Planning our first trip to Scotland - Need your help!

[Pleater]

One thing that can be a shock is the cost of fuel here - I think that average prices in the US are less than half what we pay - and it is going up.

Just as I was typing that, the news is that petrol goes up 2p per litre from midnight.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[MacKay71 Wife]

Y'all have no idea how much we appreciate all this info!!! This is fabulous and makes us wish we could leave tomorrow!!!
Our target date is May or August/September. I am allergic to sustained cold. I know, sounds like a joke, but I'm serious! Also, for all of June and most of July, I work summer camp at a Boy Scout camp. So, from what we're hearing from y'all, those seem to be the best times to shoot for.
We are very definitely listening to your advice about getting out of the cities as that is what we enjoy anyway. Even when we go to "touristy" places, we try to get as much local flavor as possible. We are around crowds of people so much in our everyday lives (Delta Airlines, scout camp, my large family, our kids and their assorted friends, etc., etc., etc.,) we try NOT to do too many crowds on our rare breaks!! Don't get me wrong, we love all the kids, but.........

Potentially silly question about B&B's in Scotland, but I find it better to ask than get surprised later. I know some of this would probably depend on the individual place, but generally, what kind of privacy and toilet facilities are there? And, I have heard that the rental cars are relatively small compared to most American cars. (I drive a Jeep Grand Cherokee.) Is this true?

[MacKay71 Wife]

Oh, and, DUH about the pictures!!!

Scott is a great photographer, so you can look forward to some fabulous pics - sorry you're gonna have to wait!!!!

[Jock Scot]

Y'all have no idea how much we appreciate all this info!!! This is fabulous and makes us wish we could leave tomorrow!!!
Our target date is May or August/September. I am allergic to sustained cold. I know, sounds like a joke, but I'm serious! Also, for all of June and most of July, I work summer camp at a Boy Scout camp. So, from what we're hearing from y'all, those seem to be the best times to shoot for.
We are very definitely listening to your advice about getting out of the cities as that is what we enjoy anyway. Even when we go to "touristy" places, we try to get as much local flavor as possible. We are around crowds of people so much in our everyday lives (Delta Airlines, scout camp, my large family, our kids and their assorted friends, etc., etc., etc.,) we try NOT to do too many crowds on our rare breaks!! Don't get me wrong, we love all the kids, but.........

Potentially silly question about B&B's in Scotland, but I find it better to ask than get surprised later. I know some of this would probably depend on the individual place, but generally, what kind of privacy and toilet facilities are there? And, I have heard that the rental cars are relatively small compared to most American cars. (I drive a Jeep Grand Cherokee.) Is this true?

I drive a Jeep Cherokee. Jeeps would be regarded as moderately large here, by most people and certainly judging by the cars that people hire, when they fly up to see us, it would be larger than any hire car that I have seen.

I think it is fair to say most(not all I am sure) B&B facilities are very modern and at a guess, en suite facilities could almost be considered as the norm these days. I think there is some sort of star system handed out by the Tourist Boards that classify the quality of the B&B. Be warned! The water in parts of the highlands is brown! Well OK, a distinct brown tint to it. It is fine to drink and bathe in, but it can be a little disconcerting to run a bath and see peat stained water for the first time!