I get to go to London for free (yay!) unfortunately for work (boo!), but have gotten permission to stay awhile afterwards and play a bit.
I’m thinking of spending a couple of days in London after I finish up work, then heading up to Scotland for a week, look at some castles, etc. What I’m wondering is if there are better places to go than others in Scotland, anyone who’s been there or lives there have any recommendations?
Edinburgh, Scotland is a must! There are Internet sites, like tourist boards, I am sure. The castle is incredible. And if you are not too wide, you can climb almost 300 steps to the top of the Scott Monument for wonderful city views. I say not too wide because the winding staircase narrows to about 12 inches wide toward the top.
Thanks for the info, Violet.
I will admit that I’m incredibly lousy at vacation planning (or as I prefer, just laid back). So even though I have browsed some of the websites, I chafe at the thought of a organized tour or whatnot, prefering to see what happens as I move in a general direction.
With that, I’ll also say the one part I did have planned was to base myself in Edinburgh, and kinda go from there. I will also have to admit that I hadn’t even thought about the castle(s) right in town!
FTR, I’m a little wide, but not that much 
Hmm. Maybe our UK brethren are sleeping or are on holiday. Thought I’d pass along info. about a great place (a chain of them) to eat, drink, & chat with locals: J. D. Wetherspoon:
http://www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk/
There are many in London (by various names), & I really liked the one in central Edinburgh on George Street. The food is very good. Prices are very reasonable for food and drink. Especially when people complain about how expensive London is. There are now non-smoking sections in most, it seems. Although the U.S. version is very different.
Maybe you already know this. But for most cities there is a tourist info. center that has maps & other info. for the city and outlying areas. They also book some tours for you. I enjoyed a night time underground vaults walking tour in Edinburgh. Like you, I shun “organized tours.” But some of the little walking tours in various cities are fun.
BTW: August is the month for Edinburgh’s Military Tatoo. Rooms are probably already booked.
Please do not entertain the notion that a JD Wetherspoons pub has even the remotest resemblance to a proper pub. You will not meet locals there. You will meet office workers on their way home. You will meet people who do not go to pubs regularly. You will meet tourists. Do. Not. Go. Please.
Edinburgh is a wonderful place. At the time of year you are planning to be there the Festival will be getting into gear so accomodation will be scarce, but if you can get somewhere you will have a fantastic time. Just wander around. Avoid pubs on the High Street and Rose Street (although the Rose Street Brewery does a mean micro-brewed ale if that’s your thing). They are very touristy places. Head down to Leith, or along to Stockbridge for a good night out. The Cowgate and its surroundings is a good place if you want to go clubbing, but be careful it is also fairly erm…lively in the early hours.
The city is quite compact so walking everywhere is possible, but there are plenty of black cabs around if you get lost. Most of the drivers are friendly and helpful and the cost is much less than the equivalent in London.
You cannot rely on the weather in any way, shape or form. This cannot be stressed too much. Even in late summer it is quite likely that you will be subjected to several seasons worth in one day. Pack your bags accordingly.
If you have the time to visit anywhere else on your visit I have three recommendations.
Go to Glasgow. The old place has really scrubbed up nice recently. The city buzzes. There is a different attitude to life in the town (compared to Edinburgh), very flash, very energetic, very friendly. Lots of Victorian architecture, mixed with some horrific modern stuff. Probably IMHO the closest place to the soul of modern Scotland. It’s only a short trip by train from Edinburgh, and although the two places are only forty miles apart they really are very different.
Another short rail journey from Edinburgh is Stirling. You know, Braveheart and all that…In many ways it is a mini-Edinburgh, down to the castle ting the town. The castle offers excellent guided tours, and some of the restoration work that has been done is quite wonderful. Definitely worth a day trip.
The Opal thang.
If you have a couple of days to kill, there is the train journey from Glasgow to Mallaig/Oban. Along the side of Loch Lomond and over Rannoch Moor up into the Highlands. Absolutely drop-dead stunning. Second only to the Inverness-Kyle of Lochalsh line
which ends up with views over to Skye. I once wept at the beauty of some of this.
Anyway, I hope that you really enjoy your visit.
Och Hells teeth. Insert the word “dominating” at the appropriate point in my previous post.
Walking tours are a very good way of seeing any town. I have been on ones in Oxford and Cambridge and , using them , you will be able to get into places ( such as college chapels and refrectories ) that are off limits to “ordinary” tourists. At the two places mentioned just present yourself at the local tourist office , pay your £5 or so and get on one of the tours which operate every hour throughout the day. Open top buses are another way of seeing the sites. The tickets are valid all day and you can hop on and off whenever you like. Most come with a running commentary.
Go Dundee!!!Everyone has to visit Dundee hehe
Gah, server ate my first reply…
violet, again, thanks. I hadn’t heard (or mentally skipped over) the underground tour, but sounds interesting. Actually, I’m having a meal at a jdw in London, first day I’m there, we have a jdw fan going there.
The Clawman, thank you for your nice and well thought out post. Stirling! Yes! I couldn’t remember the name of the place (yeah, the Braveheart thing). Glasgow is on the list, but not sure if I’m going there during work or not yet, if I do during work, probably not during vacation. Thanks for the pub recommendations! One of my most favorite activities is to go into pubs and strike up conversations, you can learn so much, and get a higher class of BS .The train trip sounds very nice, I’m also thinking of renting a motorcycle and seeing parts that way as well…
Rayne Man, yes, I’m sure to be walking. I’ve found that you do get to see more that way, although the open bus sounds interesting as well, didn’t know about the commentary, are they run by a private agency?
white-tigeress, ok I’ll bite, why Dundee?
To all, thanks for responding, this trip is a bit different for me, so I’m a bit out of sorts (normally I’m in a country for at least a month, so sight-seeing etc, is pretty laid back). I’m going to be there late June/early July, so will miss the big festivities. I’m of two minds, would like to have seen, but still, probably way more people than I want to deal with.
It seems I did get one part right, I was planning on using trains for the majority of my travel, from these posts, it sounds like the right idea.
Oh, one last question, I was thinking of touring the castle that “MP’s The Holy Grail” was principally filmed in, anyone have an opinion? Anyone ever been to it? And yes, I realize this plan ensures my geek status.