quick question - Pitlochry or St. Andrews ...and Oban or Stirling

This is our itinerary currently.

3/7-3/9 (2 nights) - Inverness (jetlag/town)
3/9-3/12 (3 nights) - Portree (Isle of Skye)
3/12-3/14 (2 nights) – Drive through Glencoe... stay in Stirling OR Oban
3/14-3/17 (3 nights) -Edinburgh
3/17-3/19 – (2 nights) Pitlochry or St. Andrews
3/19-3/20 – (1 night) Inverness before we leave the next morning
3/20-3/21 – (1 night) Amsterdam

I really liked both Oban and Stirling, so that's a tough choice. Will you have time to visit Mull or Iona? If so, stay in Oban. You won't regret that day trip. Stirling is lovely and the castle is terrific.

I stayed in Pitlochry for two nights because we attended the Highland Games. We also visited Edradour Distillery. Edradour was in our top 2 favorites of a 10 distillery trip. However - I am not crazy about Pitlochry as a town. I thought it was nice enough (clean, friendly), but I didn't find a lot that would keep me entertained - a lot of tat shops on a short high street. We attended the games (and loved them), and then walked up to Moulin for dinner. On our way up to Aberlour we stopped off at Blair Castle, which we also enjoyed. If it wasn't for the games, I would have gone to St. Andrews and probably stopped by Edradour on my way to Edinburgh.

I just realized you are going in March. I would save Oban for nicer weather and go to Stirling.

Thank you so much for your help!!

Hi, Lizzy,

I'll go along with what erodgreg advised - As you're going to be there next month, Stirling would be your better bet. There's a lot more to see and do in Stirling and its environs than there is in Oban. Oban's more of a stopping off place, as opposed to a town where there's a lot on. Also, Stirling will put you a lot closer to Edinburgh.

Also, there's a lot more to do in St. Andrews than there is in Pitlochry. However, since you'd be on your way from Edinburgh to Inverness, St. Andrews would be pretty far out of your way. You'd have a long way to drive after your second night in St. Andrews. Perhaps one night in St. Andrews; one night closer to Inverness.

Whichever towns you decide, you will have a wonderful time!

All the best,

Mike (Auchterless)

erodgreg, I have to ask, what were your top five distilleries of the ten you visited?

We really enjoyed Edradour, Oban, and even Glenfiddich (for a corporate distillery). Unrelated, Glenfiddich had the nicest ladies restroom I have ever seen, complete with a lounge and a fireplace! We also really loved visiting the cooperage in Speyside. On our next trip we will hit Islay. I like the peat whiskies; my husband isn't as crazy about them but he likes them enough to give up a few days to visit some new places.

erodgreg, that’s super helpful, thanks!! I haven’t gotten into whisky like my husband has but I wanted to squeeze in some distillery stops as they make sense in our itinerary. He loves Islay whisky but definitely doesn’t discriminate against scotch in general. Too funny on the restroom! I’m an interior designer so I definitely pay attention to that kind of stuff :)