Road to Scotland!

[HorsSujet]

Hello there ILF friends.

I'm planning to make a trip to Scotland in May with a friend, we won't have a car so we'll go from one city to another, startint from Edimburgh!
Probably road to the west, from Edimburg to Stirling, Loch Lomond, Fort Williams... We'll be there for 10 days.

Is there any friendly people from Scotland who could give some nice advices on good spots, things to know (and specially to avoid), or even people who are hosting couchsurfers ?

That would be a nice opportunity to meet new fuzzy people !

I'm currently trying to plan the road trip (couchsurfing & backpackers hostels), so do not hesitate to help !

Cheers, can't wait to taste a Belhaven in your country.

[HorsSujet]

No friends from Scotland ?

[Chankgeez]

There're definitely people from Scotland on the D*A*M forum. You could try asking there?

[cheesecats]

i don't live in scotland but have dear friends there and have been many times. in general, try to go as far north and west as you can. it's difficult without a car, though. i would suggest just taking a train from edinburgh (waverley station--you can get there on the new tram from the airport) to inverness. from there you can take return trips to portree on skye, ullapool, and durness. you can also take a train from glasgow to mallaig, which is considered one of the most scenic routes. glencoe is one of my favorite spots--you would have to take a bus through rannoch moor from the south on the a82 to see it properly, though. another favorite spot is the drive from perth to braemar on the a93--again, you would have to find a bus, probably from perth, which is a lovely city itself and worth visiting. there are so many other areas worth visiting, but not having a car is very limiting. sorry i can't help on couchsurfing, but i think you can find hostels and hikers' bunkhouses on the internet. bring layers of clothing, including waterproof shoes and some rain gear. the weather can change rapidly and you can experience 3 or 4 seasons in a day, even in may.

[echoraven]

That sounds so cool! Post pics and keep us updated!

[Jwar]

I have some extended family in Glasgow. Wish I could go too! Been there once for 10 days and it was amazing! Of course I was piss drunk the whole time...that was man...8 years ago? Crazy.

Visit the pubs, those are fun, just don't wear any sports team colors (I'm not kidding, they will want to fight you).
Get fish n chips. Real shit dude. Sooooooooo good.
Get some good haggis. OMG so good too.
Try Tennents beer. It's shite, but I loved it.
Take the fairy over to Amsterdam if you can.

Check out the clubs at night. Shit is crazy fun. I was dancing like nuts and I don't do that. haha.

Other than that. Talk to locals. People are so fucking nice there, it isn't funny. Well most people. Just don't get in religious arguments....sigh.

I'll ask my Father in Law if there's any cool stuff he'd recommend.

[Jwar]

oh and take a cab for the LOL's. They are fucking nutso drivers dude! hahaha

[HorsSujet]

Thanks a lot for your advices, cheesecats and Jwar. I took some of your tips cheesecats, and included them with the cities already on the wish-list for this trip.

Here's the map.


If we're good, we'll make only few nights in tent, the rest probably couchsurfing !
It's only for 10 days, and we'll try to spend as less as possible, I wanted to go to Fort Williams but that'll be too far and too expensive...

I'll note every advices So far, meeting cool people in pubs with fish & chips are 1st on the list (the Belhaven Beer too, one of my most precious souvenir from a Scottish pub in Copenhagen).

If you know some people who could host, do not hesitate to share !
And once again, MERCI !

[Twangasaurus]

Haha, I live in Perth and my local council is the City of Stirling. You're pretty much coming to visit me! Except it won't suck.

[cheesecats]

that looks like a tidy itinerary. i don't think you'll be disappointed anywhere in scotland. i forgot that ragged trousers is in the glasgow vicinity. perhaps you can pm him if he doesn't see this? the last i knew, one of his bandmates worked at guitar guitar in glasgow. that's worth a visit too--go downstairs and drool. in perth, there's a wee music shop called bandwagon. the owner, pete, is an amazing blues player. and there's a drum shop nearby called the drum shop the owner kevin is a force of nature--you could easily spend an hour listening to him go on.

it looks like you're passing near or through arrochar? if so, you may want to consider a hike up ben arthur.

[HorsSujet]

So much kinds advices and tips from you guys !
Twangasaurus, we'll be glad to meet you in Perth ! I was looking for couchsurfer there, so if you've got rooms for two friends, or even a yard to set a tent, that'd be amazing !

We'll probably remove the stop in Hellensburgh to make 2 nights around Loch Lomond, or to consider Arrochar instead. That looks wonderful !
I'll try to contact ragged trousers

Once again, merci friends, I write down all of your new informations !

[Jwar]

Wow I didn't realize the fucking fairy takes almost all day to get to Amsterdam! That's nuts! My Father In Law was going to take me but we didn't go...no wonder. LOL. There's some places in Scotland where they still speak only Gaelic or prominently Gaelic. That shit is a trip dude.

I'm super jealous. hahaha. Stop by London if you can too! That would be so fucking cool.

Just avoid the Hostels that were in the movie Hostel. LOL!

[Tristan]

I've never been to Scotland but if I'd go there I'd at least have this on my to do list:
drinking beer and whisky
visiting some whisky distilleries (Glengoyne, Dewar's are great and seem to be on the route, Auchentoshan and Glenturret are other options on your route)
hiking in nature
eating stews and fish

[HorsSujet]

Beer & Whisky = HELL YEAH. We're more into hicking in nature, that's why we don't stay that much in Edimburgh...
But I'll bring back some bottles, if by any chances you guys come to France (I live in the south West), make the same kind of topic, I'd be glad to host !

So far I'm really curious about taking a taxi, to see by myself if they're as nuts as you say
And I'll plan a little week end in London, probably this summer (flights are so freaking cheap, that's insane... something like 30$ the trip from France), but I'll make another request later, haha.

And I'll bring my Yashica to make some pictures in Scotland, as I do for all my trips !

[Tristan]

Alrighty, see above, you could try to visit Glengoyne Distillery.