| Plan for a three week trip to Scotland. |
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Day
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Main events of the day | Where we spend the night. | ||
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Day 1
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Sa
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Fly to Scotland. Arrive in Glasgow. Nothing planned for this day. Recover from jet lag. |
Glasgow. The University of Glasgow and the University of Strathclyde offer accommodations at a reasonable price. |
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Day 2
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Su
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Glasgow. See the city sights on foot or with mass transit. Hunterian Museum. Glasgow Museum and Art Gallery (Kelvingrove) | Glasgow (second night) | |
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Day 3
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Mo
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Glasgow. Continue seeing the city. Museum of Religious Life and Art. Glasgow Green. | Glasgow (third night) | |
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Day 4
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Tu
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Glasgow. A third full day to get familiar with Glasgow. The Burrell Collection. Pollok House. Glasgow Cathedral. | Glasgow (fourth night) | |
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Day 5
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We
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Rent a car and depart Glasgow. Bothwell Castle southeast of Glasgow. Drive on the A-72 to Galashiels. Melrose Abbey. Smailholm Tower. Priorwood Garden. Harmony Garden. | Night in Selkirk at the Garden House, a farmhouse in Whitmuir | |
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Day 6
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Th
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South of Scotland. See any gardens or sights around Melrose in the morning after breakfast. Drive down the A-708 from Selkirk, possibly stopping to stretch legs at the Grey Mare’s Tail waterfall near Birkhill on the way down to Moffat. From Moffat head south through Dumfries toward Caerlaverock Castle. If time allows, one could go a couple miles north of Dumfries on A-76 to see the Twelve Apostles standing stones. Caerlaverock Castle. | Spend the night in Castle Douglas, either at Craigadam or Longacre Manor. | |
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Day 7
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Fr
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Tour of Galloway. In the morning near Castle Douglas visit Threave Castle and Threave Garden. Continuing west on the A-75 stop at Cardoness Castle. West of Cardoness Castle maybe tour The Machars where there are many very ancient sites one could visit such as Torhouse Stone Circle, Wren’s Egg Standing Stones, St. Ninian’s Cave, and Barsalloch Fort. West of the Machars come to Glenluce Abbey | The night should be spent in either Stranraer or Portpatrick. Possibilities include: Northwest Castle Hotel and Knockinaam Lodge in Portpatrick. | |
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Day 8
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Sa
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Southwest Scotland. After breakfast visit Logan Garden. Port Logan Fish Pond. Ardwell Gardens. Castle Kennedy. Drive north on A77 to Turnberry, and from there to Culzean Castle. | In the Ayr area possibilities include the Westin Turnberry Resort or Dunduff Farm while in Ayr itself The Richmond and The Crescent are possibilities. | |
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Day 9
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Su
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Ayrshire to the Highlands. It’s possible the previous night that Culzean Castle was missed (if one had a leisurely morning and spent a long time in the gardens near Stranraer). If so, start the day with a visit to Culzean Castle. Mid-day drive around the western edge of Glasgow until reachingDumbarton where one might stop to see Dumbarton Castle. Another possibility is to go a way up the A814 to Cardross and stop at the Geilston Garden. Stop in Helensburgh to see the Hill House. Drive up to A82 to drive along Loch Lomand to Tarbet, where getting on the A83 drive along the north shore of Loch Fyne. Crarae Garden is near Crarae on the A83 along Loch Fyne. Continue on A83 to Lochgilphead where you turn north on A816 toward Kilmartin. Just south of Kilmartin are several prehistoric sites worth seeing including: Kilmichael Glassary Inscribed Stone, Ri Cruin Cairn, Duncharagaig Cairn, The Nether Largie Cairns, Temple Wood Stone Circle, and Glebe Cairn. Arduaine Garden is along the A816 about nine miles north of Kilmartin. | One could stop at Oban for the night. Accommodations there include The Oban Caledonian Hotel and Spa, and Falls of Lora Hotel. Closer to Arduaine Garden is the town of Kilmelford where Cuilfail Hotel is located. | |
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Day 10
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Mo
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Highlands. After breakfast and a walk near Oban or Kilmelford drive to Glencoe. Hike around Glencoe. Finished at Glencoe, drive to Fort William. After seeing Fort William drive up the Great Glen to Drumnadrochit. | Spend the night in Drumnadrochit at the Loch Ness Lodge Hotel or the Drumnadrochit Hotel. | |
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Day 11
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Tu
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Hiking along Loch Ness. This is a day to hike around Invermoriston and Drumnadrochit. Urquhart Castle | Drumnadrochit (second night) | |
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Day 12
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We
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Northern Highlands. From Drumnadrochit drive north on A833 and A862 to Dingwall. See there the Churchyard Stone, and old Pictish stone. From Dingwall go west on A834 to Strathpeffer. Stop there to see the Eagle Stone. Get on the A835 heading north until it meets the A832. Stop there to see the Falls of Measach. Continue on A832 to Inverewe Garden near Poolewe. Visit the Heritage Museum in Gairloch. | The Old Inn in Gairloch | |
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Day 13
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Th
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From the Highlands to Perth. After breakfast drive to Torridon and hike there through mid-day. After the hikes go back to Kinlochwew and turn into Glen Docharty on A832. Take that to A835, then A9 down to Inverness. You might stop in Inverness. Continuing from Inverness on the A9 your next stop is Killieccrankie. At 5:30 p.m. depart Killiecrankie and continue down A9 to Perth. | In Perth the Parklands Hotel or Newton House Hotel in Glencarse. | |
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Day 14
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Fr
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To Edinburgh. After breakfast drive to Falkland Palace (southeast of Perth and just north of Glenrothes). Morning there. Afternoon in the Royal Burgh of Culross on the north shore of the Firth of Forth. When finished with Culross one can either drive the relatively short distance to Glasgow to return the car or else return the rental car in Edinburgh. If it is necessary to return the car in Glasgow the driver could leave everyone in Edinburgh and take a train back to Edinburgh from Glasgow. | In Edinburgh if this is a three week trip one could rent an apartment for a week. Otherwise, if only spending three or four nights here one might stay at Napier University or the Rowan Guest House or The McDonald Guest House. | |
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Day 15
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Sa
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First day in Edinburgh. See the Edinburgh Castle. Royal Botanic Gardens. | Edinburgh (second night) | |
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Day 16
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Su
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Second day in Edinburgh. See the Royal Museum. | Edinburgh (third night) | |
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Day 17
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Mo
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Third day in Edinburgh. See Number 28 Charlotte Square & The Georgian House | Edinburgh (fourth night) | |
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Day 18
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Tu
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Fourth day in Edinburgh. See Craigmillar Castle | Edinburgh (fifth night) | |
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Day 19
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We
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Fifth day in Edinburgh. See the National Gallery of Scotland | Edinburgh (sixth night) | |
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Day 20
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Th
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Sixth day in Edinburgh. See Holyroodhouse. | Last night in Scotland. Either in the hotel in Edinburgh or else get a hotel near the Glasgow or Edinburgh airport if the next day’s flight is early. | |
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Day 21
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Fr
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Morning flight home. Arrive home and rest. | Home |
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