Scotland: train or car?
Feb 26th 2003, 7:37 pm
#16
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Scotland: train or car?
Following up to RH
> I don't like to be
>locked into a car with the scenery passing like in a movie and rare contacts during stops.
>Public transportation travel is an experience in itself.
your not "locked into a car", you stop and get out and go for a walk,
take photographs, whatever, when you feel like it. Drive up glens you
like the look of. Public transport is a travel experience in itself, I
agree, but a car is much more flexible. When in the highlands I like
to walk the hills and glens, its pretty hard to do that without a car,
possible in many cases, but hard.
You have my admiration for reducing traffic and pollution by doing it
th hard way, but it is the hard way.
--
Mike Reid
Land of roast meat "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk/castile.htm"
(see web to email)
> I don't like to be
>locked into a car with the scenery passing like in a movie and rare contacts during stops.
>Public transportation travel is an experience in itself.
your not "locked into a car", you stop and get out and go for a walk,
take photographs, whatever, when you feel like it. Drive up glens you
like the look of. Public transport is a travel experience in itself, I
agree, but a car is much more flexible. When in the highlands I like
to walk the hills and glens, its pretty hard to do that without a car,
possible in many cases, but hard.
You have my admiration for reducing traffic and pollution by doing it
th hard way, but it is the hard way.
--
Mike Reid
Land of roast meat "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk/castile.htm"
(see web to email)
Feb 26th 2003, 7:37 pm
#17
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Scotland: train or car?
Following up to Desmond Coughlan
>> Scotland is all about the Highland landscape,
>Erm ... pardon ?
OK, OK, you want to nitpick. Not *all* about.
lets replace that with "the jewel in the crown of Scotland is the
internationally renowned beauty of the highland landscape"
As a lowland city dweller its certainly what I go for and I suspect
many other visitors, obviously if you live there its different.....but
this is a travel ng.
What would you list *above* the highland landscape as attractions for
foreign visitors?
--
Mike Reid
Land of roast meat "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk/castile.htm"
(see web to email)
>> Scotland is all about the Highland landscape,
>Erm ... pardon ?
OK, OK, you want to nitpick. Not *all* about.
lets replace that with "the jewel in the crown of Scotland is the
internationally renowned beauty of the highland landscape"
As a lowland city dweller its certainly what I go for and I suspect
many other visitors, obviously if you live there its different.....but
this is a travel ng.
What would you list *above* the highland landscape as attractions for
foreign visitors?
--
Mike Reid
Land of roast meat "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk/castile.htm"
(see web to email)
Feb 26th 2003, 11:10 pm
#18
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Scotland: train or car?
"Ian Millward" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> service is generally quite good.
> | off the beaten track that we'd miss things if we took trains? We're
> | flying into Edinburgh and would like to head to the west coast>>
> I would be inclined to pre-book a night in Edinburgh for when you arrive
and
> have a look around then hire a car and head out to Stirling on the M9.
From
> there you could either potter about the Trossachs which have lots of
> scenery, or head on up the A84, A85 and A82 through Glen Coe. By then you
> will have had a surfeit of nice views and would probably want to start
back
> again.
> Places on route you might consider stopping over night are:Aberfoyle,
> Callander and Oban, Cutting across to the East on the A85 you might like
to
> consider joining up with the A9 for your return journey. Some places en
> route worth stopping at: Aberfeldy, Dunkeld or Pitlochry. I think that
would
> probably use up a week without overdoing it.
> Hope this helps,
Excellent ideas all around!
It looks like we'll spend the first 2 nights in Edinburgh, then rent a car
and find our way around. Now I wish we had more time, but one must work to
pay off one's holiday.
news:[email protected]...
> service is generally quite good.
> | off the beaten track that we'd miss things if we took trains? We're
> | flying into Edinburgh and would like to head to the west coast>>
> I would be inclined to pre-book a night in Edinburgh for when you arrive
and
> have a look around then hire a car and head out to Stirling on the M9.
From
> there you could either potter about the Trossachs which have lots of
> scenery, or head on up the A84, A85 and A82 through Glen Coe. By then you
> will have had a surfeit of nice views and would probably want to start
back
> again.
> Places on route you might consider stopping over night are:Aberfoyle,
> Callander and Oban, Cutting across to the East on the A85 you might like
to
> consider joining up with the A9 for your return journey. Some places en
> route worth stopping at: Aberfeldy, Dunkeld or Pitlochry. I think that
would
> probably use up a week without overdoing it.
> Hope this helps,
Excellent ideas all around!
It looks like we'll spend the first 2 nights in Edinburgh, then rent a car
and find our way around. Now I wish we had more time, but one must work to
pay off one's holiday.
Feb 26th 2003, 11:17 pm
#19
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Re: Scotland: train or car?
>Following up to RH
>> I don't like to be
>>locked into a car with the scenery passing like in a movie and rare contacts during stops.
>>Public transportation travel is an experience in itself.
>your not "locked into a car", you stop and get out and go for a walk,
>take photographs, whatever, when you feel like it. Drive up glens you
>like the look of. Public transport is a travel experience in itself, I
>agree, but a car is much more flexible. When in the highlands I like
>to walk the hills and glens, its pretty hard to do that without a car,
>possible in many cases, but hard.
>You have my admiration for reducing traffic and pollution by doing it
>th hard way, but it is the hard way.
>--
>Mike Reid
>Land of roast meat "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk/castile.htm"
>(see web to email)
It might seem the hard way to you, Mike, because you are not used to travel by public
transport. But going by car needs planning to, not to forget the risk of an accident (a friend of
mine had a collision with a sheep, and the sheep always has priority in the highlands). And a
bit of physical effort has benefits, too. And: the more people will use public transport, the more
frequent it will gradually become, thus also benefitting the locals.
I know I talk like a politician in the desert.
RH
>> I don't like to be
>>locked into a car with the scenery passing like in a movie and rare contacts during stops.
>>Public transportation travel is an experience in itself.
>your not "locked into a car", you stop and get out and go for a walk,
>take photographs, whatever, when you feel like it. Drive up glens you
>like the look of. Public transport is a travel experience in itself, I
>agree, but a car is much more flexible. When in the highlands I like
>to walk the hills and glens, its pretty hard to do that without a car,
>possible in many cases, but hard.
>You have my admiration for reducing traffic and pollution by doing it
>th hard way, but it is the hard way.
>--
>Mike Reid
>Land of roast meat "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk/castile.htm"
>(see web to email)
It might seem the hard way to you, Mike, because you are not used to travel by public
transport. But going by car needs planning to, not to forget the risk of an accident (a friend of
mine had a collision with a sheep, and the sheep always has priority in the highlands). And a
bit of physical effort has benefits, too. And: the more people will use public transport, the more
frequent it will gradually become, thus also benefitting the locals.
I know I talk like a politician in the desert.
RH
Feb 27th 2003, 12:31 am
#20
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Scotland: train or car?
Following up to RH
>It might seem the hard way to you, Mike, because you are not used to travel by public
>transport. But going by car needs planning to, not to forget the risk of an accident (a friend of
>mine had a collision with a sheep, and the sheep always has priority in the highlands). And a
>bit of physical effort has benefits, too. And: the more people will use public transport, the more
>frequent it will gradually become, thus also benefitting the locals.
>I know I talk like a politician in the desert.
I take your point that accidents (but not crimes) are less frequent on
public transport (but then I don't drive like some of the idiots who
crash all the time), and the bit about frequency.
We go to Wasdale in the Lake District quite a lot, couple of times a
year, we just chuck all the stuff in the car and go. By train/bus we
would have to lug the luggage, take a taxi from god knows where, as
there isn't any public transport, I don't think there ever has been?
Once there we would be marooned, no trips out on horrible wet days
when its too grotty to walk.
We do use trains sometimes to do point to point walks with the car at
one end, but the number of times the trains don't run (this is
weekends) are legion.
I also don't share your happy experience of other passengers, perhaps
because most of my public transport use is in London? My wife tried
buses for getting around to her outlying offices (she takes trains
across London to get to work) but due to the appalling behavior of
school children and fear of muggings enhanced by all the vandalism
(I'd kill those kids who destroy bus and train windows) she now pays
out for taxis.
I drive around with the doors locked and the stereo on, glad to be
away from the public, hey, I had better stop now before I start
ranting!
Anyway, I promise I always look out for cyclists :-)
--
Mike Reid
Land of roast meat "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk/castile.htm"
(see web to email)
>It might seem the hard way to you, Mike, because you are not used to travel by public
>transport. But going by car needs planning to, not to forget the risk of an accident (a friend of
>mine had a collision with a sheep, and the sheep always has priority in the highlands). And a
>bit of physical effort has benefits, too. And: the more people will use public transport, the more
>frequent it will gradually become, thus also benefitting the locals.
>I know I talk like a politician in the desert.
I take your point that accidents (but not crimes) are less frequent on
public transport (but then I don't drive like some of the idiots who
crash all the time), and the bit about frequency.
We go to Wasdale in the Lake District quite a lot, couple of times a
year, we just chuck all the stuff in the car and go. By train/bus we
would have to lug the luggage, take a taxi from god knows where, as
there isn't any public transport, I don't think there ever has been?
Once there we would be marooned, no trips out on horrible wet days
when its too grotty to walk.
We do use trains sometimes to do point to point walks with the car at
one end, but the number of times the trains don't run (this is
weekends) are legion.
I also don't share your happy experience of other passengers, perhaps
because most of my public transport use is in London? My wife tried
buses for getting around to her outlying offices (she takes trains
across London to get to work) but due to the appalling behavior of
school children and fear of muggings enhanced by all the vandalism
(I'd kill those kids who destroy bus and train windows) she now pays
out for taxis.
I drive around with the doors locked and the stereo on, glad to be
away from the public, hey, I had better stop now before I start
ranting!
Anyway, I promise I always look out for cyclists :-)
--
Mike Reid
Land of roast meat "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk/castile.htm"
(see web to email)
Feb 27th 2003, 1:06 pm
#21
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Scotland: train or car?
le Thu, 27 Feb 2003 08:37:28 +0000, dans l'article , The Reids a dit ...
{ snip }
> What would you list *above* the highland landscape as attractions for
> foreign visitors?
The Gorbals ..?
--
Desmond Coughlan
desmond @ zeouane.org
http: // www . zeouane . org
{ snip }
> What would you list *above* the highland landscape as attractions for
> foreign visitors?
The Gorbals ..?
--
Desmond Coughlan
desmond @ zeouane.org
http: // www . zeouane . org
Feb 27th 2003, 7:58 pm
#22
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Scotland: train or car?
Following up to Desmond Coughlan
>> What would you list *above* the highland landscape as attractions for
>> foreign visitors?
>The Gorbals ..?
As a southerner I find Glasgow bars scarey, I just cannot understand
the local accent, Jhimmy.
--
Mike Reid
Land of roast meat "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk/castile.htm"
(see web to email)
>> What would you list *above* the highland landscape as attractions for
>> foreign visitors?
>The Gorbals ..?
As a southerner I find Glasgow bars scarey, I just cannot understand
the local accent, Jhimmy.
--
Mike Reid
Land of roast meat "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk/castile.htm"
(see web to email)
Feb 28th 2003, 3:29 pm
#23
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Scotland: train or car?
On Tue, 25 Feb 2003 10:55:34 -0500, "Mr. A"
wrote:
>We're planning our first trip to Scotland next month, and will be there for
>1 week. I would appreciate any opinions regarding taking the train while in
>Scotland vs. renting a car. Are there so many things to see off the beaten
>track that we'd miss things if we took trains? We're flying into Edinburgh
>and would like to head to the west coast.
I've never driven in Scotland. My only experience of their roads was
a hair-raising tour thru the highlands careening along twisty roads
while seated where there OUGHT TO HAVE BEEN a steering wheel and a
brake pedal.
Scarier than any roller-coaster you have ever imagined.
wrote:
>We're planning our first trip to Scotland next month, and will be there for
>1 week. I would appreciate any opinions regarding taking the train while in
>Scotland vs. renting a car. Are there so many things to see off the beaten
>track that we'd miss things if we took trains? We're flying into Edinburgh
>and would like to head to the west coast.
I've never driven in Scotland. My only experience of their roads was
a hair-raising tour thru the highlands careening along twisty roads
while seated where there OUGHT TO HAVE BEEN a steering wheel and a
brake pedal.
Scarier than any roller-coaster you have ever imagined.
Feb 28th 2003, 3:33 pm
#24
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Scotland: train or car?
On Fri, 28 Feb 2003 08:58:04 +0000, The Reids
wrote:
>As a southerner I find Glasgow bars scarey, I just cannot understand
>the local accent, Jhimmy.
Tony Blair is visiting an Edinburgh hospital. He enters a ward full of
patients with no obvious sign of injury or illness and greets one.
The patient replies: "Fair fa your honest sonsie face, Great chieftain
o' the puddin race, Aboon them a you take your place, Painch, tripe or
thairm, As langs my airm."
Blair is confused, so he just grins and moves on to the next patient.
The patient responds: "Some hae meat and canna eat, And some wad eat
that want it, But we hae meat and we can eat, So let the Lord be
thankit."
Even more confused, and his grin now rictus-like, the PM moves on to
the next patient, who immediately begins to chant: "Wee sleekit,
cowerin, timrous beasty, Thou needna start awa sae hastie, Wi
bickering brattle."
Now seriously troubled, Blair turns to the accompanying doctor and
asks "What kind of facility is this? A mental ward?"
"No", replies the doctor. "This is the serious Burns unit."
wrote:
>As a southerner I find Glasgow bars scarey, I just cannot understand
>the local accent, Jhimmy.
Tony Blair is visiting an Edinburgh hospital. He enters a ward full of
patients with no obvious sign of injury or illness and greets one.
The patient replies: "Fair fa your honest sonsie face, Great chieftain
o' the puddin race, Aboon them a you take your place, Painch, tripe or
thairm, As langs my airm."
Blair is confused, so he just grins and moves on to the next patient.
The patient responds: "Some hae meat and canna eat, And some wad eat
that want it, But we hae meat and we can eat, So let the Lord be
thankit."
Even more confused, and his grin now rictus-like, the PM moves on to
the next patient, who immediately begins to chant: "Wee sleekit,
cowerin, timrous beasty, Thou needna start awa sae hastie, Wi
bickering brattle."
Now seriously troubled, Blair turns to the accompanying doctor and
asks "What kind of facility is this? A mental ward?"
"No", replies the doctor. "This is the serious Burns unit."
Mar 4th 2003, 4:12 pm
#25
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Scotland: train or car?
If you have time, rent a car and drive the northern perimeter, with
excursions to the Orkneys and Skye.
Harlan
----
Soft Adventure tours, the way to go, at http://softadventure.net/tours.htm
Australia and New Zealand, November 2003,
http://softadventure.net/OZ-NZ2003.htm
"Mr. A" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
| We're planning our first trip to Scotland next month, and will be there
for
| 1 week. I would appreciate any opinions regarding taking the train while
in
| Scotland vs. renting a car. Are there so many things to see off the beaten
| track that we'd miss things if we took trains? We're flying into Edinburgh
| and would like to head to the west coast.
|
|
excursions to the Orkneys and Skye.
Harlan
----
Soft Adventure tours, the way to go, at http://softadventure.net/tours.htm
Australia and New Zealand, November 2003,
http://softadventure.net/OZ-NZ2003.htm
"Mr. A" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
| We're planning our first trip to Scotland next month, and will be there
for
| 1 week. I would appreciate any opinions regarding taking the train while
in
| Scotland vs. renting a car. Are there so many things to see off the beaten
| track that we'd miss things if we took trains? We're flying into Edinburgh
| and would like to head to the west coast.
|
|
Mar 4th 2003, 5:05 pm
#26
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Scotland: train or car?
On Wed, 05 Mar 2003 05:12:14 GMT, "HH"
wrote:
>If you have time, rent a car and drive the northern perimeter, with
>excursions to the Orkneys and Skye.
But don't say "the Orkneys". The natives are very sensitive about
that; just say "Orkney".
Though I rented a car for a month, I took the comfortable train from
Inverness to Scrabster, from where the boat leaves for Stromness.
Stayed a day in Stromness; did the museum (I am a mad fan of Dr. John
Rae, who sailed from there to work for the Bay in Canada). After a
pleasant day walking around Stromness, next day took a tour to the
other Islands. Great archeological sites; not to be missed! .
Then train back to Inverness; picked up car and drove to the Western
Isles; Skye, Arran.
>Harlan
>----
>Soft Adventure tours, the way to go, at http://softadventure.net/tours.htm
> Australia and New Zealand, November 2003,
>http://softadventure.net/OZ-NZ2003.htm
>"Mr. A" wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>| We're planning our first trip to Scotland next month, and will be there
>for
>| 1 week. I would appreciate any opinions regarding taking the train while
>in
>| Scotland vs. renting a car. Are there so many things to see off the beaten
>| track that we'd miss things if we took trains? We're flying into Edinburgh
>| and would like to head to the west coast.
>|
>|
--
Polar
wrote:
>If you have time, rent a car and drive the northern perimeter, with
>excursions to the Orkneys and Skye.
But don't say "the Orkneys". The natives are very sensitive about
that; just say "Orkney".
Though I rented a car for a month, I took the comfortable train from
Inverness to Scrabster, from where the boat leaves for Stromness.
Stayed a day in Stromness; did the museum (I am a mad fan of Dr. John
Rae, who sailed from there to work for the Bay in Canada). After a
pleasant day walking around Stromness, next day took a tour to the
other Islands. Great archeological sites; not to be missed! .
Then train back to Inverness; picked up car and drove to the Western
Isles; Skye, Arran.
>Harlan
>----
>Soft Adventure tours, the way to go, at http://softadventure.net/tours.htm
> Australia and New Zealand, November 2003,
>http://softadventure.net/OZ-NZ2003.htm
>"Mr. A" wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>| We're planning our first trip to Scotland next month, and will be there
>for
>| 1 week. I would appreciate any opinions regarding taking the train while
>in
>| Scotland vs. renting a car. Are there so many things to see off the beaten
>| track that we'd miss things if we took trains? We're flying into Edinburgh
>| and would like to head to the west coast.
>|
>|
--
Polar
Mar 5th 2003, 8:12 am
#27
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Scotland: train or car?
I would stongly suggest renting a car. I was there in September for a week,
and rented a car. There were some fantastic places that I saw that I would
not have if I had been on a train. The west coast is beautiful. If you go
to Isle of Skye be sure to go to Armadale Castle and Dunvegan. Also,
Stirling, about 35 miles from Edinburgh is fantastic. It has a wonderful
castle, and the town is lovely. I have a couple of suggestions on where to
stay if you need them. Have a lovely trip!
Shawna
"HH" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> If you have time, rent a car and drive the northern perimeter, with
> excursions to the Orkneys and Skye.
> Harlan
> ----
> Soft Adventure tours, the way to go, at http://softadventure.net/tours.htm
> Australia and New Zealand, November 2003,
> http://softadventure.net/OZ-NZ2003.htm
> "Mr. A" wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> | We're planning our first trip to Scotland next month, and will be there
> for
> | 1 week. I would appreciate any opinions regarding taking the train while
> in
> | Scotland vs. renting a car. Are there so many things to see off the
beaten
> | track that we'd miss things if we took trains? We're flying into
Edinburgh
> | and would like to head to the west coast.
> |
> |
and rented a car. There were some fantastic places that I saw that I would
not have if I had been on a train. The west coast is beautiful. If you go
to Isle of Skye be sure to go to Armadale Castle and Dunvegan. Also,
Stirling, about 35 miles from Edinburgh is fantastic. It has a wonderful
castle, and the town is lovely. I have a couple of suggestions on where to
stay if you need them. Have a lovely trip!
Shawna
"HH" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> If you have time, rent a car and drive the northern perimeter, with
> excursions to the Orkneys and Skye.
> Harlan
> ----
> Soft Adventure tours, the way to go, at http://softadventure.net/tours.htm
> Australia and New Zealand, November 2003,
> http://softadventure.net/OZ-NZ2003.htm
> "Mr. A" wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> | We're planning our first trip to Scotland next month, and will be there
> for
> | 1 week. I would appreciate any opinions regarding taking the train while
> in
> | Scotland vs. renting a car. Are there so many things to see off the
beaten
> | track that we'd miss things if we took trains? We're flying into
Edinburgh
> | and would like to head to the west coast.
> |
> |
Mar 5th 2003, 10:10 am
#28
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Scotland: train or car?
"Shawna Reynolds" wrote
| Also, Stirling, about 35 miles from Edinburgh is fantastic.
| It has a wonderful castle, and the town is lovely.
I like you :-)
Owain
| Also, Stirling, about 35 miles from Edinburgh is fantastic.
| It has a wonderful castle, and the town is lovely.
I like you :-)
Owain
Mar 5th 2003, 10:52 am
#29
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Scotland: train or car?
My love of Stirling often gets that reaction! :-)
Shawna
www.geocities.com/shawnareynolds2000
"Owain" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "Shawna Reynolds" wrote
> | Also, Stirling, about 35 miles from Edinburgh is fantastic.
> | It has a wonderful castle, and the town is lovely.
> I like you :-)
> Owain
Shawna
www.geocities.com/shawnareynolds2000
"Owain" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "Shawna Reynolds" wrote
> | Also, Stirling, about 35 miles from Edinburgh is fantastic.
> | It has a wonderful castle, and the town is lovely.
> I like you :-)
> Owain
Mar 5th 2003, 11:03 am
#30
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Scotland: train or car?
le Wed, 5 Mar 2003 23:10:29 -0000, dans l'article , Owain a dit ...
> | Also, Stirling, about 35 miles from Edinburgh is fantastic.
> | It has a wonderful castle, and the town is lovely.
> I like you :-)
Get yer coat, Shawna ... you've pulled !!
--
Desmond Coughlan
desmond @ zeouane.org
http: // www . zeouane . org
> | Also, Stirling, about 35 miles from Edinburgh is fantastic.
> | It has a wonderful castle, and the town is lovely.
> I like you :-)
Get yer coat, Shawna ... you've pulled !!
--
Desmond Coughlan
desmond @ zeouane.org
http: // www . zeouane . org
