Scotland between Christmas and New Years

[Katie]

I am pondering options for our upcoming European December. The only definites so far are arriving in London on 5 Dec, and leaving London on 1 Jan, and spending at least 24-26 Dec in London.

Would it be worthwhile trying to spend a few days in Edinburgh, say 27-31 Dec?
I know it's not far away by Aus standards, and NYE is big in Scotland, but are there enough sights open at this time of year?
I'd love to go to my ancestral lands in Oban, but that wouldn't be a must do.

If you were anywhere in Scotland from 27-31 December, where would you go and what would you do?
The travelling party is me, Mr Katie, and Little Miss by-then-8.

 

[Dalescott]

Yes NYE is called Auld Years Night (AYN) in Scotland, and it's great. The Scots really know how to party, and AYN is it. While you are there do the Tour of Edinburgh, Edinburgh is a great place to visit.

 

[Geegeela]

Here’s a great thing to do.

Stay at the Best Western, Drymen, just a bit north of Glasgow.

It is well located to see many nearby attractions.

You will have a great Hogmanay.

Look at these links.

http://www.buchananarms.co.uk/images/Festive_Brochure_2013.pdf
http://www.buchananarms.co.uk/loch-lomond-hotel-deals/christmas-and-new-year-breaks.html
http://www.bestwestern.co.uk/hotels/buchanan-arms-hotel-and-spa-drymen-83534/hotel-info/default.aspx

 

[Dalescott]

Here’s a great thing to do.

Stay at the Best Western, Drymen, just a bit north of Glasgow.

It is well located to see many nearby attractions.

You will have a great Hogmanay.

Look at these links.

http://www.buchananarms.co.uk/images/Festive_Brochure_2013.pdf
http://www.buchananarms.co.uk/loch-lomond-hotel-deals/christmas-and-new-year-breaks.html
http://www.bestwestern.co.uk/hotels/buchanan-arms-hotel-and-spa-drymen-83534/hotel-info/default.aspx

Was there in July, Loch Lomond is simply wonderful. But if I understand you have limited time, and you would need to get there.
I still think Edinburgh is a option.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Missed this yesterday. Best New Year in Scotland is Edinburgh by far. It's up there along with Sydney, Times Square etc as a bucket list NYE IMO.
Scotland at that time of year will be pretty cold with very little daylight hours but most things are open and we Scots are a pretty friendly bunch.
Would be best to split the trip into two, few days in the West Coast and then a couple of nights in
Edinburgh for Hogmanay. The Castle is magical and Little Miss will be enthralled by it.

The suggestion of staying in Drymen isn't a bad one and Oban is an easy drive from here if you want to do the West Highlands.
I'm from Balloch at the foot of Loch Lomond so know the area pretty well.
I would hire a car unless you want to do an organised tour but that's not really necessary.
Let me know if you have any other questions and I will do my best to answer them.
drron and Mrsdrron have also been here recently and there's a very comprehensive part on Scotland in the TR

 

[Katie]

Thanks all! Giving this serious thought ... and also thought to the 7:05am BA flight to LHR from EDI on New Year's Day ... :shock:
Mr Katie is concerned about anything going wrong with the flight, and missing QF10 at 12:30pm or so.

Will check out drron and Mrsdrron's TR.

I always thought the Scots were friendly, Princess. You are, and my step-father is. How's that for a good sample of data?

 

[dmitri]

Hogmany for NYE is awesome. Heaps of good pubs in Edinburgh also

 

[Katie]

So, it seems something like London-Glasgow on 27th, stay til early 29th, then on to Edinburgh for 29th-30th-31st would be doable?
As we leave LHR on QF10 at 12:30pm on the 1st, it seems we'd need to be on the BA flight EDI-LHR that day at 7am; I think it'll have to be a relatively quite Hogmanay/NYE!!