Planning our first trip to Scotland - Need your help!

[Heming]

I'll give my advise as a former alien in Scotland:

1 - I prefer May. Middle of spring, not too bad weather, and lovely flowers everywhere. Also there's no major festivals that I know of, so accommodation isn't too hard to find.

2 - I may be a bit biased towards Edinburgh, so I'll start with the non-Lothian things:
2.1 - Dunvalanree Hotel in Carradale, Mull of Kintyre. It's an attraction in itself, with luxurious rooms, fantastic, home-cooked food, the best service I've experienced (family run) and a fantastic view of Arran. Go there for supper, stay the night and experience the worlds most fantastic three-course breakfast. With a bit of imagination it could be considered on the way to Islay, too...
2.2 - New Lanark village museum - An old industry town, now defunct, but restored as a museum. There's a woolen mill, a cotton-processing plant and lots of other very interesting stuff. Great tours that teach you a lot about the industrialisation of Scotland, and fantastic gift shop with products made in the village. Very good quality knitting yarn and patterns for traditional knit garments.
2.3 - In Edinburgh, go to "Mary King's Close", an under-ground tour of an old street excavated under the existing buildings.
2.4 - Still in Edinburgh, visit The Famous Peacock Inn on Lindsay road near Leith docks. They have the best fish and chips imaginable and a very good selection of ales and whiskies. Book a table, it's usually full...
2.5 - In Edinburgh, don't forget to pop by Armstrong's vintage clothing shop on the Grassmarket. They often have kilts, kilt jackets and other apparel in very good condition for very good prices. Afterwards, go across the square to any of the excellent pubs there for lunch!

3 - Don't take too many destillery tours unless you're extremely fascinated by whisky. They're more or less the same experience all over, in my opinion.

4 - I think I covered that in question 2 ... In Edinburgh it's generally a good idea to stay clear of the Royal Mile, except "End of the World" which is pricey, but has good food. Try the Saltire in Rose Street for good, real scottish food without the fancies.

5 - Don't try to see too many sights and try too many things. Make a plan of one or two attractions per day. Stick to the plan. You need years to see all of Scotland, anyway.

Hope that's usable advise!