Honeymoon in Scotland, trip suggestions

[NPG]

I assume you are driving. The one drawback is you don't get to enjoy the view when driving through the mountains; otherwise, you will become airborne and enjoy it even less.

Give way (yield) to the right when entering LEFT into a roundabout (we have only 2 in Houston) and get into the correct lane so that it spits you out onto the desired road. In the Highlands you will be driving on a lot of single-lane roads, which have aneurisms called "lay-bys". You pull over to your LEFT to let on-coming traffic pass. My only concern when driving the single-lane roads was not seeing possible on-coming traffic when there was a "summit" (hill) in the road. Before I left, I printed off the Scottish (British?) road signs to get familiar with the differences. As a lefty, I found driving on the left quick to get used to.

That is a good idea about printing out the signs and getting familiar with the practices of driving across the pond. Initially I had not considered driving, but the more I hear from others the more I think this might be a good option as long as I do my homework.

[tripleblessed]

Alan, thanks for that vegetarian link. Will be helpful when I get back over. My traveling companion and I were both
able to find food, both out and to cook in, but prior info is always helpful.

As to midges, I didn't encounter them as I was there in March; no colder or wetter than Atlanta at that time of year.
However, growing up in south Georgia swamp country, I learned from from grandmother to drink two tablespoons
of apple cider vinegar before venturing into the river bottoms fishing. By the time I walked down to the water I was
a bit damp, and the taste and smell of the cider vinegar was unpalatable to mosquitoes, gnats, yellow flies, horse flies,
sweat bees, and other assorted wee beasties best avoided. They would hang in midair about a foot off my skin, unable
to approach the feast they knew was there. From the sounds they made, it was clear they were cussin' up a storm in
frustration. I used cider vinegar in my dog's water to keep fleas and ticks off him. Should work on midges as well, and is
helpful to the body in various other ways as well.

[ctbuchanan]

That is a good idea about printing out the signs and getting familiar with the practices of driving across the pond. Initially I had not considered driving, but the more I hear from others the more I think this might be a good option as long as I do my homework.

If renting a car keep a few things in mind: quotes for car hire in the UK are a bit misleading. They show a low rate but once you add in the 20% VAT, then the required insurance etc it jumps up quite a bit. There is the equivalent of a $1,500 to $2,000 deductible on damage unless you pay to cover that. Also they require a "deposit" when you pick up the car - usually around $500.00 US. You get that back when you return it.

Also 90% of the cars are standard. Keep that in mind, renting an automatic costs quite a bit more.

But taking that all in I didn't find the driving on the left to be any issue and we enjoyed the freedom to explore.

CTBuchanan

[The Q]

I spent several years working in a "drive on the right" country.
When I went home on holiday or just after I went back to work, I found the worst problem was on unmarked roads either end, you have a tendency to automatically go to to the wrong side!!!
Many of the highlands and islands roads are unmarked.
Once you get to the terminus of a rail or air trip there is little public transport to take you further.

[Jock Scot]

There are one or two" local protocols" that one needs to be aware of when driving on our single track roads.

1. Never expect to get from A to B quickly.

2. If the person behind you beeps their horn and or flashes their lights its probably the midwife, district nurse, Doctor on a call,( not some road hog) pull in at the earliest oportunity and let them pass.

3.You are likely to be amongst spectacular scenery so you may be driving slowly, let others behind you pass.

4. If you want to stop to take in the views, have a picnic, take pictures, use a "lay bye" NOT repeat NOT and again, NOT the passing places.

5. If you have time and can see a large vehicle(articulated timber lorries/large motor homes, etc.) coming towards you, then its OK to pull into the RIGHT(as opposed to the usual left one) side passing place to allow the large truck to go straight on. This allows the large truck not to have to weave its way round you and fall into a bog! Sounds complicated, but its not really and you will see why when you are there!

6. If you see something interesting look in your mirror before stopping. PLEASE!

7. Make sure you have enough fuel before you start and when the tank is half empty, fill up at the first fuel stop you come to.

8. Always raise your hand and smile to acknowledge the person who has stopped to let you pass. The locals often just raise their index finger around the steering wheel, but an acknowledgement is always given.

[tpa]

A Scottish friend from Texas, who visits Scotland most summers, sent this advice for NPG at my request and, although he has it by PM, I thought it also worth posting here for other potential visitors:

Twenty-one days sounds a long time for a trip to Scotland, however, although it may seem a small country, there is a lot to see. Also it takes longer than you think getting out to the islands and spending some time there.

Orkney is fascinating with so many ancient places to visit. However you really need about a week in Orkney to do it justice. It is also a long way from the Western Isles. If you are visiting mainland Scotland, Skye, perhaps Mull, and the Outer Hebrides that is probably enough for one trip. Ferries to Orkney and the Outer Hebrides are both expensive, especially if you are taking a car over. It would be difficult to get around without a car.

I thought that I would start with some general advice for planning your trip.

Information is readily available on the Internet and it is worth checking out car hire, accommodation and places of interest so that you can plan out a trip for the time available. A map, Google or otherwise, gives you an idea where places are situated. You can fly into Glasgow or Edinburgh – whichever flight is at the best price. Routes can vary, usually via New York or London Heathrow or Gatwick or even Dublin or Amsterdam.

You seem to want to see quite a lot on the mainland. Some of your places of interest can be included on your way to the islands, but places like Dunottar Castle are kind of away in the opposite direction.

I would suggest that you don’t plan to visit before June when the hills start to green up after winter. Earlier than that and it can look more like Afghanistan! June is marginally quieter and cheaper in that the Scottish school vacations start at the end of June. The weather in June could be glorious or awful! You will have very long hours of daylight at that time of year – from about 3am until 11pm.

B & B accommodation is cheaper than hotels and you get to meet the owners of the places you stay at. Many have family rooms, which is cheaper than two rooms. Unless you don’t mind sharing a bathroom with others, look out for the phrase “en-suite bathrooms” That will give you your own bathroom off the bedroom. Breakfasts are large and included in the price.

It is advisable to start early booking accommodation. I suggest starting around late January/ February. It is worth looking for accommodation this summer in the places you want to visit in order to see the cost of rooms etc. Sometimes the B & B’s are closed over the winter and so it is worth getting an idea of places to stay and prices during this year’s season, if you have the time, so that you have an idea of where you want to book early next year. Plan also to book ferries by March/April so that you can be sure of getting a crossing when you want. Remember it is a short tourist season, so good places get booked up quickly.

It is possible to visit Skye and then go on from there to Lewis and Harris. The ferry departs from Uig in the north of Skye to Stornoway, or you can travel from Ullapool on the mainland to Stornoway.

Skye, Lewis and Harris are bigger islands than they seem to be on the map and take time to explore. (It is also expensive to get there so you want to spend a fair amount of time out there.) Harris has the most wonderful beaches on the west coast and the east coast looks like the surface of the moon! Lewis has amazing places like Gearrannan – a blackhouse village, the standing stones of Callinish and the ancient Broch of Dun Carlow. Don’t expect much to happen in the Outer Hebrides on a Sunday!

For wildlife there are lots of boat trips where the owner knows where to go to see puffins, dolphins, golden eagles, sea eagles etc. Misty Isle Boat Trips in Elgol, Skye go out to the Isle of Canna and stop there for an hour or so. They know where to find the wildlife like dolphins and puffins. They also take people across to Loch Coruisk in the heart of the Cuillin Mountains, which is a shorter trip. Also, in Kyle of Lochalsh, on the mainland right next to the bridge over to Skye, Seaprobe Atlantis have wildlife boat tours with a glass bottomed boat .

If you considered visiting the Isle of Mull, the Treshnish Islands off the west coast have colonies of puffins that can be visited close up. This is sometimes combined with a boat trip to Staffa. Fingal’s Cave on Staffa is stunning. There are also other boat tours to see sea eagles etc. All these boat tours add to the cost of the holiday, but they are worth it if you want to have any chance of seeing wildlife.

Mull also has a very short ferry journey to Iona with its abbey, the island where Christianity was brought to Scotland by Saint Columba. It also has white beaches and green sea (when the sun shines!)

Ferries go out approximately hourly from Oban on the mainland to Craignure in Mull. That ferry is not so expensive.

As for the mainland, Edinburgh needs a couple of days. There is a lot to see. If you are planning to visit Doune Castle, you are only about five miles away from Stirling Castle, the ancient royal castle. They have just spent 12.5 million GB Pounds restoring the Royal Apartments to the way they were in the mid 1500’s. They have done an excellent job – well worth a visit. Also included in the ticket is the Argyll Lodging, just down the hill from the Castle – the townhouse of the Duke of Argyll when the court was in residence at the castle. Both Edinburgh and Stirling Castles are not cheap – about $20 each, but well worth visiting.

These are just some initial ideas based on your indication of when you want to travel and where you want to visit. I am happy to supply more detail if you wish. Please bear in mind that nothing in the UK is cheap. Meals, fuel accommodation and tourist sites are all at least one and a half to two times that in the States.'

[Jock Scot]

Whilst local advice is no doubt helpful, it is I think often, the advice from those from afar who have "done it" so to speak, that is so much more useful. Well done TPA for that post above.

[Profane James]

8. Always raise your hand and smile to acknowledge the person who has stopped to let you pass. The locals often just raise their index finger around the steering wheel, but an acknowledgement is always given.

Now, this is good to know. I thought we, in the southern USA, were the only ones that did this!

[tpa]

Now, this is good to know. I thought we, in the southern USA, were the only ones that did this!

In the UK it is normal practice, not just on single track roads, but anywhere anyone stops for you for whatever reason. (Parked cars, exiting from a side road into a busy traffic stream; there are many instances of single carriage ways being obstructed, even where there is normally room for vehicles to pass each other.)

Without in any way being sexist or anti-woman drivers, (my wife and daughters are much better drivers than I) I have to say that in my experience men are much better at acknowledging other drivers who give way than women (with the above exceptions of course) are.

[ThistleDown]

Without in any way being sexist or anti-woman drivers, (my wife and daughters are much better drivers than I) I have to say that in my experience men are much better at acknowledging other drivers who give way than women (with the above exceptions of course) are.

That is my experience, too, and I offer the same disclaimer. My wife is a superb Swiss mountain driver with over three decades scratch-free driving to her credit. But she is less considerate of and courteous to others on our single-track roads than she should be. She usually whizzes by the chap she has forced into the layby without even acknowledging his frown and grudging raised palm.

I enjoy our Highland roads but understand they and our courtesies can be challenges to visitors.