The FastDay Forum

Hello people!
My boyfriend and I are thinking to do a tour of scotland this summer (around mid july), we found a tour that is kinda organize.. they reserve the rooms for the nights and give you the car... But do you think that if you we don't reserve any room and decide day by day where to sleep, we find something? And if you know what is, more or less, the range of pricing for a B&B or a modest hotel?
Thank you!!

PS: I think, if we go, that the most difficult thing is to drive "the other way!!" :D

Hello,
B & B is about £30 per person per night, hotels a bit more. My S/L came over from Aus last year & just booked nights as they went using the Internet, it gave them the flexibility to stay longer or shorter in different places but she thought it was quite expensive. My advice would be google accommodation in the places you want to see then compare costs with the package you have found.
Whatever you decide have a wonderful holiday.

I thought that this was a joke, LOL!!!

Well, Scotland is full of wonderful festivals and exhibitions and concerts during Summer so I would book in advance in order to avoid disappointment and stress. You can of course plan your route, form an itinerary and then book the rooms by yourself.

Prices vary depending on the area and the lodging. Newton Hall in Inveraray is around 80 quid a night for a double and it is one of the most famous/nice B&Bs in the area. A double at Castlecroft in Stirling starts from around 60 quid.

Hello Iva,
August is the busiest month here, mainly because of the Edinburgh Festival but July is busy too. You do have the advantage of having a car and there are lots of places, especially B & Bs in little villages and the countryside, which often have a vacancy, even in July. A double room is much more easily available than a single or family room so you should be able to be fairly spontaneous. Check for Highland games, golf tournaments and festivals before you leave because certain events here get booked up well in advance. Don't make the mistake of bringing too much luggage with you, our weather is usually not too bad in July and you can buy beautiful tweeds and cashmere whilst you're here. Just don't forget a brolly! Take advantage of the breakfasts whilst you're here, ask to try kippers for breakfast, and do try the blackpudding - you won't need anything else until evening!

Hello Iva,
August is the busiest month here, mainly because of the Edinburgh Festival but July is busy too. You do have the advantage of having a car and there are lots of places, especially B & Bs in little villages and the countryside, which often have a vacancy, even in July. A double room is much more easily available than a single or family room so you should be able to be fairly spontaneous. Check for Highland games, golf tournaments and festivals before you leave because certain events here get booked up well in advance. Don't make the mistake of bringing too much luggage with you, our weather is usually not too bad in July and you can buy beautiful tweeds and cashmere whilst you're here. Just don't forget a brolly! Take advantage of the breakfasts whilst you're here, ask to try kippers for breakfast, and do try the blackpudding - you won't need anything else until evening!

Thank you for all your kind advice.. I think I will search for some B&B/hotels and then compare the prices...

Dhana, I don't know if I can eat salty things in the morning, here in Italy we are used to eat sweets like cookies, toast with jam, croissants ecc ecc, yogurt with cereals etc... but I definitely will try!

When in Scotland... you have to eat the FSB (Full Scottish Breakfast) which is far better than the English one because there's tatty scones (potato scones, like pancakes made of potato but 100 times more tasty) in it!!!!!!!

When in Scotland... you have to eat the FSB (Full Scottish Breakfast) which is far better than the English one because there's tatty scones (potato scones, like pancakes made of potato but 100 times more tasty) in it!!!!!!!

I will for sure!!
Can I ask you a question, why is the sausage is called pudding? Isn't pudding something sweet? Thank you!

In mediaeval times sausages were known as puddings and were meat based - this evolved to being mainly sweet ingredients, like plum pudding, steamed puddings etc. the black pudding name has stuck, in France it is boudin noir, so maybe it's because of the Auld Alliance. Historically we have had a lot of French influences in Scotland and many connections (Mary Queen of Scots). Actually, there is also white pudding, a sweeter version of breakfast pudding, which is mostly cereal sweetened with dried fruit, nice for a change. I'm going to Sardinia in August and looking forward to bread and honey and coffee for breakfast!

In mediaeval times sausages were known as puddings and were meat based - this evolved to being mainly sweet ingredients, like plum pudding, steamed puddings etc. the black pudding name has stuck, in France it is boudin noir, so maybe it's because of the Auld Alliance. Historically we have had a lot of French influences in Scotland and many connections (Mary Queen of Scots). Actually, there is also white pudding, a sweeter version of breakfast pudding, which is mostly cereal sweetened with dried fruit, nice for a change. I'm going to Sardinia in August and looking forward to bread and honey and coffee for breakfast!

Thank you.

We actually call chocolate pudding = budino (pronunciation similar to the french boudin).
Sardinia is beautiful you will enjoy it very much, and the food is fantastic!!

So... we are coming in scotland! From july 13 to july 20 I'm so excited!! We start from Glasgow, then Fort William, then Skye Island, Inverness and Edinburgh!!
Any advice to what to see, where to eat ecc ecc??

Hi IvafromItaly! I have just come back from Skye - there is lots to see. If you are going from Glasgow to Fort William, you will be driving through the wonderful Glencoe, which is spectacular, and you may recognise from the Bond film Skyfall!
On Skye, make sure you go round the Trotternish peninsula in the north - and you won't need to worry about driving on 'the wrong side' of the road - the road is single track! (But with passing places!!). Call in and see Maggie at the Ellishadder Art Cafe near Culnacnoc - she does wonderful meals, all made herself - good home cooking which I know Italians love
Make sure you take a boat trip to Lock Coruisk from Elgol - I can recommend Misty Isle Boat Trips - run by the Mackinnon family, whose ancestor helped Bonnie Prince Charlie escape from Skye. Also try to visit Dunvegan Castle home of the Macleod clan and also Armadale Castle in the south which is the Macdonald Clan.
On the way to Skye you will pass the wonderful Eilean Donan Castle - see the photo above -there is an excellent cafe and shop here and it is a great stop on the way to Skye.
The seafood is especially wonderful with plenty of restaurants - have a look at http://www.skye.co.uk for lots more info - and have a fantastic time!
Oh and if you get chance, visit the small village of Plockton, near to the Skye Bridge, it's a lovely place, and almost on the way to Inverness!

... Oh and nearly forgot - my most favourite bed and breakfast so far is at Pitlochry (just off the A9 between Inverness and Edinburgh - Torrdarach House http://www.torrdarach.co.uk - they have wonderful rooms in a 100 year old house, but they have renovated it in a very modern and tasteful style. They are a young couple and very energetic, and the full scottish breakfasts are something else - you will not need to eat the rest of the day! Also the breakfast room is all glass and you may see the resident red squirrel in their garden from your breakfast table ... A double room from £88 but it is well worth it

One more vote for Eilean Donan Castle!!!

Silverldarling, if the go through Glencoe they will pass Loch Lomond, Inveraray and Oban right? A wonderful drive...

Yep you're right there TML, though after Glencoe they would have a choice of left to Oban, or right to Fort William, lol!

... And for shopping, House of Bruar, just off the A9, about 10 miles north of Pitlochry, wonderful scottish country clothing, cashmere, tweed etc, along with a brilliant restaurant and deli ... (TML you would be in your element here, if you've not discovered it already!)