This was our 4th kimkim trip - Scotland!
Scotland
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Sep 2 - Sep 17, 2026
This was our 4th kimkim planned trip - and as with our other trips, we had a great time. As before, our local specialist worked with us to understand us and what we hoped to achieve with the trip, what we liked and didn't like with travel, and then how to fit as much in as made sense for us... all within the time we had allotted for the trip. I believe by the time we actually left the US for Scotland, we were on v4 of our travel guide.
And unfortunately, as with a previous trip, the weather and airport issues created a last minute problem with air travel such that we were delayed leaving the US and even had to be rerouted on another airline. We contacted our kimkim local specialist (Tetiana) via the app - at what was likely midnight in the UK... and Tetiana made sure that our airport pickup was changed and that our hotel knew of our now very delayed arrival.
On one other occasion we had an unforeseen issue (no breakfast provided at a guest house - where it should have been)... Tetiana again immediately figured out the issue and solved. I mention these two unpleasant events first - as they both illustrate the value of having a professional help plan your trip, and then being available to manage problems.
Now to the good stuff... Scotland is a wonderful place to visit. We spent a few days in Glasgow, then by train to Fort William / Glencoe, and then by car to the Isle of Skye... where we spent 5 days. We ended our excursion with 3 days in and around Inverness, and lastly... 3 days in Edinburgh. Highlights for us on Skye... not just the main tourist sights, but finding hidden treasures off the beaten path (mostly on single lane roads). Tetiana found one for us... Waternesh Farms...
We found Inverness to be more than a place to spend the night while we explored the highlands... it's a really nice town. We loved our B&B (Bluebell House) and morning walks along the river (which take you thru the Ness Islands). We lucked out on our last night, with a reservation at the Highlanders... seats at the table closest to the stage - with a night of traditional music and pub food.
In Edinburgh, we really liked the neighborhood of our B&B (within New Town) as we were adjacent to a street filled with restaurants, and bus stops and a tram stop that made travel within Edinburgh easy. For those who enjoy B&Bs, we want to recommend the place we stayed... The Ben Cruachan Guest House. And for hidden gems, the two adjacent modern art museums (located in the West End... and just minutes off the tram).
Hotel Reviews
Great location, comfortable and well appointed room. A much appreciated bonus for us... the lower level was recently renovated to include a full kitchen (with breakfast and snack items, coffee, tea, Nespresso, etc.), a dining room / living room combo (with an honor system whisky bar), and an outside seating area and garden.
A very nice hotel in a nice part of Glasgow... To be fair, our rating may be 4/5 instead of 5/5 as we had a travel delay and arrived almost a day late. Anyway, a nice small boutique hotel, very nice room and breakfast room. The front desk staff was super friendly and helpful.
The Lochiel Villa is relatively new, the rooms are nicely appointed, but the breakfast room / common room is no longer in use, giving the guest house almost a creepy / empty feel (and we were not the only guests). As it turned out, the included full breakfast is provided by a sister hotel, just perhaps 50 yards away. As Fort William is where we picked up our car, a nice feature of this hotel, free parking in front (very simple to get to), and the Lochiel is a 10 minute walk back into town.
A truly exceptional place just a few minutes outside of Portree. Gorgeous common building with a restaurant, bar, and comfy sitting areas. There is also a sauna available which we didn't use - as we had to have bathing suits and flip flops to use it. What made this hotel really interesting... in a way it fit the definition of "glamping" as guests stay in their own cabins / huts... some with a short walk to the main building, and others with a pretty challenging walk uphill (fine on a nice day, challenging in the rain or hail... which are not uncommon on Skye. The cabins were comfy and nicely appointed. It would have been nicer if they had more storage for putting clothes away - which as we stayed there for 5 nights we were hoping to do. Breakfast was included and was ample and delicious... there is a menu and you can choose between a traditional Scottish breakfast all the way to vegetarian options. The restaurant was also open for dinner, and again... a nice selection each night. I was disappointed in the bar... this was my first opportunity where I wasn't driving... to try out different single malts from different regions. I am not sure if they didn't offer whisky flights or if the bartender was just too busy to accommodate me, but it was disappointing.
Bluebell House and its owner / host well standout gems of our trip. The House is beautifully maintained on a mostly quiet residential area, but only a few blocks from a grocery store and restaurants and shopping. The owner / host... Kenny is one of those exceptional people, whose charm and warmth transform what is otherwise a really nice B&B, to an exceptional one.