We land in edinburgh october 16 at 10am, we are going to spend our first night in Stirling, from there we are going to take the train to glasgow and then up to Oban for 2 nights. We have a free night at this point in the trip and could either go right to Edinburgh by train via Glasgow and spend 4 nights in Edinburgh OR we could spend one night somewhere else and spend 3 nights in Edinbugh. Thoughts on best flow? Pick up a rental car in Glasgow and return it in Edinbugh and drive to St Andrews? We really want to see St. Andrews, see that Rabbies does a day tour there which maybe makes more sense than trying for another overnight . If we did 4 nights in Edinburgh as a base camp...But is there another destination people like more than St. Andrews that would make sense with our other locales? Thanks!
Posted by
Freedonia
17808 posts
You could spend the night in St. Andrews but you'll find hotels have gotten expensive.
My suggestion is spend the night, or two, in Dundee. No need to rent a car. Dundee has a few things to offer such as the V & A museum and the Discovery Point--next to each other and across from the train station.
St. Andrews is a 30 minute local bus ride from Dundee. They run about every 10-15 minutes depending on the time of day. It's Stagecoach Route #99 and the Dayrider ticket will run you 9 GBP.
I last took this bus from Dundee to St. Andrews on Monday.
From Dundee, the train will take 1:20 to Edinburgh. I did a day trip from Dundee to Edinburgh last week. Very easy.
There is also a bus service from the Seagate Bus Station to the Edinburgh Bus station.
You could also stay in Edinburgh and take a daytrip to St. Andrews on your own. Take the train to Leuchters and then pick up the same #99 bus to St. Andrews. It's only about a 10 minute ride from Leuchters to St. Andrews.
St. Andrews is fairly compact and easy to walk around.
Posted by
Chicagoland
1159 posts
I assume your flights are already booked in and out of Edinburgh? Are you locked into going to Stirling before Oban.
Do you plan to spend any time in Glasgow?
Are you comfortable renting a car or do you prefer public transportation?
If you really want to see St. Andrews, go and stay there. We stayed at the Greyfriars Inn in 2023. Rooms start around £175 night including a wonderful breakfast in the pub downstairs. Great location for wandering around St. Andrews to see the cathedral and castle ruins.
If you'll be in St. Andrews on a Sunday, you can walk the Old Course. You can even play a round on the Himalayan Putting Course.
Posted by
Mountains of S. Oregon
951 posts
If St. Andrews is that important, go there first, straight from EDI via train/bus. Dundee has a frequent train and a day trip from there by bus? (Dundee lodging is 1/3 the price of St. Andrews) Then go to Stirling, Oban, etc.