Scotland Meets Thread (formerly Scotland: A Brave Adventure)

[2BNDisney]

Not sure about which place is better for dinner for you all on the last night, but I can chime in and say there is quite a bit of time on the bus for your last full day. If I remember correctly, it was around 3 hours to first stop and then after we finished with the last stop, it was about an hour and a half back to Edinburgh. I am thinking we ended up back in Edinburgh around 4:30 - 5 pm and we left for dinner around 6:15 for a quick visit to the castle before dinner. I think we were all ready to get back to Edinburgh as I wanted to finish up some last minute souvenir shopping.
Hope wherever you all end up that you have a great time

 

[2BNDisney]

He did not mention that to me when we spoke so I don't know.

I was wondering the same thing! On our Military Tattoo package is states that we will have Drinks and canapé reception in the courtyard of the Queen Anne room Three course set dinner with wine followed by coffee and tablet I have no idea what a "tablet" means To me, a tablet is something used to write on or something like an iPad Since neither of those are edible I've been calling it "coffee and surprise."

Yes, I did a tour with Hairy Coo before the Disney tour and we stopped in a town called Aberfoyle. There was a tablet shop and I stopped in and asked - it is a fudge that is a little more firm than I am used to. It was good and sweet though. And yes, there will be opportunities along the way to try blood pudding (I think that was at the Balmoral breakfast) and haggis (Inverness hotel dinner). Let me say blood pudding was NOT my favorite - lol

 

[paddles]

I need to get my act together - we leave for Scotland this Fri afternoon for the tour that starts next Sunday!

It gives us only 1 day to get over jet-lag, but my kids did great last year when we went to Paris and then onto the ABD Bella Italia trip. My husband asked me not to plan anything for the first day we're in Edinburgh so we could gauge how we feel and just walk around. I'd really like to do a ghost tour or a small tour of Mary King's Close, and just enjoy the city a bit.

I've been so busy at work, I just haven't had time to put more time for planning or packing....so that's my goal this weekend!!

We're all excited and soooo ready for vacation!!

 

[Groovee]

I need to get my act together - we leave for Scotland this Fri afternoon for the tour that starts next Sunday!

It gives us only 1 day to get over jet-lag, but my kids did great last year when we went to Paris and then onto the ABD Bella Italia trip. My husband asked me not to plan anything for the first day we're in Edinburgh so we could gauge how we feel and just walk around. I'd really like to do a ghost tour or a small tour of Mary King's Close, and just enjoy the city a bit.

I've been so busy at work, I just haven't had time to put more time for planning or packing....so that's my goal this weekend!!

We're all excited and soooo ready for vacation!!

Enjoy, we leave Edinburgh on Friday to fly to Orlando. The weather has been warm but the rain has started. The Edinburgh schools finish on Friday so Saturday may be busy in town.

 

[calypso726]

Yes, I did a tour with Hairy Coo before the Disney tour and we stopped in a town called Aberfoyle. There was a tablet shop and I stopped in and asked - it is a fudge that is a little more firm than I am used to. It was good and sweet though. And yes, there will be opportunities along the way to try blood pudding (I think that was at the Balmoral breakfast) and haggis (Inverness hotel dinner). Let me say blood pudding was NOT my favorite - lol

How was the Hairy Coo??? We are booked for it as well. I was looking forward to trying haggis and blood pudding. I'm glad to know that they will be available during the meals on our tour so I will try out other things during our "on your own" time.

I need to get my act together - we leave for Scotland this Fri afternoon for the tour that starts next Sunday!

It gives us only 1 day to get over jet-lag, but my kids did great last year when we went to Paris and then onto the ABD Bella Italia trip. My husband asked me not to plan anything for the first day we're in Edinburgh so we could gauge how we feel and just walk around. I'd really like to do a ghost tour or a small tour of Mary King's Close, and just enjoy the city a bit.

I've been so busy at work, I just haven't had time to put more time for planning or packing....so that's my goal this weekend!!

We're all excited and soooo ready for vacation!!

We did did not plan anything for our pre-trip arrival day either and will play things by ear depending on how we feel. Hopefully we will not be too jet lagged to walk around and explore. Have fun on the trip!

Enjoy, we leave Edinburgh on Friday to fly to Orlando. The weather has been warm but the rain has started. The Edinburgh schools finish on Friday so Saturday may be busy in town.

Safe travels and have fun!!!!

 

[2BNDisney]

How was the Hairy Coo??? We are booked for it as well. I was looking forward to trying haggis and blood pudding. I'm glad to know that they will be available during the meals on our tour so I will try out other things during our "on your own" time.

I really liked the Hairy Coo tour and had a great sunny day for it. I knew I had wanted to go to the Wallace Monument and was glad I went. A bit of a hike up to it - you can go inside if you want but none of our group did. I believe the bus was full and it is one of the shorter buses. The seats are a bit cramped/tight on the bus, and I would say that was the only part that could have been better. Got to see the Forth Bridge and again, I enjoyed the little town we stopped in for lunch. Also stopped at two lochs (lakes), got to stop and photograph Stirling castle, stopped at Doune Castle (again, you can pay extra and go in though no one in our group did) ..... and then there was a stop to see the Hairy Coo. Even got to feed one. The guide Nic was great and was both informative and entertaining. I personally was glad I went as it was nice to go someplace that the Disney tour was not going, and Scotland has such beautiful country.

Back in Edinburgh I did the Mary Close tour and enjoyed that also. Incredible how people lived back then. Also found after talking to at least 4 locals that many of the souvenir shops up and down the Royal Mile are not owned by Scots.... apparently only a very very few are. Two of the ones I went in that supposedly were owned by locals were Luckenbooth and Neanie Scott. I remember Neanie was in the Canongate section of the Royal Mile. In that section (or maybe down the hill a bit) there was a nice tea room and also a shop that sold shortbread and all sorts of Scottish desserts, foods etc. I found most of the shops there do NOT stay open late in the evening like the US.

I know there were 4 different guides when we were in Scotland as Disney had two different tours running with one group a few days ahead of us. Not sure if anyone will have the same as I, but if you have Zoe and Steve, you are in good hands. Two excellent guides that took great care of us.

As far as the hotels, the one in Portree seemed to be everyone's personal favorite. The hotel was very quaint, had an excellent view and the staff was very friendly. And whenever you get to a new town, the guides will hand you out restaurant suggestions in the town for the dinner on your own night.

 

[paddles]

The Hairy Coo tour looks amazing...but they won't let kids under 12 on

Do you have any other recos for a day tour that hits sites that Disney doesn't in Edinburgh?

 

[2BNDisney]

The Hairy Coo tour looks amazing...but they won't let kids under 12 on

Do you have any other recos for a day tour that hits sites that Disney doesn't in Edinburgh?

I saw an office on the Royal Mile for Haggis Adventures and believe I saw a tour van called Rabbie's but I know nothing about them. And there are always the double decker buses that drive around town though I did not do those. If you come in early or interested for later, I would highly suggest stopping by the Tourist Information office. If you head out the Balmoral Hotel front doors, go left down that sidewalk and it will be just down the street on the left down some stairs (not the escalator stairs but the stairs just past that)

 

[Calfan]

The Hairy Coo tour looks amazing...but they won't let kids under 12 on

Do you have any other recos for a day tour that hits sites that Disney doesn't in Edinburgh?

We also have the issue of the kids under age 12, so we opted for a Rabbie's tour to St. Andrews. I believe it hits some of the highlights outside Edinburgh on the way, but it isn't focused on Edinburgh. Rabbie's has a website you can look at to see their other tour options. They get pretty good reviews on TripAdvisor.

 

[paddles]

thanks - I'll check out these tour groups.

does anyone know what time the ABD reception dinner starts the first night?

 

[jjharts]

So we made it back from our British Isle adventure. The bags are unpacked, the laundry is done, and I am recovering from a nasty cough!! We had a great time, both on the abd Scotland tour and touring Ireland on our own. It was a lot to pack in to a little bit of time but so well worth it!! The scenery was spectacular and the people very friendly.

Also, haggis is tasty and every breakfast should come with mushrooms and grilled tomatoes!!

 

[sayhello]

So we made it back from our British Isle adventure. The bags are unpacked, the laundry is done, and I am recovering from a nasty cough!! We had a great time, both on the abd Scotland tour and touring Ireland on our own. It was a lot to pack in to a little bit of time but so well worth it!! The scenery was spectacular and the people very friendly.

Also, haggis is tasty and every breakfast should come with mushrooms and grilled tomatoes!!

Welcome back!!!! Are you going to post a more detailed report???

Sayhello

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

Welcome back!!!! Are you going to post a more detailed report???

Sayhello

Ditto from me! I would love to hear more. Did it meet expectations? How was the weather? Hotels? Food? What was your favorite part of the trip (least favorite?)? I'm scrounging for any scraps

 

[2BNDisney]

thanks - I'll check out these tour groups.

does anyone know what time the ABD reception dinner starts the first night?

I remember we met on the LAST night AT 6:15. I "think" the FIRST night was round about the same time. It is in the hotel so you don't have to leave to go anywhere else. It is in your own private little area and not in the restaurant which was nice. And I won't reveal anything as that is when the surprises start.

 

[2BNDisney]

Ditto from me! I would love to hear more. Did it meet expectations? How was the weather? Hotels? Food? What was your favorite part of the trip (least favorite?)? I'm scrounging for any scraps

I know my favorite was on Day 6 when we flew over to the Isle of Lewis - just an isolated area without the tourist crowds and it was a really beautiful day, especially at the Callanish Standing Stones (a couple even got engaged here). I wonder if the weather had not been as good if it would still have been my favorite. My favorite castle was on Day 8 at Dunnottar Castle (one of the castles they drew their inspiration from for Brave). Just wish we had been able to stay a little longer there. Also had a blast with archery that day and would love to do that again. I believe it only rained for 1 1/2 days and one of those days (day 3) we were on the bus for quite a bit of it. Day 4 was the most rain (nothing too hard) and that was the day we did the hiking in the morning before lunch. But I wish each of you as rain-free a trip as possible. And the fellow guests like jjharts family who I got to sit near made the trip all the better along with the 2 super guides. I thought it was funny that when we all boarded the bus on day 3, that was pretty much where everyone stayed for the rest of the trip on the bus whenever we went anywhere.

 

[Bobo912]

I know my favorite was on Day 6 when we flew over to the Isle of Lewis - just an isolated area without the tourist crowds and it was a really beautiful day, especially at the Callanish Standing Stones (a couple even got engaged here). I wonder if the weather had not been as good if it would still have been my favorite. My favorite castle was on Day 8 at Dunnottar Castle (one of the castles they drew their inspiration from for Brave). Just wish we had been able to stay a little longer there. Also had a blast with archery that day and would love to do that again. I believe it only rained for 1 1/2 days and one of those days (day 3) we were on the bus for quite a bit of it. Day 4 was the most rain (nothing too hard) and that was the day we did the hiking in the morning before lunch. But I wish each of you as rain-free a trip as possible. And the fellow guests like jjharts family who I got to sit near made the trip all the better along with the 2 super guides. I thought it was funny that when we all boarded the bus on day 3, that was pretty much where everyone stayed for the rest of the trip on the bus whenever we went anywhere.

It's funny you say that about the bus. On our recent trip, we sat in the second row the first couple of days and on the third day I told DS to move back a little and let somebody else sit in those seats, where they would get a chance to talk with the guides who sit in the front most of the time. We were one of the first families on the bus, but nobody sat in the second row seats that we had left for them. Those seats remained empty for the entire ride. I guess everyone had already settled in their chosen seats. We probably upset somebody by sitting in their seats. Next day I just let DS sit in the front again.

 

[sayhello]

It's funny you say that about the bus. On our recent trip, we sat in the second row the first couple of days and on the third day I told DS to move back a little and let somebody else sit in those seats, where they would get a chance to talk with the guides who sit in the front most of the time. We were one of the first families on the bus, but nobody sat in the second row seats that we had left for them. Those seats remained empty for the entire ride. I guess everyone had already settled in their chosen seats. We probably upset somebody by sitting in their seats. Next day I just let DS sit in the front again.

It is funny how people just settle into places and stay there. I tried sitting farther back this time than I normally do, but I really needed to move up when we hit the twisty-turny roads. And just sort of ended up staying there.

Sayhello

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

I know my favorite was on Day 6 when we flew over to the Isle of Lewis - just an isolated area without the tourist crowds and it was a really beautiful day, especially at the Callanish Standing Stones (a couple even got engaged here). I wonder if the weather had not been as good if it would still have been my favorite. My favorite castle was on Day 8 at Dunnottar Castle (one of the castles they drew their inspiration from for Brave). Just wish we had been able to stay a little longer there. Also had a blast with archery that day and would love to do that again. I believe it only rained for 1 1/2 days and one of those days (day 3) we were on the bus for quite a bit of it. Day 4 was the most rain (nothing too hard) and that was the day we did the hiking in the morning before lunch. But I wish each of you as rain-free a trip as possible. And the fellow guests like jjharts family who I got to sit near made the trip all the better along with the 2 super guides. I thought it was funny that when we all boarded the bus on day 3, that was pretty much where everyone stayed for the rest of the trip on the bus whenever we went anywhere.

Thank you so much for the comments, I'm eating it up! Lewis and Dunnottar are both great--I've been to both, but I'm looking forward to showing the family. I, too, am crossing my fingers on the weather It's such a crapshoot!

 

[calypso726]

I really liked the Hairy Coo tour and had a great sunny day for it. I knew I had wanted to go to the Wallace Monument and was glad I went. A bit of a hike up to it - you can go inside if you want but none of our group did. I believe the bus was full and it is one of the shorter buses. The seats are a bit cramped/tight on the bus, and I would say that was the only part that could have been better. Got to see the Forth Bridge and again, I enjoyed the little town we stopped in for lunch. Also stopped at two lochs (lakes), got to stop and photograph Stirling castle, stopped at Doune Castle (again, you can pay extra and go in though no one in our group did) ..... and then there was a stop to see the Hairy Coo. Even got to feed one. The guide Nic was great and was both informative and entertaining. I personally was glad I went as it was nice to go someplace that the Disney tour was not going, and Scotland has such beautiful country.

Back in Edinburgh I did the Mary Close tour and enjoyed that also. Incredible how people lived back then. Also found after talking to at least 4 locals that many of the souvenir shops up and down the Royal Mile are not owned by Scots.... apparently only a very very few are. Two of the ones I went in that supposedly were owned by locals were Luckenbooth and Neanie Scott. I remember Neanie was in the Canongate section of the Royal Mile. In that section (or maybe down the hill a bit) there was a nice tea room and also a shop that sold shortbread and all sorts of Scottish desserts, foods etc. I found most of the shops there do NOT stay open late in the evening like the US.

I know there were 4 different guides when we were in Scotland as Disney had two different tours running with one group a few days ahead of us. Not sure if anyone will have the same as I, but if you have Zoe and Steve, you are in good hands. Two excellent guides that took great care of us. Tell them Blake said hello

As far as the hotels, the one in Portree seemed to be everyone's personal favorite. The hotel was very quaint, had an excellent view and the staff was very friendly. And whenever you get to a new town, the guides will hand you out restaurant suggestions in the town for the dinner on your own night.

I know my favorite was on Day 6 when we flew over to the Isle of Lewis - just an isolated area without the tourist crowds and it was a really beautiful day, especially at the Callanish Standing Stones (a couple even got engaged here). I wonder if the weather had not been as good if it would still have been my favorite. My favorite castle was on Day 8 at Dunnottar Castle (one of the castles they drew their inspiration from for Brave). Just wish we had been able to stay a little longer there. Also had a blast with archery that day and would love to do that again. I believe it only rained for 1 1/2 days and one of those days (day 3) we were on the bus for quite a bit of it. Day 4 was the most rain (nothing too hard) and that was the day we did the hiking in the morning before lunch. But I wish each of you as rain-free a trip as possible. And the fellow guests like jjharts family who I got to sit near made the trip all the better along with the 2 super guides. I thought it was funny that when we all boarded the bus on day 3, that was pretty much where everyone stayed for the rest of the trip on the bus whenever we went anywhere.

Thank you Blake for all the feedback! We are also booked for the Real Mary King's Close tour. Wow, I am surprised to learn that most of the souvenir shops along the Royal Mile are not owned by locals. I will be sure to jot down the names of the ones you gave for a visit! We are SO looking forward to this!

 

[jjharts]

Welcome back!!!! Are you going to post a more detailed report???

Sayhello

I will try to piece a quick report together this weekend