Can you help? We arv in Edinburgh from the US on Sept 3 and a "Gathering" is in Braemar on Sept 4. A Gathering is kilts, bagpipes, games, maybe the Queen herself, and lots of other people! We have 5 days in Scotland. Would it be a big rush and lots of traffic to try to get to the Gathering? Or spend 3 days leisurely driving in the Highlands and spend our last 2 days in Edinburgh?

Well - the Braemar Games are the most famous highland games in the world and they draw a HUGE crowd. Many places are already booked up - but if you book before about April you should be able to find a place to stay somewhere along the Dee/near Braemar.

If you want to go to Braemar for the games - do it. It entirely depends on whether you want to go to an "event", or if you want to take a leisurely drive elsewhere. But whatever yopu do you should allow a minimum of 2 days for Edinburgh itself.

mmm. Tough question. It's great fun. Very touristy. On balance I would
suggest you do go.

Is your flight to Edinburgh direct? I doubt you can get a direct flight to
Aberdeen (indeed, I know you can't). If you're linking in through London
or Manchester then I would suggest you DO get connecting flight to Aberdeen rather than Edinburgh.

If your flight gets in at a rational hour, I'd suggest you drive up to
Braemar on the Friday evening. It will be light till after 8pm.

Perhaps a slight exaggeration to fear the traffic into Braemar, but if it were me, I'd recommend that you
aim for Braemar on the Friday and stay there overnight- and on the Saturday too. I don't know what your budget is, but if it's hotel level, I'd suggest the Fife Arms rather than the Invercauld (it's cheaper and couthier, and closer to the action. Not that there's anything wrong with
the Invercauld). If you want a guest house, I'd suggest Callater Lodge.If
you want B&B choose anything you like, but choose it NOW. Don't wait- the
village will be booked up pretty quickly.

On the Saturday morning, if you're into the outdoors, go up to Mar Lodge
Estate and the Linn of Dee, and/or walk up the Lui. It's wonderful and
being at the end of a cul de sac west of Braemar you won't get the traffic
problem you otherwise might. The "action" really starts about lunchtime, you see.

There'll be a dance at night in the village and you should go to that too

As to the rest fo your time it depends. When do you leave (time) and what do you like doing on holiday?

What would we all do without you!!! We are taking your suggestion about going to the Braemar Games. You are so rational!
We have changed some plans - what do you think of this: (Are the days too much alike?)
I have listed "dream" hotels!

Aug 30-ATL/CDG/EDI(late arv)- Balmoral
31-Edinburgh - "
Sept 1-Edinburgh - "
2-Culross - Sunbank House
3-Scone Palace - Fife Arms-Braemar
4-Braemar Games - "
5-Blair Castle - Dall Lodge
6-The Trossachs - Roman Camp
7-Stirling Area - Stirling Highland
8-Stirling Area - "

Forgot to say we leave Scotland on the 9th from Edinburgh.

I would change the last bit. After you leave Braemar, step right over to the west coast- down Loch Laggan to Fort William?- so it reads something like:-
5-Glen Coe- Pierhouse
6-Blair Castle- Dall Lodge
7-The Trossachs - Roman Camp
8-Stirling Area - Stirling Highland


In fact if it were me, I'd stay another day over there, and use the Aberfoyle Base to see Stirling from, but then, I hugely prefer the Highlands to the Lowlands.

sheila'suggestion is good - but the extra day in the Trossachs is also good. Either would be fine.

But why are you moving from one hotel to another (Roman Camp to Stirling Highland) when they are less than 15 miles apart? If you are staying 2 or 3 days near Stirling/Callander just pick one hotel and stick to it . . . .

If it were me I'd choose the Roman Camp.

Or - for another really good hotel in the Stirling/Callander/Trossachs area look into the Lake Hotel at Port of Menteith on the Lake of Menteith. It is a lovely place on the shore of the only "lake" in Scotland and looks out acroos to Inchmahome Island with its beautiful priory. Swans at the bottom of the garden and a nice pub and two restaurants in the hotel