With visions of thatched-roof cottages, medieval castles, and rugged Highland landscapes dancing in our heads, my husband and I commenced ambitious plans for a grand summer tour of England & Scotland by car and train. This “bucket list” journey would be our first in-depth exploration of the British Isles and an opportunity to soak in centuries of history.
Our travel goals included soaking in London’s quintessential urban vibe, admiring charming villages from period films, touring iconic country estates, and venturing from coastal seaside towns up into the lochs and glens of the Scottish Highlands. To make the most of three weeks, we split our itinerary between the flexibility of a rental car and Britain’s celebrated rail system.
Here’s how we carefully mapped out every detail of this dream trip from transportation logistics to boutique accommodations located among both England & Scotland rural splendors.
Scheduling Stops:
London (5 nights) – With its world-class museums, legendary attractions, cosmopolitan dining and theater scene, we allocated nearly a week in England’s dynamic capital just to scratch the surface. Multi-day passes to top sights like The Tower of London, Westminster Abbey and the British Museum would maximize our time.
Cotswolds (3 nights) – Centrally locating ourselves in Chipping Camden allowed easy day trips to idyllic sandstone villages and bucolic rolling hills immortalized in Miss Potter films. We aimed to experience the region’s timeless charms and culinary specialties like cream teas.
Bath (2 nights) – The allure of admiring Georgian architecture from this Roman-era hot springs town during overnight stays proved irresistible. Planned highlights included visits to the thermae baths and evening strolls along the scenic River Avon.
Cornwall (3 nights) – Basing ourselves out of coastal Penzance in Southwest England gave us a foothold to explore the dramatic seaside cliffs, fishing villages and fertile interior gardens of the Cornish countryside. Highlights included scrambling over the medieval ruins of Tintagel Castle.
Lake District (2 nights) – A tranquil pause in Ambleside would afford scenic hikes through lush Cumbrian valleys and charming hamlets like Grasmere and Rydal beloved by Wordsworth and the Romantic poets.
Edinburgh (3 nights) – We’d take advantage of exceptional self-guided walking tours to savor the Scottish capital’s compact layout and storied historic sights like Edinburgh Castle, the Old Town and Holyrood Palace.
Scottish Highlands (5 nights) – After the cities and rail travel, we craved disconnecting amidst the Highlands’ remote villages, heathered hills and mysterious lochs. Upgrading to a rental car would allow us to set our own pace while based in seaside Portree on the Isle of Skye.
Getting Around:
For the southern England portion, a rental car was essential for maximum flexibility and convenience in reaching the rural villages and countryside attractions. Automatic transmission and GPS were must-haves for navigating narrow country lanes with confidence. We requested an economy manual diesel car with plenty of leg room and trunk space for 3 weeks of luggage.
In Scotland, the big decision was whether to continue driving or swap to rail/bus. We ended up opting for a combined approach: Train transfers from London to Edinburgh and the Highlands, with exploring the remote Isle of Skye and Western lochs by rental car after Edinburgh.
To maximize our rail passes, we reserved lie-flat sleeper berths for the extended overnight journeys like London to Inverness. For shorter regional hops, first class BritRail passes allowed effortless transfers without pre-booking seats. Careful scheduling would help minimize any rail stations with harrowing stair-climbing.
Accommodations:
With such a geographically sweeping itinerary covering rural areas and remote islands, we wanted a mix of boutique hotels, charming inns and B&Bs befitting the local character. Given the specific amenities needed – free parking, airport proximity, laundry facilities – our best strategy proved booking direct with individual properties.
In the cities we splurged on well-reviewed central hotels like the Z Hotel Soho in London and Old Town Chambers in Edinburgh. But the real indulgences were smaller inns and manors to experience classic country hospitality like the Lakeview Manor B&B on Lake Windermere and Kinloch Lodge Hotel & Restaurant on the Isle of Skye.
Another key amenity was ensuring in-room internet connectivity to assist with mapping routes and staying in touch with family back home. Various apps and web tools like Tripit, Lightroom Mobile and Google Translate would help streamline the tech logistics of making reservations, editing photos and communicating with locals.
If anything summed up our thorough trip planning and attention to detail, it was scouring dozens of tour operators and online resources to curate a flexible menu of experiential enrichments and side activities like:
• Private black cab London city tours tailored to our specific interests
• Guided day trips to Windsor, Stonehenge and Stratford-Upon-Avon
• A tour and tasting at an Oxfordshire brewery
• Oxridge walking tours through Bath and the Cotswolds Villages
• A distillery experience on the Isle of Islay en route to Skye
• Haggis ceremonies and Highland activities during Skye stays
Of course the above “wish list” truly depended on our pace and spontaneous desires once in Britain – which we’d continually reevaluate and adjust accordingly throughout the journey itself. The plan outlined solid foundations, but also room for whimsy adventures driven by constantly evolving moods and inspirations.
With a hefty budget allocated for the full three weeks of accommodations, transportation, attractions, meals and side experiences, we expected to reach peak splurge zone while still preserving reasonable fiscal boundaries. The impeccable pre-trip preparation laid the groundwork, but the true adventures still awaited us beyond the hurdles of packing, getting to London, and retrieving our rental car. Once in Britain, the open backroads of the English countryside and Scottish Highlands beckoned with their timeless beauty and begged us to get delightfully, spontaneously lost.
Tips for England & Scotland Self-Driving/Rail Adventure:
• Plan out regions and anchor towns first to arrange optimal routing
• Check seasonal rates for lodging, rail passes and rental cars in advance
• Calculate fuel costs for any multi-week rental periods
• Book flexible YHA hostels or budget hotels to reset mid-trip
• Combine BritRail passes with region-specific day rovers
• Use whichever mapping apps/assistants you’re most familiar with
• Travel light and prepare for quickly changing weather patterns
Whether you have three weeks or three months to explore the pastoral landscapes and historic cities, a combined road and rail trip through England & Scotland absorbs you into the rhythms of British culture. Some days you’ll be immersed in the tranquil countryside where church bells and friendly pub chatter set the pace. Other times you find your heart racing while navigating dense urban cores steeped in frenetic commerce and history spanning the ages.
But that contrast and dichotomy ultimately lies at the heart of the British Isles’ wonders – past and present continually colliding in glorious harmony. So get out those maps, rain jackets and cameras. The twisting roads and railways await to whisk you on an epic adventure through heritage and heather. I hope this 2016 England & Scotland by Road & Rail – Pre-Trip Planning helps you,