Hello all, I'm Callie and I have never before been backpacking. I've always wanted to though. So, I was planning to take a gap semester during my sophomore year of college (fall 2013). I'm planning to spend most if not all of that semester traveling around The British Isles. I want to begin in August in Scotland to catch the fringe festival. But that is as far as I've planned as of yet. So seeing as I'll be starting in Edinburgh, any advice on where to go next, how to accomplish a long journey, equipment, places to stay, anything? I'm not sure if I'll be traveling alone or with friends, hopefully the latter. Any and all advice would be very much appreciated.

thank you!
-Callie