I'm wondering if you should actually stay in 2 places? Perth and Inverness for example. I would definitely hire a car as it will make things easier, if you feel comfortable driving.

Can't help about horse riding or fishing. There are boat trips from Balloch on Loch Lomond and cycle tracks along the loch. There's a big visitor centre at Lomond Shores Balloch which may be able to help with the other things
I think there are boat trips on the Clyde Estuary with lovely views and as I mentioned before just a short train ride from Balloch.
Lomond Shores also has shops, cafes and a restaurant overlooking the loch.
There is beautiful scenery everywhere and places to visit during day trips from Balloch
Can you guess that I love it there!!
That said I also love many other places in Scotland including Perth and Inverness, but they are not quite so easy to get to from Glasgow airport.

Hi, can somebody please help

Unique- I think you only viewed page 1 before you put on your plea- there are answers for you on page 2

If you don't mind driving you could get the train to Balloch and stay for 2 or 3 nights, whilst there visit the tourist information to get some help, hire a car and drive up the west coast (beautiful) on the A82 to Fort William and all the way up the great glen to Inverness (maybe staying somewhere on the way, there's lots of lovely places) Then a night or 2 at Inverness and drive back down the A9 to either Perth or Pitlochry (which is lovely) then maybe down to Stirling or back to Balloch for your last night before flying back. That would involve a lot of driving but the scenery is so beautiful that it's part of the holiday.
It also means that you wouldn't have to drive in Glasgow as you could get a taxi to the station, then the train to Balloch and the same at the end of the holiday or you could get a taxi straight to Balloch from the airport. The driving involved would be away from the busy city.

Can I just say that in Jan last year I went to New Zealand, stayed in Queenstown for 3 days and loved it. The Highlands of Scotland are just as beautiful!!

Hope you manage to get something sorted out

Final Decision:
Going to Base myself in Edinburgh and get around from there.

Arriving at Glasgow Airport - taking a bus to central Edinburgh and take it from there.

Guys, I really need your help for two things 1st, recommendations on accommodation. Criteria:

1. Price: between 70 - 100
2. Central Location
3. Close access to public transportation - tourist attractions

2nd is things to do - i.e. must see, must do etc.

Duration will be from 31-May till 9-June.

Thanks in advance

1. horse riding
2. boat trips
3. biking
4. fishing
5. beautiful scenery
6. village visits (tours showing sheep farming, culture etc.)

So can we take it that you've now changed your mind about what you're wanting to do on this holiday? You'll find none of the above easily accessible from a central Edinburgh base. If you are primarily interested in country-based activities I can't help wondering why have you now decided to base yourself in the middle of our capital city? Incidentally, where are you visiting from? Letting us know that would help us put your requests into some sort of context. For example, are you UK based or arriving at Heathrow from elsewhere?

SM

unique73 wrote:

Thank you guys, your insights are really helping me clarifying the picture.. as I understand, the surroundings of Glasgow would not be good as a base and Glasgow center would be ideal for city life, clubs and museums (NOT what am looking for)If I can relate a bit.. to make what I am looking for clear.. in our honeymoon we visited New Zealand a place called Queenstown"¦ and I am looking for something similar with activities such as:
1. horse riding
2. boat trips
3. biking
4. fishing
5. beautiful scenery
6. village visits (tours showing sheep farming, culture etc.)

To be more specific, the idea of this holiday is for me and my wife to get away from our routine life, relax, and recharge for 9 nights and would pretty much like to do some if not all of the activities above. At the same time we cannot be overwhelmed inconvenient routes - overcrowded trains buses, difficulties in transportation etc.. my wife is recovering from an operation and it would be difficult for her - that's why I asked for convenient routes and travel plans.

I would prefer using the public transportation - but If I have to, I will hire a car.. any thoughts about the cost and what would be the best way of doing this.

Going forward now, 1st I thank everyone of you for the valuable tips and would like to have some more feedback please.. now what I understand:

1. avoid surroundings of Glasgow (and central because I don't wish to stay in the center) - but Bruce Hotel could be good.
2. almost all recommended hiring a car - not sure about cost / best way to do this.
3. Perth, Stirling, Aviemore, Balloch / Loch Lomond would be best for what am looking for.

So my friends"¦. I will arrive at Glasgow on the 31st and i did not book anything yet :(

I am finding this all a bit confusing as well. Have you decided now to stick to the city as your wife may find the activity side difficult due to her operation? Or are you planning in going outside of the city and just using it as a base? If you are only using Edinburgh as a base I would think you are making it far more difficult for yourselves.

Edinburgh is a fantastic place to visit but 9 nights seems a long time to be just there and it won't be cheap. Like others have said your list of things you want to do and see won't be particularly easy from there and you'll miss a lot of the fabulous scenery

Try http://www.laterooms.co.uk We stayed at the Carlton Hotel for about £80/night at the weekend, but that may be more expensive during the week.

luci

I am sure that I have created so much inconvenience and confusion for you guys"¦ I would have to apologize"¦ after doing a bit of research; I found that choosing Edinburgh would be an extremely wrong decision. Prices are crazy and your comments made it more clear. So last night, I printed your posts and analyzed it word by word"¦. I found out that best thing to do (my priorities and preferences) would be to hit to Balloch / Loch Lomond and enjoy a relaxing holiday. As I understood, scenery would be great, lots of activities and day trips to fascinating places is within reach.

Now the most important thing is the accommodation, I need your help guys one last time (I promise)
1.To recommend names of hotels / resorts to stay during the visit to Balloch / Loch Lomond. Criteria for the hotel is Price (70-100) with breakfast, Close location to public transports, restaurants and activities. Also would need good facilities like room service, internet, laundry etc.
2.Step by step guide on how to get there from GLA and also going back. Bus / train / taxi etc. together with your valuable recommendations.

I have to finish this this either today or by tomorrow morning latest, so guys please help me out

To answer SMa question, I am not from the UK, I am coming from Bahrain to London and connecting to Glasgow.

Thanks again

Luci, we stayed at the Carlton a few weeks ago for a Friday night and it was more expensive.

Balloch is quite a small place so I don't think there are any large hotels there. This one http://www.visit-lochlomond.com/accommodation-584-balloch-balloch_house_hotel_balloch.html
is central for everything. It's in a lovely setting too overlooking the river and opposite where the boat trips go from. You could maybe email them to ask about the things you require.
There are larger hotels on Loch Lomond but these will probably be too expensive
Cameron House Hotel for instance is lovely but is approx 5 minutes drive away or about 40mins walk along the old (disused ) Luss Road.
Duck Bay Hotel has recently been refurbished but is next to Cameron House, approx 2 miles by car or 40 mins walk. http://www.cawleyhotels.com/duck-bay-loch-lomond so not ideal if you are not hiring a car

If you manage to find a small hotel or B&B in Balloch with most of the things you require but not internet, then there is a Macdonalds on the roundabout on the way into the town. I am told they have free WiFi
I mentioned before that you can get the train to Balloch from the centre of Glasgow (there are 2 stations), you would have to check which is the correct one or someone else may know.
A taxi straight from the airport may be the best bet (less hassle)
http://www.airporttaxis-uk.co.uk/Glasgow/index.htm?gclid=CMufoN2VyZMCFQobQgodulW2jQ
I think that would be approx £55

Oklahoma... Shall I change my mind again just kidding.. Thanks for the Info.

By the way i booked one night stay at Glasgow Ramada Airport hotel. I am thinking to hit to Glasgow City Center and try to plan the trip through a travel agent. Maybe a one stop shop - package will be better in terms of price and convenience.. what do you think guys? any suggested good travel agents? (Thomas Cook like...)

Any other suggestions on accommodation Balloch / Loch Lomond?

Hi

I can tell you that the Balloch House is nice and has room rates per room of £75 per night, this includes a good Continental breakfast. There is WiFi available but is not free, you would have to pay a small charge.
There are no laundry facilities in this hotel.

The Balloch House is usually fully booked but you can check availability and book here http://www.innkeeperslodge.com/

Try taking a look at these websites for the only other hotels here in Balloch that Oklahoma has not given you.

Tullie Inn, (next to train station) http://www.maclay.com/tullie-inn-balloch.html

There is one other hotel The Lomond Park

it probably is not ideal for you as it has a night club open until 3am at weekends and can be a bit noisy.

http://www.lomondparkcomplex.com/

An Inn in the centre of Balloch - http://www.waterhouseinn.co.uk/

There are a few B&B's that you might want to consider -

http://www.scottishaccommodationindex.com/balloch.php

These are the best choices for convenience as you are not hiring a car, but just check that you accommodation is in Balloch as some could be out off the way if you have no transport.

Another alternative (so many choices) would be to stay in Dumbarton which is only 10 minutes on the train (on the Balloch - Glasow line) with easy access to Balloch every 30 minutes by train or Glasgow every 15 minutes.

A couple of suggestions that are handy (within 10 minutes of train station) in Dumbarton -
http://www.dumbuckhousehotel.com/

http://www.abbotsfordhotel.com/default.aspx

Another option that you might want to consider is hiring a chalet at the Lomond Woods Holiday Park in Balloch http://www.thistleparks.co.uk/site/directory/parks/836/view/

To get to Balloch by train you will have to go to Glasgow Queen Street (low level, platform 2) unless you are travelling on a Sunday the you will have to go to Glasgow Central (low level).

From Balloch you have a good choice of destinations to explore, you can take the train to Helensburgh, or Glasgow and from there Edinburgh, Stirling or further.

There is also a bus service from Balloch to Stirling.

If you do come down to Balloch there is an excellent tourist information centre that can help you out, or you can just ask on here and one of the locals can help you.

Should have mentioned if you decide to get a taxi from the airport to Balloch the white ones at the airport are very expensive so you would be better getting a local firm from Renfrew or Paisley, or I can arrange for one of my friends to pick you up in his taxi, I will try and get you a reduction in the cost of the fare

If you want me to arrange a taxi PM me using the link on this page and I can get all the info required and give you a price for him to pick you up.

If you come to Balloch please bring the sunshine back as it is a bit wet here today

Graham

If you are stuck finding a hotel then Kiltman-Graham's suggestion of a chalet at Lomond Woods Holiday Park (self catering) is a good idea. I've stayed on there lots of times both in a chalet and also with our own touring caravan and it's ideally placed for everything you need in Balloch. http://www.caravansitefinder.co.uk/parks/836/view It may be worth ringing or emailing them.
At the bottom of that page there's a list of things to do in the area and I think it covers most of what you want.

its probably too late now, but sounds like you'ld be better with a coach trip using someone like shearings no driving and get to see the country and all hotels etc booked

Here is the situation guys:

I booked at the Ramada Airprot for the first night.
I tried to book a hotel / lodge at Loch Lomond / Balloch but none gave me any confirmation (stuck)

My plan now either
1.try to book something from the Airport tourist enquiry
2. go to glasgow city center and try to book something from there
3. hire a car from the Airport and wonder around looking for accomodation at Loch Lomond / Balloch

I know option 3 is not that smart.....

Please help me guys.. Is there any recommended travel agent at center of glasgow / airport that i can go to directly and sort me out? are there any other suggestions?

I can still change my mind and go somewhere else other than loch lomond / Balloch

I am travelling tonight