What to do for 3 days in Scotland?

[guitarmatt]

Thanks for the input. I figured that might be the case about the weather. I'll probably get another few free days in July when the weather's better, and maybe tackle a long walk then.

A few more points:
1. I won't be able to drive. I've been in the UK long enough that I can't drive with my US license anymore.
2. Once the Jacobite steam train starts running in a few months, we're going to go visit Fort William for that, so no matter what I'll be sure to get up that way.

So I'm starting to think islands whisky trip this time around. Do you think that'd be doable without a car?

[Jock Scot]

Thanks for the input. I figured that might be the case about the weather. I'll probably get another few free days in July when the weather's better, and maybe tackle a long walk then.

A few more points:
1. I won't be able to drive. I've been in the UK long enough that I can't drive with my US license anymore.
2. Once the Jacobite steam train starts running in a few months, we're going to go visit Fort William for that, so no matter what I'll be sure to get up that way.

So I'm starting to think islands whisky trip this time around. Do you think that'd be doable without a car?

I can't give you too much advice about what goes on on the Islands these days, but there used to be a very modest bus service on most of them. Be warned that depending on which island, or maybe the personal view of the bus driver, not much happens on a Sunday and that may include no bus service. Check it out if you are planning venturing out on a Sunday.

OK save FW for another time. Then, if you wish, go to the East coast (Inverness side by train)Culloden is just outside the city as is Fort George, Urquhart Castle, Loch Ness etc.. Or, go further East but a bit South to Aberdeen and venture out from there.

[sfb]

Three days would be tight to try and see much of more than one island, I'd have thought. Part of the problem of course is that you have to get to wherever the ferry leaves from in the first place, and without your own transport that'll be time consuming in itself. From Glasgow it's about a two & a half hour drive to Oban for the Mull ferry, for example, but once you factor in ferry timetables you really have to spend the bulk of one day travelling.

I've never been to Islay, but I've heard good reports, and there's no shortage of distilleries there. Reasonably helpful summary and links on the Calmac website - they also mention a whisky hopscotch ticket, if you can find the time!

[guitarmatt]

Three days would be tight to try and see much of more than one island, I'd have thought. Part of the problem of course is that you have to get to wherever the ferry leaves from in the first place, and without your own transport that'll be time consuming in itself. From Glasgow it's about a two & a half hour drive to Oban for the Mull ferry, for example, but once you factor in ferry timetables you really have to spend the bulk of one day travelling.

I've never been to Islay, but I've heard good reports, and there's no shortage of distilleries there. Reasonably helpful summary and links on the Calmac website - they also mention a whisky hopscotch ticket, if you can find the time!

Yeah, 3 days will be tight, but it'll follow 3 days on Mull. Basically I think I'll just extend my trip a bit longer and send the kid and his mama home. Thanks for the Calmac link, the Hopscotch tickets look like a good deal, and bikes go for free. I'll look into them when I'm working out transport.

[sfb]

Yeah, 3 days will be tight, but it'll follow 3 days on Mull. Basically I think I'll just extend my trip a bit longer and send the kid and his mama home. Thanks for the Calmac link, the Hopscotch tickets look like a good deal, and bikes go for free. I'll look into them when I'm working out transport.

I'd missed that you were going to be in Mull already! Saves a bit of travelling at one end.

If you have time when you're there, and you don't mind relatively wee boats on the relatively open sea, the trip to Staffa is well worth it. I think they start running the trips around Easter. Apart from anything else, it's another island for your list, but it's a fascinating trip for geological, wildlife, and historical reasons. Mind you, I'm biased, because it was an ambition of mine for ages to see Fingal's Cave, and I also choose to believe that it is indeed the other end of the Giants Causeway, which me & my beloved visited a few years ago.

And if you can't celebrate potential celtic connections on this site, where can you?