Travel to Scotland

[azwildcat96]

Hi all,

I am looking into visiting Scotland next year. Actually, I will be competing in the Masters World Championship highland games in Inverness (September 2014). Already signed up for the competition...now the reality is setting in...I need to plan the trip! Airfare, where to stay, how to travel around once we're there, what else to do before/after the competion, do I want to travel anywhere else in Europe, etc...

I know some of you have travelled to Scotland, or live in or near Scotland.

Any tips are appreciated.

[Jock Scot]

Okay, give me a hand here. How long are you planning to stay in Scotland? How are you planning to travel? A clue on what your interests are, besides Higland games? Do you have any "must sees"? These details are really helpful when advising.

[guardsman]

Culloden right next door to Inverness, as is cawdor castle , loch ness . As Jock asks , how long you over for ? Lots going on in Scotland next year , ryder cup , in september . Other pertinent question is have you been before and if so what have you seen ? Hoping to go to ryder cup myself hope the games on about same date

[John_Carrick]

Left for Skye, Ullapool, Wester Ross, South for Cairngorms. Fort George to the right too.

Cities Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow (London, Paris, Berlin, Rome, Madrid, Barcelona, Prague, Vienna, Dublin etc).

Two whole weeks in Scotland (or the wider UK) would be easily filled.

One word of warning is that this is the lead up period to the independence referendum, so it could be a fascinating or dire time to go depending on your interests.

John

[John_Carrick]

Referendum is 18th September

[cessna152towser]

If you are going to be based in Inverness there is plenty to see in the highlands alone without ever visiting central or southern Scotland. Loch Ness, Fort George, Culloden, the scenic train ride to Kyle of Lochalsh or the far north line to Thurso for the Orkney ferry at Scrabster etc.
Unfortunately there are no direct flights from USA to Inverness. I would think your best bet would be travel from USA to Amsterdam Schiphol airport then a connecting flight to Inverness. All the gates are within walking distance of one another. Avoid London Heathrow at all costs, its a HORRIBLE airport with rude staff and five different terminals and sometimes you can have a long wait for the train between terminals. On the map, travel via Amsterdam appears to be rather indirect as you would fly over northern Scotland on your way into Amsterdam from USA, yet the fares via Amsterdam can be surprisingly competitive. I've flown from Glasgow to Calgary via Amsterdam, and at the time that was the cheapest way of doing it.
You could of course get a flight direct from USA to Glasgow or Edinburgh but the connecting flights to Inverness from there are infrequent and use small aircraft. If you decide to travel via Glasgow or Edinburgh, the flights arrive in the morning. Best to spend the afternoon and evening sightseeing the city then stay overnight in Glasgow or Edinburgh then take a train to Inverness next day. The train journey is quite scenic.

[Liam]

Can anyone comment on whether one should rent a car or use public transit (train and bus)? My wife and I are contemplating a return to Scotland (our previous visit was in 1978) and are considering both a u-drive style or a bus tour and would also appreciate your thoughts too.

[azwildcat96]

If you are going to be based in Inverness there is plenty to see in the highlands alone without ever visiting central or southern Scotland. Loch Ness, Fort George, Culloden, the scenic train ride to Kyle of Lochalsh or the far north line to Thurso for the Orkney ferry at Scrabster etc.
Unfortunately there are no direct flights from USA to Inverness. I would think your best bet would be travel from USA to Amsterdam Schiphol airport then a connecting flight to Inverness. All the gates are within walking distance of one another. Avoid London Heathrow at all costs, its a HORRIBLE airport with rude staff and five different terminals and sometimes you can have a long wait for the train between terminals. On the map, travel via Amsterdam appears to be rather indirect as you would fly over northern Scotland on your way into Amsterdam from USA, yet the fares via Amsterdam can be surprisingly competitive. I've flown from Glasgow to Calgary via Amsterdam, and at the time that was the cheapest way of doing it.
You could of course get a flight direct from USA to Glasgow or Edinburgh but the connecting flights to Inverness from there are infrequent and use small aircraft. If you decide to travel via Glasgow or Edinburgh, the flights arrive in the morning. Best to spend the afternoon and evening sightseeing the city then stay overnight in Glasgow or Edinburgh then take a train to Inverness next day. The train journey is quite scenic.

I thought about flying into Edinburgh, and either taking public transportation or renting a car to get to Inverness. I don't mind the drive. I typically spend 1000-1200 miles per week in my vehicle. But I'm open to any suggestions about the best way to get around. I do have a little over one year to plan this.

[azwildcat96]

Okay, give me a hand here. How long are you planning to stay in Scotland? How are you planning to travel? A clue on what your interests are, besides Higland games? Do you have any "must sees"? These details are really helpful when advising.

Jock,

I wish I had these answers...All I know right now is that the competition will take up a weekend. I plan to arrive several days in advance (maybe on a Wednesday or Thursday) to rest and see a few sights.

If time wasn't an issue, I'd love to visit the North end of the Isle of Lewis (I'm a Morrison), but I'm not sure how that will fit into the plans.

I'm positive that I could spend two weeks in Scotland alone, and still not come close to seeing a fraction of what there is to offer.

Hobbies would certainly include a trip to a distillery or two or twelve. I love to hunt and fish, but I'm unsure of seasons and regulations, so this is probably not an option on this first visit.

The issue of rental vehicle is an interesting one. I will have to look into this further. I guess I assumed that public transportation in most of Europe was cheap, reliable, and readily available.

[Jock Scot]

Jock,

I wish I had these answers...All I know right now is that the competition will take up a weekend. I plan to arrive several days in advance (maybe on a Wednesday or Thursday) to rest and see a few sights.

If time wasn't an issue, I'd love to visit the North end of the Isle of Lewis (I'm a Morrison), but I'm not sure how that will fit into the plans.

I'm positive that I could spend two weeks in Scotland alone, and still not come close to seeing a fraction of what there is to offer.

Hobbies would certainly include a trip to a distillery or two or twelve. I love to hunt and fish, but I'm unsure of seasons and regulations, so this is probably not an option on this first visit.

The issue of rental vehicle is an interesting one. I will have to look into this further. I guess I assumed that public transportation in most of Europe was cheap, reliable, and readily available.

I think as others have said renting a car is your best option, but public transport is pretty good too. However public transport does limit you somewhat to the main routes although there is a very efficient taxi service from most hotels, coach/bus/train stations, airports etc and are not too expensive although it would be wise not to venture too far as that meter does keep ticking!

A visit to the Isle of Lewis would not be too difficult to arrange and is quite doable considering that you are in Inverness anyway. It would be unwise, I think, to think that it could be done(there and back) in a day though, although flying to the islands from Inverness is a realistic consideration, but I do not have details.

September is a fine time for your sporting activities. Salmon and trout are in season, as are red deer, grouse, partridge and wildfowl. Please let us get the terminology right here and without getting too mired in the detail, Hunting in the UK is usually done on horseback with a pack of hounds and not in the Highlands. Shooting/deer stalking is what we do when in pursuit of grouse etc, or the deer. Many hotels can arrange these activities given prior notice and there are also many sporting agents who can arrange these activities for you and are quite used to dealing with visitors from overseas and the assorted legal aspects that go with these sorts of pastimes. Be warned, these activities can be very hard on the wallet!

As you are obviously interested in wildlife, bring a pair of binoculars as there is much wildlife to be seen whilst on your travels around the place. One particular place that I enjoy with my binoculars is watching the dolphins from the ramparts of Fort George. Fort George situated a few miles from Inverness is a must see in my book anyway,but the dolphins are an added bonus and if you want to see the dolphins close up(20 yards sometimes) then Chanonry Point, opposite side of the Firth to Fort George, is THE place to go.

I do not wish to depress you, but after extensive travelling in the UK in general and Scotland in particular, over the last 70 something years I doubt that I have even seen half of what there is to see, so be kind to yourself with the few days/weeks that you are here!

Hope this helps.