U.K. and Ireland - HELP! 6D5N Self Drive in Scotland

Hi guys,

I just have a chance with a friend to visit Scotland in mid-June for 6 days 5 nights, and want to see all the following:

Loch Ness
Inverness
Mallaig
Eilean Donan Castle
Skye
Ben Nevis
Oban / Perth
Glasgow
Edinburg (must stay 2 nights)

Q & A
1/ Can all of the above be covered in a full 5 days driving trip? If not, which one or two can be skipped? Is the direction of the itinerary right on track or waste of time by driving forward & backward?
2/ I'll arrive at LHR in the early morning then transit to Scotland but flight only available btw Gatwick & Inverness "IF WE WANT TO START OUR TRIP fr INV to EDI". Is Aberdeen the most convenient port from LHR including car rental pack-up? How many hrs for driving btw Aberdeen & Loch Ness?
3/ What is the weather like in Scotland during mid-June?

Only being noticed a week ago to have a chance to visit Scotland, I did not have too much time to plan for it and the air ticket booking is deadline by tomorrow, should Scotland Expert can give me a hand on trip planning?
Thanks!

Let's take the order first. The rational way to take this itinerary is Inverness - Loch Ness - Eilean Donan - Skye - (ferry from Armadale) - Mallaig - Oban - Perth - Glasgow - Edinburgh. You could swap the order of Perth and Glasgow.

Aberdeen to Inverness is 100+ miles and not at all a fast road. It could take you 3 hours. You might fly to EDI instead. It doesn't take much longer to drive from Edinburgh to Inverness than from Aberdeen, and you could stop in Perth on the way, saving the 'kink' in the journey later. You also then don't have to pay the extra for a one-way rental.

You've got a lot to squeeze in there. You're allowing three nights on the road before 2 in Edinburgh, if I'm reading you right. To do that, they probably need to be Inverness, Skye/Mallaig, and Glasgow.

"I'll arrive at LHR in the early morning then transit to Scotland but flight only available btw Gatwick & Inverness"

Something wrong with that sentance. There are loads of flights between Heathrow and Scotland. To Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.
There are no flights from LHR to INV, but it would be better to re-arrange your Scottish starting point (to either GLA EDI or ABZ) than all the hassle (and it is serious hassle) of getting from LHR to LGW, just so you could fly into INV.

The other factor for this trip is weather. You can't predict Scottish weather and you can't control it. But if the weather is a bit poor somewhere, it can be absolutely beautiful only 50 miles away. Try and check the weather forecast often and if necessary re-plan your route to take advantage of breaks in the weather.

You have the advantage of daylight. If the weather is clear, it'll not be properly dark until about midnight out on Skye.

If you are spending 2 nights in EDI out of those 5 nights then you can forget doing that itinerary unless you don't plan on stopping anywhere along the way.

"I'll arrive at LHR in the early morning then transit to Scotland but flight only available btw Gatwick & Inverness"

Something wrong with that sentance. There are loads of flights between Heathrow and Scotland. To Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.
There are no flights from LHR to INV, but it would be better to re-arrange your Scottish starting point (to either GLA EDI or ABZ) than all the hassle (and it is serious hassle) of getting from LHR to LGW, just so you could fly into INV.

The other factor for this trip is weather. You can't predict Scottish weather and you can't control it. But if the weather is a bit poor somewhere, it can be absolutely beautiful only 50 miles away. Try and check the weather forecast often and if necessary re-plan your route to take advantage of breaks in the weather.

You have the advantage of daylight. If the weather is clear, it'll not be properly dark until about midnight out on Skye.
I'd disagree with that - given LHR/LGW is a 1 hr bus journey, easier to got to LGW so you are starting where you want to start...

My suggestion would be:
Day 1: Arrive in Inverness, overnight.
Day 2: Drive down from Inverness to Oban, stopping en route if you want to see Ben Nevis (the comments about weather being true - but it could be good). (sadly, I'd probably cut Mallaig/Skye - they are beautiful, but just don't work in light of your restrictions) The AA route website suggests 3 hours, so you'll have time to stop and stare.
Day 3: Oban to Glasgow - Stop off at Loch Lomond. Depending how much time you want to spend in Glasgow (but it really warrants at day), you could always go via Brodick on the Isle of Arran - which would let you see a bit of more of the west coast as well (but no Loch Lomond that way). Two ferries going there though.
Day 4: Glasgow - go to EDI at some point
Day 5/6 Edinburgh. If you wanted, you could do a day trip to Perth.

It's an awful lot of driving, but you'd see some nice parts of the country (very quickly!)

Thank you for all your suggestions.

To sum up, I have the following options:

Plan A: LGW fly to INV
Day 1: 0830hrs arrive Inverness - Loch Ness - Eilean Donan - Mallaig
Day 2: Mallaig - Skye (day trip) & still stay in Mallaig
Day 3: Mallaig - (skip Ben Nevis) Oban - Glasgow
Day 4: Glasgow - evening arrive at Edinburgh
Day 5 & 6: Edinburgh (leaving on day 6 afternoon)

Plan B: London King Cross train to Glasgow
Day 1: 1400hrs arrive Glasgow
Day 2: Glasgow - Loch Lomond - Oban (Stay) - Ben Nevis
Day 3: Oban - Fort William - Inverness
Day 4: Inverness - Loch Ness - Perth - Edinburgh
Day 5 & 6: Edinburgh (leaving on day 6 afternoon)

Is it possible to drive like this in few days? :confused:

Cheer,

Possible, yes. Enjoyable is a different question. Bear in mind that most of the roads north of the central belt are single carriageway with limited scope for overtaking (apart from the A9).

It's really up to you to decide how many hours a day you're happy driving, and how long you want to spend in each location. I've done journeys like this before, and they can be great fun, but it's definitely whistle-stop and anything but relaxing.

If you're going to do an itinerary like this, I'd also seek out good pubs and cafés en route in advance, to recuperate at as you go, and plan your journey round them. The sights to see about obvious, but this will make such a journey much more bearable (especially as some of the coach tour cafeterias are grim, and there's so many great places to ear and drink up there!)

If you're not going to stop between Glasgow and Edinburgh, you could consider dropping the car in Glasgow and taking the train on that journey, to give yourself and extra day off. You could also consider the train from Oban to Glasgow - a fantastically scenic journey, but that would mean missing out on the likes of Inveraray and Loch Lomond.

Jenbels idea of flying to INV and starting your journey from there is a good one.
I think your Skye routing isn't worth it....it deserves far more time than you've got and kind of takes you out of your way a bit. By omitting Skye you will make the rest of your journey far more enjoyable and give you more time to stop off along the way doing some Nessie spotting and whisky tasting.

As stut said the train is also a great option for a day trip.

Thx! Any other comments for below itinerary?

Plan A: LGW fly to INV
Day 1: 0830hrs arrive Inverness - Loch Ness - Eilean Donan - Inverness
Day 2: Inverness - Fort William - Mallaig
Day 3: Mallaig - Ben Nevis - Oban - Glasgow
Day 4: Glasgow - evening arrive at Edinburgh
Day 5 & 6: Edinburgh (leaving on day 6 afternoon)

If you're doing Loch Ness and Eilean Donan on your first day, would it not make sense to spend the night on Skye rather than backtrack to Inverness?

Thx! Any other comments for below itinerary?

Plan A: LGW fly to INV
Day 1: 0830hrs arrive Inverness - Loch Ness - Eilean Donan - Inverness
Day 2: Inverness - Fort William - Mallaig
Day 3: Mallaig - Ben Nevis - Oban - Glasgow
Day 4: Glasgow - evening arrive at Edinburgh
Day 5 & 6: Edinburgh (leaving on day 6 afternoon)

Firstly - are you sure you're going to arrive at INV by 0830? The only LGW flight all week that gets in before 0900 is the Sunday morning Easyjet, and that leaves LGW at 0700 - *how* early are you arriving in LHR??

Agree with stut that the backtrack to Inverness probably doesn't make much sense for you given how short on time you are anyway. Fort William and Ben Nevis are much the same place and again you're backtracking from Mallaig. I'd repeat my earlier suggestion which is that you go from Eilean Donan to Skye, overnight there, then get the ferry to Mallaig from Armadale.

Yes, I'd still cut Mallaig/Skye. And echo stut and NSFU's comments about backtracking to Inverness.

That said, we seem to be getting into the kind of impasse we often see. You've set your heart on doing something. You really want us to say it'll be fine. We can't because we can foresee problems with it, but you aren't really willing to accept our comments, so you keep asking for more comments in the hope that someone, someplace will affirm your route.

If you are set on it, go ahead and do it. But please don't ask us to agree that it's fine, when the general feeling is that it's something we consider is too crowded, where you're going to end up pretty shattered each day and with little time to do much except drive. If you are happy to do it on those terms, then you're a braver person than I, and I hope you enjoy your holiday.

Well, at least OP has cut Perth out of the itinerary. That helps. It also might help if the OP explained a little more about what he/she would like to do at these places.


Ben Nevis - look at it (won't take long) or climb it (a little longer :))?
Fort William - any reason why the OP would want to stop there?
Loch Ness - drive past, or stop at e.g. Urquhart Castle (good idea), Fort Augustus (so-so), the Nessie 'attractions' at Drumnadrochit (well, some people are into that kind of thing ...)

Thank you for providing useful trip tips and it is very important to me.
As I said, I have no any idea of Scotland and I just browsed on internet for few days to list out most popular spots to visit.

Well, at least OP has cut Perth out of the itinerary. That helps. It also might help if the OP explained a little more about what he/she would like to do at these places.

All I want to see is the beauty of the nature in Scotland.
If it doesn't work to go around places listed above in few days, I would like to cut down those big towns, say Edinburgh (most of the travel guide book suggested EDI is a must, so I wonder I can stay 2 nights in there.)

You've set your heart on doing something. You really want us to say it'll be fine. We can't because we can foresee problems with it, but you aren't really willing to accept our comments, so you keep asking for more comments in the hope that someone, someplace will affirm your route.

I really listen to your advice and skip the Skye but I've got from internet is the map below and I have no idea how far away between points and how's the road condition. If I did make you annoying, sorry and ignore me please.
http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa440/berternie621/Map.jpg

If you're going to do an itinerary like this, I'd also seek out good pubs and cafés en route in advance, to recuperate at as you go, and plan your journey round them. The sights to see about obvious, but this will make such a journey much more bearable (especially as some of the coach tour cafeterias are grim, and there's so many great places to ear and drink up there!)
If you're not going to stop between Glasgow and Edinburgh, you could consider dropping the car in Glasgow and taking the train on that journey, to give yourself and extra day off. You could also consider the train from Oban to Glasgow - a fantastically scenic journey, but that would mean missing out on the likes of Inveraray and Loch Lomond.

Thanks, this is the advice very helpful.

Firstly - are you sure you're going to arrive at INV by 0830? The only LGW flight all week that gets in before 0900 is the Sunday morning Easyjet, and that leaves LGW at 0700 - *how* early are you arriving in LHR??
Orginally, I'll arrive on Sunday morning 0630hrs in LHR fron Hong Kong, but my trip buddy, who goes one week early than me for his business trip, told me to go one day early (Sat morning 0630hrs) to stay in London for resting before a long driving trip.
I know that it sounds stupid to squeeze in every places in few days, but in fact, Hong Kong workers have no such thing as "a month holidays" like people in Europe. A week holidays for us is a lux!
Anyway, I'll keep working on my itinerary and I WILL KEEP ASKING QUESTION but if anyone don't want to help, just leave it.

Cheers,

I've done a 5 day trip and even went all the way up to thurso for the highlands on the back side - but that 5 days excluded time in EDI BUT i had to double back to aberdeen (to drop off some fds we stayed with)
I'm a pushy driver (overtaking wise and all) and Aberdeen-Inverness took me 2.5-3 hours still. i'd suggest doing calculations with 30mph for planning.

I would NOT suggest spending 5 days with 2 days in EDI and still drive a loop. However, I dont think you can catch the flight that gets to Inverness at 0830. Do remember you need to clear immigrations and that takes LONG. (I wouldnt plan to leave for a heathrow connection flight before 0830 for a 0630 arrival, and perhaps 1000 for LGW)
If you arrive london the day before, look to take a train from St. Pancras on saturday afternoon. booking ahead can be cheap.

I would say plan B is still just about possible... just to let you know i found glasgow sort of dull - the only attraction for me was Celtics.

I do appreciate that you get only a limited holiday allowance, but I suggest you think hard about whether you are trying to drive too much in a short time. The scenery across most of the north and west of Scotland is magnificent - it might be better to concentrate on one area and enjoy that in a more liesurely way rather than to cover so many different areas.
Also - remember that you need to "drive" these roads. You don't sit back and engage cruise control. Some of the roads are very twisty - all adds to the experience - but means that an unfamiiar driver has to concentrate hard. Although the scenery is magnificent, life goes on in these places so you will encounter large trucks (legally restricted to 40mph on single carriageway roads) and plenty of tour buses. Not a major problem - just another thing that will make your average speed a lot lower than you might expect.
As for things like Ben Nevis. Yes, it's a fine mountain, but Scotland has 283 Munros (a munro is a mountain higher than 3,000ft). You will have the opportunity to see lots of magnificent peaks anywhere in the north or west - you don't have to worry about "ticking off" Ben Nevis.

Finally got a driving map fr a fren & he suggested:

Plan E: LGW fly to INV
Day 1: Inverness (A82) - Loch Ness - (A87) Eilean Donan - Skye (Kyleakin)
Day 2: Skye (Armadale) - Mallaig
Day 3: Mallaig (A830) - Fort William (A82) - (A828) Oban
Day 4: Oban - take the train to Edinburgh (4.5hrs)
Day 5 & 6: Edinburgh (or only 1 night stay)

Q & A
I would like to know the toll charge entering Skye (Kyleakin) & the price of car ferry for leaving Skye (Armadale) to Mallaig, pls!
Any official website for ferry schedule.

The bridge is free.

See here (http://www.calmac.co.uk/timetables) for the ferry schedule and prices.

The bridge is free.

See here (http://www.calmac.co.uk/timetables) for the ferry schedule and prices.

Thx Hiddy, that's very useful! ^

You could also consider the train from Oban to Glasgow - a fantastically scenic journey,...

This is very good idea to avoid all the hassle for driving a long way to Glasgow but the promble is where should I return the car if I drive all the way from INV to Oban. I can't find any drop-off ctr in btw.
Any suggestions?

Thx Hiddy, that's very useful! ^



This is very good idea to avoid all the hassle for driving a long way to Glasgow but the promble is where should I return the car if I drive all the way from INV to Oban. I can't find any drop-off ctr in btw.
Any suggestions?

I think you're going to struggle with this, i.e. I'm not sure you'll find a one-way rental between those locations. Oban is not well served by national chains and although SIXT are at INV and Oban, they won't do a one-way (just checked). You might have to drive on to Edinburgh ...

However, generally speaking, that itinerary is starting to look a touch more realistic :)

I think you're going to struggle with this, i.e. I'm not sure you'll find a one-way rental between those locations.

I was thinking getting a one way car hire might be difficult.....now that could make a difference to the OP's itinerary and put the INV flight out of the reckoning.

There's no doubt the best and cheapest way to do this would be by flying in and out of either GLA or EDI. A decent route can still be done using either city as a starting and end point.

I think you're going to struggle with this, i.e. I'm not sure you'll find a one-way rental between those locations. Oban is not well served by national chains and although SIXT are at INV and Oban, they won't do a one-way (just checked). You might have to drive on to Edinburgh ...
However, generally speaking, that itinerary is starting to look a touch more realistic :)
Email reply by SIXT

Good morning TalkFlyer
I hope you are well and many thanks for your email
Unfortunately Im afraid to say that the one way hire is something we cannot accommodate between Inverness and Oban Im afraid
The reason for this is we actually work and operate as a franchise in both Oban and Inverness and each location operates under a separate franchise. As a result they operate with different rental fleets and one way hire is not possible
Im really sorry we couldn't assist on this occasion but please feel free to contact myself at any time in the future for any car rental needs
Wishing you all the best
Best Regards,
:0(

Plan F: LGW fly to INV
Day 1: Inverness (A82) - Loch Ness - (A87) Eilean Donan - Skye (Kyleakin)
Day 2: Skye (Armadale) - Mallaig
Day 3&4: Mallaig (A830) - Fort William (A82) - Inverness for return the car
Day 5: Inverness - take the train to Edinburgh (3.5hrs)
Day 6: Edinburgh (or only 1 night stay)

Plan G: LGW fly to INV
Day 1: Inverness (A82) - Loch Ness - (A87) Eilean Donan - Skye (Kyleakin)
Day 2: Skye (Armadale) - Mallaig
Day 3: Mallaig (A830) - Fort William - Inveraray
Day 4: Inveraray - Only driving to Edinburgh (?hrs)
Day 5&6: Edinburgh (or only 1 night stay)

Again, Plan F or G is better?

One resource which may help is http://www.theaa.com/route-planner/index.jsp It's a UK based route planner which is pretty reliable.

It gives the drive time from Inveraray to Edinburgh as 2 hrs 20 (more at rush hour along the M8 though). However you could alter your route and go via Stirling for a more scenic drive, rather than the damn M8, for not a hugh difference in time.

The run from Inverness to Edinburgh on the train is also pretty nice, but I think I'd do the Inveraray option. You could always arrange an airport drop off if you don't want to drive in Edinburgh.

Either of these will work fine; if it were me, I'd choose, marginally, plan G, like Jenbel. However, as they both will work, it's what suits you best!

A couple of notes on plan F, if you end up doing that one. On the return to Inverness, rather than retrace your steps all along the lochside, turn right at Fort Augustus and take the road the other side of the loch. Some fine views on that route.

An on the train to Edinburgh, take the morning East Coast service, which is far more comfortable than Scotrail and will probably be cheaper. First Class is a decent deal on this service, with free wifi and a nice breakfast included.