Need ideas for things to do in either at the arse end of March. Without a car or bike. Anything?
Fort William: steam locomotive ride to Mallaig - oops, it's shut until May drink in http://www.grogandgruel.co.uk/ - Orkney Ales are excellent, food okay visit the Fort William distillery Aonoch Mor gondola http://www.nevisrange.co.uk/winter/gondola/times.asp Walk/cycle to Neptune's Staircase and the Caledonian Canal at Banavie Personally, I wouldn't consider visiting either area without some form of motorised personal transport. It's the rural scenery that I'd be, mainly, going for.
I meant to post this link http://www.visit-fortwilliam.co.uk/caledonian-canal/index.htm I know the photographer. He has a beaten up Kawasaki Zsummat and owns a decent B&B just outside FW. He has a merkin wife called Randi.. http://www.woodsidefortwilliam.co.uk/
Fort Bill has some very good walking (with an obvious hill) and you can do messing about in boats as well.
I was at Beachy Head last week. Some lovely little crosses on the clifftop, really add a certain charm to the vista. And then I saw the emergency Chaplain vehicle. You really couldn't make it up. http://www.bhct.org.uk/
Well the idea is to make use of the Scotrail sleeper, up on the Thursday, back on the Sunday or Monday night. Works for me, but it'll be the doris's birthday (aren't I spoiling her rotten?) so I might have to be on better (read: droop-free) behaviour.
Scottish Citylink do regular services to Fort William from Glasgow, and once there, if you just want to laze around or even go walking, you don't need transport. Having said that, if you want sort of 'animation', then Fort William will disappoint you, as there's ****-all to do. Inverness is also closer to the whisky trails, and you can even buy a furry Loch Ness 'souvenir'. What's not to like ? D. -- des French Biking Vocabulary: http://minilien.fr/a0kg0p 'Kaiser: "Can you prove to me the existence of G-d?" Bismarck: "The Jews, your Majesty. The Jews"'
Go and see my Godfather in Fort Augustus. He has a Greek Orthodox Church in his house. But then, perhaps not.
Why don't you rent a car when you're up there? There's a lot to see up there, and it isn't doable without a motor. Oops.
If self catering get yourself to Malliag, go to fish dealer, buy anything you want, white wine, cook and enjoy the best fish you can buy. Heaven it was. Walk Canoe Fingals cave on Staffa is good. http://www.fingals-cave-staffa.co.uk/fingal-cave.asp beach where Local Hero was filmed, the bit with the helicopter Buy a kite and fly in wind. Andrew j
It isn't all about outside either, it is quite a challenge to make something small enough to fly on the draught round the door in an aged jockish manse. A trifle easier to construct something bigger to fly the draught into an open fire though.
Easyjet to Inverness, hire car, **** off up the road to Ullapool (about 60 miles on fast, empty roads), where you will have a room booked in The Ceilidh Place. Next day, south through the Torridons, over the Bealach na Ba to Applecross, back over and down to Skye. Following day, north to Achiltibuie, Stac Pollaidh, Suilven etc.
