Planning a 30 Anniversary Trip

[RAF]

Hello Gentlemen (and Ladies),

I'm in the beginning stages of planning a 30th anniversary trip for me and the Mr.
Luckily he loves Scotland as much as I do, so that is where we're going (mostly.)
We've been once before - stayed in Edinburgh. Loved it. Looking forward to going back.

Here's what we've come up with for a tentative itinerary.
I know trips are hugely personal, and tastes are subjective, but if anyone has any suggestions or observations of glaring omissions, I'm open to hearing feedback.

This is the route: Glasgow > Skye > Inverness > Aberdeen (and/or Dundee) > Edinburgh > London.

Total trip is about 3 weeks. (mid May - early June)

All transport is via rail (except of course for flights to and from UK, and Ferry to Skye - Mallaig to Armadale.)

Day trips based from major stopping points TBD, although current themes (in no particular order) are: Mackintosh (Architecture), nature walks, sailing, castle visits, whiskey, genealogy, shopping, friends (London), and the travel itself!
From what I can tell we'll be too early for any Highland Games, but if someone knows of something within the time I mentioned above, please let me know.

Apartments for longer base stays (Glasgow, Edinburgh, London.) Hotels for the jumps.

Lastly, ( and I know this has been brought up before, but here it is,) An American on vacation in Scotland - Kilted? Yay or nay? Discuss.
I'm not too worried about what others will think of me, but I'm curious to hear from those with more experience in this matter.
Thanks in advance for your input!

[Jock Scot]

OK off the top of my head, the Blair Atholl Gathering and games take place at the end of May on the Sunday and usually The Duke Parades the Atholl Highlanders(Europe's only private army) on the Saturday of the same weekend. Blair Castle is a great place to visit in itself but the parade and games are an added bonus and the station is only a wee walk from the main gate.

BE WARNED there is NO rail link between Inverness and Fort William. There is a good bus link though., to link the east and west(entirely separate lines)lines. If you can, do the train trips in the daylight to/from Inverness, or, Mallaig.

Wear the kilt, although the east of Scotland is less midgy than the west, so you might need to bare that in mind at the end of May.

Just a thought! Do you know, I am not sure if Skye has a railway! I don't think it has. You may need to consider bus and coach routes on Skye.

[creagdhubh]

OK off the top of my head, the Blair Atholl Gathering and games take place at the end of May on the Sunday and usually The Duke Parades the Atholl Highlanders(Europe's only private army) on the Saturday of the same weekend. Blair Castle is a great place to visit in itself but the parade and games are an added bonus and the station is only a wee walk from the main gate.

BE WARNED there is NO rail link between Inverness and Fort William. There is a good bus link though., to link the east and west(entirely separate lines)lines. If you can, do the train trips in the daylight to/from Inverness, or, Mallaig.

Wear the kilt, although the east of Scotland is less midgy than the west, so you might need to bare that in mind at the end of May.

Superb advice, Jock. I can vouch for the Blair Atholl Gathering, it is a wonderful time with lots to see and do. House of Bruar isn't too far away either, if you are keen on bringing home a few Scottish woolen items, amongst other things. There's a nice tea room there as well, which serves a delightful lunch. Atholl is such a beautiful area, especially on a sunny, blue sky day.

Enjoy your time!

[RAF]

OK off the top of my head, the Blair Atholl Gathering and games take place at the end of May on the Sunday and usually The Duke Parades the Atholl Highlanders(Europe's only private army) on the Saturday of the same weekend. Blair Castle is a great place to visit in itself but the parade and games are an added bonus and the station is only a wee walk from the main gate.

BE WARNED there is NO rail link between Inverness and Fort William. There is a good bus link though., to link the east and west(entirely separate lines)lines. If you can, do the train trips in the daylight to/from Inverness, or, Mallaig.

Wear the kilt, although the east of Scotland is less midgy than the west, so you might need to bare that in mind at the end of May.

Just a thought! Do you know, I am not sure if Skye has a railway! I don't think it has. You may need to consider bus and coach routes on Skye.

I'll look into Blair Atholl and House of Bruar - thank you.
Still checking on specific modes of transport on Skye. I've seen bus routes, that's most likely to be our selection.
And thank you for the rail warning. I had noticed that East/West gap. I'll double check my plan, but I think there is a RailEurope connection between Kyle of Lochalsh and Inverness. (Taking bus from Kyleakin on Skye to mainland Lochalsh, then train from there.) If not, of course will link by bus.
And definitely planning on daytime train travel, would not want to miss out on the views!
Re: midges, so East would be more comfortable than West if I understand you?
Thanks Jock, and Kyle!

[creagdhubh]

I'll look into Blair Atholl and House of Bruar - thank you.
Still checking on specific modes of transport on Skye. I've seen bus routes, that's most likely to be our selection.
And thank you for the rail warning. I had noticed that East/West gap. I'll double check my plan, but I think there is a RailEurope connection between Kyle of Lochalsh and Inverness. (Taking bus from Kyleakin on Skye to mainland Lochalsh, then train from there.) If not, of course will link by bus.
And definitely planning on daytime train travel, would not want to miss out on the views!
Re: midges, so East would be more comfortable than West if I understand you?
Thanks Jock, and Kyle!

The Kyle of Lochalsh and Kyleakin are truly beautiful areas. My parents honeymooned in Skye back in the late 1970's and this is where my first name of "Kyle" was derived.

[cessna152towser]

The glaring omission which I see is you are only going to the Glasgow and Edinburgh central belt and the Highlands and will miss the whole of the rolling scenery, historic castles and fortified towerhouses, battlegrounds etc. of the south of Scotland, the rolling Southern Upland hills with their moorland and forestry, the Scottish Borders Abbeys, and the Solway Coast of Dumfries and Galloway.
However there is only so much you can see in the available time and you will at least catch fleeting glimpses of southern Scotland as you travel by train from Glasgow or Edinburgh to London. The train journey on the west coast route from Glasgow takes slightly longer than the east coast route from Edinburgh but is more scenic, at least where it passes through southern Scotland and northern England.

[RAF]

The glaring omission which I see is you are only going to the Glasgow and Edinburgh central belt and the Highlands and will miss the whole of the rolling scenery, historic castles and fortified towerhouses, battlegrounds etc. of the south of Scotland, the rolling Southern Upland hills with their moorland and forestry, the Scottish Borders Abbeys, and the Solway Coast of Dumfries and Galloway.
However there is only so much you can see in the available time and you will at least catch fleeting glimpses of southern Scotland as you travel by train from Glasgow or Edinburgh to London. The train journey on the west coast route from Glasgow takes slightly longer than the east coast route from Edinburgh but is more scenic, at least where it passes through southern Scotland and northern England.

I would love to take two to three months and REALLY explore Scotland completely, but we've got three weeks this time.
We will be taking day trips in all directions from base "camps." Dumfries is a consideration since I have ancestry from there and am curious to see to area.
A more detailed tour of the south will be the goal of another trip.

[triumph]

Very interesting thread, as we also have an interest in travel to these areas. please keep us posted.