Visiting Scotland in April 2012

[ThistleDown]

...In Collander we walked a mile or so to the Lade Inn. Another great place to eat local food and some house made beer, though now made off site. There was a great little used book store that I had to collect at least 6 books from. The walk up to Braklin Falls is nice and while up there just keep hiking to the crags. You will have a glorious view of Collander and beyond.

Callander, Paul? Where Dr Finlay's Casebok was filmed? The Lade Inn is another real ale brewhouse.

[figheadair]

Dunollie Castle and the newly opened 1745 House is well worth a visit - http://www.dunollie.org/

Also down that end of the country is Auchindrain Township - http://www.auchindrain.org.uk/

[Sir William]

Thanks to all for the many excellent suggestions. I will definitely take them all into consideration. Maybe I should come visit for 2 months instead of 2 weeks!

While doing some research last night I got the great urge to spend a day in the Orkneys as well.

If possible, I'd also enjoy meeting any X-Markers as time and location may permit.

I just realized that Easter is the first weekend of April. How much does this impact Scotland? I know in some parts of Europe they just shut down for a few days.

[Sir William]

Interesting when you pull out a phrase here and there!

From one William to another . . . .

You caught me out Padre!

[davidg]

I just realized that Easter is the first weekend of April. How much does this impact Scotland? I know in some parts of Europe they just shut down for a few days.

I wouldn't worry too much about shutting down for Easter, although some places in the north do shut down on Sundays. This is slowly changing though

I'd be more worried about Easter being a busy time and having to pay premium rates for accommodation etc. Orkney is certainly worth a visit but is quite an isolated place. I can highly recommend Avalon House if you are looking to stay a night or two there. See http://www.avalon-house.co.uk/

[Sir William]

....by way of Aberfeldy and right past Dewar's (pronounced doo-ers ) Distillery.

Paid Dewar's a visit in 2005 as part of a coach trip. It was about 9am in the morning (we were the first visitors of the day). They broke us into two groups, one going on the tour and the other, which I was in, having their wee dram before going on the tour.

My wife and daughter gave me their drams and we bought a soft-drink for my son who was only 14. Our tour escort said he got one as well so I took him to the bar and told the lass that he got a dram but that I was drinking it and I wanted the single malt they had. She then poured a huge measure saying, "So we like our whisky do we?" Consequently, I had the equivalent of about SIX whiskys just before we toured the distillery.

As we were walking around, the distillery guide said that we'd all get a wee dram when we finished. Some of us replied we'd already had ours and my wife observes that some of us have had more than one, looking pointedly at me. Our young guide asked how many I'd had and I said six. The guide looked at me and said, "And you're still standing?!"

That said, I had a nice nap when we boarded the coach afterward.

[Sir William]

I wouldn't worry too much about shutting down for Easter, although some places in the north do shut down on Sundays. This is slowly changing though

I'd be more worried about Easter being a busy time and having to pay premium rates for accommodation etc. Orkney is certainly worth a visit but is quite an isolated place. I can highly recommend Avalon House if you are looking to stay a night or two there. See http://www.avalon-house.co.uk/

Excellent!

The Avalon House looks very nice and the single rates aren't that bad. Thanks for the suggestion.

I don't mind isolated at all - in fact I quite enjoy the solitude.

[Jock Scot]

Thanks to all for the many excellent suggestions. I will definitely take them all into consideration. Maybe I should come visit for 2 months instead of 2 weeks!

While doing some research last night I got the great urge to spend a day in the Orkneys as well.

If possible, I'd also enjoy meeting any X-Markers as time and location may permit.

I just realized that Easter is the first weekend of April. How much does this impact Scotland? I know in some parts of Europe they just shut down for a few days.

I am working up a thirst as I type, for a meet up in April!

Easter in Scotland does not effect us too much although it does increase the visitor numbers quite a bit. So check hotel and /or B&B availability, having said that, it should not be too much of a problem with forethought.

If you venture to the House of Bruar my advice is, do not under any circumstances buy tweed there! It is thin fashion stuff and is so expensive for what it is. Haggarts is not far away and you will get far better quality tweed there for the same money. Whilst you are at Haggarts(Aberfeldy) look for the stunning Black Watch Monument by the river-----should you get there of course.

[Sir William]

I am working up a thirst as I type, for a meet up in April!

Strange, I'm having quite the same problem!

...Whilst you are at Haggarts(Aberfeldy) look for the stunning Black Watch Monument by the river-----should you get there of course.

On my list. We drove by (in the coach) on my first visit and the best I could do was see it for a few moments. I'd wanted to see it on my last visit after visiting the Black Watch Museum in Perth but the weather turned extremely bad as we left Perth so I had to give it a miss.

[cessna152towser]

If you can't make it down to the Border country let me know when you will be in Edinburgh and maybe I can meet you there, I live only 55 miles from Edinburgh.