Hey all. The wife and I are going to Scotland in July for a week. Looking for some general suggestions. About 10 years ago we spent 3 nights in Edinburgh and did 1 day tour up into the highlands (into the Tossachs).

This is our Itinerary:
Glasgow - 2 nights
Rent a car
Inverness - 3 nights
1 day in Inverness is a tour of the Isle of Skye
Edinburgh - 2 nights

We have seen most of the major sights in Edinburgh already. Never been to Glasgow or Inverness.

Tentative route from Glasgow to Inverness by car. Glasgow-Kelpies-Stirling Castle-Glencoe-Urquhart Castle-Inveness.

Any Glasgow, Inverness/Higlands suggestions would be great. Also a good route from Inverness to Edningurgh by car would be appreciated.

I lived in Scotland about 45 years ago. Inverness to Edinburgh: I'd take the A9 to Perth and then the M90 from there into Edinburgh. I've driven it and it is a pretty drive.

A couple of points regarding your rental car. I drove a stick when I lived there but these days, with advancing age, I pay extra for an automatic transmission. You want to consider renting the smallest car you can as the streets, parking garages and just about everything traffic related are more compact.

In Inverness see if you can stay in Culloden House Hotel- you won't regret it. The building was the British headquarters during the battle of Culloden. It is wonderful. I stayed there 45 years ago and again about 10 years ago with my wife, who loved it. The trolley in the lounge has more whiskies than you've ever seen. One of the staff will walk you through a tasting. The food in the dining room is very good.

The battle of Culloden, if you are not familiar with it, is where the British finally broke the back of the clans. You will want to visit and walk the battlefield. There are markers where each clan was positioned and fell.

Allow most of a day for a leisurely drive around Lock Ness so you can stop, take pictures and visit the various ruins. A good idea would be to take a picnic lunch, which the hotel can prepare for you.

Last, before you buy any whisky to bring back, check availability and pricing in the US. I've found prices to be about the same and sometimes even less here in the States.

Scotland was our most recent overseas trip. Think about stopping in Oban over on the west coast. You should probably stop at a distillery, and Oban is my favorite Scotch (not being a connoisseur).

Over on the east side. We loved St. Andrews. We’re not golfers, but the town has many charms, even if you don’t play the game.

I guess I’ll add: St. Conan’s Kirk, Dalmally. The Falkirk Canal Wheel, and MacGregor’s Bar in Inverness—twice voted best pub in Scotland, and it’s only been around for about 8 years.

In Glasgow, go the The Falkirk Wheel, beautiful piece of engineering. Take the boat tour down Loch Ness to the Castle, the water is impossibly black and enchanting from the boat. Truly makes you believe something could be hiding below. It was sunny when we went, I could only imagine it when it's overcast and spooky.

timnely thread, wife and I are in the early stages of planning a trip to Scotland for our 40th,


and ditto on the alcohol, when we were in London in 2008, the duty free at the airport and local sellers were about the same for most of what we looked at, as we could get here in the US

It's gone. Finally. I wouldn't mind seeing the Falkirk Wheel, once.

If you like scotch there’s plenty available in Scotland that isn’t available in the US. No need to buy there what can be bought here. Instead buy the stuff you can’t buy here. Cadenheads has a few shops and is a good place to check out.

The museum and tour at Culloden battlefield is worth your time. If you get a chance to try Kinvara gin, it’s quite nice and unique.

A bump for Monday.

I drove in Ireland 2 years ago so we are getting an automatic BMW 3 series.

We are planning on touring Culloden battlefield and possibly a trip to Dunrobin from Inverness.