Itinerary Help - Edinburgh, Braemer Gathering, Highlands, Woolen Mills and Castles

Lochcarron of Scotland In Selkirk offers a great tour of its mill. When we took the tour in October there were just the three of us and it lasted over an hour. We didn’t even know it had tours until we arrived. It was a trip highlight for a friend of ours who designed and sewed costumes for plays. You would probably need a car to get it it. There’s also a small store at it.

For Outlander you should visit Doune Castle about 8 miles from Stirling. It was featured in the first two seasons. In Edinburgh, across the street from Canongate church is Bakehouse Close. It was seen in the season where Jamie ran the printshop. The Museum of Edinburgh was used as the printshop in Outlander. Craigmiller Castle was used as the prison. Other Outlander locations.

Edited - Clava Cairns near Inverness was the inspiration for the fictitious Craig Na Dun stone circle. It is a couple miles from Culloden battlefield, small, and doesn’t take long to see.

Thank you jaimeelsabio!

I would worry that you are trying to fit too much in on this trip.
You're in danger of returning from Vacation needing a Vacation.
From Inverness to Portree on the Isle of Skye you need to allow 3 hours each way, which isn't allowing you time to visit Dunvegan Castle or Armadale Castle or drive round the dramatic scenery of the north end of Skye.
Likewise for the Jacobite you need to allow 2 hours drive time to Fort William from Inverness, where the train starts, so an 0730 start from Inverness, a full day on the train, then a 2 hour drive back. And on that drive back there are likely places along the loch you want to stop at.
From Braemar Fort William is something like a 3 hour drive.
If you really want to do Skye I would suggest driving all the way from Braemar to Mallaig (forget the Jacobite, the A830 road follows pretty much the same route). Stay in Mallaig for 2 nights or take a late afternoon ferry to Skye then on to Portree.

On arrival in Mallaig (if staying there) you could take the afternoon ferry to Inverie on Knoydart and back. Inverie is only accessible by boat or foot, it's a remarkable sail round there. The ferry carries in their supplies and mail. Otherwise just take your time getting over there.
The other thing about driving all the way is that on the train there is not the time to visit the Glenfinnan monument itself or the silver sands at Morar. In the car those are easy. Do those and you probably won't have time for the Inverie ferry so it's choices.
Next day catch the first ferry over to Skye and a late one back, and tour Skye. Do either of the above castles.
It'll be a good days journey back to Edinburgh from Mallaig.
But this is a more manageable way to do it.
Selkirk (the previous post) is in the Scottish Borders, south of Edinburgh. So that's a a day trip in itself. There's lots of other places to see in the Borders on that day, so that's a good full day.
If you decide on Inverness then Dunrobin Castle is a great place. Parking is there right outside the Castle. The Duke of Sutherland (the original owner) is quite a story. You have Tain & the Black Isle, and you have Culloden/Grantown on Spey as other nice length day trips from Inverness, rather than such long trips.
Or from Braemar have you thought about going on to Aberdeen. North of Aberdeen there's lots of good touring up in the Peterhead/Fraserburgh area.
A really spectacular castle a bit south of Aberdeen is Dunnottar. BUT that may not be suitable for your Mum. You arrive on the top of a cliff which itself is spectacular. To reach the Castle it's a long flight of steps down to a beach then up another long flight of steps on the island the Castle is on to access the Castle. So your Mum may prefer the coastal views from the cliffs and the very good food truck at the Car Park. But in terms of location you don't get much better.

I hope your sister brings her piggy bank! Fabric at Timorous Beasties is pricey - the cheapest fabric i saw was £95 a meter. I'm a sewer and love to buy fabric but that is outside my budget. 😊

Braemar is in the Cairngorms National Park not a National Forest and its annual world famous gathering means the first weekend in September is always the busiest in any given year. Demand for accommodation pretty much everywhere along the A93 in-between Perth and Aberdeen will be very high. Reservations can be made a year in advance.

If you are planning to attend this year then you could drive up from Edinburgh and book a couple of nights in Aberdeen after your day at the gathering. You might be able to find somewhere closer to Braemar if you are lucky but there are more hotel options in Aberdeen.

Car parking on the Braemar Gathering day is in a field about 20 minutes on foot to the Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park where the event is held. The walk might be a problem for your mum if she has mobility issues, although I'm told there is a shuttle bus. Do you have tickets yet? If not I suggest you purchase them as soon as possible to ensure you have seats. I'm guessing this would be preferable for your mum. Looking at the website it seems as though some seated tickets are already sold out.

www.braemargathering.org

I assume you have found the guide to Harry Potter sites in Edinburgh? There are a few Outlander sites in Edinburgh too - see here.

If you are into interior design then Holyrood House will win hands down over Edinburgh Castle...

Wander the New town area for its Georgian architecture and com pare with the medieval architecture of the Royal Mile. Visit the Georgian House in the New Town and compare with Gladstone's Land, one of the oldest properties in the city.

Don't be too ambitions with the three days after Braemar. Think about spending another day around Braemar. Check if Balmoral Castle and estate are open. Visit Craithie Kirk where the Queen worshipped. Visit Braemar Castle (completely different and especially if you are into architecture). Have afternoon tea in Ballater...

Aberdeenshire is stuffed with stately homes and even has its own castle trail! You could easily spend another day doing these before heading back to Edinburgh.

Allow the final day in Edinburgh exploring the Borders region. This was the centre for the woollen industry. Visit Lochcarron in Selkirk as recommended by jaimeelsabio. Visit Galashields and the Great Tapestry of Scotland.Melrose, Jedburgh and Kelso are all attractive Border towns and will fill up the day.

You all are awesome!!

Here is my updated Itinerary, still need to decide where to stay night 6&7 and fill in some ideas for sights that we can drive to/by. Skye might be too far.

Day 1: (Edinburgh) Arrive Edinburgh early AM, Royal Mile and just explore
Day 2: (Edinburgh) Edinburgh Castle or Holyrood House, Harry Potter sites
Day 3: (Pitlochry) Drive to Glasgow (sister wants to go to a textile store there https://www.timorousbeasties.com/), drive to B&B in Pitlochry (looks like we drive by Stirling, so if time allows, stop at Stirling Castle)
Day 4: (Pitlochry) Leave for Braemer Gathering in the AM, Day at the games
Day 5: (Pitlochry). Balmoral if open or TBD - Stirling if we can't fit it in earlier
Day 6: (???)
Day 7: (???) Jacobite Train (This is a request of mom and sister)
Day 8: (Edinburgh) Day in Southern Scotland, Lochcarron Mill Tour and some villages
Day 9: Depart Edinburgh

I would be very twitchy with the revised Day 3. Driving in Glasgow is a nightmare and it is is always congested and very busy. Have you thought about parking? You would be much better doing this as a day trip from Edinburgh on the train rather than driving.

Day 6 you will need to head to Fort William for the night. Do mum and sister specifically want to go on the Jacobite Steam train? The normal trains run along exactly the same route, may have better visibility through the windows and are a lot cheaper.

Check the train timetables and see if you will be able to get back to Edinburgh that night. If not, and you have to drive back the next day, whiuch is going to really cut back time in the Borders.

I'm a bit concerned yoiu asre trying to pack in a lot - especially the addition of the Jacobite train. Don't underestimate driving times. If using google maps it is recommended to add 25% to their times PLUS time for stops.

On Day 6 the transfer to Fort William you could route via Aberfeldy and visit the Scottish Crannog Centre (which RS visits on some of his tours). You will want to stop several times for the scenery between Aberfeldy and FW.
It's a slightly more roundabout route to Aberfeldy, but you could look in at Dunkeld on the way.
Or maybe go up the A9 to Dalwhinnie, for a distillery tour, then route via Laggan to FW on the A86.
If coming on the A86 it's worth the very short diversion at Spean Bridge to the Commando Memorial.
At FW after you have checked in a nice short evening trip on the edge of town is Neptune's Staircase - the flight of locks which drop the Caledonian Canal down to sea level. (you will see them glancingly from the Jacobite next day as the steam train crosses the swing bridge over the canal at Banavie.)
While in Pitlochry it's worth looking in at the Hydro Electric dam and exhibition centre bust behind the railway station (your hotel will tell you how to drive the very short distance there).

By the way the Jacobite leaves at 10.15 and gets back in to Fort William at 4pm, it'll then be a good 4 hours across to Edinburgh so you're looking at between 8 and 9 pm arriving at your Edinburgh hotel.