Travel advice - Scotland

[Redshank]

I live in Argyll, I work for Visit Scotland Tourist Info, if you think I can be off help, please contact me, see my threads in the photo section for Argyll's scenery

Chris

[Jack Daw]

The first time I went to Scotland, I went during the first 3 weeks in May. It was VERY easy to find B&Bs as it is very early in the tourist season there. I never made a reservation - all I had to do was find a Visitor's Centre ([i] on the map) to choose where. The prices were reasonable, too, because there wasn't much competition for rooms that early in the year.

[vmac3205]

Ditto what Sydnie said.

B&B's are usually very reasonable with the same accommodations standards as many 4 star hotels. I've been pleasantly surprised many times.

Self-catering is another viable alternative, though you'd better start securing these now.

A larger vehicle will be substantially more to rent and the fuel costs.... Also, some car rental firms don't permit taking their vehicles off the mainland. Check 1st, 'cause you'll be uninsured if'n you do.

Good on yall for touring w/o a group. You'll see far more and not be forced to go places you'd prefer to avoid when locked into a scheduled tour.

Slan,
steve

The only problem we had with B&B's is that you need to be out of the facility from about 1000 until about 16t00 hrs, so if you are staying more than one day, and the weather is bad or you just want to lay in for the day, it is problematic. Other than that, they are great. I really like the self-catering plan.

[Graham]

I live in Argyll, I work for Visit Scotland Tourist Info, if you think I can be off help, please contact me, see my threads in the photo section for Argyll's scenery

Chris

Thanks all for your comments, they are helpful. I'm finding even small campervans very expensive so far, and we DO want to island hop, so a small car may be the way to go.
We were last there in 2005, we visited Mull, Skye, Iona (best place on earth).

This time Islay is attractive, yes I want to visit my "Laphroaig plot" on the island, Chris I would appreciate being in touch with you, email me when you can tassiecelt@mac.com.
My passion is trad. music, whisky and SCD, so I am sure all three passions will be well fed in Argyle.

[Jock Scot]

Just a wee bump.There are a couple of new chaps that might be interested in the information.

[Firetacoma]

Thanks for the bump! This helps me tremendously!

If the original author doesn't mind, I have some questions of my own that might piggyback nicely into this existing thread.

Our current plan is to fly into London on May 3rd at noon. I would like to get on a train right away and head north. Hopefully stay that night in the small town of Chirnside, between Duns and Eyemouth in the Borders region. This town has some family history as it is probably the origin of my surname (Churnside). I would like to spend maybe 2 days in this region.

Then head to Edinburgh for a couple days. Do the typical tourist stuff there, royal mile (any good shops to check out?), castle, and what else would be worth checking out?

Next head to Glasgow for maybe 1 day. My now fiancee (then wife) has a friend attending school there. Anything else in Glasgow worth seeing?

Then North to Inverness, see Nessy and ?

That's really all I have so far. Where should we go from here?

We leave from London on the 15th, but will spend the last 2 days in London with my Bride's step-brother who lives there. We will be taking public transportation for the entire trip. Is it worth it to buy a britrail pass? I was thinking a 8 day flexi pass.

We like hiking, drinking, rural scenery, castles, border collies, pipes and pipe bands, local folk music, and getting off the beaten path. Any tips, help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

[Stravaiger]

For a small campervan you could try The vans are fairly small inside, but on the plus side, they're ideal for singletrack roads. They also come in under the 5 metre length restriction on the ferries, so you don't get fleeced (too much!) on the island crossings. Of course, I might be a little biased, since I own a Bongo..

[Stravaiger]

Oops - the link didn't appear in my last post for some reason Here it is again http://www.highlandcampervans.com/

[Pleater]

If it is any help, I take a week in August to visit a folk festival, and over the years I have found it so convenient to have everything to hand, even though I get the smallest vehicle I can.

When the rain is pouring down, or after a long stint of drumming, I can sit inside, kettle on, making sandwiches, playing my guitar in comfort in a convenient lay by or car park, or look up an indoor event and drive myself there - or get to any address where I am invited to play or just go to socialise.

With a car and B&B you would have to set a timetable and stick to it, or try to rearrange things if you wanted to make some diversion, so if you can make at least some part of your visit 'footloose and fancy free' I would advise it, even if it is only for a weekend

You might want to contact hire firms to check on their regulations and charges for foreign visitors, and what you might need to sort out ahead of time in order to be allowed to drive.

Anne the Pleater,