Route help from Inverness to Edinburgh via The Cairngorms - Rick Steves Travel Forum
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Route help from Inverness to Edinburgh via The Cairngorms

My wife and I will be driving in August and have 2 days going from Inverness to Edinburgh. We would like to drive through Cairngorms, probably south on 939 and then west to south on 93, with possibly stopping for a short walk along the way if feasible. Overnight in Pitlochry? Second day go through Stirling for a wee bit of Braveheart history and on to Edinburgh. Any suggestions or advice greatly appreciated.

Posted by
4169 posts

Sure ,this is great journey and lots of fun , We left Inverness in the morning ,stopping at Clava Cairns on the way ( we saw Culloden the previous day ) and took the exact route you are looking at . The countryside is stunning and we stopped several times -- Grantown on Spey , Tomintoul ( quite charming , only 300 full time residents ) and Braemar as we went toward Blairgowrie . On Pam's advice we stayed several days in Dunkeld , a little village that looks like it popped out of " Brigadoon " ( although the real Brig o' Doon is in Alloway ) and visited Pitlochry and Blair Atholl while there . Allow more than " a wee bit of time " for Stirling , the place is worth at least a full day .

Posted by
1363 posts

Theres a good waymarked trail at the Linn of Dee,a very scenic gorge.
If you want a taste of the hills a good trail heads up to the old shooting lodge at Derry Lodge

Posted by
34111 posts

Skyjumper71,

It may be worth knowing, if you will be driving in the UK, that roads are classified, and each class will have different characteristics. The highest is Motorway, designated by an "M" in the number; the main trunk routes are designated "A", and smaller metalled roads are designated "B". Below that are "C" (rarely seen on a sign) and unclassified roads.

You will see the designation on road signs and maps, and they will be referred to that way by people you may ask for directions or help.

So you will be on the A939 to the A93 to Pitlochry.instead of the direct route via the A9.

If you turn left onto the A93 instead of right towards Balmoral you don't have to stop and turn round when you realize. You can loop around on the B976 on the other side of the River Dee.

The speed limits are the same for A and B roads for cars. Dual Carriageway outside a built-up area, 70; single carriageway outside a built-up area, 60; in a built-up area unless posted otherwise, all roads 30.

Any road can be posted lower than the National Speed Limits noted above. Particularly be watchful of construction zones at 50 on a motorway or dual carriageway, patrolled by speed averaging cameras for the duration of the zone. Don't exceed those at all.

Posted by
1694 posts

In 99% agreement with Nigel there. The main difference is our roadwork limits in Scotland tend to be 40 rather than 50. That is 1%!

In the UK and the rest of Europe one needs to remember the road letter, saying I will take the '74' does not make much sense to most British drivers, taking the M74 or the A74 does.

Posted by
34111 posts

We drive faster down here in the South, MC. Maybe because the road workers aren't weighed down by all those haggises and can therefor jump higher and quicker ;-)

Posted by
1694 posts

Nah, our roads are slightly narrower so the pixies can scare the living daylights out of the visitors!

Posted by
8016 posts

If you're working your way down to Stirling, consider a visit for an hour or 2 in Doune, a short distance northwest of Stirling, for a wee bit of Monty Python and the Holy Grail at the delightful castle there. Doune has speed bumps on the main street, so you won't be speeding, haggises and pixies notwithstanding.

Posted by
5678 posts

This is a nice plan. You will drive right past a tower castle that you might enjoy visiting. It is very dramatic. There is a great gallery right at the turn south a Balmoral. Go past the turn and take the dirt road with the gallery sign pointing up. Great views, great garden and some great art. They also have Amber jewelry.

You could go over to Pitlochry, or you could go to Dunkeld. There are some great walks in the area and a great pub. Pam

Posted by
5 posts

Thanks everyone for the advice, information and humor. I had chosen Pitlochry for the overnight based on RS recommendations......but what does he know??:) Pam's information has convinced me to make Dunkeld the choice.

Posted by
4169 posts

Pitlochry is wonderful , but wait until you lay eyes on Dunkeld , you won't want to come home ! Also , just the other side of the Tay Bridge , before you cross into Dunkeld , is Birnam , also a charmer !

Posted by
5678 posts

If you're only doing one night and there isn't anything at the Festival Theatre playing for which you have tickets, I would stay in Dunkeld. But I've been to and through Pitlochry and Rick has good reason's for suggesting it. Dunkeld is smaller and less touristy. And I agree Birnam is nice too. You can do a walk in Birnam Wood!

Dunkeld is on the East side of the Tay River, so crossing the bridge depends on where you are coming from. : ) Typically, people are coming up or down the A9 so they usually have to cross the bridge, but I think you'll be coming from the East if you choose the routes you've been looking at.

Pam