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Itinerary/Transportation Advice July/August 2017
Hunter2
Member ✭
My husband and I along with our 17 year old son will be traveling to Scotland in late July for my Clan Hunter gathering in Ayrshire. I don't have flights nailed down yet. We live in SC and you can't get anywhere from here easily. Thinking of flying into London then taking train to Ayrshire. Might be able to fly into Glasgow but the price difference is a lot. Thinking of buying Britrail pass for traveling or if we will need car?
July 28-30 at Hunterston Castle in Ayrshire (rented farmhouse nearby so we can walk to Hunterston)
July 30-August 2? Not sure what to do...Inverness? Culloden? Ideas?
August 3-7 at Edinburgh.....Holyrood....Brittania.....Rosslyn Chapel.....(Lallybroch) Midhope Castle....Blackness Castle? Have tickets for Tattoo on 8/5....Museum.....Looking for some music venues? great pubs? local shopping?
Our son plays the bagpipes and plays rugby so would like to hear about anything to do with either?
July 28-30 at Hunterston Castle in Ayrshire (rented farmhouse nearby so we can walk to Hunterston)
July 30-August 2? Not sure what to do...Inverness? Culloden? Ideas?
August 3-7 at Edinburgh.....Holyrood....Brittania.....Rosslyn Chapel.....(Lallybroch) Midhope Castle....Blackness Castle? Have tickets for Tattoo on 8/5....Museum.....Looking for some music venues? great pubs? local shopping?
Our son plays the bagpipes and plays rugby so would like to hear about anything to do with either?
0
Comments
The above is null & void if you are buying BritRail. However, I note that the area near Hunterston castle is not served too well by public transport (takes you to West Kilbride). Also, I personally think driving around is a much better way to see Scotland (even though I've gone far using public transport). My opinion is that you should hire a car on reaching Scotland.
July 30 - Aug 2nd : In my mind, the answer is obvious, stay in the Isle of Arran all 4 days. You can drive up north and try to check off as much as possible but 3-4 days is too short a time IMHO. Plus Arran is rightly called "Scotland in miniature", it has valleys, coastline, hills, standing stones and what not.
Aug 3-7 : Do take your son to the Murrayfield stadium. Some of rugby's biggest matches are played here and they do guided tours as well (the best case would be watching a game here). Also do not miss the Royal Botanical Gardens when in Edinburgh. Visit the Castle Terrace on Saturday or Stockbridge on Sunday for local farmer market shopping (these are quite small by US standards but worth it). This post elsewhere on this community has Edinburgh pub recommendations (including mine).
Also, visit the North Berwick Highland Games (also on 5th Aug but in the daytime) for the pipe bands, highland flings and of course, the sports. I think your son will enjoy the local pipe bands that typically play in the Highland Games and may even pick up a thing or 2.
Phew, sorry for the wall of text, let us know if you have any more questions!!
Best of Scotland in 1 week itinerary (fully by public transport)
My Scotland travels (includes Edinburgh, Skye, Harris, Mull, Arran, Orkney, Loch Lomond, Islay, Oban, Speyside fest)
Best of Scotland in 1 week itinerary (fully by public transport)
My Scotland travels (includes Edinburgh, Skye, Harris, Mull, Arran, Orkney, Loch Lomond, Islay, Oban, Speyside fest)
Whisky, Castles and Food a speciality.
yourscotlandtour.co.uk
Seeing your son is a bagpiper, are you still going to be there August 11 & 12th?
That's when the World Pipeband Championships take place at Glasgow Green.
I'm sure that should be something on your Itinerary!!
I 2nd North Berwick.. even if you can't make the Games.. it's a great wee Town to visit.
Mainstream : Glencoe, Fort William, Inverness + Culloden, Perthshire (Pitlochry). For beer : Visit the Cairngorms brewery, great wee tour and so many samples for only £5 (have a designated driver!) Their restaurant The Winking Owl in Aviemore has their excellent beer and top-class pub food!
Hipster : Galloway Forest Park + Dumfries and Scottish Borders. Your husband will love this one because some of the best beer in Scotland is made at the Tempest Brewery in Tweedbank. For history lovers like yourself, there is a literature trail with Robert Burns house in Dumfries and Abbotsford house where Walter Scott lived. There is also Floors Castle, Melrose Abbey, Galashiels forest and much more.
Hope this helps, give the links a good read through to see all the options available.
Best of Scotland in 1 week itinerary (fully by public transport)
My Scotland travels (includes Edinburgh, Skye, Harris, Mull, Arran, Orkney, Loch Lomond, Islay, Oban, Speyside fest)