If I would go to Scotland, what should I really visit

[arj0n]

If I would go to Scotland for holiday, what should I really need to visit?

[Dualnames]

SSH. period.

[arj0n]

 

[ThreeOhFour]

SSh is in Singapore, isn't he?

But IndieBoy! And other Scottish AGSers

[IndieBoy]

I'll show you a good time, but it will cost ya

[Ponch]

But IndieBoy! And other Scottish AGSers

Frodo is Scottish. You should drop in unannounced at her flat at 5 in the morning. Scottish people love surprise company at sunrise! (The hugs may feel like stabs though). 

[Disco]

I highly recommend taking one of the Haggis Adventures they are a backpackers tour company so it is rather loose and sponataneous, rather than the rigid bus tours by other companies. Not so much driving per day and there are many stops between destinations.

The did this one in 2006 and it was a blast, though since they have shortened it by a day.

Some photos from my experience:  http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2028603&id=207104780

The Scotland bits start with the photo of the bridge (the one right after CJ holding a plastic pony) and end with the group photo.

[Stupot]

I've only been to Scotland once, to visit family, but I have always wanted to go to the Edinburgh Festival.  Maybe you should coincide your holiday with it.  http://www.eif.co.uk , http://www.edfringe.com

[IndieBoy]

I second the Edinburgh festival. The capital is crazy over August because of it, and there are loads of things to do.

[Radiant]

Loch Ness is nice if you like long nature walks.

I find Edinburgh a lovely city; Inverness and Glasgow, however, I found rather boring in the past.

[tzachs]

Another vote for Edinburgh festival. It's really awesome, you've got tons of stuff to do each day, too much actually that it's hard to choose (book your tickets early though).

Also in Edinburgh, you obviously need to go to the castle and castle st.
In castle st, right next to the castle, you can visit camera obscura.
Also, take a ghost tour, they have a bunch there whey they take you around cemeteries and historic places and tell you some scottish horror stories.
Also go to Edinburgh Dungeon for some more horror stories.
Princess st is also a nice street to take a stroll in, it has a lot of shops, and it gives you a nice view to the castle (if there aren't any renovations there).
And one last thing about Edinburgh, if you're looking for pubs, then there's a nice Jekyl & Hyde themed pub.

Loch Ness is nice as well, like Radiant said, but the funny thing is, that even though it's the most famous lake in Scotland, there are much more impressive lakes out there (though I can't remember their names). Suffice it to say that if you drive to Loch Ness from Edinburgh you'll see some really breathtaking views out the window.

[zabnat]

I highly recommend taking one of the Haggis Adventures they are a backpackers tour company so it is rather loose and sponataneous, rather than the rigid bus tours by other companies. Not so much driving per day and there are many stops between destinations.

What makes it an adventure, is that you can only eat haggis and have to get the ingredients yourself?

[m0ds]

Go in Spring! It's just lush. The Hermitage and Lock Tay. And although it's 90% hole, Dundee for its few remaining historical elements is somewhat nice. Inverness or specifically the Black Isle are a fun drive away too.

[straydogstrut]

Wow! I'm liking the love going around for Edinburgh, my hometown, thanks guys!=D

I'd have to say though that you're better off going further north to visit all those gorgeous places in the Highlands. I'm ashamed to admit i've only been to a few places myself, like Loch Ness, but it's definitely worth it.

Edinburgh has it's charms, sure, and the Festival is probably the best time to go if you can stand all the crowds, just because the city is buzzing around that time (albeit very touristy), but much of the town centre these days is quite shabby in my opinion. I think Princes Street's still dug up for those trams that they seem to have run out of money for!

The Castle (expensive), and the seven hills are worth a visit if the weather's nice. Arthur's Seat is probably the easiest to get to since it's so close to the town centre, and isn't much of a climb, but you can always stroll around Princes' Street Gardens below the Castle if you don't fancy too much exertion. You can also mosey on down the cobbled Royal Mile which runs from the Castle to Holyrood Palace at the foot of Arthur's Seat. There's also some nice museums and art galleries too, and all the creepy jars of entrails in the Surgeons' Hall museum;-) Most of this is all jam-packed within easy walking distance of the town centre, or easy to get to on a bus.

Edinburgh is probably a nice stop for a few days rather than the object of your whole holiday. I'd give you a tour if I hadn't run off to London to be with the future-Mrs=P

[Frodo]

But IndieBoy! And other Scottish AGSers

Frodo is Scottish. You should drop in unannounced at her flat at 5 in the morning. Scottish people love surprise company at sunrise! (The hugs may feel like stabs though). 

*puts out the welcome mat, and makes haggis suppers for everyone.*   

Straydogstrut, I'm glad to see another member from Edinburgh.   

Edinburgh castle is the best, although it's expensive. 

Royal Mile is a lovely place.  There a 2 museums there, which I highly recommend.  The People's Story shows how people lived from 18th century to present day.  It's full of amazing displays with real objects.  For example, you can see an old jail, or a typical wartime kitchen, or blacksmiths workshop, or old fishermen, and so much more.  I can spend hours in that place.     The other musem is the Museum of Childhood.  It shows a whole range of toys & games from the past.  It even has a Punch & Judy puppet booth!  What could be better than that?   

[IndieBoy]

I think all the Scottish AGSers are from edinburgh...

[Ponch]

I think all the Scottish AGSers are from edinburgh...

So... is that the only city in Scotland or something? Is there just not enough acreage for another town? Not even a tiny village or something? Weird. I would have thought it was larger than that. I guess The Highlander was filmed in Canada or something. Damn you, Hollywood! Stop giving me false impressions of the world! (And if there aren't really giant robots and magical school girls crowding their way into Japan, no one tell me. I must have some illusions to cling to!)

[veryweirdguy]

I'm from Glasgow, there's some great heroin here.

[arj0n]

Thanx for the info so far peeps 

[Mad]

I guess The Highlander was filmed in Canada or something. Damn you, Hollywood! Stop giving me false impressions of the world! (And if there aren't really giant robots and magical school girls crowding their way into Japan, no one tell me. I must have some illusions to cling to!)

Some bits from Highlander were filmed at Eilean Donan Castle and area, which is quite nice, if you are able to mentally and visually block out the giant tourist centre, (which the Highlander film crew somehow managed to do!).

If you're into whisky, I highly recommend the Glenfiddich Distillery in Dufftown. Not because the whisky is very good, (frankly, it's not that special), but the tour is the best there is imho and it's for FREE. And although the whisky, as afore mentioned is not the best, one can not say no to a free dram! Of course, there are more distilleries in the Speyside region than you can shake a stick at.