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Join the conversation today.
Best Of
Re: Aberdeen area or St. Andrews?
Hi @GypsyHollowTH.
I would agree with @fishypro and opt for St Andrews. If you only have one day then you will certainly be able to get to know it better than hop, skipping and jumping around Aberdeenshire.
Two lovely beaches, a pretty harbour, the golf museum, the aquarium, lots of lovely independent shops, Janetta's for fabulous ice-cream, the castle and cathedral too. There are also lots of places to eat.
The photo was taken on West Sands beach.
I would agree with @fishypro and opt for St Andrews. If you only have one day then you will certainly be able to get to know it better than hop, skipping and jumping around Aberdeenshire.
Two lovely beaches, a pretty harbour, the golf museum, the aquarium, lots of lovely independent shops, Janetta's for fabulous ice-cream, the castle and cathedral too. There are also lots of places to eat.
The photo was taken on West Sands beach.
Re: Staffa Tours - Three Isle Excursion
Hi @GypsyHollowTH
I have done the 3 isles tour with my parents-in-law (late 50s to 60) and they enjoyed it as most of the day is not a strenuous activity. As long as they don't have an issue with a few steep steps that the start of the walk to Fingal's cave, they should be ok. The Fingal's cave boat does carry quite a few people so also expect a semi-queue to the cave.
Here is my review of the 3 isles tour: https://beyondourhorizons.com/2017/09/13/a-weekend-in-oban-scotland-3-isles-tour-review/ Hope this helps.
I have done the 3 isles tour with my parents-in-law (late 50s to 60) and they enjoyed it as most of the day is not a strenuous activity. As long as they don't have an issue with a few steep steps that the start of the walk to Fingal's cave, they should be ok. The Fingal's cave boat does carry quite a few people so also expect a semi-queue to the cave.
Here is my review of the 3 isles tour: https://beyondourhorizons.com/2017/09/13/a-weekend-in-oban-scotland-3-isles-tour-review/ Hope this helps.
Horizons
5
Re: Aberdeen area or St. Andrews?
Hi @GypsyHollowTH , Definately St Andrews! Even taking golf out of the equation there is so much to see and do. I would be amazed if you get a 1 night stay in St Andrews for a family (more than 1 room) unless you pay enough for it.
Castles, ruins, university, shopping, beaches, museums, botanic gardens, butterfly house, restaurants, bars etc there is something for everyone in St Andrews. A beautiful scottish town.
fishypro
1
Re: 7 days in Scotland and need advice on travel
Hi @Cshatto. Travelling around by car is by far the best way to see Scotland. However, there are a variety of tour companies that can take the strain of driving. The downside to this will be they have a set itinerary and these may not be places you had in mind. But if it's just sightseeing, then maybe this would suit?
Another alternative and would depend on your budget would be hiring a private (Blue Badge) tour guide. I can suggest one if this is something you think would suit.
If you decide to stick to hiring a car then my first recommendation would be to allow enough time for photo stops, traffic, rest breaks etc.
Personally, for me, if I were planning to take a trip to Skye from Glasgow I would allow three days for this. One day to get up there. A day exploring and a day to drive back. The drive up through Glen Coe and Fort William is spectacular and you will want to take your time.
Glasgow is my favourite city.
Another alternative and would depend on your budget would be hiring a private (Blue Badge) tour guide. I can suggest one if this is something you think would suit.
If you decide to stick to hiring a car then my first recommendation would be to allow enough time for photo stops, traffic, rest breaks etc.
Personally, for me, if I were planning to take a trip to Skye from Glasgow I would allow three days for this. One day to get up there. A day exploring and a day to drive back. The drive up through Glen Coe and Fort William is spectacular and you will want to take your time.
Glasgow is my favourite city.
Re: 7 days in Scotland and need advice on travel
Car is definitely the best way to see all the amazing hidden gems in Scotland. However if you do not wish to drive the whole of that distance you could get the train from Glasgow to Fort William and then hire a car from there. There are so many lovely places to visit up that part of the country and some of them you would be unable to get to if you were going by public transport.
Re: What would be a good neighborhood use as home base while in Edinburgh?
Morningside and Stockbridge are good choices, both having a good selection of shops, cafes and restaurants on offer. They're both nice areas with good bus links into the city.
In terms of Dean Village - it's a historic former mill village in the city centre where people still live, however there aren't many coffee shops or amenities there - you would need to walk to the West End side of the city centre to find these which is about 5/10 minutes away. It is worth noting that Dean Village does get very busy, especially in the summer which might not suit your needs.
Bruntsfield is a residential area with lots of amenities, independent shops, coffee shops and restaurants. It's close to the large park called the Meadows and Bruntsfield Links and there are great bus links into the centre. There is also Marchmont close by where there are a handful of coffee shops, grocery stores and restaurants, this neighbourhood is also close to the Meadows and the city centre and is quiet in the evenings.
There are other neighbourhoods like Abbeyhill which is just 15 minutes from the East End of Princes Street. It has a few coffee shops, independent arts and interiors shops, a couple of restaurants and plenty of grocery stores & newsagents - it even has Scotland's only vegan grocery store. Although it is slightly more 'up and coming' than the other neighbourhoods listed there is a great feel to it, it's quiet in the evenings and is walkable to the city centre whilst also having amazing bus links.
In terms of Dean Village - it's a historic former mill village in the city centre where people still live, however there aren't many coffee shops or amenities there - you would need to walk to the West End side of the city centre to find these which is about 5/10 minutes away. It is worth noting that Dean Village does get very busy, especially in the summer which might not suit your needs.
Bruntsfield is a residential area with lots of amenities, independent shops, coffee shops and restaurants. It's close to the large park called the Meadows and Bruntsfield Links and there are great bus links into the centre. There is also Marchmont close by where there are a handful of coffee shops, grocery stores and restaurants, this neighbourhood is also close to the Meadows and the city centre and is quiet in the evenings.
There are other neighbourhoods like Abbeyhill which is just 15 minutes from the East End of Princes Street. It has a few coffee shops, independent arts and interiors shops, a couple of restaurants and plenty of grocery stores & newsagents - it even has Scotland's only vegan grocery store. Although it is slightly more 'up and coming' than the other neighbourhoods listed there is a great feel to it, it's quiet in the evenings and is walkable to the city centre whilst also having amazing bus links.
Re: Where to stay for 5 months
Hi @graygirl
We moved to Scotland just over four years ago and we chose to live on the outskirts of a village not far from Perth.
It's a perfect base for exploring. The cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow are about an hour away and Dundee is only a half an hour drive.
For a day on the coast - St Andrews is only about 40 minutes and the East Neuk of Fife is less than hour.
Days out walking - Perthshire has plenty to offer, for all abilities. Plenty of opportunities to try canoeing or other waterbased activities. We can be up in Aviemore in around 90 minutes too.
There are plenty of nice wee towns and villages to explore too. It really is central.
The M90 skirts the outside of Perth, as does the A9, making it really easy for roadtrips. There is a train station in the city centre too.
There are some stunning golf courses too, and your husband won't have to look far. Perth can lay claim to having a inland island golf course. The King James VI course is on an island in the river Tay. There are many others to choose from too.
The area has a good variety of castles, museums, classes/clubs etc too, with plenty of events throughout the seasons.
I hope this helps a wee bit? Check out my blog for other Perthshire (and Scotland) gems.
We moved to Scotland just over four years ago and we chose to live on the outskirts of a village not far from Perth.
It's a perfect base for exploring. The cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow are about an hour away and Dundee is only a half an hour drive.
For a day on the coast - St Andrews is only about 40 minutes and the East Neuk of Fife is less than hour.
Days out walking - Perthshire has plenty to offer, for all abilities. Plenty of opportunities to try canoeing or other waterbased activities. We can be up in Aviemore in around 90 minutes too.
There are plenty of nice wee towns and villages to explore too. It really is central.
The M90 skirts the outside of Perth, as does the A9, making it really easy for roadtrips. There is a train station in the city centre too.
There are some stunning golf courses too, and your husband won't have to look far. Perth can lay claim to having a inland island golf course. The King James VI course is on an island in the river Tay. There are many others to choose from too.
The area has a good variety of castles, museums, classes/clubs etc too, with plenty of events throughout the seasons.
I hope this helps a wee bit? Check out my blog for other Perthshire (and Scotland) gems.
Re: My Scotland Bucket List for 2019!
Lovely thread @VisitScotlandAmanda In the very short term, I'm going to check off seeing a bit of the Highlands with its snow cap on, something I haven't done at all. My 2019 bucket list is more experiential unless I can finally manage to get my driving license
1. Feis Ile 2019
Website: https://www.islayfestival.com/
The Islay festival has been a long time bucketlist item for me and 2019 should be the year I make it happen. It is a week long festival with events galore at the Islay distilleries (with a number of them having open days and exclusive bottlings). But more than the whisky events, I am looking forward to seeing the island come together to celebrate as I had an absolute blast mingling with locals on my own trip to Islay. I'll also spend a bit more time on Jura, if possible and see Campbeltown along the way.
2. See the Northern Lights in Orkney
Although I have been a long time proponent of encouraging folk to see the winter night sky from Scotland, at the very top of my bucketlist remains the elusive dancing fairies ie Northern Lights which are visible a number of times in the winter from Orkney (shot below taken in the last couple of weeks) and Shetland. A tied second is making my way up to Shetland for the Up Helly Aa Festival as someone who has been long fascinated with Norse mythology.
Picture credit for the shot above goes to David Wishart on the Orkney Aurora Facebook Group
3. Drive around the NC 500
This is my official stopping point for being more than a public transport blogger as NC 500 has been desperately out of reach for me due to a very sparse network of buses that service the area. The Bealach Na Ba to Applecross might be a stretch to navigate but having seen just a few bits of Torridon, Shieldaig and Ullapool in prior trips has left me hungry for more.
1. Feis Ile 2019
Website: https://www.islayfestival.com/
The Islay festival has been a long time bucketlist item for me and 2019 should be the year I make it happen. It is a week long festival with events galore at the Islay distilleries (with a number of them having open days and exclusive bottlings). But more than the whisky events, I am looking forward to seeing the island come together to celebrate as I had an absolute blast mingling with locals on my own trip to Islay. I'll also spend a bit more time on Jura, if possible and see Campbeltown along the way.
2. See the Northern Lights in Orkney
Although I have been a long time proponent of encouraging folk to see the winter night sky from Scotland, at the very top of my bucketlist remains the elusive dancing fairies ie Northern Lights which are visible a number of times in the winter from Orkney (shot below taken in the last couple of weeks) and Shetland. A tied second is making my way up to Shetland for the Up Helly Aa Festival as someone who has been long fascinated with Norse mythology.
Picture credit for the shot above goes to David Wishart on the Orkney Aurora Facebook Group
3. Drive around the NC 500
This is my official stopping point for being more than a public transport blogger as NC 500 has been desperately out of reach for me due to a very sparse network of buses that service the area. The Bealach Na Ba to Applecross might be a stretch to navigate but having seen just a few bits of Torridon, Shieldaig and Ullapool in prior trips has left me hungry for more.
Horizons
5
Re: My Scotland Bucket List for 2019!
Some excellent inspiration Amanda! Definitely with you for Mull in particular, an imminent return there is a must for me and its an island that could consume several days of even the most frenetic traveller's time easily.
2019 for me is sure to include an annual pilgrimage to the Outer Hebrides, the jewelled chain of islands that will always hold a special place in my heart. The beaches of North Uist and the peaks of South Uist featured heavily for me this year but there are still many corners of Lewis that need further scrutiny. And then there's Harris.....
Southern Scotland will continue to get plenty of my attention too and I'll be working my way past the ruins, hills and valleys of Dumfries and Galloway and The Borders in the near future. I've never yet managed to summit Merrick in Galloway Forest Park. Time to insert a thinking man emoji as I plot that one out...
Speaking of scaling peaks, if my 2018 was the year of Suilven, Buachaille Etive Mor and the Pap of Glencoe, 2019 seems certain to include more of the north west but also some tentative steps into the Cairngorms and our more remote island summits. Much pouring over maps and hiking journals has already been pencilled in.
I can't wait to get cracking on all of the above and am absolutely, positively, overwhelmingly certain that Scotland will continue to be the land that keeps on giving for locals and international travellers alike. See you all in 2019!
