Scotland!
 

Hi folks,

Next week I'm heading to Scotland for 10 days with my girlfriend; we were thinking of renting a car and driving north-west from Edinburgh. Any suggestions on places to see, drives to hit, places to rent a car? What's camping like in Scotland?

Thanks!

Babak

Don't drive on the wrong side of the road! :)

If it is not Scottish, it's crap!

Follow other cars leads into the roundabouts! Get your cash from ATMs instead of lots of travelers checks, you'll get a better exchange rate. Its very cool (as in cold) and in the summer the sun doesn't set until about 10 or 11. Eat locally at pubs and taverns, where the locals eat, better food and better prices.

I'm no expert on Scotland, but I spent a week in Aberdeen on business about a year ago. It was a really beautiful place. I'm now dying to go back on vacation. have fun, shoot lots of pics.

My ancestors are from what is now the Strathmiglo Parish area of County Fife - the same county which holds Edinburgh.

I could send you to Inverness and Urquhart Castle, but it's a 4.5 hr drive north.

I'm not sure what your interests are, but here are my suggestions:

As long as you're in Edinburgh, you may as well see the castle. And if you like castles and ruins, buy a "castle map". There are plenty along the way to anywhere you're going.

To the north-west is St. Andrews - motherland of GOLF. Play a round just to say you did. And also take in St. Andrews Abby and Cathedral. To get there just take A90 out of Edinburgh. It becomes M90. North of Kinross, take the A91 west. In all, it's about a 2 hour drive from Edinburg to St. Andrews. The A and M roads are very good.

South of St. Andrews, in Troywood, is Scotlands SECRET Bunker. A decommissioned relic of the cold war, it is now a tourist attraction.

After spending part of the day in Edinburgh, and the rest in St. Andrews, travel back to east along the A91 and stop in Strathmiglo. There, take the Kirk Wynd rd to where it intersects Cash Feus. Stay the night at the Wester Cash Farmhouse. (Call ahead and book, as they only have 4 guest rooms at the B&B.)

After breakfast, have your hostess direct you to Falkland Palace. It's only about 2 miles away, but the street was not well marked when I was there.

That's about all I have for now. It's a start.

If you go to Inverness, you can stay overnight in Castle Kilavrock in the tower which is cool and in the morning have breakfast in the Great Room and look at oil paintings of my ancestors that go back 500 years. Almost all of them are named Hugh Rose, my name! One of my greatgrandfathers was No. 2 son, so he got nothing and moved to the Colonies. No. 1 Son gets everything. Its now owned by some great aunt (whose older than dirt), about 10 times removed whose going to leave it to the church when she dies in a few days, hours or years.

See the scotch thread:cool:

Get on the A9 at Perth and follow it North until you get to Inverness. Stop in Pitlochry, Kingussie, and make a quick jaunt to Grantown-Upon-Spey. I used to live in the Scottish Highlands- wonderful place. If you need more info, PM me and we can talk. (Better be quick though- wife and I are heading out of town tomorrow for 4 days)

Cheers,

Paul.

These are awesome recommendations! Particularly on great places to stay. =) (I do believe castle is in order)

We are thinking of heading north, and I do believe a scotch thread may be in order. Any distillers I should be sure to hit?

Babak

That's why I said to stop in Pitlochry. Several distilleries there- plus one in Dalwhinnie (a couple of miles after Drumochter pass- take a left over the river and drive through the village. It's on the left. When you leave take a left out of the distillery, then a right at the intersection- that'll put you back on the A9 after a couple of miles)
You can go as far North as time allows- but the best parts are between Perth and Inverness. Enjoy and post your pics!

Paul.

Instead of buying one liter of a Scotch, consider buying the airplane sampler bottles of a lot of different ones, and different ages 10, 15, 20 year etc. and bring them back, I did that years ago and it was fun to sit with my brother and compare them.

Right on Hugh- good advice. Check the amounts you can bring back into the US before you leave- no point giving the customs boys single malt!

If you flying into Edinburgh - car hire won't be a problem, there's the usual suspects at the airport and its not the holiday season so availabilty won't be a problem.
Try to get a window seat on the plane. If the winds in the usual direction the plane has to make a 180 degree turn before landing allowing superb views on the right hand side of the Forth Bridges or the city of Edinburgh and castle on the left hand side.
Speed cameras are everywhere over here so watch your speed. Also fuel works out at approx $8 per gallon so bring plenty cash!!!!!

Bring me home some dirt and mail it to me. My family left there when I was six :(

WolfeMacleod - Forward your address and I'll see what I can do. But remember this can't get too popular - we're only a small country!!!
Where are you family from?

For your trip planning, here is the interactive Scotland Whiskey Map.


Yep.... I had many go off while I was there, but never, ever got a ticket. I think they do not bother to mail it to the states, and I also do not think they can compel you to pay it if they did. Of course, you could be the first one ever extradited for traffic court.

We came from Moffat. Left when I was six to come after my father who moved to Arkansas of all places.
A rock would do nicely SmileWavy.

Edit
Oh, and some haggis too! Can't get that stuff over here! :D

Talking about scotch, try the 12 year old Balvinie. Its truly "nectar of the Gods" and well worth the try.

If you are into old racing history, Jimmy Clark was born in Duns and there is a museum there. Was talking with a gent last week and mentioned Duns and his eyes lightened up. Turns out that he is from that area and his Father was a schoolmate of Clarks.

I also try to get to Hawick where the Pringle sweaters are made. Both places are out of the normal tourist areas and interesting to see, but then I have had enough of throngs of people for years.

Its not difficult to tell who is part Scot on this forum. We tend to be a bit proud of our history and the country. The girls there are kinda cute as well... :)

Do not forget the Haggis!

if you are into whiskies, visit the craigellachie hotel (http://www.craigellachie.com/). I was there two years ago, beautiful country, very nice roads to drive. When I was there, the weather was constantly changing, 5 minutes of rain, then sunny, again rain etc. I don't know if this is tipical. I am absolutely going back there for another holiday