US traveller whose international experience is quite limited. Thinking of planning a trip (2 adults) to Scotland in August to check out Edinburgh Fringe and Tattoo fests. Looking for suggestions and advice on where to get started, resources to check out, etc.

Departing from LAS. Is it better to fly to LHR and take a train or flying to EDI/GLA?

Thinking we will want to do 5-8 nights total. Definitely want to see more than just Edinburgh but thinking of doing a Hilton points booking for 5 nights so that we get the 5th night free. If we spend that many nights there, suggestions for things to mix in with festival events? Partial day trips?

I am not super well versed in Scotch, but drink a lot of bourbon and do like the scotch I have had, so would like to hit at least 1-2 distilleries. Husband does not drink at all so while I would actually love to do a ton, think I will have to limit it. Oban is my favorite I have had, also a fan of Talisker, Aberlour, Laphroaig - usually I find peat is what I prefer, but honestly not sure if I have tried many sherried. Recommendations that have a good experience but won't kill a huge chunk of our trip just getting out to them?

We also own in Hilton timeshares, so was thinking of possibly checking out the one in Ballater. Would need to spend 3 nights minimum there, so 5 in Edinburgh and 3 in Ballater would put me at max for the trip. Is that a decent jumping off location to explore or would you recommend we focus time elsewhere? For days in Edinburgh I assume we would not have a car, but when we leave the city I figure we would rent one.

Definitely want to get some views of the dramatic coastlines and see a castle.

Just looking randomly at flight options, I see one that prices out nicely by flying into LHR on the way there. The way back is Aberdeen (ABZ) to AMS to LAS. Layover is only 50 minutes. That sounds really risky to me - any opinions?