Expert: Willie Wallace - 3/31/2004

Question
I am planning a short tourist travel to Scotland in second half of May. We are a senior couple. My basic plan includes travel by train/Bus from London to Edinburgh and once there also visit Aberdeen and Inverness. Please inform following:
1. What is the best public transport in Scotland to do this travel? Train? Bus? Both?
2. I can only travel 3 days. Is it possible to visit these towns in 3 days? If not which should I quite?
3. What are the best tourist points to visit in those locations? My main preferences are views, old towns, monuments (palaces/castles).
3. Would you recommend a local tour operator to do this travel starting from Edinburgh?
4. How do you forecast weather in mid May?
5. Just in case you recommend a step by step trip (all on my own using public transports), what would be the itinerary/time-table?

I am also an expert in travel to Portugal. Please ask me whenever you need information about Portugal.

Best regards,
JCD


Answer
Hi JCD,

I would not even try to do more than Edinburgh.  Both the Old Town and New Town (built in the 18th century) are World Heritage sites, something no other ciy has (except the Vatican and Rome).  It has a spectacular castle and Palace and is built on seven extinct volcanoes.  The views are constantly enough to take your breath away and even three days isn't enough to do it justice.  

You won't have time to do either Aberdeen or Inverness, both of which are about three hours away on the train.  Inverness is just a quiet town, made famous as the Capital of the Highlands, but this is only because it is the only reasonable sized town so far North,.   Contrary to what the title leads you to expect, it is actually at sea level.  Aberdeen is a big oil town, supporting the North Sea oil industry.  It is old, solid, has two universities and nothing particular to make it worth a visit when you are here only three days.  Take a day trip out, if you must, with either Timberbush Tours, or Rabbies and see a bit of Scotland, but concentrate on Edinburgh.  I bet you are staying far too long in London, which is just a series of small towns connected by underground.  It smells, it is noisy and it is V. Dirty!  Drop a couple of days there and come to beautiful clean Scotland.

http://www.rabbies.com/

http://www.timberbush-tours.co.uk/

I hope that helps.

Willie Wallace
http://www.rental-cars-scotland.com