Where Would You Go?

K

ktmrider

Well-known
Local time
7:11 AM
Joined
Dec 12, 2007
Messages
1,363
Well, my wife and I are headed to Scotland in September for several days in Edinburgh and Inverness. In between we will be hiking the Loch Ness Trail (80 miles). It is my second long distance walk (previously West Highland Way) in Scotland and third walk (C2C last autumn) overall. This will be my wife's first long walk as she just retired and my previous travel partner (my daughter) got married two weeks ago.

So, besides the normal tourist stuff in Edinburgh and Inverness, can anyone suggest specific destinations? I spent a week in Edinburgh a few years ago along with Glasgow but have never been to Inverness. For sure I will be visiting a few whisky distilleries and bringing a few samples back to the US.

I plan on taking my MP240 but thinking 25, 50 and 135 vice my normal travel kit of 35/90. The 25f2.8 Zeiss arrives later this week. And will probably throw my Fuji X70 into the pack as well.
 
I liked Gladstone's Land in Edinburgh, and the National Museum of Scotland is quite nice (and free). There are some great views from New Town back across to the Old Town, and New Town itself has some good neighborhood walks. Also the Georgian House on Charlotte Square is fun (you might guess we like to tour homes more than castles).

Don't know Inverness - we passed it by on the way from Skye to Pitlochry (which has the Edradour Distillery - good tour and good whiskies).
 
The 25/50/135 lens selection sounds about right, though you might want to add the 90.


I just perused Absolute Escapes web site, and if you are using their services it sounds like a really good deal. If I could ever get this body of mine back in halfway decent shape, I might try that route sometime.


PF
 
How about a trip (about 20min by car from Inverness) to Beauly, the home of Ffordes photographic. Lots of gear, check their website, bring your credit card:)
May not be your wife’s idea of a great day out.

Paul
 
Thanks for the tip of Ffordes. There are a couple photo items in the cabinet from my last trip to Great Britain although it was Red Dot in London.

Have not been to the Farkirk Wheel so will be googling it.

And yes, Absolute Escapes is outstanding. I have used them both on the West Highland Way and the Coast to Coast. Walking without carrying a 40 lb pack and knowing you have a nice B&B waiting at the end of the day is heavenly. I wish we had something similar here in the US.
 
Well, airline tickets have been purchased and Absolute Escapes is making reservations for the Loch Ness Trail which is about 80 miles, loops the loch and starts and ends in Inverness.

We fly into Edinburgh and spend five days and then the train up to Inverness. I spent five days in Edinburgh back in 2014 with my daughter so now planning to show the wife. I am planning on a whisky tour and ??? while in Inverness. Our hike is seven days and another night in Inverness. My daughter and I flew into Glasgow in 2014 and we fly out of there on this trip. Would you give Glasgow 2 or 3 days? I was really impressed with the Transportation Museum in Glasgow so hints for other activities would be appreciated.

And we are hiking around Loch Ness 18-25 September. Will there be fall colors? I already know there will be rain and wind. A good friend from Bozeman just returned from doing the West Highland Way and he never once donned rain gear. Had to wonder if he was really in Scotland.
 
Hi,

From Glasgow you can take a trip on the paddle ship "Waverley" by steam power. Start looking here:-

http://www.waverleyexcursions.co.uk/

And go to Oban and various island famous for whisky by boat. And there's the Burrell Collection and CRM's Hill House to visit and Loch Lomond.

And from Inverness you can go to Ullapool for (say) a boat trip to the Summer Isles or to Skye on the Hogwarts line over that famous viaduct.

Regards, David
 
Thanks David for the suggestions. My daughter and I rode the steam train 4 years ago. I don't know how much of a HARRY POTTER fan the wife is. I will google the other suggestions.

Thanks again. Don't think the Waverly will be in Glasgow the same dates we will.
 
Sixteen days in Scotland with the wife is getting closer and closer. We have days in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness and eight days of walking around Loch Ness. She has never done a long distance walk like this but I suspect she will love it.

I understand that if Edinburgh gets above 20 degrees C (68F for Yankees), it is a heat wave. Well, it has been about 37 degrees C(98F) here in the Southwest so we are looking forward to a change in temperature and might even enjoy a little rain. We are home two days and then heading to Anchorage, AK., through Xmas. I am curious to see if she can go home again as she grew up in Alaska and we are talking of moving back next summer from the US/Mexico border. Surprisingly, the north coast of Scotland is almost as far north as Anchorage, AK.

I am still thinking MP240. I normally travel with a couple light, small lenses like the 35f2.8 Biogon and 90f2.8 TeleElmarit but this trip I may substitute a trio 25/50/135 for 35/90. I enjoy both 35 and 50 equally so it is difficult to chose. Have had the 25f2.8 Biogon for a month but have not had a chance to use it. And last long distance walk, I carried the Fuji X70 which has a 28 equivalent lens. It worked great as well.
 
If you've got the time the John Muir trail on the East Lothian coast is outstanding. You don't have to do the whole thing. A train from Edinburgh to Dunbar would take 25 mins. The coastal scenery is really outstanding.

Regards lens 25/35/50 and 90 or 135 would be very comprehensive. Choose only one tele to cut the weight down.
 
Here's a bit of advice I give to everyone visiting Scotland:

If you can find a Scottish cow, such as an Aberdeen Angus, go close to it and listen carefully. You may here it go "Och aye the moo!":cool:
 
When in Glasgow, have a look at Necropolis, a graveyard on a hill, full of atmosphere and the Kelvingrove Art Gallery.
Regards,
Frank
 
When in Edinburgh, take a day trip to North Berwick, climb the Law and take a boat trip to see the islands with the Seabird centre. If you have time continue along the coast to Dunbar or further, plenty of great places for coastal photography. You can take the A1 as a shortcut back.
 
addled said:
When in Edinburgh, take a day trip to North Berwick, climb the Law and take a boat trip to see the islands with the Seabird centre. If you have time continue along the coast to Dunbar or further, plenty of great places for coastal photography. You can take the A1 as a shortcut back.
Click to expand...

Great advice 👍
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom