That was already covered off with Airdrie/Coatbridge! 😉
Can head out to the Pentlands (accessible on the bus) for good walkingÂ
...pull out
Here all week, don't forget to tip the waiter
First thing to point out is scotland is small. But... don't underestimate how long it takes to get places it would be quite easy to sort an itinerary where you miss loads travelling (ben nevis for example is daft for an 8 hour return jouney).Â
Based on the whole "canada not being short of mountains" thing. I am going to suggest swerve our ecological disaster areas. With two longer exceptions...
Hit islands. Specifically Arran. By train and ferry and bike or bus on the island itself. Thats a day and its my only longer travel suggestion because ot ticks some novel things like a a ferry and also gets you a decent looking mountain and lots of coastline stuff.
And if you MUST see mountains driving through glencoe is quite impressive but its just such a huge chunk of time.
Then a trip to the seaside on the east. Very different vibe. Two options. East neuk of fife for a more active option along the coastal path starting with the chainwalk at earlsferry and taking in a bunch of old fishing villages type history and some little dots of older history in castles etc but you will have to research yourself as these aren't tourist type castles they are crumbling ruins perched on clifftop type history. You can bus there do some bits and hop back on a bus back to edinburgh OR north berwick for sandy beaches and take in tantallon castle for bigger more fighty clifftop castle. You could also tactor in dunbar and some coastal activities.
Cities... Day in edinburgh day in glasgow. Sweeve ed castle its shit. Arthurs seat, nationla museum of scotland (even just sticking your head in for museum done right) necropolis, Britannia, mary kings close is a touristy trap butshow you something pretty unique history wise. On the subject of Edinburgh its Edinburra not Edinburro and its princES street not PrincESS street.
My curve ball. Dundee. If you like history... Discovery, unicorn (both very unique) not an unpleasant place in the sun. By train you cross to top three proper bridges. The muuseum is also quite good from memory especially around the bridge disaster.
If you want a castle, Stirling castle is much better than EdinburghÂ
If you're taking a drive out towards Callander I can recommend the Hamilton Toy Museum. It's a tiny shop front opposite the Co-op in Callander and is an amazing rambling place over several floors, packed with all sorts of toys, trainsets, , games, etc. In no way a large place but it's packed with stuff.
A great trip through childhood
don't underestimate how long it takes to get places it would be quite easy to sort an itinerary where you miss loads travelling (ben nevis for example is daft for an 8 hour return jouney).Â
East neuk of fife for a more active option along the coastal path starting with the chainwalk at earlsferry and taking in a bunch of old fishing villages type history and some little dots of older history in castles etc but you will have to research yourself as these aren't tourist type castles they are crumbling ruins perched on clifftop type history. You can bus there do some bits and hop back on a bus back to edinburgh
Which also takes a lot longer than you might think - 4.5 hour round trip by bus on the express x61 IF there are no traffic holdups.Â
don't underestimate how long it takes to get places it would be quite easy to sort an itinerary where you miss loads travelling (ben nevis for example is daft for an 8 hour return jouney).Â
East neuk of fife for a more active option along the coastal path starting with the chainwalk at earlsferry and taking in a bunch of old fishing villages type history and some little dots of older history in castles etc but you will have to research yourself as these aren't tourist type castles they are crumbling ruins perched on clifftop type history. You can bus there do some bits and hop back on a bus back to edinburgh
Which also takes a lot longer than you might think - 4.5 hour round trip by bus on the express x61 IF there are no traffic holdups.Â
Yeah but if you come from canada you aren't seeing the typical east coast fishing village and ruined castles in canada where as you do have some fairly good mointain scapes. Its absolutely still a day out but that day includes the journey.
I was trying to pick out the unique bits that the OP might like rather than reccommending stuff Canada has.Â
Your point is 100% valid though. Of you can drive it it makes even more sense (and you can still bus back to where you parked the car)
Any car hire companies I should use/avoid? Any tips. Here in Canada it's generally more expensive picking up a car at an airport vs. booking online and grabbing it from an industrial area.
Personally I use enterprise because they have a less strict damage policy and are generally more reasonable. They do use dynamic pricing tho so book ahead for non peak times they are cheap, go on the day at a busy time and its expensive. Do not use goldcar - notorious for scamming on damage. Â
I agree with th about enterprise. Not sure you can as a foriner but parking is a pain in the arse. Car club (which is part of enterprise) might make sense and keeps you flexible without being tied to a car.Â
Whilst you are effectively wasting a trip to Scotland by being based in Edinburgh, rather than Glasgow - you can still find some things to do. Portobello for a potter about, North Berwick for the Sea bird centre - Fife to see how many fingers people can have on one hand. The Edinburgh museums are decent enough, the castle has a good bit of history - just make sure you have a maple leaf visible...
Fife to see how many fingers people can have on one hand
Atleast fifers can count up the number of fingers they have.
