Visiting Scotland in October and need advice. We are booked for 3 nights in Edinburgh. Our plan after Edinburgh is to drive to Pitlochry for 2 nights, Oban for 2 nights. We plan to leave Oban early morning and drive to Glasgow airport to catch a noon flight to Dublin. Will 2-2.5 hours for the drive from Oban to Glasgow airport be enough time?
Posted by
Isle of Skye, Scotland
1507 posts
I may be over cautious but am very familiar with flying from Glasgow and always stay in an airport hotel the night before a morning flight. You really need to be at the airport by 10am. The A82 will feature in your route and it’s a road with a lot of accidents. Rush hour traffic can also be bad and sometimes there are problems with the Erskine bridge resulting in needing to use the Clyde Tunnel. That’s the sort of stress that I personally wouldn’t want.
Posted by
Chicagoland
1096 posts
If the stars are aligned, no problem.
With that said, I agree with Skyegirl. I would want to be closer to the airport. If the weather is bad, if there's fog, if there's an accident closing the road or roadwork??
Where are you dropping your car rental?
Posted by
Oregon
430 posts
When I dropped off my rental car at the Glasgow Airport, it was a couple of blocks walk to the terminal. If dropping off luggage and passengers at the terminal, you pay to use the drop-off spot.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
thank you everyone. Sounds like we need to add a day before our flight or cut down on a day in Pitlochry or Oban!
Posted by
Chicagoland
1096 posts
Bostongirl, Are you arriving in Edinburgh after a transatlantic flight? If not, reverse your trip with Edinburgh at the end.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Chicagoland - we are arriving in Edinburgh.
Posted by
Glasgow
107 posts
Luss on Loch Lomond would make for a delightful last night and is very close to the airport - about 30 mins.The A82 at that point is not the narrow nightmare of its northern stretch.That would at least allow you to enjoy some lovely Highland scenery.I'm low risk re getting a flight but I would find that an acceptable compromise.
Posted by
Duluth🌲
10118 posts
Sounds like we need to add a day before our flight or cut down on a day in Pitlochry or Oban!
Add a day! That's my vote. :-)
Regardless, I agree with Skyegirl and jeanm—go with the airport hotel. I do not like to spend my last night worrying about getting to the airport the next day. I will also recommend the Holiday Inn Express at the Glasgow airport. It is steps away from the departures area, has a restaurant (food was good) and starts serving breakfast at 4 am for the early birds (not that you will need to be up that early). But it is a very nice hotel with clean and comfortable rooms, and very friendly and helpful staff. I stayed there two years ago and had a good experience.
Posted by
Lake District, England
10247 posts
If I was staying on Loch Lomond for the last night I would prefer Arrochar (Loch Long) or Tarbet- both scenically and for having two wholly different routes to the airport