jatink129

We're arriving at 8:30am on a Saturday (the 21st) so I'm not especially worried about traffic then (should I be?). By the time we eat and get out of the airport, it'll easily be about 9:30-10:00am.

On the way back, we're actually done by about 4:30pm at the Glennfiddich distillery. The flight is at 8:30pm. So we've given ourselves about 2 hours to get there and about 60 minutes to check in. (The trip itself is about an hour, via Google maps).
Is that good enough?

jatink129

Thank you. ^^
Don't see how people missed that part where I said that part was set. Non-refundable tickets.

It is a low cost flight on Flybe from EMA.



Well, a friend did something similar and said that it was doable as long as I didn't want to spend more than an hour at any castle.

But obviously, I bow to your expertise.

I was originally planning to cut out C, D and E.
Stirling Castle,
Balloch Castle,
and Loch Lomond (Especially since we're planning to visit Loch Tay and Ness)
BUT, I really want to see Stirling Castle, because it really looks beautiful, and then I figured, that if I'm there, I might as well see Balloch Castle and Loch Lomond...and then I thought, well...we may as well stop for the night there.

How much would I be missing out if I cut out those three from the trip?
Drove directly to Loch tay from Dunnottar castle?

I wouldn't mind terribly. It's not like this is the last time, I'm visiting.
I am in love with your country.

That was an error. I meant to put in Uruqhart into Google maps, but mistakenly put Loch Ness in. The routing from the east side was done automatically by Google maps.

But thanks for the tip. We will go that way.

How easy would it be to figure out these routes if our GPS failed us? We're planning to take a map with us any way.

This is probably where I'll get into trouble, since we're coming there over the weekend.
For example, zooming into Google maps showed me the Kintail Lodge not too far away from Eilean Donan. About 65 pounds for a standard room. Is that a fair price?

If I was alone, I'd just bunk it for 15 pounds, but I don't know how cool she'd be with the idea. Especially since she's going to be doing the driving.

I'm going to pray to God for clear skies then.
Really hope it doesn't rain for just those three days.
But He doesn't seem to paying any attention to me oft late, so not too sure if those prayers will work or not.

I also need to figure out how to get her tripod into the bag. It barely fits sideways. Would've been nice if it was an inch or two shorter. (Okay that sounds way dirtier than it did inside my head )

No offence meant.

I see what you mean. But I was thinking about it in terms of how they close down parks here for the night...

Was actually referring to safety as in getting mugged
But thanks for the tip.

I could always just do this.


Hmmm. Now this puts me into a conundrum.

Let me put it this way.

I'm willing to change over 90% of this road trip. I'd really like to see Eilean Donan and Dunottar castle.
But everything else is movable/changeable.

Here's what we're looking for.
A nice drive with the windows down.
Playing some Enya.
Catching beautiful sunrises and sunsets (and being able to photograph them)
Visiting some castles. We both love history.

So anything that you'd recommend instead of what we currently have planned?
I appreciate all the help you and everyone else has given me.

jatink129

Actually someone did suggest Isle of Skye to us. But upon googling it, that entire area is something more towards hiking.
As much as we love to hike, it's something that we're not planning on doing this trip.

The way I planned it out, we're not going to be driving after dark.
Risky and not worth it.
We want to get to a place in the evening. Catch the sunset, and then stay there for the night.

Thanks for the suggestion. Would we be able to purchase sealed gas canisters at the gas stations? Or would we need to buy a canister and then fill it up?

I visited Edinburgh and Roslin (along with London, Bath, Bristol, Leicester and Oxford) the last time I was there, and I got to experience this phenomenon of sporadic rain, first-hand.
It was very annoying at first, but then I got used to it.

The biggest problem I had was that I wasn't carrying protective gear for my camera.

What do you think is a fair price for a one night stay?

Ooh I loved Haggis! I tried it in Edinburgh in a nice pub called The World's end. I wasn't too sure if I'd like it, so they recommended I try a "wee bit" and I absolutely LOVED it.

Any particular locations you remember that I should keep an eye out for?

Thank you all for your help!

NSFU

As others have said, this is a demanding schedule. By and large the roads are by no means the worst and narrowest in the Highlands but as Jenbel says your speed will often be dictated by the car, caravan, lorry or tractor in front of you.

As for Eilean Donan, it's about the setting rather than the building itself, and I wouldn't make that detour on a dull or drizzly day. Spend the time at Urquhart Castle instead - which is the reason to go up the W side of Loch Ness, rather than time, as the E side is usually just as quick and indeed faster if the W side road is full of tourist traffic. (It's also more scenic IMO and you get great views of the loch as you drop down towards Dores. But that's by the by.)

Petrol will not be £1.60 a gallon and you will not find an Asda between Loch Lomond (at least) and Inverness (and you won't find the Inverness Asda unless you look hard for it!)

Pub food will be very variable but is probably what you want!

NSFU

On your route, which is not off the beaten track at all by Highland standards, so long as you don't run your tank too low, there isn't really anything to worry about especially as you will be driving during the day. I wouldn't think it worth carrying spare fuel.

Giggleswick

Actually, it's Glenfiddich, without the "t" and the "ch" is a soft sound pronounced in the throat without the clicking sound you get with a "k." Kind of like the Dutch "g" or the "ch" (usually) in German, if you know what they sound like. The same with "loch" and other syllables ending in a vowel followed by "ch."

But the Scots are used to people who don't pronounce it correctly and will know what you mean. You could always tell them it's a voiceless velar fricative and impress them!

jatink129

Change of plans based on what you said about wasting time driving.

This is the new (tentative) itinerary.
Let me know what you guys think.



Day 1.
ABZ to Dunnottar to Loch Tay. Stay the night there.

Day 2.
Loch Tay to Eilean Donan to a hotel half way to Loch Ness.

Day 3.
Hotel to Uruqhart to Glenfidditch to ABZ.

jatink129

Changed the route to make it a more leisurely drive. Do let me know what you think.

Seeing how we're going to be pre-booking a hotel based on the fact that we are driving there, I think we'll probably end up driving there no matter what. We're a pretty obstinate couple.

Assuming that we get the car with a full tank, the plan (if we can find pre-filled canisters) is to buy some in Aberdeen.
That should take us all the way around till Aberdeen, shouldn't it?

jatink129

So more like a russian "X"...Like a soft "xh" sound?

stut

Similar. It's slightly softer, but Scots find it easier to pronounce Khabarovsk than Groningen.

NSFU

Depending on the car and how you drive, a full tank might even take you the whole way, but you will need no more than a fill-up somewhere along the route, perhaps Inverness. You will have no difficulty with this. There is no need at all to carry spare fuel with you. If you insist on doing so, you will have to buy appropriate empty containers and fill them from the pumps at a filling station. Pre-filled containers are not available.

Wishing you the best of weather!!

stut

There is no way you will need to take extra fuel with you - there are more than enough petrol stations around. If you're worried, I'd suggest looking at a site like http://www.whatgas.com/petrol-prices...st-petrol.html which will show just how many places there are and/or downloading an app that will show you, if you have a smartphone.

FWIW, petrol stations will only allow you to fill either 2x5L plastic or 1x10L metal containers.

Jenbel

Was going to suggest overnight at Bunrannoch House at Kinloch Rannoch, instead of Loch Tay, but it's closed down due to illness Gutted. Was a great B&B in a lovely Baronial style house and the proprieters were great.

jatink129

Thank you! Hope the weather is good.
It's a compact. Ford Fiesta or similar.

Point taken. I think we'll refuel near Inverness and then once again in Aberdeen before dropping the car off.

Thanks for the link!

jatink129

Based on the updated itinerary (what do you think of it btw?), we've booked the Ben Lawers near Loch Tay for Day 1 and a Darroch View B & B near Loch Ness for Day 2.

Fair reviews and very convenient locations.