kristinb320

Hello all - planning a 10-day trip to Scotland for June 2017 - most of the itinerary is filled, but we have 1 empty day in question and are trying to decide the best route. We'll be heading south on a Thursday, after spending the day at Cairngorms, and need to catch a Saturday morning flight out of Edinburgh. We want to spend Friday afternoon/night in Edinburgh to see all of the city sights. So at question is where to go Thursday afternoon into Friday morning/afternoon? Could either head east from Cairngorms and check out Aberdeen/Dundee areas, or head south from Cairngorms and go to the Scottish Borders area. Anyone have any opinions on what area is more scenic, and a better overall choice? We love hikes, walks, castles, little towns, pubs, etc. We will have just spent several days in Skye and the Highlands, so the western side of the country is covered. Any help is appreciated! It's so hard to decide where to go when you've never been there before! Thank you -

dfourh

If you are driving Thursday, and just have the one night, consider Dundee. It's a city that has really been spiffed up over the last few years. I stayed in Broughty Ferry, which is a pleasant little town just east of Dundee, left the car there at the hotel, then took the train 10 minutes into the center of Dundee.

Pix of central Dundee:
https://www.google.de/search?q=dunde...HSCrDcwQsAQIXw

Pix of Broughty Ferry:
https://www.google.de/search?q=dunde...broughty+ferry

janisj

>>We want to spend Friday afternoon/night in Edinburgh to see all of the city sights.<<

one afternoon/evening will only give you a teensy glimpse of Edinburgh. Barely time to visit just the castle before it closes at 6PM/last entry at 5PM.

If it was me-- I'd drive straight through to Edinburgh and spend the 2 nights there. (I like Dundee as well, it is much improved -- but I simply don't think you have the time)

Actually, if it was me personally, I wouldn't devote much if any time to Cairngorm -- nothing wrong w/ it but there is as good or much better scenery and hiking several other places on your itinerary.

PalenQ

I loved the Borders Abbeys country - lovely footpaths and great ruined or half-ruined abbeys - Melrose, Jedburgh and Dryburgh are ones I visited in only one day- but if you like to walk you can do easy walks between all of them.

janisj

You will be up in the Cairngorms so driving down into the Borders hardly makes sense.