Hello all,

Have received so many great ideas and suggestions from this Forum! Thank you all!!

My husband and I (~30 year old, active) are heading to Scotland for the first portion of our upcoming European trip. This is our third annual trip to Europe but first to Scotland for both. We fly overnight from US to Edinburgh arriving on noon Friday and have come up with below itinerary but wanted advice as I know it is a lot of moving around. I am mainly looking for best route back from Inverness to Edinburgh (see below Tuesday/Wednesday).

As mentioned, we are active (up early, walk/explore a ton during the day), love to be outside (walks/hikes) and appreciate exploring food/drinks! We are planning on renting a car and I have read all the fun facts about driving in Scotland (thanks for the advice!! Should be an adventure!).

Friday noon: Arrive EDI and get rental car and drive directly to St. Andrews. Sleep: St. Andrews

Saturday: Explore St. Andrews, visit gravesite of my husbands grandparents. Sleep: St. Andrews

Sunday: Depart early, drive to Dunnoyar Castle on way to Inverness. Arrive Inverness late in the day. Sleep: Inverness

Monday: Explore Inverness, Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle. Sleep: Inverness

Tuesday: Depart early, *not sure on this day. Thoughts are to drive to either Glencloe or Oban. If so, could possibly visit Loch Ness, Urquhart on way out? Sleep: Oban or Glencoe?

Wednesday: Depart for Loch Lomond/Trossachs/Stirling on way to Edinburgh to arrive later in afternoon (split up drive with these stops). Sleep: Edinburgh

Thursday: Edinburgh full day. Sleep: Edinburgh

Friday: Explore Edinburgh in morning. Depart Edinburgh later in afternoon

We are very set on visiting St. Andrews due to the family tie.

Thank you for any advice and help!
Megan

**Dunnottar Castle! Sorry for the typo.

>>Friday noon: Arrive EDI and get rental car and drive directly to St. Andrews. Sleep: St. Andrews <<

BAD idea. Jet lag alone is a reason. But driving on the right after an over night flight even if you are totally rested can be disconcerting. Stay in Edinburgh car-less at the front end. Say 2 nights. Then collect a rental car out at EDI and drive to St Andrews exploring the fishing villages en route. Stay 2 nights.

I'd forget entirely about Inverness. Why do you want to go there? It is just a city. Not worth one night let alone two. Now, there are some interesting sites near the city but not nearly worth the time/effort to get there only to turn around and head back south.

If you want to see Dunnottar (fabulous) then I'd spend the day after leaving St Andrews driving up to Dunnottar, then back down to Glamis and staying that night in Perth or better yet, Dunkeld.

Then into the Trossachs for at least two nights (Callander makes a good base) This is a base for Stirling, Loch Lomond, Inchmahome, Doune, LOTS of lochs/waterfalls. Then it is a short drive back to EDI to turn in the car and fly out.

I'm almost done with my Scotland trip report (with lots and lots of photos). It might give you some ideas. Link below...

For the places you want to visit...

Chapters Four - Seven Edinburgh...Cold have used more than four days. Exceptional city!

Chapter Eight - If you take up Janis's suggestion of Callander (which I second), you can see Doune Castle (Monty Python & The Holy Grail...get your coconuts), Inchmahome Priory (gorgeous island...short boat ride..if nice, great place to picnic) and Stirling Castle.

Chapter Eleven includes Urquhart should you decide to go there (beautiful). If you actually go to Inverness (we drove through part of it...nothing special), detour a short distance (about a half hour drive) to Cawdor Castle (spectacular gardens)

Chapter Twelve includes Dunnottar Castle (spectacular setting)

My next chapter will include Glamis and the one after that St. Andrews.

Janis gives you great info...I used many of her suggestions.

http://travelswithmaitaitom.com/londonscotland-2017/

In case I confused you I meant driving a right hand drive car on the left . . .

Listen to Maitaitom . . . I gave him great advice

Wow, great advice janisj! Thank you so much. I really like that route you suggest and far less driving which my husband will appreciate. If we were to take that advice and go from St. Andrews and then to Dunnottar Castle, you suggest staying the next night in Perth or Dunkeld? Another suggestion we received from a friend was a visit to Loch Tay which looks to be another hour beyond Dunkeld. Any advice on where to stay that night and/or if Loch Tay is a good option? I like the idea of one night there and then continuing on to Trossachs for 2 nights. Thanks so much!

Hi maitaitom! Wow, can't wait to read your trip report! I will dive into suggested chapters and reach out with questions - thank you!

Has anybody asked when this trip will take place? "Upcoming" could mean October or it could mean April, with significant consequences on your route, tourism opportunities, accommodation availability and so on. It might also influence whether you do a clockwise or counter/anti-clockwise loop around the country, e.g. hit Fife last.

Frankly, with as little time as you have, I'd be tempted to drop the west of Scotland altogether and focus instead on the east side of the country - magnificent Highland scenery int he Cairngorm mountains, castle and whisky country in Aberdeenshire, coastal Angus and Fife, then back to Edinburgh, something like this - https://goo.gl/maps/xRQtxA8ayPA2 - or this - https://goo.gl/maps/JYzhHNcpgxF2 . I certainly would drop the Inverness - Loch Ness - Urquhart Castle bits; they are quite out of your way and quite underwhelming.

But let us know the month, please.

Maitaitim, that is a great blog. Thanks for sharing. Your pics of Skye settles it for me.

>>If we were to take that advice and go from St. Andrews and then to Dunnottar Castle, you suggest staying the next night in Perth or Dunkeld? Another suggestion we received from a friend was a visit to Loch Tay which looks to be another hour beyond Dunkeld. Any advice on where to stay that night and/or if Loch Tay is a good option?<<

The drive (just the drive) from St Andrews up yo Dunnottar/Stonehaven, back down to Glamis Castle and to Dunkeld or Perth will take about 3.5 hours -- so with 2 hours at Dunnottar and 1.5 to 2 hours at Glamis you could easily be in Dunkeld by late afternoon/early evening

YES! Loch Tay is terrific -- stay the night in Killin and see the amazing Falls of Dochart in the middle of the village. Dunkeld to Killin is barely a 90 minute drive. http://scotlandinmay.house-of-lynn.c...artFalls.9.jpg

Then Killin to Callander about 45 mins down the road from Killin. One might ask why move and stay in both -- but Callander is so well located for other parts of the Trossachs plus Stirling and is a MUCH better drive back to EDI

Thanks for all the advice! Ok would love to hear from advice on this revised itinerary??

Friday noon: Arrive EDI. Sleep: Edinburgh

Saturday: Full day in Edinburgh. Sleep: Edinburgh

Sunday: Full day in Edinburgh. Sleep: Edinburgh (could leave and give one more night to St. Andrews)

Monday: Depart early, drive to St. Andrews with stop at Grandparents grave and possibly small fishing towns. Half day exploring St. Andrews (afternoon/evening). Sleep: St. Andrews

Tuesday: Depart St. Andrews for Stonehaven, Dunnottar Castle. Continue on to Balmorale Castle through Cairngorms to Avionmore. Sleep: Avionmore.

OR...Depart St. Andrews for Stonehaven, Dunnottar Castle. Continue on to Glamis Castle to Dunkeld OR all the way to Loch Tay (Killin). Sleep: Dunkeld or Killin.

Wednesday: Full day exploring wherever we decided to sleep (Avionmore, Dunkeld, Killin). Depart in afternoon for Callander. Sleep: Callander

Thursday: Explore Loch Lomond/Trossachs/Stirling. Sleep: Collander.

Friday: Depart Edinburgh later in the afternoon

Thank you!!

**Aviemore!! Another typo! EEK

Gardyloo asks a good question: when's the bloody trip? Big difference as to whether this is ok or madness due to short days.

And check HRM's schedule - it's available about a year in advance. You can't go to Balmoral, other than the gift shop, when the Queen is in residence.

I'm sorry Gardyloo! I missed your comment above - thank you for your advice. This trip is end of October/early November...soon! The backstory is that this was an added stop to our trip hence why we are planning this week later than expected. Thanks for the tip BigRuss!

I would not spend an overnight at Aviemore. It's a nice drive from the Dunnottar Castle area to Killin via Dunkeld.

The timing makes a big difference.

Scotland is quite far north; you're at the same latitude as parts of Alaska, hence the daylight hours will be shortening significantly.

Weather will also become a factor. Aviemore (which IMO is a bit bleak at the best of times) was developed as a ski resort, and while November will be early for snow, it won't be early for wet and dismal weather. I also think you should come prepared for sub-optimal touring conditions in the Trossachs and the west; the weather comes off the Atlantic and the west side of Scotland, including the Glasgow-Loch Lomond area, is generally wetter than the east, as the mountains create something of a "rain shadow."

So I would focus on the east coast and the east side of the Cairngorms. However, I would make one suggestion. On the map I included in my previous post you'll see an entry for Fortingall. Fortingall is a tiny village about halfway between Dunkeld and Killin, just north of Loch Tay.

It's noted for a collection of thatched buildings (very rare in Scotland) but best known for an ancient yew tree located in the churchyard. The tree is reputedly the oldest living thing in Britain, maybe Europe. Pontius Pilate was reputedly born in Fortingall during Rome's brief occupation of Scotland. The hotel in Fortingall is very nice.

But if you're coming in October, I'd <i>strongly</i> urge you to visit Fortingall as a base to visit Glen Lyon, which extends west from Fortingall into glorious country. In the autumn, Glen Lyon will simply take your breath away. I've been there on a misty autumn day when the sun breaks through the clouds and illuminates the leaves on all the deciduous trees in the glen - the whole world lights up with gold, leaving you gobsmacked. NOT to be missed IMO.

http://gardyloo.us/wp-content/upload...glenlyon1s.jpg
http://www.highlandlight.co.uk/galle...-Glen-Lyon.jpg

>>Tuesday: Depart St. Andrews for Stonehaven, Dunnottar Castle. Continue on to Balmorale Castle through Cairngorms to Avionmore. Sleep: Avionmore. <<

Not a great idea -- The Cairngorms/Aviemore aren't all that special. And Balmoral isn't open in Oct and only open occasional days in Nov but the only part of the bldg open is the ball room. Plus Nov isn't the best time for the Cairngorms anyway - too late for generally decent weather / too early for skiing.

So I'd definitely recommend this instead >>OR...Depart St. Andrews for Stonehaven, Dunnottar Castle. Continue on to Glamis Castle to Dunkeld OR all the way to Loch Tay (Killin). Sleep: Dunkeld or Killin.<<

OH -- It depends on your exact dates . . . Glamis closes for the season on Oct 29.

Skipping Glamis would make it easier to get to Killin before sunset that day. It would be about a 4.5 hour drive St Andrews > Dunnottar > Killin plus a couple of hours at Dunnottar. But play the Dunnottar leg by ear. If it is stormy, skip it because it is a fairly treacherous walk out/back in the wet.

Big yes - Glen Lyon/Fortingall. Big no - Balmoral/Aviemore.

Yes, a big no to Aviemore.

We came through it today on our way from charming Aberfeldy to Tain. It could be absolutely anywhere. Shop after shop of outdoor gear. Although we did have a lovely lunch there, and I picked up a great hiking shirt reduced to £10, I'd give it a wide berth.

I dearly regret not having enough time for Fortingall, blame the plane delay.

Ah! Great advice on weather and locations, thank you. Glen Lyon looks wonderful Gardyloo. I like the idea of adding that.

OK, so if we did this...

Tuesday: Depart St. Andrews for Stonehaven, Dunnottar Castle. Possibly stop at Glamis Castle (thanks for heads up on timing janisj). Arrive Lock Tay area. EITHER: Fontingall or Killin? I like the idea of visiting Glen Lyon. I will research both towns for overnight.

Wednesday: Full day exploring wherever we decided to sleep (Fontingall or Killin). Depart in afternoon for Callander. Would you still suggest this for next 2 nights? Or go a different direction from Fontingall or Killin?

Thursday: Original plan was to explore Loch Lomond/Trossachs/Stirling. Sleep: Collander. Still do this or suggestions on new location?

Friday: Depart Edinburgh later in the afternoon

Thank you!!