u/GoodProbsToHave

Seems very much a "Do as I say, not as I do" kind of thing. Iran wasn't a threat to America, and in any case, if being a threat made assassination legitimate, then surely Veneuzelans, Cubans, Iranians, Canadians, Greenlanders and more could legitimately take out the man who has threatened and/or attacked them all, which the same people supporting the Iranian assassinations would no doubt decry, wouldn't they?

Planning a trip next summer. Have been to London many times, but never really explored the UK outside of London. Well, and Chelmsford, as I used to date a girl there many years ago, but it's hardly one of England's finest gems, to put it mildly. Focus here is Scotland, with a little taste of non-London England thrown in.

We like luxury (obviously), outdoor activities, food, history, art, I take photography pretty seriously. We don't golf and have no appreciation for whiskey - we're wine people - but are up for learning to appreciate it or at least making the attempt. When in Rome...

Tentative plan, for which I'd appreciate thoughtful critiques.

1. 3 nights London. Don't know where, but many usual suspect options of course. Rent a car on the morning we leave and self-drive the rest of the trip.
2. 1 night Cotswolds, probably at THE PIG (why is it capitalized? I don't know.) Just enough time to see one or two of the villages for a couple hours each and then head on our way.
3. 1 night Yorkshire Dales to break up the drive to Scotland. Probably Swinton Park Castle. The idea of a full-scale Stonehenge replica in the forest there makes me chuckle.
4. 1 night at the Balmoral in Edinburgh. Having three one-night stays in a row isn't ideal, but maybe we'd extend to 2 nights here, or do 2 nights Yorkshire Dales instead.
5. 2 nights at the Fife Arms in the Cairngorms.
6. 4 nights at the Torridon in the northwest Highlands.
7. 2 nights at the Flodigarry Hotel in Isle of Skye. There are better hotels on Isle of Skye but this is right next to Quiraing, making it ideal for evening and dawn photography there.
8. 4 nights Gleneagles. Even though we don't golf it looks like there are tons of activities that appeal to us, from horseback riding to clay shooting to their hawking program, and of course the spa and food look amazing.

Thoughts from people who know Scotland? We rejected the Belmond train btw, as the Grand Suite option, which is the only room that looks like it wouldn't annoy us with its tiny size, is just too spendy.