saving for UK holiday sept/0ct 2018

lizziegbjp

hello everyone, we are looking forward to 2018 with great excitement.
we want to fly/drive our way around the UK. stopping in b&bs along the way.
i have been on many websites, looking for places to visit in Scotland. 
we r going to spend about week in Ireland first, than catch the ferry from Belfast to Cairnryan.
this is scotlands first draft:
frist stop Galloway Forest and the dark sky observatory, make our way to Glasgow.
travel through Glencoe national park and on to Fort William  and take a train to Glenfinnan. 
than make our way to the Isle of Skye, than to Lock Ness and Inverness, than drive through Cairngorms Forest,
make our way to Ardverikie castle and surrounding area (loved monarch of the glen). drive through Pitlochry and Aberfeldy 
travel along the Fife coastal route to Craill and on to Edinburgh. than we will make our way into England.
i have recently found the Ben Nevis Range Ski Lift on the Nevis Range, that would be great to do.
still looking for some great places to visit in these areas.
i would love any suggestions and ideas. cheers liz

Horizons

Hey Liz, your list looks pretty comprehensive. Just yesterday I gave some suggestions for 3 days on almost the same route you're taking on this other post, see if that can be helpful : https://community.visitscotland.com/discussion/555/best-route-to-go-from-ayr-in-june

How many days are you planning to cover Scotland in? If its around a week, I would highly suggest trying to squeeze out a visit to either Isle of Mull & Staffa (via Oban, pictured below) or the Isle of Harris. Both are otherworldly . Also try to visit some of the not-as-famous castles such as Kilchurn castle or Castle Stalker on the west coast.



Finally, do you have any specific interests that you'd like suggestions on, we can try to recommend places fitting those categories. Hope you have a wonderful trip!

lizziegbjp

Hi @Horizons
we would like to stay about 7/8 days.
we like mountain scenery, but all country scenery is beautiful. am
i am really looking froward to see the Glencoe area, Glenfinnan area and Isle of Skye.
i like the idea of visiting small towns and villages.
Bernie loves riding on old trains, coffee shops, castles and easy walks.
i would love to find some where that has bungy jumping, hot air ballooning.
i will check out the 2 castles, you have recommended.
cheers liz

FullStopNextChapter

Wow @lizziegbjp that sounds like some epic road trip! 

If you plan to visit Pitlochry then Killicrankie would be perfect for your bungee jump. Jumps are from one of the bridges over the river Garry. 

Another great walk is Glen Nevis and across to Steall Falls. It's rather impressive too. 

lizziegbjp

  thank you. i am looking forward to star gazing, in the dark sky forest. we would love to some puffins, have seen lots of photos of them. they look so cute. and will check out the stathspey railway. cheers liz

lizziegbjp

hello  all, i was just checking out the "pass of the cattle" scenic drive. if we go to the isle of skye first than do the scenic drive  and than on to lock ness and inverness. how much time will we need to do the drive. cheers liz

YourScotlandTour

Hi Lizzie, maps.google.co.uk does a pretty good job on timings. Generally it uses an average speed which you can easily attain. I know that doesn't answer the question, but it will allow you to check your plans and modify them easily :-)