Scottish Highlands for a long weekend

I am planning to go to Edinburgh for about 4 days in November. I have never been to the Highlands before and would really like to visit. Is it possible to see a few places on day trips? Would I have to leave insanely early in the morning? Or should one really plan an overnight stay somewhere? Coach or train? Any recommendations on where to go would really be welcome!

Yeah, an early start would be a good idea unless you are staying over night. If you like sea/islands, go to Oban and Mull, stay over night in either.
If you like hills/mountains and forests, go up to Royal Deeside, stay in Ballater/Braemar.

The weather can be a big factor especially in November when it is likely to be a bit cold and wet, but gererally the west is wetter than the east.

enjoy

Sterling, back road through to Oban, Oban - Fort William, Fort Willaim to Inverness (Watch out for Nessie) Back down thorough Avimore to Edinburgh.

If you have more time go to Skye. It's beautiful.

Or you could do what I'm going to do tonight and tomorrow and just bury yourself in Edinburghs pubs:-)

Hi

Yes, you can do day trips per day to the Highlands, Edinburgh itself is a beautiful city, pity your going in Nov, it will be quiet then, the Edin Tattoo and Fringe Festival have not long finished, its good to visit when theses are in full swing, gives a great buzz to the city. Edin has plenty of touristy sights, go on the ghost tour of the underground city in Edin. Lochness is about 3 and half hrs drive in the car-bus. You could also head for Stirling, Callander and Loch Katrine... closer to Edinburgh but also some decent Highland Scenery, definitely more scenic than Loch Ness!

Visit the Rosslyn Chapel, immortalized in Dan Brown's "Da Vinci Code", its well worth the visit, its only 30 mins away. The highlands are not as nice in Nov, better in the warmer months (if they exsist) in Scotland. You can pop through to Glasgow for some sight seeing, plenty to do there. If your only going to be there for 4 days, I would not recommend the Islands for a day trip, they require an overnight stay, would definately visit Isle of Skye, Lewis and Harris if you decide to do a longer trip.

See the link below for more ideas.. Hope this helps a little.

http://www.viator.com/Edinburgh/d739

cheers Scott

ohhh better take yer wellies with you...

As I come from Thurso I feel the need to point out there is actually more Scotland north of Inverness.

Love those 'A roads' with passing places.

Stop it now, you're making me homesick...

Spent my childhood in a caravan in Scotland. Did anyone catch Great British Journeys last week in Scotland? Fantastic.

My fave is Skye. Took wife there before babies happened and we loved it even though it rained.

I love Scotland.

Midgies

Nice morning in Edinburgh today. Such a gorgious city when it's like this.

The main theme is the highlands but if you have a little left over time in your four days East Lothian is really nice. North Berwick in particuar is pretty and there are some nice walks along the shore. Wish I had a car today as I'd head out there if I could.

If you do Sterling go one step further and climb the Wallace Monument, it's about 10 minutes down the road. Beautiful views and wind strong enough to lean against.

Stirling - Sterlings is a furniture shop and outlet centre in Tillicoultry about 15 mins from Stirling. Prob not where you wanna end up. Mmmmm makes me homesick too - my home town!

Stirling is pretty nice as a tourist with the castle and Wallace Monument - approx 40 miles from Glasgow and Edinburgh, gateway to the Highlands and the Trossachs area is really nice too around Loch Katrin etc.

Check out the Essence of Scotland guides for some inspiration but have to say that Pas' suggested route above is a pretty good one.

I asked my live-in dyslexic native Tillycoultrian about the spelling, I would have spelt it with an "i" myself.

Scogs is from Tillycoultry? Cool I spent a few weeks there when I was 17, stayed with a friend's family. One of the best holidays I've ever had

We've been to Scotland for a week last year, were planning to go to the Lake District, but as it was raining (duh!) decided to drive through to Scotland instead…. very good decision.
Don't know why, but being in Scotland somehow feels like coming home.

However, we've been in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling, Tillycoultry, Falkirk last year, this year we will spend a couple of days in Edinburgh at the start and then travel around.
We were thinking about staying in Inverness for 5 nights, find some self-catering cottage or apartment, and go on day trips from there. Then we have another 2-4 nights for other places before we go back (via Manchester, visiting the family).

Has anybody got a good idea where to stay? Maybe knows the area well and can recommend a cottage or so? We were thinking about some nice place, wouldn't mind paying a bit more for something comfortable. A few restaurants, pubs and shop(s) within staggering distance would be nice…
Met a guy from Elgin last weekend who said Inverness itself isn't really nice…?

Any opinions from you guys?

Thanks very much in advance.

Thats just reminded me of the really annoying advert they used to have on the TV, with Dougie Donnelly.

Nobody got any tips?

You should be okay just about anywhere providing you stay away from the Catholic areas.

not in november duh...

well i would tell you go up to ullapool, achiltibuie, altandhu, coigach,Achnarheard, summer isles, climb up stack polly, canoe on the Minch to tanera send a post card to anyone from there, as they got a post office there with their own stamps not the usual british stamp, eat a summer isle platter at the summer isle bar in achiltibue, all the food just jumped out of the fisher boats the day you get it served (know that for sure, used to work there) and DONT forget your camera. BUT you will need a car and you should go there in summer...it is absolutely stunning beautiful...
they do have cottages in that area too. there is a website where you can book them ...http://www.summer-isles.co.uk/Contacts.html

EDIT: its about 1.5 - 2 hours drive north/west of inverness...

thanks very much cyn, sounds wonderful.

We're going in 5 weeks (will take the car), but I hope we can come back for another 2 weeks in August (we're debating about Ireland and Wales as well )

Will take your list on board, sounds good for daytrips from Inverness.

Any opinions on Glencoe and Oban?