We'll be in Edinburgh in April for one week – my husband and I with our 12 year old daughter. My husband will be attending a conference at the University so we only have Saturday and Sunday to travel around together, and we will have a car. I've ruled out visiting the islands and narrowed down my priorities, but still think my plan may be too ambitious. I definitely want to visit Culloden Battlefield and drive through Glen Coe. And I would love to visit Dunnottar Castle, but it is quite a bit out of the way. I posted my suggested itinerary below, and here are my questions: 1. Dunnottar Castle - is it worthwhile going so far out of the way for it? 2. Driving times are based on Google Maps - are they accurate? Some posts suggest you add 25% 3. Any suggested changes/ must sees along the way? Thanks!! Maria MAP: http://g.co/maps/enx29 DAY 1 ~10 hrs with stops, sights, lunch - drive from Edinburgh through Fife Villages to St. Andrews – 2hrs - see Golf Museum, University, Abbey, Lunch - 2 hrs - drive to Stonehaven – 1.5 hrs - visit Dunnottar Castle – allow 1.5 hr - drive Stonehaven to Inverness – 2 hrs 40 min - eat and sleep in Inverness DAY 2 ~12 hrs with stops, sights, lunch, dinner - Culloden battlefield – allow 2 hrs - Clava Cairns and driving - 1 hr - drive by Urquhart Castle overlooking Loch Ness to Glencoe - 2hrs - possible lunch stops: Ft Augustus, Ft Williams, Glencoe - drive through Glen Coe, by Loch Lomond, to Glasgow – 2 hrs - dinner in Glasgow
- drive by Stirling back to Edinburgh – 1.5 hr
Posted by
aberdeen, scotland & london, uk
241 posts
Think driving around ne scotland will take much longer. There are no big motorways and there are lots of bottlenecks as you'll have to cross the rivers dee and don ( very few bridges). Dunnottar is a ruin. If you really like ruins its a good example, but there are thousands in scotland. For a slightly different route north try via Crathes Castle (not a ruin - but one of the castles of marr). S
Posted by
New York City, NY, USA
5678 posts
I'm inclined to agree with Susan about Dunnottar. It sound like such a romantic castle, but there are lots of romantic castles in Scotland. ; ) I would look at going Glamis Castle on your way north from St. Andrew's. Also, BTW there is a Castle ruin in St. Andrew's that actually has some cool aspects. One, it is has bottle dungeon, but even more interesting is the tunnel that was dug under the walls. You can down and check it out. Also, I like Clava Ciairns, but it won't take an hour to drive over and see them. They are nice in that not many people visit them. But it should take 5-10 minutes max to drive to them from Culloden. And then they are not big. You can see everything in about 10-15 minutes. If you and your daughter like castles, then do a day trip while your husband is at the conference and visit Stirling Castle. You can take the train to Stirling and then walk up or catch a cab or bus to the Castle. It will be well worth it. Pam
Posted by
OP
gainesville, fl
2 posts
Thanks Susan and Pam for your input. Dunnottar does look quite romantic, and the setting looks so dramatic. But with so many castles in Scotland, I guess is not worth adding an extra 3 hours driving to see it ...
Posted by
New York City, NY, USA
5678 posts
Maria, You are probably going to discover that you like Scotland so much that you decide to go back! Then you'll plan a trip where you go Aberdeenshire and do the Castle Trail and go Arbroath and head to Speyside and learn to love whisky! Be ready for this to happen. ; ) Pam
Posted by
Atlanta, Ga, USA
2023 posts
I would try to visit Glamis Castle for sure. It is beautiful and was the home of the Queen's mother. The tour of the castle is guided. Your daughter would love it. Great tea room and gift shop also.Don't know about the other castles you hope to visit but be very careful to check for open/closure times. We had this problem on our last trip and missed out on several castles. Have a great trip!