We've wanted to go to Scotland for the past 25 years. Never had the time/money/etc...you know the drill.

Well, in a fit of wild abandon my wife and I just ordered plane tickets to Edinburgh for the only time available to us this year..the week after Christmas. Got a very good price considering what they've been going for over the past 12 months.

My wife has friends in several cities (Edinburgh, Inverness) so we'll be seeing those areas. We also want to travel down the Great Glen to see the "old home place" (Invergarry Castle) southwest of Loch Ness. Yeah, I know those places are pretty far apart. We will have no set agenda and will do what we can squeeze in comfortably.

P1Malt...you're located in the opposite direction from our travel plan, but just in case...is yoiur fine establishment open that week?

I've searched the board and located many previous posts with general travel tips, for which I am very grateful.

The question is...considering the mid-winter timing, are there any suggestions for us? How's the rail service that time of year as compared to car rental (I know the petrol prices are off the charts). Are there any special events that fall in that week that we should consider attending?

Don't even try to talk me out of it..."the check's in the mail"!