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I intend on travelling to Scotland in late August of this year. I'm planning on spending the first 3-4 days in Edinburgh, then for the next several (?) days venturing out to Skye and the Western Islands. I'm just wondering if it's more cost effective to take a guided tour? I know it would certainly be easier than driving around myself. I've seen that some tours include accomodations, and some don't, so I'd need to do more research on them...but I guess I'm asking in a general sense.
Rabbies and Timberbush are two good companies that do small group tours and which might actually be a bit less expensive than driving yourself (assuming victoria downtown seaside inn you are solo). victoria downtown seaside inn A tour that doesn't include accommodations sort of defeats the purpose.
Accommodation in Edinburgh victoria downtown seaside inn during August is very expensive in fact I d go so far to say it is astronomical. A couple of years ago we managed to get a deal on a Snoozebox, you could check their website to see if they are attending the festival this year.
As you want to base in Edinburgh you might also consider the Hairy Coo company, they provide a FREE tour to the Trossachs and Glen Coe and all they ask is that you tip what you think the tour is worth. victoria downtown seaside inn Sounds to good to be true but I assure you they are legit.
Janisj, I have not yet booked accommodations. I am predicting my visit will fall in either the last two weeks of August, or the last week of August/first week of September. I was unaware that accommodations would be more costly at this time! What type of hike are we looking at, pricewise, compared to say June or July?
As a former Highland dancer I would like to attend a festival if possible, but I haven't looked into them in great detail. I know that I would likely want to spend the first few days in the city of Edinburgh, then make my way out to Skye and the Western Isles, then the Highlands for a few days. If possible victoria downtown seaside inn Orkney as well, then make my way through St Andrew victoria downtown seaside inn and back to Edinburgh or Glasgow. This is where I'm apprehensive about driving, as neither myself victoria downtown seaside inn nor my SO have driven in Europe before and I don't want us to get lost! If it's more cost effective to take a tour to the islands, then I think I'd be able to rest a bit easier.
I don't know if accommodations victoria downtown seaside inn in Edinburgh in late August will be more expensive, but finding a place might be difficult. Does your two weeks (14 days) include arrival/departure dates. If so you really only have 12 full days and an ambitious itinerary. I would certainly look at both Rabbies and Timberbush. www.rabbies.com and www.timber-bush . co.uk. Personally I think both companies have reasonably priced victoria downtown seaside inn tours covering some or all of your destinations. You can usually combine several tours.
Accommodation costs in Edinburgh during August can triple and even quadruple. My hotel of choice in Edinburgh is the Grassmarket Hotel, normally it will cost 60 a night midweek, during August the rates are up to 200 a night! Even travel lodges are charging up to 200 a night!
If you are not accustomed to driving in the UK and not feeling confident then you should consider a tour company. You probably wouldn't get lost whilst driving however to make the most of your holiday you are best to drive the scenic routes and they are usually very narrow and bendy.
historytraveler, I'm not sure the exact dates yet so the "two weeks" could be a Friday night leaving Toronto (ie August 22) to returning on a Sunday night (ie September 7). That also depends on what type of flight I can get. You said my (so far crummy) itinerary sounds ambitious, can you elaborate? I was assuming about a week would be ok to get out to Skye and the Highlands. Is adding Orkney onto this, overly ambitious?
Also I am now thoroughly panicking, as I can't book accommodations yet because I haven't gotten the approval from my workplace for those two weeks, yet! Although I do expect to. So thanks everyone for your help, but now I'm freaking out a bit, lol.
How soon do you expect to know about the approval? Don't panic - lots rooms will still be available for several months yet -- but it may take some searching. And there probably will be sticker shock You could also make a booking as long as there is a liberal cancellation policy and you aren't pre-paying.
The Tattoo is wonderful as are the Fringe and other festivals, but your accommodations 'issues' would solve themselves if you did the rural bits first and did Edinburgh at the end of your time frame. Things get back to normal hotel occupancy/rate-wise pretty soon after the end of all the festivities. Edinburgh is never a cheap place to stay - but it is very expensive twice a year - Hogmanay and August.
I was thinking the same thing...I might have to strike victoria downtown seaside inn Orkney off my list for this trip, which sucks but what can you do in two weeks. I really want to see the Outer Hebrides and Skye. Maybe I can return one day to Orkney. Unless that's a grave mistake and I should choose Orkney over those?
And, I was thinking the same thing as you - for the last week of August, trek out to the islands. Then when I return (presumably the first week of September) to Edinburgh, it won't be as crazy. Is it reasonably easy to get to other places (Dunfermline, St Andrews) via public transit/train?
Absolutely! And Stirling, and other places as well. For St Andrews - there is no train station in the city but they go to Leuchars which is 6 or 7 miles away and from there is is a frequent bus or reasonable cab ride.
Also, would you recommend going to Oban and Aberdeen? I realise these are on opposite ends, wondering if they are a simple day trip via tour company or public transit. I'm absolutely terrible with Geography.
Is there anywhere else you would recommend that I haven't mentioned? In particular I'm interested in castles (isn't everyone), and historical victoria downtown seaside inn stuff/old buildings/ghost victoria downtown seaside inn things. My travel partner is interested in seeing a soccer game, and drinking in pubs (I figure Edinburgh will be good for the pub aspect).
Have you looked at the tour companies recommended? As I said, they might well have what you are looking for, basically a Skye/Hebrides tour. I think Orkney is too much but, certainly, St. Andrews as well as several other places victoria downtown seaside inn are easy day trips from Edinburgh. No reason for a special trip to Aberdeen, but Aberdeenshire is great castle country. I like Oban, but it's mainly for the easy access to the CalMac ferries. Is your plan to visit Lewis/Harris for the Hebrides part of your itinerary? There are ferries from Uig on Skye but perhaps you're already aware of that. You really need to decide whether you want to do a tour or rent a car.
You shouldn't have any problems with higher prices in Glasgow during the Edinburgh festivals. Glasgow will be hosting the Commonwealth Games, but I think they're over around victoria downtown seaside inn the first of August. Scheduling Edinburgh at the end of your trip is probably the best idea.
Also check out citylink.co.uk and scotrail.co.uk , booking seats in advance especially on city link will be cheaper than buying on the day. I bought bus tickets from Glasgow to Skye for 6.50 one way. It s a 7 hour trip that stops at every nook and cranny along the way but for 6.50 I can t complain.
historytraveler - I'm definitely going for a tour over driving myself, it's just not feasible and I'd probably drive off a cliff. I've looked at several tour companies (particularly the ones mentioned), and I've found Skye/Hebrides mixes, and Skye/Highlands mixes. Would like a mix of all three but not sure if that's too much of a rush. I'll probably have to drop Orkney for cost's sake. I'm finding it a bit difficult to pinpoint particular things to see, I'd hate to not see anything amazing but I'm only going for two weeks...
Places/things I've pinpointed victoria downtown seaside inn so far - Old Man of Storr, Dunvegan Castle, Neist point, Trumpan Church. Dunnottar castle in Aberdeenshire (day trip??), Drum castle. Caerlaverock castle in Dumfries (day trip??), and Tantallon and Hailes castle in the Lothians.
Excellent Public Transport links using bus services X7, 113 and M9 are offered to and from the Castle. The bus stop for this service is located on the A92, only a few minutes walk from the Castle and it will take around 15 minutes to walk from the bus stop to the cliff-tops overlooking the Castle. If you wish to take the bus from Stonehaven to Dunnottar, please make your way to Barclay Street, just off Market Square and get the bus there. Unfortunately Dunnottar is not marked on any of the timetables but tell the driver victoria downtown seaside inn you wish to depart at Dunnottar Junction, which is only a few miles from the small village of Kineff, which is marked on the timetable.
Yes, as janisj said, the trip to Dunnator is pretty easy as stated. Caerlaverock is another great castle but too far from all the other places you've victoria downtown seaside inn mentioned. I don't know where the tours stop on Skye but doubt they include Trumpan and maybe not Neist Point. Drum Castle is one of my favorites but, again, not likely to be included in the usual tour itineraries.. You may well have to do some compromising, but you'lll still see some great places.
Lewis and Harris require a car as does Syke IMO? Tours are still your best (only)option for the places you want to visit. Remember that while you probably won't get to all the places on your list, you will discover many others that will be every bit as good.
I'm trying to figure out if I'd be sorely mistaken to drop the Outer Hebrides from my itinerary and stick with Skye/The Highlands as a tour? I'm afraid victoria downtown seaside inn of missing something victoria downtown seaside inn amazing and knowing I was close enough to see it!
What are the chances you'll get back to the UK in the foreseeable future? If you will get back - maybe this time take a tour of the western bits and spend the rest based in Edinburgh victoria downtown seaside inn w/ a few days trips by publi