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Trip to Scotland

MPi-KMS-72

Big Landy Fan
A friend of mine, the one I gave my Series III to, is going to Scotland for 8 days this Saturday- Anything in particular he should strive to see? I know he wants to see Culloden. He is into re-enacting 18th c and is particularly interested in anything that has a military significance to it.

Also of interest- how has the weather been over there? Here it is averaging 17F and ~3"-5" of snow. What can he expect with regard to that?

Thanks
 
A friend of mine, the one I gave my Series III to, is going to Scotland for 8 days this Saturday- Anything in particular he should strive to see? I know he wants to see Culloden. He is into re-enacting 18th c and is particularly interested in anything that has a military significance to it.

Also of interest- how has the weather been over there? Here it is averaging 17F and ~3"-5" of snow. What can he expect with regard to that?

Thanks

Where to start? dunno anything about Military exhibitions....but I can condense a trip to Scotland for you...Its cold, wet, dark, the service in hotels and restaurants.....appauling and overpriced...what a culture shock he'll have when he sees the food portions and the prices compared to the States..and..
almost everything will be closed in the Highlands until the holiday season (april).

What I would do is stay at home till the summer (to be honest it doesn't improve much...maybe a little) or I'd book a holiday in the Bahamas (it will be cheaper) and whilst sipping my pina colada beside a pool..thank my lucky stars that Maggie had given you such good advice :)

Seriously though...Scotland is not very pretty in the winter..thats why we all suffer from S.A.D syndrome. In the spring summer and Winter...the highlands can be breathtaking..but the roads jam packed with caravans and camper vans. Unless he is staying with friends who can show him around its a bit of nightmare this time of year.
 
A friend of mine, the one I gave my Series III to, is going to Scotland for 8 days this Saturday- Anything in particular he should strive to see? I know he wants to see Culloden. He is into re-enacting 18th c and is particularly interested in anything that has a military significance to it.

Also of interest- how has the weather been over there? Here it is averaging 17F and ~3"-5" of snow. What can he expect with regard to that?

Thanks


http://www.devilsporridge.co.uk/


The worlds largest explosives factory?

The exhibition is situated in South West Scotland, signposted from the A75 between Gretna And Annan.

Not bad, a little small but interesting
 
Maggie is right, it is not the time to visit Scotland.

But if he must

Edinburgh and the castle
Stirling castle
Then across to Callander, Tyndrum, en route to
Glencoe (National trust visitor centre, see if he is a memeber of any US org that will get him freee entry)
Skye, scenery and talisker distillery, and a nice old fashioned tea shop in Portree
If he wants to go further north, then
Something of the Highlands and west coast, perhaps up to Ullapool.
Then south, perhaps the Great Glen, Loch Ness, Inverness, down to Perth, Scone Palace,
maybe to Dumfries and Galloway, good coast, birdwatching,
BUT
check them all out to see what is open
 
Blimey BigJim...do you work for the tourist board?:D You actually make it sound quite nice...or am I just bitter and twisted as usual ;)
 
I think Scotland is great to visit anytime of the year. Of course there are many places not open however like many other countries, there is a season, however its still a great place to visit.
As to having crap hotels, i note today that there is an Edinburgh hotel which was voted one of the best 25 hotels in the world, which is no mean feat, as well as having a few of the best guest houses in Europe, so along with some great Restaurants, we do not to bad thanks.
Great place to live and to visit.
 
i note today that there is an Edinburgh hotel which was voted one of the best 25 hotels in the world, which is no mean feat,

Its not often I disagree with Hubber...yes there may be a couple of nice places to stay but you'll pay through the nose for them..Ive stayed in many guest houses and hotels..from Dumfries to Sutherland..and although I love Scotland I have the advantage of friends to whom I can ask advice and who can recommend good accomodation. In the main..b&b's and guest houses are not good, compared with lets say Ireland where the people will go to extremes to be courteous and polite..you will find that the overall service especially in the highlands is deplorable. So...if we can find out where the chap is intending to go we could maybe recommend some good accomodation.


The Crown hotel in Portpatrick..it was a wild winters night and the welcome was great...big warm fire..plenty of whiskies..room was ok'ish..the breakfast was fantastic. A great place in winter to stay...maybe not so good in the summer (judging by the pics) http://www.crownportpatrick.com/

Lovely hotel in Skye http://www.rampantscotland.com/stay/blstay_iarmain.htm
food was great and I got to sleep in a bed featured in the website..it has a wonderful wee shop that sells lovely whisky..views are terrific

Applecross Inn...http://www.applecross.uk.com/inn/index.htm an amazing drive to get to it..but what a place..the Inn is lovely...however the owners are from Yorkshire so not very Scottish...food was amazing. Word of warning...the dawn chorus is out of this world...take earplugs !!!!

to name but just a few. I'll get my thinking cap on..and try and find some more..and the ones I would never go back to.
 
If he's going to Culloden, he really has to head a bit further down the the road and visit Fort George.

Regards

Jon
 
Scotland is a wonderful place to visit any time of the year, you just have to plan accordingly I find. Maggie paints a fairly doom and gloom picture of it (where are you from Maggie?) and I can see her point of view, but don't necessarily agree with it.

If he's after dark rugged scenery then Skye definitely, castles, Stirling is definitely my favourite 'popular with tourists' castle and feels a lot less like a village with a wall around it, than Edinburgh does. Culloden was a bit of a disapointment to me as it is really just an empty stretch of moor, as Big Jim says, Glencoe is a lot more interesting.

My favourite area for scenery is Perthshire as it has mountains, lochs and forrests and I think is just tranquil and breathtaking at the same time.

Yes it's not as cheap as lots of other places, including Ireland, but then we don't get as many of the lovely grants from the government either.

Agree with the statement that we'd need to know more of what said friend is after before recommending anything in particular.

Cheers,

Hugo.
 
where are you from Maggie?)

I was born in Shandon, Argyl and Bute..then lived in Girvan, Prestwick, Glasgow, Renfrewshire..Stornoway...back to Renfrewshire. I spent most, if not all of my childhood holidays in Scotland..and on many occasions I just pack the car up and go on adventures with my dog to find beaches.

Normally I would go into a local pub and ask the locals where to stay..this is a good way of finding accomodation at short notice. However I find the further North you go the worse it gets. I can barely think of one hotel up North that I can recommend.

I stayed in a guest house in Ullapool last year and it was absolutely disgracefull...I am trying to find out the name of it..as we speak.
The hosts were English and unhelpful..the room was damp as were the bedclothes..the towels smelt awful..and I awoke to a 'continental breakfast', bread and jam served by an grossly overweight waitress who shuffled her feet and smelt bad...when I said I wanted to find a beach to walk my dog..I was hit with...'we don't encourage dogs in Ullapool'. Charming eh!!!!!
 
Oh dear, does sound pretty awful. Not all like that though? Must admit when it comes to North of Inverness, when not staying with friends, I've only ever stayed in a place in Thurso and it was lovely.

Just meant that your original post was very negative and that many people love Scotland and at any time of the year (providing you like lots of scenery!) it can be a wonderful place to visit.
 
Oh dear, does sound pretty awful. Not all like that though? Must admit when it comes to North of Inverness, when not staying with friends, I've only ever stayed in a place in Thurso and it was lovely.

Just meant that your original post was very negative and that many people love Scotland and at any time of the year (providing you like lots of scenery!) it can be a wonderful place to visit.

Thats exactly what I mean Fish...if we can maybe come up with some suggestions then we could make his holiday fantastic.

I am basically a summertime person.. I don't relish walking around the sites in Scotland in a howling gale and pouring rain...Ive done it..and don't enjoy it..however..if you know you have a lovely place to stay at night..it can make all the difference.

Lots of people love the winter...I am sure that Scotland in winter would appeal to many people..I was only making a personal statement that If I had the choice I may go somewhere warm...maybe it's because I live here.

I would recommend the islands in summer...fantastic...but take plenty midgie repellant:D
 
Scotland in Winter......... Not my choice either especially if you are a normal type tourist and I spend just about all my time here fishing and camping. Anyway the guys coming so whats he gonna do. How does he fancy a loan of a cold caravan in Argyll for a night:D

Winter activities. You may be able to ski but not normally till end Jan

Shooting. Their is deer shooting but you may need contacts or book in advance. There are gamekeepers on the forum

There is Spring Salmon fishing

So whats left. Birdspotting and drinking.

Loch Lomond is stunning especially out in a boat. You can get a run in the Mail boat which goes around the Islands With Sandy McFarlane whose family have owned this contract for generations. If you hill walk you could do Ben Lomond. I could arrange the mail boat for him no problem but it could be bitter cold and wet.

I mention Lomond as it is close to Glasgow /Edinburgh and is quiet and serene at this time of year.......which is in contrast to the summer months

Hydro power in Scotland is a fascinating engineering subject to see but I think one of the best ones Cruachan is closed. There are many smaller ones
Sutherland is Awesome if he can make it up there.

Find out what he would like to do or have a go at.

Alex
 
A friend of mine, the one I gave my Series III to, is going to Scotland for 8 days this Saturday- Anything in particular he should strive to see? I know he wants to see Culloden. He is into re-enacting 18th c and is particularly interested in anything that has a military significance to it.

Also of interest- how has the weather been over there? Here it is averaging 17F and ~3"-5" of snow. What can he expect with regard to that?

Thanks
well i dont know what it will be like tomrow but i was in 4 wheel drive from pitlochary to inverness in the snow last night on my way back from perth but from the top of the hill by cullodon all the rest of the way up to caithness the roads were almost dry
 
dont forget boys if hes here on 27 and 28 of this month theres that little wander through the woods with all those chances to bend things on the motor down at lochgilphead
 
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