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tackling the highlands

India
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51 posts
tackling the highlands
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Hi,

We're just 3 weeks away from being in Scotland and I'm quite nervous that we might be packing in too much for a 15 day trip. We are keen on seeing as much possible but honestly, my head starts spinning when I have a look at our itinerary. Also I don't really know how many nights to give to a place. We'd like to spend more time in scenic places so we though we'd hit the highlands first. But I really need help in a lot of areas. This is the plan with a lot of blanks.

First 3 nights in Edinburgh

From there we hire a car, drive to St. Andrews and then head to Pitlochry where we stay the night.

From Pitlochry we drive to Stonehaven and then to Inverness for 1 night (should we stay longer?). Stonehaven is quite a detour, is it really worth it? Are we making it too long a drive? From Inverness we'd like to go to Cairgnorm. What else can we see?

After Inverness we're keen on seeing the region from Ullapool to Durness. Which is the point we should go upto incase we can't drive all the way upto Durness?

After that we'd like to spend time in Plockton to explore the area.

How many nights here?

From here to Skye where we plan to spend 3 nights, one each in Broadford(to do the drive to Elgol), Portree and Dunvegan( to see Neist pt.) Is this ok?

From Skye we thought of spending a night in Glencoe

After that we do Oban, Mull and Iona. Should we spend the night in Oban or Mull?. Is 1 night ok?

Then we head to Stirling where if we don't need to we won't spend the night.

Drive back to Edinburgh for the last night.

Glasgow, United...
Destination Expert
for Scotland
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10,273 posts
36 reviews
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1. Re: tackling the highlands
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Basically a great itinerary. I would head straight from Pitlochry, via the Cairngorms to Inverness and miss out Stonehaven. Spending most of your time in the north west is a good move. Its got the best scenery. Be aware the midges are worse the further west you go.

London, United...
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35,265 posts
93 reviews
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See Inverewe Gardens in the north-west.

Spend at least one night, but probably 2, on Mull and see Iona and Staffa islands.

Glencoe doesn't have many places to stay. See it on way from Oban to Stirling.

Plan your drive from the north to Plockton over the Applecross peninsula, and around the Torridon Hills. One night in Plockton may be enough.

Central scotland
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5 reviews
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30 miles north of Ullapool is Lochinver and the Assynt region

http://www.assynt.info/index.html

I'm biased but it's not to be missed.

Nairn, United...
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7 reviews
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Hello

Was there anything in particular you wanted to see in Stonehaven?

Austin
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933 posts
12 reviews
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I'm NOT biased but agree that Assynt is not to be missed.

India
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51 posts
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Thanks a lot for all the suggestions. Someone on another forum had mentioned stunning views from Stonehaven and that's why we were keen on doing it. But if it's not really worth the effort we'll give it a miss.

Is the mountain railway in Cairgnorm worth doing?

I' ve read about the lochniver region and am very keen on going there. If we just spend one night in Inverness and one in Plockton then we could spend 2 nights in Ullapool - one on the way from Inverness and one on the way down from Lochinver. What do you think?

India
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51 posts
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Which is prettier - Torridon or Plockton?

London, United...
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Torridon is a range of mountains; Plockton is a small village. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

check http://undiscoveredscotland.co.uk or type the place names into google and see photographs of the places.

India
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51 posts
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Thanks, Peterscot. I think I'd go for Torridon after viewing the pics.

India
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51 posts
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I'm not being left with too many nights. Is it ok if I just drive through or stop for lunch in the Trossachs region on my way back to Edinburgh so that I'm able to spend an extra night in Oban or Mull ( which is better?)

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