Is it too stressful to drive from Obin to Inverness and then to Edinburgh in one day?

I am up here now.Heavy traffic yesterday, 2.5 h Oban to Fort Willliam.
The A831 to the A82 was backed up to Banavie taking a hour to clear that junction
The A9 south from Inverness to the South was closed twice near Aviemore also.

This is one of yesterday's accidents at Aviemore- https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/highlands-islands/6550144/three-people-hospitalised-a9-lorry-crash-aviemore/

Where that accident happened there weren't a lot of other options short of going round by Grantown and Braemar. That seems to have been exactly where you would divert onto the old road if the incident had been a bit further south

The OP doesn't state what time of the year they intend to do this journey, so it is conjectural how much extra daylight there is for outdoor activities.

Whether local people would regard that journey as low stress, at least at this time of year (even without accidents), is a matter of opinion.

Hi cheerful -

As a Brit who visits Scotland on a fairly regular basis, I can tell you that it’s a trip l would less than likely ever attempt. Stressful? Certainly. Time to visit attractions and hike? I’m well aware my definition of ‘hike’ may well be different to yours, but I’d say even on a much reduced basis, highly unlikely.

I normally try not to tell people on this forum not to do something it’s in their plans to do, understanding this may be a one and only chance to do that something. But in this instance I think you may well be being over ambitious. Overall, would it be enjoyable, never mind stressful? I’m afraid I very much doubt it would. It’s not impossible as a trip (I think Google maps is being wildly over optimistic at six hours) but might be achievable. But whether you should do it, because you can and get something memorable or worthwhile from it is, I’m afraid, very much open do debate. Still, as I’ve said before here, you pays your money and you takes your choice….

Ian

Stressful - definitely...

You could drive it in a day but you definitley won't have time to do any hiking and not much tiome to see any attractions when you factor in their closing times. The google estimate of 6hours doesn't include any time for stops (you will definitley need a comfort break or food). It could also be very optimistic. It is more likely to be 7 hours straight driving or even more depending on traffic.

The A82 along the Great Glen and up Loch Ness as well as the A9 back to Edinburgh may be through rural countryside but both are main arteries and can get very busy. They are very definitley NOT 'low stress type driving'.

You could compromise by cutting out Inverness and heading to Fort willaim and then cutting across to Laggan to pick up the A9 to Edinburgh...

It is doable, but as others have said it would be stressful. If you want to stop along the way you'll be adding in time. The roads are single carriageway for most of the way, one lane each way divided by paint. They can slow easily and as there is limited alternative in way of routes if they are blocked the detours can be incredibly long.

Unfortunately frustration can lead to irritability and stress.... especially if you are watching the clock too.

... and that can lead to risky driving like trying to overtake in marginal situations, tailgating and the like which in turn leads to accidents.

My first reply contained the admission I had no personal experience

Much as we all try and help, that can be very dangerous when you are giving advice (which you then try and justify in your second post after 'locals' were saying it would be stressfull...)

Could easily give Inverness a miss and have a nice day getting from Oban to Edinburgh.

Oban to Inverary, Loch Lomond and via Glasgow is one route.

Oban to Tyndrum, on to Crieff and down through Fife is another.

Oban to Lochearnhead, Callander and Stirling and then to Edinburgh via Falkirk.

Easy to pass the day going these routes and still actually have time to do and see stuff.

This is the referenced RS Itinerary- https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/britain-itinerary

Unless it is more fully explained in the Guide Books all it says is-

Day 12: Drive up west coast of Scotland (sleep in Oban), Day 13: Explore the Highlands, Loch Ness (sleep in Edinburgh)

That route is certainly possible if you limit the attractions to possibly 1 or 2 OR do some hiking.

The point is trying to do (multiple?) attractions AND Hiking is stretching yourself too thinly, in my opinion.

I think I would put in a first stop at the canal in Fort Augustus, then essentially a drive by of Urquhart Castle, maybe crossing over the Canal at Fort Augustus then the Military Road to the A9 south of Inverness. Possibly the Highland Folk Museum at Newtonmore as stop 2 (or Dalwhinnie Distillery) then a third stop maybe at Pitlochry Dam/HEP or at Killecrankie (Jacobite History and natural beauty), thence Edinburgh.

Many, many possible permutations but the focus is on keeping moving in a way which is breaking the journey up.

I have to say I like Gerry's routes a lot better- especially the route through Crieff. Another variation on that theme is Tyndrum to Kenmore for the Crannog Centre thence Aberfeldy and Crieff.

I would follow the advice of all these kind UK people, but as a Coloradan who has driven in Scotland only twice, I can add that you might get behind one person going very slow (way below the speed limit) on a two way highway and it will add a lot of time and stress to your drive. There isn't anything I would want to see enough to go from Oban to Inverness and then to Edinburgh in a day. You might be able to quickly get out and see 1 site. I'm going back for my 4th trip in September and it would take me a several more trips to see most of the glorious beauty of Scotland. Take your time where you are.

Thanks for your reply. I read all the suggestions carefully. the discussion on the forum was very helpful to me, and I decided to stay a night in Inverness. Thank you all!

There are other choices besides Inverness. I stayed at Old Pines Hotel & Restaurant north of Fort Williams. Also, lots of B&Bs in Drumnadrochit along Loch Ness south of Inverness. As you are heading back south after Inverness, Aviemore is a nice town where I have also stayed, or if you must make most of that drive, Pitlochry is also pretty. Dunkeld is another good stop after that on the way back to Edinburgh. It all depends on why you are driving from Oban to Inverness to Edinburgh - what you planned to see at what point.

I decided to stay a night in Inverness

That is a sensible decision. There's plenty to do and seebetween Oban and Inverness to fill two days! All too often , visitors try and cover too much ground in a day and miss so much of what makes Scotland special.....

Good choice to stay in Inverness.
Depending in your whims, the " snow road" makes an far more scenic and calm route over the A9.
I am quite taken with Tomintoul, went three times last summer

I'm so glad you have decided to break your journey. I'm just catching up on the forum after a week away in Cumbria, but I'm now back in Skye. I would never attempt to drive from Oban to Inverness and then down to Edinburgh in a day no matter what time of year. I travel regularly from Skye south to Dunblane (a good 90 minutes north of Edinburgh) and I allow all day to get there. It usually takes me between 5 and 6 hours. I know this isn't the same route as Oban-Inverness-Edinburgh but it's probably shorter and gives you an idea. Oban to Inverness is a route with lots of tourist traffic so it is always slow and the A82 has seen a lot of accidents this summer. Likewise the A9 south from Inverness to Edinburgh, while having sections of dual carriageway has also seen lots of bad accidents, particularly on the stretch just south of Inverness. You've definitely made the right decision.