Honeymoon - 3 weeks in Scotland - What to do?

**Nomad** · 29th December 17, 01:34 PM

I don't find the midges that bad at all, perhaps coming from South west Scotland, where it always warm and wet (therefore perfect midgie environment) I have thicker skin or maybe I have an inbuilt repellant.

My wife on the other hand was plagued by them, worst thing about them is unlike mosquitos they like to attack in force and because they are so small it is hard to kill them.

If they decide they like the way you taste then it could be a miserable time for you, so pack repellant.

Just remembered, best way to avoid them is to stay away from still water and boggy ground ( Glenfinnan monument is terrible place for them) if there's a breeze you should be okay as they get blown away very easily.

Originally Posted by gealach

Thanks for mentioning the tattoo fflex. That's definitely something we have to consider. They seem to have pretty nice packages available too...

@Nomad: I've heard about the midges. Are they really that bad?

**Liam** · 29th December 17, 08:12 PM

While in Glasgow check out the Transportation Museum.

**neloon** · 30th December 17, 01:42 AM

Whiskey + castles = Aberdeenshire
https://www.visitscotland.com/destin...en-city-shire/

**Liam** · 30th December 17, 04:12 AM

Originally Posted by neloon

Whiskey + castles = Aberdeenshire
https://www.visitscotland.com/destin...en-city-shire/

The Royal Deeside is worth a visit!

**cessna152towser** · 31st December 17, 11:33 AM

Well I am biased being originally from the west coast of Scotland and now living in the Southern Uplands near the English border and I have to admit that I have no love for Edinburgh.
Glasgow, with its fine architecture, beautiful parks and vibrant waterfront is a must visit and in recent years some modern hotels have sprung up near the city centre and along the waterfront. Have afternoon tea in the Willow Tearooms on Sauchiehall Street and take tours of Glasgow University and Glasgow Cathedral. For the wife Glasgow is also good for shopping.
Glasgow is a good jumping off point for days out to the Clyde and Argyll coastlines and a trip to Dumfries, the largest town in the south, where Robert Burns spent his last years. You can visit Burns house in Dumfries, also the 400 year old Globe Inn where Robert Burns was a regular customer and where you can enjoy a dram. Ferintosh Guest House in Dumfries is directly opposite the railway station and is owned by an xmarksthescot member, Pour1Malt, who offers discount rates to xmarkers, although he is not very active on this forum.
Here in the Southern Uplands is a large concentration of tower houses and castles, testimony to years of strife with the English. If you are here during late March our Border Reivers Festival is a must see. Guests come here every year from all over the world. You could even take a short trip across the border and visit Carlisle Castle where some of the Scottish Reivers were imprisoned and be retold the story of the Reivers from the English perspective. The fastest trains from Glasgow reach Carlisle in just an hour and there are bargain fares to be had if you can book in advance.

**Standard** · 31st December 17, 01:43 PM

At least 2, preferably 3 days on Skye, a couple of days on Islay, don't miss Inverness and Culloden, hiking at Fort William up to Ben Nevis, the "Harry Potter" train from Fort William to Malig and back. There is a great lodge north of Fort William named Corriegour Lodge that is very nice and has wonderful views.

**Jock Scot** · 1st January 18, 05:31 AM

Originally Posted by Standard

At least 2, preferably 3 days on Skye, a couple of days on Islay, don't miss Inverness and Culloden, hiking at Fort William up to Ben Nevis, the "Harry Potter" train from Fort William to Malig and back. There is a great lodge north of Fort William named Corriegour Lodge that is very nice and has wonderful views.

Well done Standard, you have done a super job of "selling" my part of Scotland! I could also add that Glencoe is only 15 miles from Fort William, Oban about 30 miles away with some stunning sceneary in between. If one really wanted to push the boat out, there is also just outside FW, Inverlochy Castle Hotel(not to be confused with the ruins of Inverlochy Castle) a sumptuous establishment with a fine menu, views and rooms and would most definitely meet your "luxury" requirements!

For the rest of Scotland, you have had good advice, but the far North of Scotland and the Borders of Southern Scotland should not be ignored. Personally, I would not spend too much time in Edinburgh as it is, generally speaking, not these days "real" Scotland.

**Jack Daw** · 3rd January 18, 05:27 AM

I won't tell you where to go, but I have some logistics to consider as you are "hiring" a car:

Print out and learn the road signs
Instead of stop lights, Scotland uses roundabouts - give way/yield to the right, as you enter
In the Highlands, a lot of roads between cities are single lanes, and you will, at times, have an approaching car - the first car that reaches a 'lay-by" on the left turns into it and lets the other car pass (Don't play 'chicken', it upsets the natives)
There are no guard-rails when driving through the mountains; so, the passengers get to enjoy the view, not the driver (until you pull over into a scenic spot)
I was in the Highlands for 3 weeks and drove: Go to the "i"s to get information on B&Bs, if you have not already made reservations

Some additional points:
- B&Bs are definitely the way to go, and a 'star' grade is used to rate the quality - a four-star B&B is the cleanest and nicest, if I remember correctly.
- There are right ways and wrong ways to tip. Read up on it.
- If you stay at B&Bs for three weeks, you will eventually need to do laundry: In 2003, laundry mats were scarce in the Highlands, and I sometimes had to coax a B&B manager/owner to let me use their washing machine/dryer. Hotels will let you use their machines, based on my experience.