thefengs

We are planning a day trip to Glen Coe from Edinburgh by renting a car in mid-October. This will be our first experience of driving in U.K. I am wondering how the road condition to Glen Coe via Sirling and Callander is. And Is it difficult/challenging? How long the drive will normally take in decent weather? Thanks in advance for any inputs.

janisj

The roads are absolutely fine -- but that is an awfully long drive for a day trip. It is about 120 miles and a minimum of 3 hours each way.

If you spend any time IN Stirling Stirling (it takes 90 mins to 2 hours see just part of the castle) you would be in the car from basically for most of the day.

If it must be a day trip -- you might do better on an organized small coach tour and not have to deal w/ the rental car.

One like this w/ Rabbie's

rabbies.com/scottish_tour_pages/loch_ness_glencoe_1day_tour.asp?lng=en

I'd normally recommend driving - but for one day in the Fall and wanting to go so far, a coach tour would be easier.

sashh

<< How long the drive will normally take in decent weather? >>

You cannot count on decent weatrher at any time in the UK, but in October it is quite likley you will have bad weather, rain probably not snow, that can double the journey time.

alanRow

6 hours of driving alone, not something I would consider for "fun" in October in Scotland.

Either get someone else to do the driving or do something else

alihutch

I wouldn't say that rain would double the journey time, but it's still a long way for a day. This site gives you sunrise and sunset times in Edinburgh in October, as you'll see it's changing rapidly at this time of year.

http://www.timeanddate.com/worldcloc...&afl=-11&day=1

Alec

There is a beautiful train line that runs all the way to Fort William (running close to Glen Coe) and Mallaig from Glasgow called West Highland Line. There are three daily departures from Glasgow Queen St. 0821 departure gets you to Fort William at 1207, and return 1737 for 2130. Fare £24.40 return. You need to get to and from Glasgow from Edinburgh, but there are frequent trains taking about 50 min. As there is no need to reserve a seat, just choose a fine day to do this trip.

Ackislander

What Alec said. This is one of the great train journeys in the world.

You don't go into the Glen, but if you sit on the left side going toward Ft William, you will see Buchaille Etive Mor, the easternmost mountain above the Glen, and if you have any visibility, you will see Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the United Kingdom. You will also see Rannoch Moor and all the lochs and mountains you ever wanted, with no danger of being stuck in traffic owing to a wreck on a two lane road.

thefengs

Thanks to all of you. We do plan a at least 3-day Rabbie's tour to the Skye and Highland including Glencoe. However, I am afraid that the group tour will only provide short stop at Glencoe. From reading the comments, I like to have more time to explore Glencoe, perhaps taking a short hike and making as many stops as we like for photograph. Train ride is wonderful but we will not be able to explore.( Can we get off, explore some, and hop back to the next train?) If driving all the way from Edinburgh is too long, we can take the train to a destination close to Glencoe and then rent a car to explore on our own. I am open to overnight stay. Which place will serve the best base for touring and car rental? Thanks for your suggestions.

Sue878

If you need a place to stay, we stayed in a wonderful B&B in Callandar called the Westerton.

www.westerton.co.uk/

janisj

"<i>If driving all the way from Edinburgh is too long, we can take the train to a destination close to Glencoe and then rent a car to explore on our own. I am open to overnight stay.</i>"

Taking the train and renting a car doesn't really make too much sense -- the only place you could pick up a car would be in Ft William.

And overnight changes things entirely. Callander is nice -- but really isn't a base for Glencoe since it is just beyond Stirling.

What I'd do is take the airport bus out to EDI and rent a car in the early AM. Drive to Glencoe w/ a short detour to Killin to see the Falls of Dochart, and stay either right IN Glencoe or nearby in Ballachulish. (What is your budget?) Spend the rest of the day exploring the glen and surrounding countryside.

Next day wander back towards Edinburgh stopping in Balquhidder (if you didn't stop there on the way to Glencoe) to see the churchyard and Rob Roy's grave. Drive through the Trossachs and spend the afternoon visting Stirling Castle.

Drop the car back at EDI and take the bus back into the city.