I am getting a feeling that renting (oops hire) a car may not be my best bet - except maybe the trip from London to Edinburg -

Maybe a train would be better - but you know I HATE lugging my own bags all the time and there is no chance in hades that I will lug my fiancee's bags - she plans to bring an extra bag ( packed in the first to store everything she buys... except for the waterford stuff she ships back )