When I got married, two years ago, I wanted to go to Scotland for the honeymoon. My wife wanted to go to the Caribbean. She won.

Now, she has brought up the idea of going to Scotland for a 5th anniversary trip in 2008. So, I need some advice from folks who have been there.

First, our anniversary is in September. What's the weather like?

Is it best to use an experienced travel agent, or is it practical to plan my own itinerary, make my own reservations, etc?

How long is the travel time between Edinburgh/Lothians and the northern attractions, i.e. Loch Ness, Stirling?

Any suggestions for "must see places?"

How hard (and expensive) would it be to fit in a couple days in Ireland?

Budget is a concern. We'd like to keep costs down as much as possible. We think we'd prefer hotels to B&Bs, but we don't need luxury hotels. I'd be happier eating in pubs than posh restaurants, anyway.

I expect this to be an ongoing conversation for a while, and I look forward to the input of X-Markers.