Scotland trip in August - Finalizing Plans
 

I posted about a month ago about our trip to Scotland - 8 days in August - and got lots of great help. I have most of our route planned and would like suggestions as to 2 possible routes for the middle of our trip. Here's what i have set so far:
Day 1 & 2 Edinburgh
Day 3 - rent car & travel to Borders - Rossyln chapel (?), Melrose Abbey, Peebles - Have B&B near Peebles
Day 4 - head NE to St Andrews, via Falkland - overnight a bit north up the coast in Arbroath
Day 5 - north to Dunnotar castle, Stonehaven, then head west along the A93 -

here's where I'm not sure - I can either
continue on A93 to Braemar and then onto Pitlochry. Next day go to Blair Castle, head to the A86, Spean Bridge, Fort William - Glen Coe and overnight in Crainlarich.
OR
take the A939 north over the Cairngorm mountains, staying in Carrbridge. Next day take the A9 South and then head Spean Bridge to Fort William - Glen Coe - overnight in Crainlarich.

Day 7 - go to Stirling and Falkirk (for the Wheel) and into Glasgow
Day 8 Glasgow

The driving times on day 5 & 6 are about the same, no matter which route i take. 1st route is a bit roundabout, but more places to stop (Braemar, Blair, Pitlochry). 2nd route is big on scenery.

Any suggestions on days 5 & 6 - I know there are lots of other places to go in Scotland, but we only have 8 days. Thanks in advance.
Any

I cannot help you too directly with your choice. We have never driven the A939, although it looks like beautiful scenery. I have been up the A9 as far as Aviemore, and driven back into the Rothiemurchus Forest/Loch an Eilein. It was pretty, but I'm not sure worth the detour.

A bit further south on the A9 is Ruthven Barracks - not far off the road at Kingussie, and kinda cool for a short stop.

On the other route, Pitlochry is very pretty but extremely tourist-y. We enjoyed touring Edradour, the smallest distillery in Scotland, which is just oustide of town. From Pitlochry, on the way to Blair on the B8079 you could take a short detour on the B8019 and stop at the Queen's View for a beautiful panoramic vista. Blair Castle's admission is a tad steep, but it has nice furninshings, and a great tea room/cafteria. The grounds are pretty and you can walk a short way (5 min) up to the old village with church ruins.

I can't really help without turning into you, but I would go with route 1 personally; and I'd not spend too much time in Pitlochry for the reasons noe's expresssed.

I understand about Pitlochry being too touristy, but would be a good place for an overnight stay, with Blair castle first thing the next day?

Pitlochry would be very convenient for Blair. The Pine Trees Hotel is on the uphill part of town, above the crowds, supposedly. We stayed at a b&b in town we could walk everywhere.

We have eaten dinner at the Old Armoury restaurant (twice, in 2003 and in 2005) and it was lovely. theoldarmouryrestaurant.com (I'm not sure I did this link correctly) There is a patio outside, and the inside rooms are very pretty. They also do afternoon tea. From there you can take a nice walk along a lane lined with cottages, across the river on a swinging footbridge and along a salmon ladder.

I have also heard that the Prince of India restaurant on Station Road has good food.

I personally wouldn't stay in Pitlochry - unless it was a theatre trip. And even then I'd probably stay elsewhere.

If you must stay somewhere along then A9 I'd choose Dunkeld.

If you're aiming for Blair, then try the Killicrankie House or the Altholl Arms in Blair Atholl. Or you might look at the Moulin Inn.

Personally, I'm not quite so opposed to Pitlochry, although it IS full of bus tours.

Have you already booked your accommodation in Edinburgh ? People probably warned you in response to your previous posting, but accommodation in August will by now be scarce due to the festivals, & many places have a 3 night minimum stay. If you haven't already booked, I suggest phoning the tourist board asap & taking whatever they've got.

Just to add that unless you are intending to do festival stuff, August is probably the worst time of the year to visit Edinburgh.

2ndly, you do realise that Rosslyn is a short bus ride (1GBP each way) from the centre of Edinburgh

We already have a hotel in Edinburgh (Novotel) and tickets to the Military Tatoo. I know Edinburgh is mobbed in August, but that's when we can go. Thanks for the ideas for Pitlochry/Blair. Does my itinery sould like a reasonable one? We can't see everything & don't want to spend all day in the car, yet want to see as much as we can. Thanks.