raymondh Loc: Walker, MI

I found a tour of Stirling Castle ( the Braveheart memorial within eye sight) very interesting & St. Andrews, both worthy photographic locations.

LXK0930 Loc: Souh Jersey

A number of years ago, we toured Scotland with CIE tours. They are a small British company. Advantage was being in a mini-van, rather than large bus. Stops and detours were made as requested. Even if you don't use CIE, check out their itineraries.
Several tips:
1. Bring rain wear. Even if no storms, lots of light showers can be expected.
2. Allow at least a week on the mainland.
- Edinburgh and St. Andrews are musts.
- Take in some of the tours and shows, such as the Edinburgh castle tour, dinner shows (they even have vegetarian haggis now), sheep dog and falconry shows, etc. Google searches will find places/times.
- If you are a golfer, you know about the courses. If not, it is worth a visit the Old Course in St. Andrews. It is steeped in history
3. Visit the Orkneys. You can spend as little as a few days to over a week. It is a short ferry ride from the north coast. While on the north coast, visit the Orban distillery, reputed to be Scotland's oldest.
4. Note that I was about 75 when I took this trip. Equipment weight and cost were critical.
My conclusions:
- Don't be dragged down by too much equipment. There is a fair amount of walking that you will be doing.
- A travel lens (28 to about 250) should do nicely for exteriors. I did not miss a longer tele.
- A fast lens (preferably wide) plus a decent flash are worthwhile for interiors. Skip the tripod.


Enjoy your trip.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Old Coot, a good friend of mine's mother was Irish and his father was a Scott. When my friend and I would stop at the tavern, he would love to drink, however, he complained about paying for it.

LXK0930 Loc: Souh Jersey

Should be Oban distillery.
Sorry. Bad fingers.

Rmccully

We are going to Scotland in May and will be on Orkney for two days - Are there locations that you recommend for photography? thank you!

lrm Loc: Sarasota, FL

I will be in Orkney in September. Have hired a local retired photographer to show me around. Mark Cook charges $45/hr. If interested -- mark.e.cook@hotmail.com

bobforman Loc: Anacortes, Washington State

Edinburgh (Castle, Holyrood Palace, Climb Arthur's Seat, Oxford Bar, Museum of Science & Industry)
Inverness (Town itself, Battle of Culloden, many distilleries on the way....if you're into that)
Loch Ness (yeah, there is no monster but a beautiful place, boat locks at Fort Augustus)
Castle Tioram (pronounced Cheer'um, go at low tide. Churchill said it was the most beautiful place on earth other than Victoria Falls)
Fort William (Near Tioram, climb Ben Nevis in the summer)

gwilliams6

I have been visiting Scotland for the past 50 years as i have great friends living there, really family to me.

It is one of my favorite places in the world.

So many great places and great sites. You need two to three weeks to start, then plan to return for more weeks
for some of the rest. And dress for the changing weather, but dont worry, the poor weather makes for just as many greats shots as the sunny weather.

Like others have said, I totally endorse these places for photography and touring:

Edinburgh
Glen Coe
Loch Lomond
Oban
Stirling
Glenfinnan with Loch Shiel and the Great Hebrides Steam Railroad
Isle of Skye
Isle of Mull
Eilean Dornan Castle
St. Andrews
... Just for starters

Here just the max ten shots we can post in one post here in UHH, out of the many thousands I have taken over the years all across Scotland:

1) Glennfinnan and Loch Shiel, the location of many scenes filmed for the Harry Potter movie series, The Great Hebrides Steam railroad goes over that famed viaduct here.

2) Portree the colorful capital city of the Isle of Skye, a double rainbow at low tide.

3) the amazing terrain of the Isle of Skye, as a shepherd and his sheep dogs enjoy the North Atlantic Sea.

4) famed Glen Coe, a must

5) Eilean Dornan castle, famed in movies and TV series

6) Edinburg, a wedding couple gets serenaded by a bagpiper after their church ceremony.

7) St. Andrews, the birthplace of Golf

8) Longhaired Hebrides Cattle on Isle of Skye

9) Isle of Mull

10) Atlantic Ocean fishing seaport of Oban, a great jumping off point with the many large and comfortable car ferries (two docked at left) that will take you to the Hebrides Islands. Isle of Mull is at top of frame in the distance.
https://www.calmac.co.uk/explore

You can drive to most of these locations, but dont miss the special views from the great car ferries to all the Hebrides Islands.

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Ruthlessrider

Been there 5 times from March to November. Each season is a little different , as it is here. Every time I went I discovered something new and almost magical. My suggestion is just get in a car and drive once you leave Edinburgh. You’ll need several days in the big city and be sure to save one evening for pubs with music. The Haymarket area is interesting with a great history. Grey Friars Bobby is an old pub near there, and a pub with great music is The Royal Oak. The Whisky Room is one of my favorites, I think it must have every Scottish whisky known to man. If you went in August you would be able to experience the Fringe, which is an arts festival that lasts weeks the highlight of which is the Tattoo - music extravaganza at the castle (mostly marching bands from old UK countries, most with bagpipes, drums, and fifes, all in costume). A trip out to the Hebrides will not disappoint. I could go on and on, especially about the people, they are great with a wry sense of humor, but I’ll let you discover more on your own. GWilliams6 has listed some great places to visit.

Have a great time. I would spend at least 2-3 weeks, and even then you will miss a lot that Scotland has to offer.

gwilliams6

R.G. Loc: Scotland

Some of the places that have been mentioned. Overcast skies are common but blue skies and sunny weather are a distinct possibility. The last photo was taken in November.
.

Glencoe.


Tioram Castle.


Glenfinnan.


Assynt.

Burkley Loc: Park City

One of the most underrated historically significant castles is Doune Castle fairly close to Sterling. It is where the epic film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, along with a few TV series, was filmed. “Run away, Run away” and “Spank me” takes on new meaning. It is a fun stop. Historically pretty insignificant if it wasn’t for the modern notoriety. Sterling Castle is spectacular at night. I recommend an afternoon touring there with a stay at one of the many amazing Sterling B&B’s.

mikee

Went kayaking on Isle of Skye a number of years back. On the way there, from Glasgow, we went to visit Eilean Donan castle, which was right along the way. They were still renovating, and I'm not sure they have finished. But it is a good tour of a castle. There are a number of distilleries in the area, and you might wish a tour. We stayed in Breakish, which had a surprising number of good restaurants.

starlifter Loc: Towson, MD

Definitely Glen Coe. A gloomy damp day would best reflect the history of what happened there. There is so much history and scenery in Scotland there's no uninteresting place. I have been 4 times and love it there. By the way the best way to get the most of your visit is too rent a car and stay in a B and B. You get to see the people and level not found in a hotel. I stayed in a B and B on Sykes and after coming back from dinner we saw the owner in a field with his sheep dog speaking to the dog in galiec. Enjoy your visit you'll love every. minute.

kpsk_sony

'Tis a braw bricht moonlit nicht tanicht! (There I said it and I'm glad I finally got a place to use it. )