Scotland in a few days?

[EvilRob]

We're planning a 5 night trip on the August bank holiday weekend and slightly worried this is a terrible idea, but we've wanted to go for years and it works out.

I think we might base ourselves somewhere like Oban or Inveraray for 3 nights and then head to Edinburgh for a couple of nights. We very much travel for food, so looking forward to some great seafood as well as the natural beauty and some good but not too strenuous walks. We'll have the car.

Any advice/other suggestions gratefully received!

 

[FBi7]

Depending on the exact dates in Edinburgh, you might struggle to find any/sensibly priced hotels as that is right at the end of the Fringe Festival.

 

[Quartz]

I think we might base ourselves somewhere like Oban or Inveraray for 3 nights

How do you get on with midges? At that time of year you want the east coast, not the west. The best time to visit the west coast is early May. Instead, try the Black Isle / Inverness and environs. Cromarty is very beautiful and the Emigration Stone poignant. Take the Nigg ferry and visit the church for some ancient stones and head up the coast for the Mermaid of the North. Cawdor Castle has a nice garden. And you can head to the far north and the Castle of Mey. And, of course, there's the whisky, and more castles than you can count.

and then head to Edinburgh for a couple of nights.

That's not going to be cheap!

 

[EvilRob]

How do you get on with midges? At that time of year you want the east coast, not the west. The best time to visit the west coast is early May. Instead, try the Black Isle / Inverness and environs. Cromarty is very beautiful and the Emigration Stone poignant. Take the Nigg ferry and visit the church for some ancient stones and head up the coast for the Mermaid of the North. Cawdor Castle has a nice garden. And you can head to the far north and the Castle of Mey. And, of course, there's the whisky, and more castles than you can count.

Good food for thought - thanks!

 

[booyaka]

We're planning a 5 night trip on the August bank holiday weekend and slightly worried this is a terrible idea, but we've wanted to go for years and it works out.

I think we might base ourselves somewhere like Oban or Inveraray for 3 nights and then head to Edinburgh for a couple of nights. We very much travel for food, so looking forward to some great seafood as well as the natural beauty and some good but not too strenuous walks. We'll have the car.

Any advice/other suggestions gratefully received!

If you get decent weather - one of the most beautiful places you'll ever see is the Highlands/Islands of Scotland

Inveraray Jail is cool, Loch Fyne Hotel is lovely for a stay, Plenty of brewery / whiskey tours etc. If you get the weather, just go for some nice walks etc - Remember in Scotland you can basically walk anywhere you wish under the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

Edinburgh is obviously massively touristy and can be very expensive for hotels etc...Depends what you want from Edinburgh - August will be VERY expensive as that's generally the Festival time so everything is ramped up in terms of the tourist numbers and also the hotel costs. Even a basic Travellodge will be around £200 a night in August time.

 

[Quartz]

If you get decent weather - one of the most beautiful places you'll ever see is the Highlands/Islands of Scotland

Absolutely.

If you get the weather, just go for some nice walks etc

Do make sure you are properly attired. Walking boots and such. I attended a talk given by the head of a local mountain rescue team and he said that the number one injury for people walking up Bennachie is a twisted ankle, mostly from inadequate footwear.

Some pictures to whet your appetite from the Black Isle and north of Nigg:

Celtic stone

The Emigration Stone (Cromarty)

The Mermaid of the North (Balintore)

The Miller Memorial (Cromarty)

 

[EvilRob]

We decided to skip Scotland for this year and go when we have enough time to spend a week or two doing the NC500. Just going to head to Norfolk for a few days instead.

 

[shroomz]

EE-Usk in Oban is great but I can't echo enough what other posters said:
1. If it's not windy, you'll get eaten alive by midges. The heat wave drove them wild earlier this year and it's the worst year I can remember for this time of the midge season.
2. Edinburgh will blow your wallet in August and everything will be heaving, be prepared.

Why not go see Orkney, or Inverness area. Though, the food can be more hit-or-miss around Inverness and you may have to manage your expectations, but maybe I've just not had much luck whenever I've gone to Inverness.

 

[Quartz]

We decided to skip Scotland for this year and go when we have enough time to spend a week or two doing the NC500.

Go early and use a travel agent to book hotels. And if you want to do the Applecross pass then make sure your tyres are in good condition.

 

[Barry Smalley]

Inverary is a great place to base yourself. From there, you could see loads in those five days and it’s not to far to travel to.

 

[200sols]

I stayed here last year https://kingairloch.co.uk/

Wonderful estate, great restaurant as well which is pretty rare to find in the middle of absolutely no where. We mainly go for the walking which was excellent and unlike some other areas you wont see another soul on the hills. Day trip to mull etc. We spent a second week on the way back in the borders and went to Edinburgh one day, I don't know what you plan to do there but avoid the tourist areas especially the royal mile. Its just rows of shops selling overpriced tat to tourists.