I plan to rent a car in Edinburgh at the end of our stay there and use it to drive through the Scottish countryside. I know that I won't need this car in Edinburgh. Will I kill myself trying to drive out of downtown if I rent from a downtown Hertz office or should I pay for a taxi and haul my family out to the airport to rent the car. I'm 50 and have driven all over the USA including most major cities and I've driven on the left side in Ireland but stayed out of the major cities there. I've read that there are all kind of bizarre driving lanes and one way streets in Edinburgh. I'm renting a manual shift and can't say that I'm that experienced using my left hand to do that task.

We rented from Hertz in Edinburgh and decided to take a taxi to the airport to pick up our car. I believe it was £13, and we would have spent at least some portion of that on a taxi or bus to get from our hotel to the Hertz location at Picardy Place. From the airport, it was very easy to get out of town -- a couple of turns, and we were headed north over the Forth Bridge. For us, it was money well spent, but it may depend on what day and time you are trying to leave the city.

Bizarre driving lanes? Do you mean bus/taxi lanes? Every city has one way streets. The main routes out of the city are pretty easy to follow.Your biggest problem will be getting used to the narrowness of the streets. Even on the main arteries (not motorways) out of the city you will feel somewhat cramped. You should get used to using your left hand for gear changing quite quickly. It didn't take me long to get used to using my right hand!

If you would be taking a taxi to get to the Hertz office in town (Picardy Place?) then, depending on where are you staying in Edinburgh, it may be just as easy to go out to the airport to pick up your car.

On the whole I agree with ms_go. Although the Hertz office in town is, as she says, on Picardy Place which is on quite a major thoughfare - a dual carriageway - and you shouldn't need to go down any one way streets. Which direction will you be heading in ?

As Caroline says - a lot depends on which direction you are headed. But it also makes a difference what time/day you are picking up the car, and where you are staying, and how many in your family.

If it is the morning or afternoon rush the traffic gets really heavy -- even when you are going the opposite direction of the main traffic flow.

If there are just 3 of you the frequent airport bus would be cheaper than a taxi. For 4 a taxi might be about the same cost.

So mainly - if you are leaving at a quieter time and/or are staying near the rental location, I'd do a city center pick up. But if you are leaving during rush hour, or are a fair distance from the agency, I'd go out to the airport.

Thanks for the advice...this should be a Sunday afternoon around 3 PM and thus the traffic may be lighter. We are heading to Stirling and to the Culcreach Castle in the countryside outside of Stirling. We are staying there and moving on to Glencoe and Argyll the next day. There are 4 of us and we are planning on picking up at Picardy Place but I didn't realize that this would a require a taxi from the the area around Edinburgh Castle.

It depends how much luggage you have.

We've driven in Edinburgh several times and didn't find it difficult at all. IF you are good map readers and navigators , AND you feel comfortable , you shoudn't have any trouble. We drove right into the Royal Mile and parked in the hotel.The drove around Edinburgh the following day, to the outskirts, and Leigh dock area etc. Then one day of course WALKED Edinburgh City!
You will save Airport Tax by renting downtown, and Sunday afternoon the traffic will be a LOT lighter!
Another way to do it would be to rent the car upon arrival at the airport, head straight for the countryside and do THAT part at the first. Then return your car , (either downtown or at the airport ) for the last part of your trip.
You will pay more of course, but you MIGHT want to rent an automatic if you are more comfortable.Might be worth it.
We most often use Hertz, all over Europe, and found them most reliable, honest, and reasonable. (however,they DO have a good customer service dept. after you arrive home, IF something was not right). We've used the CS dept twice, but still keep going back to Hertz.)

I don't think you will find the city centre office open at 3 pm on a Sunday afternoon.

Ron is correct - be sure to check because it is unusual for city-centre (even in London) rental agencies to be open on Sundays (or even Sat. afternoons).

Thanks so much....the Picardy office is open until 1 PM on Sundays...I'll pick up before then and probably park it for 2-4 hours until we leave.... I've always had a second sense about directions and are confident that I can negotiate the city of Edinburgh now that I've heard your comments...anybody familiar with the Culcrreach Castle outside of Stirling?

I'm pretty sure you mean Culcreuch Castle.

Haven't stayed there but have driven by many times. It is probably 20 miles from stirling - It's actually closer to Loch Lomond that it is to Stirling.

Edinburgh is a difficult city to drive in. You're smart to consider picking your car up at a location away from Edinburgh.

Once you get into the countryside things should be less hectic. The major roadways are good in the UK.

I recomend that you pick up a UK driving manual when in Edinburgh. It will explain how to manuever round-a-bouts, explain what different road rules, signs and arrows (etc) mean. Lots of good information. I rented an automatic because of the reason you stated in your post. I'm glad I did. Driving was challenging enough without having to shift gears. You should know that Edinburgh is hilly, so you will be shifting a lot. For that reason alone I'd rent from a place out of the city.

When you get out on the highway, buy individual city road maps along the way. The major drive-guides do not have enough detailed information for getting around cities along routes. Keep a good navigator in the front seat next to you. You'll do fine. I spent a month in 2004 driving the Scottish countryside and loved the experience.

Sesamee