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Itinerary? Edinburgh up & around to Glasgow

Posted by (Waukesha, WI) on

Hello. Is this itinerary too aggressive with rental car, 4 people, and 6 nights for May 2020? Any lodging, sightseeing, alternate recommendations are greatly appreciated.

Monday - arrive EDI 7:55, get car, head to Edradour/Pitlochry. Lodging at Moulin Hotel thanks to "unclegus".
Maybe see Doune castle along the way.

Tuesday - drive North towards Keith or Elgin. See sights in Cairngorms along the way. Where to stay while visiting Macallan and GlenDronach?

Wednesday - staying in same place as Tuesday night Keith or Elgin. Would like to visit Inverness & Culloden from this town. Anything up on the coast we should see?

Thursday - drive to Glencoe. See Fort William on the way. Anything else we should see? Where to stay in/around Glencoe?

Friday - drive to Inverarary via Oban (distillery) and Kilmartin (see stones, etc). Where to stay in/near Inveraray?

Saturday - drive towards Glasgow airport. See Loch Lomond area on the way. Maybe stay on North side of River Clyde?

Sunday - early early am drop 2 friends off at Glasgow airport. Husband and I drive to Arran and Islay for another week. This will be a separate topic! ;-)

Thank you.
Jacqui

Posted by
3122 posts

If you're looking for a recommendation for Tuesday & Wednesday nights, I'll put in a vote for Nairn. It's not as far east as Elgin, but it's an easy drive to Cawdor Castle, the Clava Cairns, and Culloden Battlefield. There is whale watching on the Moray Firth, and the marina and beach are scenic. The B&B Tali Ayer is excellent (there are many others in town) and so is the restaurant The Classroom.

On Friday you have way, way too many miles planned, IMO. If you want to see the stones in Kilmartin, just head there from Inveraray along the loch -- don't go all the way up to Oban. The stone cairns are not well signposted, so it's very much worth stopping at the tiny museum in the village of Kilmartin to buy the map (I think it costs a pound). Honestly, unless you're really keen on cairns and/or medieval stone carvings, there's not much to see in Kilmartin. The medieval carved stones are next to the church; they are not near the cairns. If your objective is just to enjoy highland scenery near Inveraray, stay there and visit the castle, then drive just a few miles to the Auchindrain Township outdoor museum -- it is unique and fascinating if you have an interest in Scottish life before the highland clearances.

In Inveraray, Brambles is excellent for lodging and daytime food. The George Hotel has a very nice restaurant & pub for dinner.

Hope this helps!

Posted by
12 posts

Just be aware when you arrive at 0755 it will feel like 0255 Eastern Time. Jetlag can be an issue for the first couple of days so take breaks on the way to Pitlochry.

Heading to Doune Castle is a bit out of the way on the journey (M9 motorway to Stirling exit 10, then A84 for 8 miles) however under an hour from Edinburgh Airport so is good to stretch your legs and breathe some fresh Scottish air! You are looking at another hour to Pitlochry. From the castle head along the A820 to Dunblane and join the A9 north. Take a quick break on the way. I recommend Gloagburn Farm Shop near Perth. Signposted off A9 a few miles before Perth. Delicious food and an interesting shop and deli. Leaving here follow the road through Tibbermore to the A85, turn right and head along to rejoin the A9 towards Inverness direction.

If you decide against Doune, still head for the M9 from Edinburgh but then take the left exit for the M90 to Perth (across the Queensferry Crossing) then the A9 for Inverness. For Gloagburn Farm near Perth take the A85 Crieff exit off the A9 and follow the brown signs.

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