# Scotland in August, what to do? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 8, 2016, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotland-in-august-what-to-do/745504 "2016-02-08T01:12:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotland-in-august-what-to-do/745504/21 "2016-02-10T00:29:00Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Which bit? I can’t imagine they were asking “Where can you go to on the ferry from Ardrossan?” > > Glad to inadvertently help anyway 😃 “Resort island in the Firth of Clyde” I had ARRA\_, and unfortunately it crossed ORA\_D “Charlie Chan portrayer Warner” which I also didn’t know. I’ve learned two new things today! ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotland-in-august-what-to-do/745504/22 "2016-02-10T12:16:32Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Oh, if you do do a stopover in London, the Globe Theatre is doing Macbeth on some days in August this year. [http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/calendar/page/4/c/macbeth/d/2-2-2016](http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/calendar/page/4/c/macbeth/d/2-2-2016) The Edinburgh Fringe programme isn’t out until the 8th of June so booking seats at the Globe might be a safer bet. Don’t know how far in advance it might sell out. If there is a group putting it on in Edinburgh you’d quite probably be able to get tickets on the day (although that’s not guaranteed). ---
**Author:** ![Donegal\_Dragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Donegal\_Dragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donegal_Dragon)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotland-in-august-what-to-do/745504/23 "2016-02-10T14:10:15Z")
The National Art Gallery in Edinburgh is very child friendly, even giving out coloring books with some of the paintings in them. Also a bus ride out to Rosslyn is nice and a real treat for Da Vinci Code fans. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotland-in-august-what-to-do/745504/24 "2016-02-10T14:26:12Z")
> [@Gray\_Ghost](#): > > Not explicitly stated yet, but Oban’s the site of a perfectly fine [Scotch Whisky distillery](https://www.discovering-distilleries.com/oban/). So that could help you cross off multiple 'to do’s with one visit. > > Oban’s good: hard to characterize, but I’d class it as a cross between a good Highlands and a seaside, if not full-on Islay character Scotch. Sweet, with some smoke. The [14 year old](https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/oban-14-year-old-whisky/) is usually a crowd pleaser IME, even among non-Scotch drinkers, which isn’t the same thing you’d claim for, say, [Laphroiag](http://www.laphroaig.com/). Visit the distillery, then eat oysters on the docks. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotland-in-august-what-to-do/745504/25 "2016-02-10T14:36:54Z")
> [@PaulParkhead](#): > > Yes. My wife, who is from the USA and a naturalised Canadian who lived for years in Winnipeg, finds Glasgow to be very crowded on a normal day. Edinburgh at festival time will be heaving. We were in Edinburgh a week or two before Fringe and it was already fairly heaving just from the setup crews and additional vendors. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotland-in-august-what-to-do/745504/26 "2016-02-10T16:10:17Z")
> [@Motorgirl](#): > > eat oysters on the docks. The best place in Oban is the [Seafood Hut](http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/oct/18/ee-usk-and-oban-seafood-hut-restaurant-reviews), right at the ferry terminal. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotland-in-august-what-to-do/745504/27 "2016-02-10T16:32:03Z")
The West Coast is the Midge Coast. Especially up Oban way. There are castles - ruined or standing - everywhere. I was at Culloden ~18 months ago. The visitor centre was very nice but the picture of the battle it gave was very one-sided, with scant mention of the large numbers of Scots who fought on the Government side. ---
**Author:** ![Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce7236/32.png) [@Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mona_Lisa_Simpson)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2016, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotland-in-august-what-to-do/745504/28 "2016-02-15T04:35:12Z")
Thanks everyone, I will check in occasionally, and as plans coalesce I will post more details. I am so excited for this trip, I want to make sure everyone is happy. My parents and MIL and I talked travel plans this weekend. (Well mostly they did, I was making supper/cleaning up .) So far everyone is in agreement, and they shared notes about research, flights, etc. Is there much to see in Ayr? ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2016, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotland-in-august-what-to-do/745504/29 "2016-02-15T09:00:22Z")
To get you started: [https://www.visitscotland.com/info/services/ayr-information-centre-p332581](https://www.visitscotland.com/info/services/ayr-information-centre-p332581) > **[Ayrshire & Arran - Things to do, Holidays & Maps](https://www.visitscotland.com/places-to-go/ayrshire-arran)** > > Discover the region of Ayrshire & Arran, including holiday ideas, accommodation, travel information and maps, the best places to visit & fantastic things to do. > **[Tourism and visitor information · East Ayrshire Council](https://www.east-ayrshire.gov.uk/TourismAndVisitorAttractions/Tourism.aspx)** > > Discover everything that East Ayrshire has to offer, you might surprise yourself! Includes information on tourist attractions and local history. ---
**Author:** ![Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce7236/32.png) [@Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mona_Lisa_Simpson)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2016, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotland-in-august-what-to-do/745504/30 "2016-02-15T23:37:44Z")
Thank you Quartz! ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2016, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotland-in-august-what-to-do/745504/31 "2016-06-08T13:31:40Z")
The Edinburgh Fringe 2016 programme just got launched. Not [all these Macbeths](https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on#q=macbeth) will appeal to you, I’m sure, but maybe one of them will be suitable! ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2016, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotland-in-august-what-to-do/745504/32 "2016-06-08T13:38:22Z")
I still remember [Inverewe](https://www.visitscotland.com/info/see-do/inverewe-garden-and-estate-p255481), which is a gorgeous garden full of improbable things (including Himalayan plants, Tasmanian eucalypts etc.). ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2016, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotland-in-august-what-to-do/745504/33 "2016-06-08T15:43:27Z")
The [Tattoo](http://www.edintattoo.co.uk) is running from 8/5-8/26. We really enjoyed it. ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2016, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotland-in-august-what-to-do/745504/34 "2016-06-08T15:59:27Z")
Yeah, but if you don’t like crowds the queuing process before you get in is probably no fun. It’s a long time since I’ve seen the Tattoo but I see the queue wrangling at some point most years! But you’ve been in the queue, maybe you can say if it’s stressful or not? (Many people come by organised tour buses, which drop off their passengers and then go to park. Meanwhile the spectators have to form a queue in large blocks of hundreds of people each, stretching from the venue entrance a couple of hundred yards down the Royal Mile. Each one is processed and let in as quickly as possible and everyone moves up en masse to wait while the next block is processed. There are two shows an evening, so they have it down pat, but it still looks like vaguely organised chaos! Afterwards, getting out isn’t so organised, afaik, and then you have to find your tour bus… ) ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2016, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotland-in-august-what-to-do/745504/35 "2016-06-08T17:11:22Z")
> [@Meurglys](#): > > Yeah, but if you don’t like crowds the queuing process before you get in is probably no fun. > It’s a long time since I’ve seen the Tattoo but I see the queue wrangling at some point most years! > But you’ve been in the queue, maybe you can say if it’s stressful or not? > > (Many people come by organised tour buses, which drop off their passengers and then go to park. Meanwhile the spectators have to form a queue in large blocks of hundreds of people each, stretching from the venue entrance a couple of hundred yards down the Royal Mile. Each one is processed and let in as quickly as possible and everyone moves up en masse to wait while the next block is processed. There are two shows an evening, so they have it down pat, but it still looks like vaguely organised chaos! > Afterwards, getting out isn’t so organised, afaik, and then you have to find your tour bus… ) I don’t recall the queuing process being all that bad. Certainly no worse than waiting for a security check at a busy airport, and you don’t have to take your shoes off. I was with my folks, so naturally, we got in line _early_… ---
**Author:** ![Katriona](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/katriona/32/113_2.png) [@Katriona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katriona)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2016, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotland-in-august-what-to-do/745504/36 "2016-06-08T17:14:04Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > The [Tattoo](http://www.edintattoo.co.uk) is running from 8/5-8/26. > We really enjoyed it. Here’s the web site: [http://www.edintattoo.co.uk/the-experience](http://www.edintattoo.co.uk/the-experience) ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2016, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotland-in-august-what-to-do/745504/37 "2016-06-09T11:01:14Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > I don’t recall the queuing process being all that bad. Certainly no worse than waiting for a security check at a busy airport, and you don’t have to take your shoes off. I was with my folks, so naturally, we got in line _early_… OK; good to hear it’s less stressful than it looks from the outside! As a local, I’ve only been a passing spectator. And the [Book Festival programme](https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/the-festival/whats-on) has just been launched; I got my copies of it this morning. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scotland-in-august-what-to-do/745504.md?page=1)