Scotland rent car or rail pass?
Apr 3rd 2003, 2:21 pm
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
Scotland rent car or rail pass?
Hi,
What is the best way to get around Scotland. Rent a car or Rail? I'd like to
visit Glasgow, Edinburgh Inverness, Isle of Skye and then down to
Dumfries/Galloway all in a weekor so. Is the traffic busy all over or just
in the cities? I plan on taking the rail down to London after that to see
Stonehenge and Bath.
Thanks
JES
What is the best way to get around Scotland. Rent a car or Rail? I'd like to
visit Glasgow, Edinburgh Inverness, Isle of Skye and then down to
Dumfries/Galloway all in a weekor so. Is the traffic busy all over or just
in the cities? I plan on taking the rail down to London after that to see
Stonehenge and Bath.
Thanks
JES
Apr 3rd 2003, 6:04 pm
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Scotland rent car or rail pass?
"Gerry Sparks" schrieb im Newsbeitrag
news:[email protected]...
> Hi,
> What is the best way to get around Scotland. Rent a car or Rail? I'd like
to
> visit Glasgow, Edinburgh Inverness, Isle of Skye and then down to
> Dumfries/Galloway all in a weekor so. Is the traffic busy all over or
just
> in the cities? I plan on taking the rail down to London after that to see
> Stonehenge and Bath.
Easy: Rent a car!
Trains are expensive and your ability to move around is _very_ limited!
There's hardly any traffic outside the cities!
lg Gernot
news:[email protected]...
> Hi,
> What is the best way to get around Scotland. Rent a car or Rail? I'd like
to
> visit Glasgow, Edinburgh Inverness, Isle of Skye and then down to
> Dumfries/Galloway all in a weekor so. Is the traffic busy all over or
just
> in the cities? I plan on taking the rail down to London after that to see
> Stonehenge and Bath.
Easy: Rent a car!
Trains are expensive and your ability to move around is _very_ limited!
There's hardly any traffic outside the cities!
lg Gernot
Apr 3rd 2003, 7:12 pm
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Scotland rent car or rail pass?
"Gerry Sparks" wrote in
news:[email protected]:
> Hi,
> What is the best way to get around Scotland. Rent a car or Rail? I'd
> like to visit Glasgow, Edinburgh Inverness, Isle of Skye and then down
> to Dumfries/Galloway all in a weekor so. Is the traffic busy all over
> or just in the cities? I plan on taking the rail down to London after
> that to see Stonehenge and Bath.
If you're going to Edinburgh and Glasgow first or last, and spending any
time there, it might be worth only hiring a car for the other parts of your
trip. Parking isn't easy, particularly in Edinburgh, and public transport
within and between the cities is pretty good.
After that, a car, without a doubt. The central belt (i.e. Glasgow area,
Falkirk, Livingston, Bathgate, Edinburgh area) is the only part that gets
heavy traffic (and the M8 in/near either big city is quite often a big car
park in rush hour). Outside that, the roads are usually quiet enough.
news:[email protected]:
> Hi,
> What is the best way to get around Scotland. Rent a car or Rail? I'd
> like to visit Glasgow, Edinburgh Inverness, Isle of Skye and then down
> to Dumfries/Galloway all in a weekor so. Is the traffic busy all over
> or just in the cities? I plan on taking the rail down to London after
> that to see Stonehenge and Bath.
If you're going to Edinburgh and Glasgow first or last, and spending any
time there, it might be worth only hiring a car for the other parts of your
trip. Parking isn't easy, particularly in Edinburgh, and public transport
within and between the cities is pretty good.
After that, a car, without a doubt. The central belt (i.e. Glasgow area,
Falkirk, Livingston, Bathgate, Edinburgh area) is the only part that gets
heavy traffic (and the M8 in/near either big city is quite often a big car
park in rush hour). Outside that, the roads are usually quiet enough.
Apr 3rd 2003, 9:21 pm
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Scotland rent car or rail pass?
Following up to Gerry Sparks
>What is the best way to get around Scotland. Rent a car or Rail? I'd like to
>visit Glasgow, Edinburgh Inverness, Isle of Skye and then down to
>Dumfries/Galloway all in a weekor so. Is the traffic busy all over or just
>in the cities? I plan on taking the rail down to London after that to see
>Stonehenge and Bath.
Car.
Highland roads are often narrow, sometimes single track with passing
places marked by white diamond shaped signs. (Use these also to let
through faster following traffic). Summer traffic tends to get held up
behind caravans and rubbernecking tourists. But generally you can get
around pretty fast.
You could arrange to return the car in the south and drive to
Bath/Stonehenge? its about 400 miles from Galloway on motorways, say 7
hours?
--
Mike Reid
Spanish regional cooking at
"http://www.fell-walker.co.uk/espania.htm"
>What is the best way to get around Scotland. Rent a car or Rail? I'd like to
>visit Glasgow, Edinburgh Inverness, Isle of Skye and then down to
>Dumfries/Galloway all in a weekor so. Is the traffic busy all over or just
>in the cities? I plan on taking the rail down to London after that to see
>Stonehenge and Bath.
Car.
Highland roads are often narrow, sometimes single track with passing
places marked by white diamond shaped signs. (Use these also to let
through faster following traffic). Summer traffic tends to get held up
behind caravans and rubbernecking tourists. But generally you can get
around pretty fast.
You could arrange to return the car in the south and drive to
Bath/Stonehenge? its about 400 miles from Galloway on motorways, say 7
hours?
--
Mike Reid
Spanish regional cooking at
"http://www.fell-walker.co.uk/espania.htm"
Apr 3rd 2003, 11:29 pm
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Scotland rent car or rail pass?
On Thu, 3 Apr 2003 20:21:04 -0700, in a clarity of expression
resembling Cicero, "Gerry Sparks" wrote:
>Hi,
>What is the best way to get around Scotland. Rent a car or Rail? I'd like to
>visit Glasgow, Edinburgh Inverness, Isle of Skye and then down to
>Dumfries/Galloway all in a weekor so. Is the traffic busy all over or just
>in the cities? I plan on taking the rail down to London after that to see
>Stonehenge and Bath.
>Thanks
>JES
Have you been before? You might be trying to see too much, IMO.
But on the premise - - I'd say car. The freedom of driving on your
own schedule and stopping as you wish along the way is invaluable.
Just do be careful - - roads are narrow, and I plonked the passenger
mirror on our rental car.
Frank Lynch
The Samuel Johnson Sound Bite Page is at:
http://www.samueljohnson.com/
resembling Cicero, "Gerry Sparks" wrote:
>Hi,
>What is the best way to get around Scotland. Rent a car or Rail? I'd like to
>visit Glasgow, Edinburgh Inverness, Isle of Skye and then down to
>Dumfries/Galloway all in a weekor so. Is the traffic busy all over or just
>in the cities? I plan on taking the rail down to London after that to see
>Stonehenge and Bath.
>Thanks
>JES
Have you been before? You might be trying to see too much, IMO.
But on the premise - - I'd say car. The freedom of driving on your
own schedule and stopping as you wish along the way is invaluable.
Just do be careful - - roads are narrow, and I plonked the passenger
mirror on our rental car.
Frank Lynch
The Samuel Johnson Sound Bite Page is at:
http://www.samueljohnson.com/
Apr 4th 2003, 2:15 pm
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Scotland rent car or rail pass?
Let us sit upon the ground and tell sad stories of Frank Lynch
:
>On Thu, 3 Apr 2003 20:21:04 -0700, in a clarity of expression
>resembling Cicero, "Gerry Sparks" wrote:
>>Hi,
>>What is the best way to get around Scotland. Rent a car or Rail? I'd like to
>>visit Glasgow, Edinburgh Inverness, Isle of Skye and then down to
>>Dumfries/Galloway all in a weekor so. Is the traffic busy all over or just
>>in the cities? I plan on taking the rail down to London after that to see
>>Stonehenge and Bath.
>>Thanks
>>JES
>Have you been before? You might be trying to see too much, IMO.
>But on the premise - - I'd say car. The freedom of driving on your
>own schedule and stopping as you wish along the way is invaluable.
>Just do be careful - - roads are narrow, and I plonked the passenger
>mirror on our rental car.
>Frank Lynch
>The Samuel Johnson Sound Bite Page is at:
>http://www.samueljohnson.com/
there's also a lot of gorgeous scenery to be seen from a car window.
And you can stop if a photo moment hits you.
Beware the dead grouse on the roads, however.
:
>On Thu, 3 Apr 2003 20:21:04 -0700, in a clarity of expression
>resembling Cicero, "Gerry Sparks" wrote:
>>Hi,
>>What is the best way to get around Scotland. Rent a car or Rail? I'd like to
>>visit Glasgow, Edinburgh Inverness, Isle of Skye and then down to
>>Dumfries/Galloway all in a weekor so. Is the traffic busy all over or just
>>in the cities? I plan on taking the rail down to London after that to see
>>Stonehenge and Bath.
>>Thanks
>>JES
>Have you been before? You might be trying to see too much, IMO.
>But on the premise - - I'd say car. The freedom of driving on your
>own schedule and stopping as you wish along the way is invaluable.
>Just do be careful - - roads are narrow, and I plonked the passenger
>mirror on our rental car.
>Frank Lynch
>The Samuel Johnson Sound Bite Page is at:
>http://www.samueljohnson.com/
there's also a lot of gorgeous scenery to be seen from a car window.
And you can stop if a photo moment hits you.
Beware the dead grouse on the roads, however.
Apr 4th 2003, 3:12 pm
#7
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Scotland rent car or rail pass?
I recommend the Freedom of Scotland pass (sold by Rick Steves among
others) which gives you unlimited railroad travel, unlimited free
Caledonian-MacBrayne ferries to the Hebrides, and discounts on P&O
ferries to Orkney & Shetland -- plus 30% discounts on many bus routes.
When I went to Scotland in 1998, I rented a car and had an accident
caused by a two lane road suddenly becoming one lane through the middle
of Buchlyvie, Scotland. What I paid out on that mischance, I could have
used for personalized taxi service!
If you don't adapt well to driving on the other side of the road, it
could happen to you, too.
Jim Paris
Los Angeles
> Hi,
> What is the best way to get around Scotland. Rent a car or Rail? I'd like to
> visit Glasgow, Edinburgh Inverness, Isle of Skye and then down to
> Dumfries/Galloway all in a weekor so. Is the traffic busy all over or just
> in the cities? I plan on taking the rail down to London after that to see
> Stonehenge and Bath.
>
> Thanks
> JES
>
>
>
others) which gives you unlimited railroad travel, unlimited free
Caledonian-MacBrayne ferries to the Hebrides, and discounts on P&O
ferries to Orkney & Shetland -- plus 30% discounts on many bus routes.
When I went to Scotland in 1998, I rented a car and had an accident
caused by a two lane road suddenly becoming one lane through the middle
of Buchlyvie, Scotland. What I paid out on that mischance, I could have
used for personalized taxi service!
If you don't adapt well to driving on the other side of the road, it
could happen to you, too.
Jim Paris
Los Angeles
> Hi,
> What is the best way to get around Scotland. Rent a car or Rail? I'd like to
> visit Glasgow, Edinburgh Inverness, Isle of Skye and then down to
> Dumfries/Galloway all in a weekor so. Is the traffic busy all over or just
> in the cities? I plan on taking the rail down to London after that to see
> Stonehenge and Bath.
>
> Thanks
> JES
>
>
>
Apr 4th 2003, 3:16 pm
#8
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Scotland rent car or rail pass?
Yes but .....
As there are almost never shoulders on the side of the road for you to
stop and park, it's a moot point. Also, you can see a lot more from the
window of a bus or taxi without risking plowing into the scenery by
accident. I don't sightsee when I drive, which is why I've lived this long.
Jim Paris
Los Angeles
> But on the premise - - I'd say car. The freedom of driving on your
> own schedule and stopping as you wish along the way is invaluable.
As there are almost never shoulders on the side of the road for you to
stop and park, it's a moot point. Also, you can see a lot more from the
window of a bus or taxi without risking plowing into the scenery by
accident. I don't sightsee when I drive, which is why I've lived this long.
Jim Paris
Los Angeles
> But on the premise - - I'd say car. The freedom of driving on your
> own schedule and stopping as you wish along the way is invaluable.
Apr 4th 2003, 11:11 pm
#9
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Scotland rent car or rail pass?
wrote
| Beware the dead grouse on the roads, however.
Dead grouse won't do you much harm.
Live sheep, on the other hand ...
Owain
| Beware the dead grouse on the roads, however.
Dead grouse won't do you much harm.
Live sheep, on the other hand ...
Owain
Apr 6th 2003, 8:41 pm
#10
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Scotland rent car or rail pass?
Following up to James A Paris
>As there are almost never shoulders on the side of the road for you to
>stop and park,
There are loads of places to stop, take a walk, photos etc. I do agree
dont rubberneck whilst driving though.
..but do remember passing places on single track roads are *not* for
parking
--
Mike Reid
Spanish regional cooking at
"http://www.fell-walker.co.uk/espania.htm"
>As there are almost never shoulders on the side of the road for you to
>stop and park,
There are loads of places to stop, take a walk, photos etc. I do agree
dont rubberneck whilst driving though.
..but do remember passing places on single track roads are *not* for
parking
--
Mike Reid
Spanish regional cooking at
"http://www.fell-walker.co.uk/espania.htm"
