Skye to Edinburgh

Are you coming off a transatlantic flight? If so, it is foolish to pick up a car the same day and drive to Aviemore. Not only is it a two and a half hour drive, it is also along one of the busiests roads in Scotland and one that many regard as one of teh most dangerous to drie in Scotland (especially if jet lagged...)

Swap your itinerary starting with EdinburghYou won't need a car in Edinburgh so hire it when you are ready to leave. You could do the drive from Edinburgh to Skye in one day but that is going to be a LONG day - at least 6 hours PLUS time for stops. If planning to go via Loch Lomond, then make that nearer 7 hours plus stops.

There is an arguement for doing teh trip in reverse order and having a break at say Glencoe (or Fort William which has more choice of accdommodation) on the way to Skye.

Thanks for your comment! We're actually not arriving from a transatlantic flight, just a short flight of under two hours. We land in Edinburgh around 11 a.m. The reason we planned to drive straight to Aviemore is that we’d love to spend at least two full days in Edinburgh at the end of our trip. We're also not keen on spending over five hours in the car, so Aviemore felt like a logical halfway stop before continuing to Skye.

As you mentioned, we’ve also considered doing the route in reverse, driving up to Skye with a stop in Glencoe or Fort William along the way. The downside is that this route wouldn’t allow us to include Loch Lomond.

So basically it's a trade-off: The trade-off we’re considering is this:

• Option 1: One night in Aviemore on the way to Skye, and then two nights in Glencoe (including time to explore Loch Lomond) on the way back to Edinburgh.
• Option 2: One night in Glencoe/Fort William on the way to Skye, and then two nights in Aviemore on the way back to Edinburgh.

My choice for Loch Lomond wouldn't be staying in Glencoe.
I would do both nights at the Ardlui Hotel, or somewhere at Tarbet or Arrochar. In October even Luss, as it won't be tourist bedlam like in the summer.
If you want split it as two one night stays.

Likewise I'm really not a fan of Aviemore, apart from a convenience factor! It would be my last choice, especially with a car.

You should just hit the start of The Enchanted Forest at Pitlochry.

Otherwise, closer to Aviemore, I would choose Kingussie, Carrbridge, Nethy Bridge, Boat of Garten or Grantown on Spey.

Thank you for the helpful suggestions.

We’re now thinking of spending just one night in the Glencoe area before heading toward Loch Lomond to keep the itinerary a bit more manageable. I hadn’t considered the Ardlui/Tarbet/Arrochar area, but it sounds like a nice base for exploring Loch Lomond on the final day of the road trip, before making our way to Edinburgh for the last three nights.

I also really appreciate your takes on Aviemore. I’ll definitely have a closer look at the nearby alternatives you mentioned. And thanks for the tip about the Enchanted Forest, could be a nice addition to the trip!

If you enjoy hiking then Aviemore is excellent as it is right on the doorstep of the best of the wonderful Cairngorm National Park.The trails in Rothiemurchus and from the ski centre are first class and offer sub Arctic tundra scenery ringed by the Caledonian Pine forest and plenty of lochs.It’s very different to the west.
Aviemore itself is buzzy but doesn’t have much charm though I actually do like it.
Loch Lomond also has some fine hiking though much of it is straight up! Ben Dubh above pretty Luss village is fairly short with superb views though it’s a steep slog; but even going a part way up the hill gives fine views over the loch and wider area, Ben Lomond etc.

If you want a bit of history, mystery, and ghost stories The Drovers Inn, at the top of Loch Lomond and reputedly seriously haunted has good reviews.