I'm going to Scotland!

[thecrazyscot]

I'm planning a trip to Scotland! We're going in early April, so it will be chilly! I'd love to get some recommendations from people who either live there or have been there about places to see, eat, visit, etc!

We're going to these places in this order:
Edinburgh
Fort William
Skye - 2 nights
Inverness
Glasgow - 2 nights

We'll be driving so we will have quite a bit of flexibility.

TBH I'm most excited about Skye - that was the one place I told my wife we had to go. I've actually been to Scotland before (when I was 12, so...not terribly helpful in planning).

Any suggestions?

 

[Synobun]

I'm sorry for your loss.

Watch a lot of rugby, or hockey if that's more your speed. They have a league now.

Stake a claim for your Viking forefathers.

Eat haggis.

 

[thecrazyscot]

I told my wife I wanted to find some monasteries to pillage, but she didn't think that was funny.

I've heard that Scottish people don't actually eat haggis and that it's basically just tourist food now...is that true?

Either way, I'll pass.

 

[Synobun]

I've heard that Scottish people don't actually eat haggis and that it's basically just tourist food now...is that true?

Pretty much. Cullen skink is excellent if you like soups. Their fish and chips are alright but I've always found that dish to be pretty meh so I'm biased. Scotch pie is pretty good; it's quite similar to a shepherd's pie.

If you're into breads, try some bannock (some places just call them scones). They're not like the scones you know, though.

My high school way back when had an annual rugby championship both here and in Scotland so there was a lot of sharing of cuisine.

 

[warpus]

I have Skye on my list of places to go hiking. I'd love to read a trip report once you've returned (whether you visit Skye or not)

 

[The_J]

Been to Edinburgh 2 years ago, and yeah, the big tourist attractions like the castle and the national museum are pretty much worth visiting.

 

[Perfection]

Damn Scots! They ruined Scotland!

 

[Arakhor]

Both Edinburgh and Glasgow have a lot of museums. You can buy a museum pass and get in very cheaply.

Try going to Inveraray Gaol when you're near Glasgow and/or Fort William. It's a museum of Scottish punishment and incarceration over the centuries.

Also try to go to Mount Stuart on the Isle of Bute. It's a spectacular mansion owned by the Marquises of Bute, one of whom left the largest private will in the world.

 

[really]

If you are going to be there over Easter make sure things are going to be open.

(Museums, resturants etc.)

 

[Snerk]

/does billy connolly impersonation

Also while you're there, see if you can find any archaeological remains from the Takhisian era.

 

[Arakhor]

Easter's not until the 16th this year, so he should be fine.

 

[EnglishEdward]

I have Skye on my list of places to go hiking. I'd love to read a trip report once you've returned (whether you visit Skye or not)

Beautiful.

I went there 40 years ago for a couple of weeks geology field trip.

Probably busier now as they built a bridge to replace the ferry.

 

[thecrazyscot]

Pretty much. Cullen skink is excellent if you like soups. Their fish and chips are alright but I've always found that dish to be pretty meh so I'm biased. Scotch pie is pretty good; it's quite similar to a shepherd's pie.

If you're into breads, try some bannock (some places just call them scones). They're not like the scones you know, though.

Thanks for the recommendations! One of my favorite things to do wherever I go is to sample the local food, so I'm pretty adventurous (barring haggis).

I have Skye on my list of places to go hiking. I'd love to read a trip report once you've returned (whether you visit Skye or not)

I'll try to remember! My brother went last year and came back with some really incredible pictures.

Been to Edinburgh 2 years ago, and yeah, the big tourist attractions like the castle and the national museum are pretty much worth visiting.

Both Edinburgh and Glasgow have a lot of museums. You can buy a museum pass and get in very cheaply.

Try going to Inveraray Gaol when you're near Glasgow and/or Fort William. It's a museum of Scottish punishment and incarceration over the centuries.

Also try to go to Mount Stuart on the Isle of Bute. It's a spectacular mansion owned by the Marquises of Bute, one of whom left the largest private will in the world.

Thanks for the recommendations! I'll definitely look into the museum pass.

If you are going to be there over Easter make sure things are going to be open.)

It's before Easter

/does billy connolly impersonation

Also while you're there, see if you can find any archaeological remains from the Takhisian era.

Weren't those all destroyed for safety reasons?

 

[Traitorfish]

I've heard that Scottish people don't actually eat haggis and that it's basically just tourist food now...is that true?

It's still eaten, but mostly as a festive dish, usually on Burns' Night and St. Andrew's Day. It's not an everyday dish, but it's not a a Medieval oddity that's trotted out only to scare tourists, as you might imagine. (Also, fried haggis is still a staple of breakfast and chip shop menus.) A lot of places will still do a nice haggis, all artisanal butchery and locally-sourced whisky-fed sheep and such like, and it's worth a try.