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Help - only a few days in Scotland and wanting to get out of Edinburgh

We are flying back from Iceland to Edinburgh - my son likes to get out of town, though he may be tired of driving after Iceland, as we are renting a car and driving around the country. I am wondering if we can go from Edinburgh to Inverness through Perth in a day, spend 2 nights (do a loop through the distilleries in the west on day 2), then drive back to Edinburgh through Fort William and Strirling on day 3. We drove the Southwest Coast of Ireland last year (Shannon/Doolin/DIngle/ etc.) last spring, so I don't think the driving on the wrong side of the car will be too much trouble and the roads can't be much more narrow than the goat paths in Ireland. Am I biting off too much. Going to spend a day in Edinburgh before flying out to Barcelona - Me and my daughter were in Edinburgh 2 summers ago, but my son/wife have not been there. I might shorten out of town trip or do out/ins and just stay in Edinburgh if anyone has any good ideas or a shortened agenda - sticks not cities, we have seen too many cities.

Posted by
1692 posts

Based on your trip being three days, I would say the itinerary is possible, but would pull in to a narrower circle around Edinburgh. Beyond the distilleries, are there things you specially want to see?

The highlands start much closer in to Edinbugh than you may think, the suburbs of Glasgow abut them, and Perthshire itself is largely in the highlands. There are plenty of distilleries in this narrower circuit. You would still probably need a car as public transport timetables would not suit on the schedule, but this would limit the driving. Otherwise you could easily spend all day in a car.

Posted by
20 posts

Thanks, I will rethink and come back with something more reasonable.

Posted by
5678 posts

Yes, I agree, you're packing in a lot. I too wonder what is pulling you to Perth.

One of my favorite places in Perthshire. Here's a suggestion--Take off drive to Stirling, check out the castle and then head north on the A84 toward Callander. You'll drive the Trossachs. You might want to stop at Balqhiddar and see Rob Roy Macgregor's grave. Join the A85 and drive toward Killin. You'll then drive up the north side of Loch Tay ending up in Aberfeldy. If you still want to explore you can drive west toward Weem and Fortingale and explore Loch Lyon before returning to Aberfeldy for the night. I stayed at Ailean Chraggan. Or if you're tired of driving you could walk the Birk's of Aberfeldy, which is nice walk up past a waterfall.

The next day you can drive over the mountain to Loch Rannoch and Loch Tummell via the B846. It's a single track road and it's quite beautiful. I've usually just driven out to the A9 with a stop of at Queen's View, but I just discovered a new great road! It's the B847 and it takes you on to the B8079 which takes you to Blair Atholl where you can visit the castle. You keep going south and you'll pass Killiecrankie Pass where one of many battles was fought. Ultimately you're into Pitlochry. In and near Pitlochry are two distilleries and the Explorer's Garden. I would spend the night here. From here you could go further south and see Fife or stay in Perthshire and spend the night in Dunkeld. There are some wonderful walks in the area.

Stirling is the biggest city, but I think that the castle is worth it.

Pam

Posted by
20 posts

Thanks, that is the kind of information I come here for, really appreciate it.

Through Perthshire - route? - are you talking the tourist road through Amulree, Sma Glen, Crieff, etc.

Posted by
5678 posts

Here's the route from Edinburgh to Aberfeldy.

Here's the route to Pitlochry.

Also near Aberfeldy is the Cranog Centre which is very interesting.

Pam