CP Travel Advice: Scotland - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

sa226 · 06-09-2010, 07:10 PM

I'm just wondering if anybody has any tips, recommends or just plain old stories on any time they have spent in Scotland.

I know there are threads out there with advice about Italy, France, Germany, China etc......but I haven't seen any on Scotland.

I'll only be there for about 4-5 days....and I would like to make those as awesome as possible.

I'll be staying in Edinburgh and don't plan to rent a car or anything.

Thanks

FurnaceFace · 06-09-2010, 07:50 PM

I would train on over to Sterling to get your Braveheart on. Go see Stirling Castle (less impressive than Edinburgh, but still worth it). Take one of the tours to get some info on William Wallace and interesting stuff about the castle. It's up on a bluff and has a commanding view of the town. The cemetery around it is worth a wander, lots of creepy old and some broken tombstones. Head on over to the Wallace Monument to learn more about Mel Gibson errr Wallace and climb on up to the top for another good viewpoint. I didn't go to the battle site as it's a piece out of town.

The castle is an easy walk from the train station and the walk is worth it for some of the streets you wander through. From the train station the easiest way to get to the Wallace Monument is to hop the bus, I don't remember the bus number but the official Wallace site will tell you.

The top Edinburgh sites can be done in a couple of days so your 4-5 days is enough to spend a day in Stirling and maybe even a tour to a loch if you wish. Edinburgh castle could be most of a day as there's a fair amount to see.

The caveat on this is I'm beyond the partying stage of life so there was no need to sleep off hangovers.

Suzles · 06-09-2010, 09:29 PM

Definitely try to go a bit further North and get to Inverness and from there take the scenic drive around Loch Ness - take a stop at Urquhart Castle - you can really 'feel' the history there. A small town called Forres is worth a look as it always wins the most beautiful gardens competition and they have palm trees there (which always freaked me out). Fort George is also amazing - that is my ex husband's military headquarters. Scotland have a very proud military history.

Edinburgh Castle was worth the visit. The little pet cemetery there is sad and quaint. Lots of fancy shops in Edinburgh.

Ask someone for a Fife sandwich - its cheddar cheese and jam - quite yummy!

Peanut · 06-09-2010, 10:10 PM

YEAHHH!!! I was just there in April, stayed in Edinburgh, had no car... it was awesome!!

I second the trip to Stirling. Day trip via train and well worth the trip. The castle is great, the town is really charming, and there is also the William Wallace Monument.

We also went to Glasgow, Linlithgow and a few other places via train, and also rented a car one day to tour some Abbeys close to Edinburgh. We bought a Tourism Scotland pass and it was well worth it (included all Abbeys, Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle, Linlithgow Castle, and a bunch of other stuff we didn't have time for).

Edinburgh was great, lots to see and do. Gotta do "High Tea" somewhere... all the sandwiches and pastries are delicious and the experience is really fun.

Personally, we really relied on Lonely Planet recommendations for things to do and places to see and were never disapointed... have fun!!!!

Canada 02 · 06-09-2010, 10:39 PM

many places I was going to say have already been mentioned, so no need to repeat.

I will throw out a few others.

Loch Lomond. If your going to Stirling or Glasgow, then this will be reasonably close, compared to Loch Ness. Loch Ness has more notoriety, but Lomond is beautiful, less touristy, scenic biking, hiking and canoeing/kayaking

Hike Ben Nevis - tallest mountain in Scotland. About 6 hours up and down. Gorgeous! The hike starts at the sea, and you get an incredible view all the way up! There is also a distillery in the town near the mtn

trew · 06-09-2010, 11:55 PM

Edinburgh is one of my favourite cities. I could spend a few days there, easy.

If you like scenic rail trips, I would recommend taking the train between Fort William and Mallaig. (or really just taking the train in general.. it's a great way to both see and get around Scotland).

WilsonFourTwo · 06-10-2010, 07:48 AM

I had intended to spend 2 days in Edinburgh before heading further north for 2 more.....I ended up spending 4 days in Edinburgh, it is a glorious city.

Walking the Royal Mile, visiting the castle (easily fills an entire day), Holyrood, Parliament, the hike up King Arthur's Seat.....Walking George street on the way to the Rose street area for beer and grub.....ahhhh, memories! (Haggis at Dirty Dick's is terrific, and not from a microwave!)

The Travel/Tourist Center in Edinburgh is second to none. Great info, nice people, internet access, the whole 9 yards. From the train station, head north half a block and turn left on Princes Street. Walk one block and you'll be there (it's surrounded by pavement and shrubs).

I'm no super-world traveler or anything, but of the dozen or so international cities I've been in, Edinburgh has always been my favorite. Best wishes - enjoy your stay!

bigtmac19 · 06-10-2010, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canada 02

many places I was going to say have already been mentioned, so no need to repeat.

I will throw out a few others.

Loch Lomond. If your going to Stirling or Glasgow, then this will be reasonably close, compared to Loch Ness. Loch Ness has more notoriety, but Lomond is beautiful, less touristy, scenic biking, hiking and canoeing/kayaking

Hike Ben Nevis - tallest mountain in Scotland. About 6 hours up and down. Gorgeous! The hike starts at the sea, and you get an incredible view all the way up! There is also a distillery in the town near the mtn

That's funny you mention Ben Nevis, my friend and all her family are going there this summer, her nephew is turning 18 while they are there. They named him Ben Nevis and they are celebrating his birthday by hiking the mountain on his birthday.

kermitology · 06-10-2010, 09:45 AM

Avoid Glasgow. It's not something to see as a tourist. There are tonnes of great concerts there though.

Edinburgh is amazing. Drink some Tennents beer then take a train up to Oban or some other tiny little town with a distillery and drink Scotch.

Matata · 06-10-2010, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kermitology

Avoid Glasgow. It's not something to see as a tourist. There are tonnes of great concerts there though.

Edinburgh is amazing. Drink some Tennents beer then take a train up to Oban or some other tiny little town with a distillery and drink Scotch.

I spent about 3 days in Glasgow and it was amazing. Great arts scene, an endless supply of great music and plenty of cool people to meet.

Hostels in scotland are cheap, clean and easily the best I've ever been to. Pub crawls are a must.

WilsonFourTwo · 06-10-2010, 10:00 AM

I forgot to mention one (chauvinist but still important) thing in my original post....

While Scotland isn't exactly filled with Kirra Korpi lookalikes, it's not hard to find a cute and interesting gal. The thing I learned about the UK.....the further north you go, the better (looking/attitude) the chicks tend to get.

icarus · 06-10-2010, 10:10 AM

If you don't want to rent a car or worry about trains it is extremely easy to take tours from these guys:

http://www.highlandexperience.com/

I'm not big on tours, I like to explore on my own, but if your time is limited and you don't want to worry about logistics these guys are great. As you see on the website, they have 1, 2, 3 and 5 day tours to choose from. I did the day trip to Loch Ness in February and it was good. They are located right on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh so easy to walk up and make a booking and to find the pick up spot.

Other advice. Do a ghost tour in Edinburgh. There are lots to choose from, but I would recommend the City of the Dead tour. I've done it twice. They take you into a graveyard in the dark and lock you in a crypt. It's fun.

Go to Speyside and check out the whisky trail, if you like Scotch. Beautiful and secluded countryside and friendly people.

sa226 · 06-10-2010, 01:30 PM

Thanks everybody that is all great advice....

I am also wondering if there is a best time to go. I have time off the end of June, which I guess is approaching the high season, but I also may have some time off in September which is more low seasonish.....did anybody have a preference or should I just go whenever and rip it up.

Thanks