Want to plan a trip to Scotland for 75yo

[ACDC]

My mum enjoys watching railway journeys but seldom takes the train. I was thinking of taking her to Scotland so she could take in some breathtaking scenery.
The only issue is that she has sarcoid in her lungs and walking anything more than 100m is difficult however during lockdown she did manage to go on daily walks and by the end of it could walk 4 miles!! But that was 5 years ago. We live in London and Heathrow is on our doorstep . I know Scottish weather is unpredictable but when would be a good time to go. What lines would give good scenery, and recommendations of guest houses or hotels? My thoughts are flying from London to Edinburgh/ Glasgow then taking the train. It would be quicker and cheaper. Love to hear suggestions and any tips.

 

[railfan99]

Can she travel with a walker or (perhaps less likely) a walking stick?

You would have to arrange assistance at the London terminal such as Euston, but if you travel by train the whole way, you'll see far more than from 30,000 feet in a soulless aluminium tube.

Is staying overnight at an hotel close to a station such as Newcastle, or Edinburgh/Glasgow, an option and within your budget?

I recommend the Fort William line, which of course also has the 'Caledonian Sleeper' on which I've travelled northbound twice. But it's typically more expensive than day trains.

 

[ACDC]

Can she travel with a walker or (perhaps less likely) a walking stick?

You would have to arrange assistance at the London terminal such as Euston, but if you travel by train the whole way, you'll see far more than from 30,000 feet in a soulless aluminium tube.

Is staying overnight at an hotel close to a station such as Newcastle, or Edinburgh/Glasgow, an option and within your budget?

I recommend the Fort William line, which of course also has the 'Caledonian Sleeper' on which I've travelled northbound twice. But it's typically more expensive than day trains.

she can walk unaided but then gets breathless and has to have her inhaler, it's the lungs that are the issue rather than the legs. A hotel stay is definitely within the budget. I forgot about the sleeper option.

 

[Willie Bee]

Travelling on the East Coast Main Line, from King's Cross up to Edinburgh has some very scenic sections, up around Berwick-upon-Tweed.

LNER have some decent deals when booked in advance and their website lets you select specific seats .. pick seats on the right when heading north.

Don't forget a Two Together railcard would almost certainly pay for itself after one trip.

 

[30907]

Don't forget a Two Together railcard would almost certainly pay for itself after one trip.

Or a Disabled Person's Railcard which has no tike restrictions (and costs less) - assuming she meets the critieria.

Using Assisted Travel for any changes of train would make sense too.

 

[anothertyke]

I would say the most reliable weather month in the Highlands is May. That's not to say....

The two most scenic lines are Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh and Fort William (or Mallaig) to Glasgow.

Maybe an option would be fly to Inverness from Gatwick, stay in the Royal Highlander, do a day trip on the Kyle line, get the bus to Fort William, take the West Highland line to Glasgow and fly back from there.

You could have a look at the one day trips by coach. Rabbie's comes to mind, but there are others.

Everything depends on time and money budget, how much your mum can do, rest breaks etc. There are some Ranger type tickets like Highland Explorer (4 days travel in 8 days) which might be good.

 

[Falcon1200]

I would say the most reliable weather month in the Highlands is May.

In my experience, May and June have the best weather in Scotland, rather than the peak holiday months of July and August. However, that cannot be taken as a guarantee, sadly!

 

[Forty29]

Is that before the midge's invade?. Year's ago always found September good weather, but of course more daylight in May/ June.

 

[anothertyke]

Depends on the habitat and the weather but mid June onwards, with July/Aug as peak season for midges.

 

[sh24]

May is great - long evenings, least rain, low midge count and ahead of peak trans Atlantic tourist season.

Flying into Inverness might be an option. It's a lovely small airport on arrival, cab to town and then ride to Kyle which is a stunning line.

 

[Skiddaw]

I agree- May is a good time (and usually relatively midge-free). Alternatively, September/October (post-midge) can also be good weather-wise.

I also agree with the suggestion to fly to Inverness.

 

[ACDC]

Flying to Inverness sounds like a great option

 

[reb0118]

Some of the smaller stations on the scenic routes can be worth exploring too. Plockton on the Kyle line is, imo, more scenic than Kyle itself.

Don't forget those places further south. The Borders, the Ayrshire Coast (including the Clyde Islands), Stirling, & Edinburgh.

 

[Howardh]

Depends on the habitat and the weather but mid June onwards, with July/Aug as peak season for midges.

A real shame about the midges out in the country as there's the opportunity to sit outside a bar until midnight and it still be light at the start of July!! Personally I think the best time to visit is May/June, before the school holidays and possibly the best chance of good weather. Might even still be some snow on the highest peaks!