Comments on: SCOTLAND – Where to Go and What to See!

By: Loretta

Loretta — Wed, 13 Sep 2023 20:33:22 +0000

Hi, Alisa,

Travelling to another country always involves doing research in advance. With your browser and the world wide web, you can do lots of research before going, and make reservations for lodging, plan your route and places you want to visit, and plan your transportation. Being a “nomad” is not a good idea IMHO, if you meant you that you plan to go and play it all by ear. It’s important to plan your money carefully most of all. In the U.K., the currency is pounds or euros, so you will need to calculate your budget by figuring out the current exchange rate.

In your comment you mentioned being unable to contact Catherine Maxwell Stuart of Traquair house, which Diana said that she visited in the blog entry. Traquair house is a popular, busy tourist attraction, and it’s doubtful you would be able to correspond directly with the owner. (Diana is an author celebrity, likely the reason she met Ms. Maxwell-Stuart.) Have you visited the website for Traquair House and tried to make reservations to stay there? The website for that particular lodging and also for day visits there is:

https://www.traquair.co.uk

Diana’s blog about what to see in Scotland that you read, “SCOTLAND – Where to Go and What to See!” was written and posted in 2013, which is ten years ago. The places to visit are still there, but no doubt some of the information has changed.

Advance Planning For Travel Is Essential:

Recommended advance planning for visiting Scotland includes:

- Make reservations for places to stay (in hotels, glamping, B&B’s, or other). These reservations should be made well in advance, because popular sights sell out, often weeks ahead of time.

- A master plan listing the places you want to visit. Research each location online and in travel guidebooks, including days and hours the location is open. Include the telephone numbers, website URL, etc. for each location. Some places may be unexpectedly closed, or require ticket purchases for entry in advance. Some sites are very busy during tourist season. Are self-guided explorations allowed at a particular place?

- Creating your timeline for travel (including which form of transportation you’ll use) is essential. Depending on the time of year, some hotels and B&B’s etc. can be sold out way in advance, especially at certain times of the year. Ditto for walking tours with guides, such as at Jurassic Coast, which fill often several weeks in advance.You also need to research how you are going to get around there. Will you rent a car? Or depend on public transportation? A mix of the two? Auto reservations need to be made in advance, too. If on a tight budget, there may be hostels in some cities, simple places to stay that are inexpensive and popular with students, but like everything else it is best to make reservations in advance if they take them.

- Budget carefully, the same advice for travel anywhere. Prioritize the places to visit, museums, historic sights, and other things you want to see and do.

- If you haven’t researched your family tree to figure out which Stuarts are your ancestors, genealogists are available for hire there (but can be expensive). Hearing “first hand” about your ancestors and the Jacobite rising would likely be through museums and visitor centers. Maybe in taverns and pubs, too, but I wouldn’t count on that.

The Scottish government has a great website for visitors, ‘Visit Scotland’, at:

https://www.visitscotland.com

Visit Scotland has lots of information about accommodations, where to visit, transportation, etc. Many pros who give tours are listed there, including people who offer “Outlander” tours. Before hiring any tour guide or tour company, however, be sure to check RECENT reviews for them on TripAdvisor or other travel websites. The great ones will have great reviews. Also study their refund policies and what costs you will be responsible for.

Visit Scotland has a great webpage listing Outlander sights to see from Diana’s books and the TV show:

https://www.visitscotland.com/things-to-do/attractions/tv-film/outlander/

Diana herself doesn’t recommend or endorse tour guides or tour guide companies. However, on her website (https://dianagabaldon.com/wordpress/resources/outlander-based-tours-of-scotland/), she does list a few tour guides who she personally knows and who gave her a first-hand tour. But again, carefully check recent reviews and any references that are online including those that any tour guide or companies provide to you. Online now there are hundreds of tours to choose from, ranging from day tours (where you provide your own accommodations) to those lasting a week or two which provide food, lodging, and transportation in the cost.

Rick Steves visits the U.K., including Scotland, on his long-running PBS show, and also has published book guides which many Outlander readers have said were useful. He lists his favorite B&Bs and has lots of tips about saving money but remaining comfortable. He even has advice on how to pack your bags! Steves offers a Scotland guidebook for sale and other resources at:

https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/scotland

I hope you do at least some planning in advance! A bit worried about your ‘nomad’ idea. I’ve been told the people are warm and welcoming to tourists there, especially to those who love Outlander. But you gotta do your homework…

I hope you have a wonderful time!

Loretta McKibben
Diana’s Webmistress
webmaster@dianagabaldon.com

By: Alisa Stuart

Alisa Stuart — Thu, 24 Aug 2023 19:36:01 +0000

I’ve been doing my Scottish Ancestry research since, I was a wee child, living in Galveston Bay, Texas. My Grandfather Archie Stuart, did our family Crest prior to, his passing. I would love to be in Scotland by the first week of September. For, I haven’t been successful in acquiring any accommodations and reaching Catherine Maxwell Stuart hasn’t shown any light, as of lately. May someone please, contact me as to a few questions I have regarding B&B or tavern quarters? I will be arriving in Scotland, like a nomad if sorts. I’d love to hear, first hand, about my Ancestors and the Jacobite Rising. Thank you so much, Yours Sincerely, Alisa Stuart

By: Ron

Ron — Tue, 10 Sep 2013 16:10:50 +0000

I am a great fan of the Outlander Books.
I am Scottish and looking forward to the TV series.
2014 is the 700th anniversary of The Battle of Bannockburn when King Robert The Bruce beat the English Army and succeeded in claiming independence for Scotland from England.

By: Melissa Rea

Melissa Rea — Sat, 06 Jul 2013 02:06:42 +0000

My family enjoyed a day long tour with Hugh Allison in Inverness last August. It was the highlight of my trip to Scotland. He is so knowledgeable on Scotish history — as well as the Outlander series. He also wore a kilt!! He took us to places we would have never discovered on our own. I would HIGHLY recommend him and Inverness Tours. He also is an excellent writer himself and an expert on Culloden.

By: Betsy Brown

Betsy Brown — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 14:33:01 +0000

Thanks for the information on Outlander tours. I’m not sure if it was with Inverness Tours, but I was fortunate enough during a stay in Inverness in 2000, , to stumble on a sign for a small group, day tour leaving shortly. I immediately signed up and enjoyed a memorable day with a wonderful young kilted guide named, as I recall, Duncan Fraser. He made us cry at Culloden, and at Clava Cairns, he “hid” in the trees and played a haunting melody on his flute which brought chills. His highly personalized tales of historical events were entertaining AND informative. All in all, it was certainly the best “tour” I’ve ever taken. I’ve thought about him often, and wondered if he’s still conducting tours, or whether he achieved his aim of earning enough to buy the farm where his father was tenant..

By: Bobbie

Bobbie — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 23:30:44 +0000

While on a trip to Scotland I realized how little I knew about the country, but loved every minutes of the visit. After I returned to the US, I thought, hmmm, how to learn more Scottish history without reading some dry old history book. Then I remembered a paperback novel I had picked up and thumbed through several times at Powell’s Books in Portland. It was your first novel, and of course, I realized that with each novel set in Scotland, I learned tons while having great entertainment. By the way, I have read all your novels by now, and my neighbor across the street who read all my copies, came over one day two years later and read through all of them again!

By: Deana

Deana — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 20:50:02 +0000

Of course you know that the music of Loreena McKennitt will have to be used in any TV or Movie series! It’s like she’s been writing along with your books. Getting ready to read the Drums of Autumn.

By: Wendy

Wendy — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 16:26:05 +0000

I often see people writing about how wonderful their trip was, and I am so looking forward to ours in late April. But as I am a novice adventurer, I wondered if there were any tips or advice that seasoned travelers would share with this novice. I have so many questions, but don’t know who to ask or where to find the information. Were there items you should have taken, items you did not need? How do I charge an iPhone while in Scotland? Has anyone ever put together a Tips & Tricks list for Scotland trips? Thanks so much.

By: Meryl

Meryl — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 01:11:59 +0000

We visited Scotland at the end of our European honeymoon just this past November. I was so awed to stay at Culloden House – they even have, framed in the entranceway, Charlie’s own tartan bed-hangings. It was a really amazing way to connect with history (AND Outlander, of course).

By: Leslie

Leslie — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 08:23:18 +0000

My husband and I went to Scotland in 2011 for our honeymoon. We went through Go Ahead Tours and were lucky to be there for the Military Tattoo during the Edinburgh Festival. Amazing 12 days. Talking about returning to Oban this summer for a week. We became friends with our coach driver on our trip, and he’s encouraging us to come back for a visit. I thoroughly enjoyed reading your series prior to going because it made some of the historical sights more special.