and Wallace Monument. I know the area around Loch Tay pretty well from fishing days with my dad when younger, Killin is a lovely village to visit with a breathtaking set of falls which when the waters high is very impressive. The Trossachs is also meant to be a great place to visit for scenary but never been so cant confirm it. Highland Wildlife park as well near to Kingussie if you want to test the camera out on wolves, deer etc.

As you will be in Edinburgh MB there is also lots to see in Fife especially historic building wise, Dunfermline Palace and Abbey where Saint Margaret is buried with William Wallaces mother also buried there, Aberdour Castle with parts of it dating back to the 12th century and a collection of ghosts. St Andrews, Leven for its Castle i could on.

Plus the usual tourist stuff in Edinburgh all easily reached through the tourist buses that let you hop on and off at places you want to see all day.

So much to see and do here MB all within realatively easy driving distance and time wise of Edinburgh.

SCM

[Fayshun]

Whiskey, Whiskey, Whiskey, and Whiskey

And Spelling lessons?

[Burble]

Dine on haggis suppers. It's the food of kings, none of those horrid king rib things. I am very much looking forward to a haggis supper in Edinburgh.

[Matblack]

I'm looking at flight prices and wondering if we might not be better to fly to Inverness and then hire a car and make our way down to Edinburgh and fly back from there, there isn't really a big penalty in prices for doing that and I could probably do it will with Sleezyjet, they do car hire too, hmmmmmmm

I'd like to see the highlands but if we drove then it would be a hell of a lot of driving, but I'd also relish the chance to drive Minnie on those Scotish roads rather than a hired 207 or whatever. :/

MB

[SCM]

Do what Muban suggested MB drive about one day stay overnight in a b&b then start again the next morning. If you leave early enough from Edinburgh MB you can get a full day of wandering with plenty time to sit down for something to eat to recharge before driving back if you didn't want to stay overnight anywhere.

You could do the parts of the Highlands you wanted to see in a couple of days if you stay over somewhere central to the Highlands.

SCM

[Matblack]

We're a bit tight for time, flying to Inverness on the Tuesday would give us the Wednesday and the Thurday free to drive around and then the Friday to make our way to Edinburgh. Driving would mean making it to the lake district for Wednesday and then having a lot of driving to do every day to get to Inverness and then back from Edinburgh on the Sunday. Flying is looking more and more appealing if we want to do the whole sceanery bit :). I'll speak to Aitch about what she wants to do, if she would rather send the time in Edinburgh or branch out into the wilds :)

MB

[Mark]

The answer is 42. :p

If you do end up driving, you could always detour via Hard Knot Pass on the way up to put Minnie through a bit of fun driving. I've been over that in a Vit so Minnie should make mincemeat of it. Mind the ditches though. :)

I am of course interested in this thread too, though I'm doing it the other way around - meet first, play later. I also can't drive so need non-car options. :)

I was going to make a seperate thread in a few weeks but if you don't mind a bit of sharing. :)

[LeperousDust]

The flying idea sounds like a good one actually :) Getting from one side of scotland to the other seems pretty easy so getting around most of it shouldn't be that difficult, there are a fair amount of well connected trunk roads but little else :p. If i remember correctly we managed to get to Fort William from Edinburgh within 90mins. Also remember about the right to roam too if you want to do any rambling! :)

[SCM]

If you fly into Edinburgh and hire car from there MB means after the meet ends you wont have to drive back to Inverness to hand the car in/fly home from there. Still gives you Wednesday/Thursday to drive up north to see the sites with an easy drive down on the Friday once you are finished touring to do bit of the Edinburgh sites if you have the energy.

SCM

[_dogma_]

There's some nice scenery in Fife. The coastal path is very nice and it should be good weather near that time.
There's New Lanark and the Falls of Clyde near Glasgow.
Transport Museum and Art Gallery in Glasgow (interesting if you like that sort of thing and free!).
Stirling Castle.

Can't really think of much else, I don't really do much...

Flying will probably be your best bet else you'll be pretty knackered!

[Matblack]

If you fly into Edinburgh and hire car from there MB means after the meet ends you wont have to drive back to Inverness to hand the car in/fly home from there. Still gives you Wednesday/Thursday to drive up north to see the sites with an easy drive down on the Friday once you are finished touring to do bit of the Edinburgh sites if you have the energy.

SCM

Thanks everyone :)

I can actually hire from Inverness and deliver back to Edinburgh so no worries on that account, it means we can take a leisurely trip from Inverness to Edinburgh and go pretty much wherever we like on the way as long as we get there for the meet and take the car back on the Sunday. I've found flights with Flybe from Gatwick for £60 for two to Inverness and flights back for £120 for 2 with Sleazyjet for both for us! So not bad money wise and it means I don't have to take extra days off.

Airconed Focus is £184 for 6 days with Hertz, so all in all it sound idea :)

MB

[LeperousDust]

Whats wrong with going home/to Edinburgh airport? Really easy to get there too from the city centre (for going home-ness), via £5 air-link bus or i could just drive you ;)

[Matblack]

Whats wrong with going home/to Edinburgh airport? Really easy to get there too from the city centre (for going home-ness), via £5 air-link bus or i could just drive you ;)#

Nothing mate, the plan as it stands, need to run past Aitch, is to pick up a car at Inverness, drive about in the highlands, drink some whisky, eat some seafood, stay in some nice hotels and then come down to Edinburgh, drop the car off on the way back and fly back from there :)

MB

[LeperousDust]

Oh no thats what i meant, flying to Inverness and flying back from Edinburgh rent a car inbetween seems the perfect hassle free plan and if booked in advance (now ;)) just as if not cheaper!

[Matblack]

About the same price but a darn sight less hassle :)

Currently looking at the Stedings Hotel in Inverness and Mackays in Wick, would also like to visit a distillary and maybe pop over to the West coast

MB

[Muban]

Inverness to Wick is about a 2.5 hour drive, you know this yes? Just checking as I know a lot of people thought they were really close :)

[LeperousDust]

Where are you staying in Edinburgh? I know i could check but tbh i cba :p

[Matblack]

10 Hill Place

MB

[Chuckles]

Passing out in a gutter with a needle in one hand and a can of Special Brew in the other seems to be a favourite past time of our Celtic Brothers ;)

[Muban]

In Inverness there are various things to see - The Castle (1835), Saint Andrew's Cathedral, The Town House (I have always thought this to be one of the most spectacular buildings in Inverness) as you will be there in the summertime it's also a lovely walk along the river.

Near Inverness:

Clava Cairns (http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/places/propertyresults/propertydetail.htm?PropID=PL_067&PropName=Clava%20Cairns)- Bronze Age burial site
Fort George (http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/places/propertyresults/propertyoverview.htm?PropID=PL_136&PropName=Fort%20George) - Military fort largely unaltered since 1769, there was no wall where any attacker could hide
Urquhart Castle (http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/places/propertyresults/propertyoverview.htm?PropID=PL_297&PropName=Urquhart%20Castle) - beautiful castle on the banks of Loch Ness
Strathpeffer (http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/strathpeffer/strathpeffer/) - Beautiful Victorian Spa resort but you are only allowed to go if you promise not to knock over the Clach an Tiompain! (Oh and how could I forget home to the best chocolates and hot chocolate in Scotland - Maya (http://www.mayachocolates.co.uk/Default.aspx) )
Loch Ness cruises (http://www.visitlochness.com/section.php?id_sec=6) - See if you can spot Nessie ;)
Black Isle Brewery (http://www.blackislebrewery.com/) - Ale!!!!!!!
The Dalmore (http://www.thedalmore.com/distillery/index.htm) - distillery 16 miles north of Inverness
Cawdor Castle (http://www.cawdorcastle.com/) - on the back road between Inverness and Nairn, Macbeth Thane of Cawdor!

Literally just off the A9 on your way down from Inverness to Edinburgh:

Ruthven Barracks (http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/places/propertyresults/propertydetail.htm?PropID=PL_239&PropName=Ruthven%20Barracks) - In August 1745 200 Jacobites tried to capture Ruthven Barracks. A force of just 12 redcoats, commanded by a Sergeant Molloy fought them off with the loss of just one man.
House of Bruar (http://www.houseofbruar.com/) - for all your finest Highland giftage needs :)

Nice places to eat in Inverness:

The Mustard Seed (http://www.themustardseedrestaurant.co.uk/)
The Kitchen (http://www.kitchenrestaurant.co.uk/)
La Tortilla Asesina (http://www.latortillaasesina.co.uk/) - not very Scottish but nice

For a few drinks and some Scottish music there is Hootnannys (http://www.musicisthebest.org/hoots/).

If I can think of anything else I will post more, this is what first came to mind.

EDIT: If you are definitely going as far up as Wick I can suggest other things on the way up :)

[Matblack]

OMG! Thank you Muban I think you just planned our whole holiday!

MB

[petemc]

A few years back my mate and I did a road trip round Scotland. Liverpool -> Edinbuger -> Some random place across Firth of Forth -> Invertness -> Loch Ness -> Ben Nevis & the railway line used in Harry Potter -> Fort William -> Glasgow -> Lakes -> Liverpool. Stunning scenery along the way.

http://www.vanilladays.com/gallery/2004/08/scotland/
http://www.vanilladays.com/gallery/2004/08/glenfinan/
http://www.vanilladays.com/gallery/2004/08/fort-augustus/
http://www.vanilladays.com/gallery/2004/08/car-crash/
http://www.vanilladays.com/gallery/2004/08/the-bridge/
http://www.vanilladays.com/gallery/2004/08/ben-nevis/

[Muban]

Ooo I forgot there are also dolphin cruises from Inverness or the Black Isle. Obviously it's not 100% that you will see them but there is a good chance and even then it's a nice trip.

[LeperousDust]

Stunning scenery along the way.
Comming from Liverpool you'd think, but it's all pretty normal up here :p

I'm allowed to say that!

[Del Lardo]

Skag. I've seen Trainspotting and we all know it's really a documentary ;D


I can highly recommend the Isle of Skye if you can make it that far west. Was there for Hogmanay a couple of years back and had a cracking time though that may have had something to do with the cheap alcohol and the local ladies being very interested in some off island DNA :evil:

[Matblack]

A plan is starting to form, how does this sound?

Night 1 - Inverness
Day 2 - Drive to Fort William and look at stuff on the way
Night 2 Fort William/ Onich
Day 3 - Drive to Malliag
Night 3 - Fort William/ Onich
Day 4 - Drive along A85 to Edinburgh spend some time in Edinburgh
Night 4 - Hook up with BD/ OcUK lot

Sound good?

Malliag sounds nice and we'd get to see some Lochs and Ben Nevis and drive the A85 which is apparently beautiful. It wouldn't get us to to the real outer limits but would be I think a little less stressful.

Comments?

MB

[Muban]

There is a programme on STV at the moment called 'Highlands'. Not sure if it is being shown all over the UK or just up here. It covers a lot of the areas you migt like to see. It's been interesting anyway... linky (http://www.stv.tv/content/tv/highlands/index.html)

[semi-pro waster]

Love to go to scotland. I'd like to tour around by train. In fact, I'm pretty sure there is a glass top train that goes to Oban/Fort William.. I think.

I haven't heard of it but that doesn't mean it won't exist, I'm just pretty terrible at thinking of things for tourists to do here. You aren't possibly thinking of the Cairngorm Funicular (http://www.cairngormmountain.org.uk/) are you? Goes from about halfway up the mountain to very near the top.

If anyone is going to spend some time in Edinburgh then I'd definitely recommend a guided bus tour (don't just hop on a random bus, you'll probably end up in Niddrie or Pilton and I don't want that on my conscience), you'll learn a lot about the city, I certainly did when I last went on one :o. The Castle is worth visiting if you've never been and around there is also the Camera Obscura and the Museum of Childhood slightly further down the Royal Mile. Loads of pubs and varying qualities of touristy shops down there as well. The National Museum of Scotland on Chamber Street is a lovely place to while away a few hours except I think they have just started some renovations (read as probably ruining the whole thing) so parts will be closed.

I'm biased but Edinburgh truly is a fantastic city with so much to see and do, in fact if you've got the time and it is a nice day take a walk up Arthurs Seat and look out across Edinburgh. I can also advise not really bothering with Dundee unless you want drinking, it does have The Discovery (Scott's ship for the voyage to the Antarctic) and The Frigate Unicorn (1824 Navy warship) but other that that there isn't anything terribly exciting here I'm afraid.

[Blackstar]

Oban smells of fish.