Well, the title says it all. We are going to Scotland in May and I have booked one night at each of these spots, but now I'm wondering if it would have been better to stay for two nights at one of them. We are coming from Inverness and heading to Glasgow. When at a place for only one night perhaps we simply won't have time to see anything, given that we have to get back to the train!
Thoughts?
We appreciate any advice. Thanks!
Pitlochry is a small town. We ate there a couple of times. The “Birks of Aberfeldy” are a pleasant hike nearby. Much more to do in Stirling.
I made a stop in Pitlochry and really enjoyed my visit there, but agree that there's not a lot to do. You might consider staying in Elgin, which is a decent size town and you could see a lot from there. Plus the Elgin Cathedral ruins are gorgeous and well worth seeing. It would make for a nice stopover on your way to Glasgow. Nairn is also a nice stopover, with a lovely beach.
You could then either stop in Stirling for one night, which is plenty of time. Or continue on to Glasgow, but take a day trip to Stirling. That's what I did and it's very easy and very quick; only 30+ minutes by train and Stirling is wonderful. But again, you can see everything there in one day.
On this forum one night stays are generally frowned on. Why not stay two nights in either destination, them do a day trip to the other by train- one hour each way, broadly hourly service.
Thanks for the ideas, everyone. And yes, I’m well aware that one night stays are frowned upon, which is why I came here and was asking for ideas! And while one night stays are generally frowned upon sometimes it’s all one can do, so there’s that. But anyway, I appreciate all the helpful messages!
Personally I don't have a problem with one night stays, in fact I get annoyed in tourist areas (like my own area in the English Lake District) when many hotels insist on 2 or even 3 night stays.
It is more of a forum issue.
Pitlochry is only 1:30 by train from Inverness and 1:45 from Glasgow. It is only a small town. It won't take more than 30 minutes (likely less) to find your hotel, dump your bags at reception and be getting on with the day. Get the London train at 0755 from Inverness, and by 1000 you have the day in Pitlochry to do with what you want. Get back on the London train next morning at 0929 and you are at Stirling by 1030. But the first train of the morning is at 0716 from Pitlochry to Stirling, arriving at 0822.; then one at 0819.
Coming from Inverness on the London train 1st class is very affordable, and includes a cooked breakfast served to your seat.
The last train back from Stirling to Pitlochry is at 2021.
Personally I could justify several days in Pitlochry- with the train service, Elizabeth Yule's bus to points north and west, and Stagecoach to points south and even Citylink long distance coaches I, personally, think it is a good touring base. For someone with a car there are even more day trip opportunities.
So, purely personally, I would keep with your two single nights as booked, but would be equally happy with 2 nights in Pitlochry or 2 nights in Stirling. I know I am at variance with some other people here in that viewpoint.
I don't think that anyone is going to tell you that one-night stays are verboten or even frown on you for doing this. It is true that most longtime forum members advocate for longer stays, especially when giving advice to those who are new to European travel. This is because some new travelers have a tendency to squeeze in multiple cities and countries in a scant number of days, which can make for very frenetic travel.
But we all book single nights and there is nothing wrong with that. Last year in Scotland, I spent one night each in Elgin, Cruden Bay, and Dunfermline as I drove along the NE and east coast down to Edinburgh. It was a wonderful experience and I don't regret it a bit. This year I'm heading to England and while most of my stays will be longer, I do have one night planned in Oxford.
It's your trip after all. 😊
Thanks so much for all these replies!
Yes, we normally do stay longer ... our bare minimum of nights has been two, and the longest has been a week or a wee bit longer. This is mostly a "we are passing through from Inverness and Glasgow after a Great Glen Way walk and maybe we just want to get a glimpse of a few spots. Our usual two day minimum is what we do when we are checking a place out for another trip. I just ... I dunno ... thought, "Well, maybe we'll check out two spots and see what's up!" In addition I'd read in a number of places that these two places could easily be seen in a day. But then I grew concerned that we actually don't have a day when we are doing one night. But perhaps with an early train we do.
Anyway, I have to ponder and get on this asap if I change plans. OR I just let it go, and keep what we have since lodging is already reserved. (Always with the option of canceling ... I'm sort of careful about that.)
But I do appreciate all of you helping me out.
Oh ... and isn31c ... I really like your advice on the early trains. (May I do that with the Two Together card, I wonder? I'll have to research that, as I thought we couldn't travel until after 9 or some such thing.)
I like the way you think! 🙂
Unfortunately not, on the 2T railcard, unless it is at a weekend. 2T is never valid until 0930. Which means that it is not valid even on the 0929, as that is one minute too early.
The rule is to protect peak commuter traffic- not a huge issue in the Highlands!
On the plus side, on an advance fare without railcard discount you are only paying £12.60 Inv-Pitlochry and £11.30 Pit-Stirling, on the London train.
I have a senior railcard so do get early discounts. In my case Inv-Pit I would get my 1st class breakfast for £8.30- which is a total no brainer.
I love Stirling , the castle is a real winner ! I wouldn't give Pitlochry short shrift though . From Pitlochry you could go south a few miles and explore Dunkeld , an absolutely charming village . North from Pitlochry , you could visit Blair Atholl and Blair Castle and its gardens ,
