Travelling to Scotland - advice??

[Hachiman]

G'day Phil

I don't know when we'll be making it to Bonnie Scotland, but your commentary is beautifully worded, and very much appreciated! Thank you for a well-reasoned and knowledgeable piece.

regards
Hachiman

[Your Bonnie Lass]

I would absolutely LOVE to visit Scotland, but I've never been to another country. The farthest I've been is to Florida and Hawaii. My mom has been to Ireland and France before. I'd really love to visit Scotland though and I have no idea what to expect, where and when to go, what to bring, etc. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[keith_mckirk]

Visit all the big cities mentioned. I'd second Inverness and Loch Ness (not saying there is a creature in it but you could almost believe it from the size of actual fish pulled out of it). I like Oban alot MacCrig's Folly is a weird weird but interesting building that was never finished. Being a history buff I enjoyed going to the Isle of Iona but it's a bit out of the way.

I wish I'd gone to Ayr it looks like my relatives lived there a bit before shipping off to Antrim (But I didn't know that when I went).

No matter what you could never see everthing. You'll just have to plan multiple trips.

[celticall]

Thanks everyone, for the great write-ups. I too am planning to go to Scotland and would like to know if anyone has tips on where/when to catch live sessions or local music?

[AcuteEnigma]

First things I would put on my list are those directly related to your clans. Explore those histories and castles!!!
Next though you have to think of what kinds of things you like to do. If you love being outdoors, someone's list of operas and museums won't help you that much.

Do you want to do outdoorsy stuff, see historical stuff, see ancient archaeology sites(my favorite), shop for antiques, check more birds off your birdwatching list, see a real Scottish games, travel by train, tour big old houses, look for seashells, take boat rides.....?

Can you narrow down your interests for us? We could help you better that way. Or I could just tell you MY dream vacation in Scotland and you could do that. lol

[RunTheWorldOnMac]

We are taking our honeymoon to Scotland and the Green Isle at the end of September. Couple nights in Edinburgh, off to Fort William for a night before a trip on the Jacobite steam train (Harry Potter fans will know the train). Off to Glasgow for a few days then it's off to Cork and Dublin for a few days. We will spend the last 2 nights in Edinburgh.

We will take tours to Loch Ness, and a couple others. I'd like to visit Mary Kings Close too. I'm a fan of tours but do have many walking tours loaded on my iPhone to play tour guide ourselves at our own pace.

It will be jam packed but amazing! I will likely blog each day and share my trip when I'm back.

[keith_mckirk]

celticall :Edinbourough has a music festival every year you could time it around that.

I really wish I'd know all the family history I know now, turns out I went close by to alot of "family" locations. Ferniehirst castle I had thought was cool as it was designed for lefty (being left-handed myself) and now I found out I'm distantly related to the Kerr's so I went to some family spots and didn't know it till later.

[Your Bonnie Lass]

I just wouldn't know what to expect since I've never been outside of the US. I would love to see castles and do lots of shopping. My family is Irish, but then again I'm adopted so I can't be all too sure. I do enjoy a bit of music and good food. And is there a place when I can satisfy my kilt obsession? XD Also, do they have horses? Just curious, since I've always wanted to ride one.

[Jock Scot]

I just wouldn't know what to expect since I've never been outside of the US. I would love to see castles and do lots of shopping. My family is Irish, but then again I'm adopted so I can't be all too sure. I do enjoy a bit of music and good food. And is there a place when I can satisfy my kilt obsession? XD Also, do they have horses? Just curious, since I've always wanted to ride one.

Lots of horses in Scotland of various types and there are riding centres dotted about. We have our own breeds too, the Highland Pony and the Shetland and the "cart horse", the Clydsdale. Two riding centres that spring to mind where you can ride Highland Ponies over and in, some stunning surroundings are at Blair Atholl and at Newtonmore.

[Phil]

You are very fortunate, Bonnie Lass, living where you do in that you can travel from the frozen north to the tropical south through all sorts of climates in between, all within the borders of your home country. Travelling abroad, however, opens your mind to other people and the way that they live their lives. That way you discover that they are, underneath it all, just the same as you with the same hopes and desires, just different languages and traditions.
Ireland is a beautiful country to visit and has castles galore as a result of its turbulent past. As for horses. Well you couldn’t find a better place than Ireland and this site - http://www.ehi.ie/ - will give you an idea of what is on offer. Sadly kilts are not really worn in Ireland except, perhaps, to the odd wedding but that is no reason to stop you as Irish people are far too polite and have a strong affinity with Scottish people to mind anyone wearing a kilt. With your Irish background you will surely enjoy a visit there and as it is only a short distance across the sea to Scotland then why not combine a visit to both countries?
The people all speak the same language as you, most probably they have relatives in your country, the food is much the same and you will even find a lot of the same programmes on television! And you will find there are still enough differences to make your visit interesting and something to remember when you get home. If you are travelling on your own the countries are safe as long as you are sensible where and when you go, avoiding run-down areas of big cities late at night that sort of thing.
I hope you so decide to come and I know you will enjoy the experience. The only problem then is deciding when your next visit will be!