One month in Scotland

[EeeNinja]

I'm going to Scotland for a month and I'm looking for some suggestions for areas to check out.

I'll be mostly on foot and hiking along the E2 trail.

Does anyone know of any off the beaten areas to check out? Preferably as tourist/american free as possible. Actually anything as far away from cities/civilization as possible would be good too.

Thanks!

[raptor]

Stay away for Aberdeen and Peterhead.

Inverness is very nice, as is Edinburgh and the Highlands.

Be sure to eat some "mushy peas' and get a fried Mars bar.

[jakecwu]

It doesn't meet your "no cities" requisite, but I've found Glasgow to be one of the most under-rated cities in Europe. I've enjoyed all of my time there. If you go, try Stravaigin. It's a bit fancy but some of the best food there and not unreasonable. Sort of modernized Scottish fare with local ingredients.

Edinburgh is always nice, but VERY tourist heavy.

I liked Inverness as well.

G-

P.S.,

Eat haggis. It kicks ass when it's done right.

[EeeNinja]

Stay away for Aberdeen and Peterhead.

Inverness is very nice, as is Edinburgh and the Highlands.

Be sure to eat some "mushy peas' and get a fried Mars bar.

I'm not stranger to going to the chippie and getting pies and peas. But I'm not sure I'll make it into the highlands, too far to walk in too short a time, and in the wrong direction. I'll be mostly in the Dumfries region heading mostly westward.

Haggis is high on my list... also plenty of scotch... I hear its fresher there.

[jakecwu]

If you're staying out of the highlands then my other recommendation won't work either. The area around Cairngorms national park is pretty cool, especially if you're a bit younger and adventurous, which I suspect you are based on the fact that you're backpacking for a month in Scotland. I can't remember the name of the town, but it's just West of Grantown-on-Spey. Young town, lots of restaurants and a couple clubs, easy access to hiking and backpacking areas within the park. It would make a decent jump-off point.

The whisky is fresher, and better. Make sure you try something besides The Glenlivet. My recommendation is to find a whisky bar, profess ignorance and tell them what you like. You won't be disappointed by what a good barman will set you up with.

G-

[EeeNinja]

Adventurous yes... younger... unfortunately not so much.

But I enjoy a fair bit of travel and a fair bit of time off. Thanks for the suggestions! The Bladnoch Distillery is on my list and right in the area I'll be in.

[Dawgboy]

I would skip the lowlands and get on a bus for Thurso/Scrabster and get on the ferry to the Orkney Islands. Spend a few days there and then go to west country and Harris. It's beautiful and wild out there. Expect lot's of rain...

[EeeNinja]

Taking everyone's suggestions I stayed almostly completely in the highlands... Wow... just wow. Distilleries everywhere. Wicked nice people. Incredible views... GIANT FUZZY COWS!!!



Little tiny horses:



Scotch...


Scotch scotch...

[Blacksh33p]

Awesome!

Those Highland Cattle can pretty aggressive. Very cool, though. I loved my time in Scotland, though it wasn't nearly long enough. Did you get a chance to check out any major cities?

[EeeNinja]

Awesome!

Those Highland Cattle can pretty aggressive. Very cool, though. I loved my time in Scotland, though it wasn't nearly long enough. Did you get a chance to check out any major cities?

Inverness, Stirling, Edinburgh, and Ullapool were the only real cities I saw. And really only for a day or two, though I was in Inverness for like a week off and on while on The Black Isle. And of course I went to Loch Ness. A lot of my travel was backpacking, so I could only make it so far.

I don't know how aggressive that cow was, he seemed pretty friendly. But thats easy to say when there is a fence between the two of you. Saw a LOT of sheep...

[Paffe]

There is a nice small town called Fort Augustus on the south side of Loch Ness. By the main road in Fort Augustus there is a gas station and the prettiest girl of whole of the UK can be found working there. Definitely worth the trip: she is stunning!

EDIT: Sorry I was late

[adv]

Lucky fella. I been to quite a few countries but the Scottish Highlands is still the most beautiful place I've ever been to - and that's hard for an Englishman to say.
However, good luck understanding the buggers when they're sober, let alone drunk.

[KentsOkay]

I will have to one day make a pilgrimage there. Lucky sot.

[EeeNinja]

Wow hard to believe its been a year since I was in Scotland.

I went to Fort Augustus on my way to the Ben Nevis Distillery.

This summer, Italy... which I have been to before so I kind of know where I'll be going. I'll probably be around Volterra or maybe Montepulciano, definetly somewhere around Tuscanny. I'll probably be there for about 3 weeks or so.