Have a look at North Berwick or Dunbar for your first night

Thanks for telling me about there being no train/bus service at the airport. I looked at the airport web site and if I understand it correctly, we would have to take a bus or taxi into Edinburgh to go to the train or bus station. Maybe it would be better to stay in Edinburgh the first night. I'll have to think about it some more.

Dunbar does look very interesting.

I have been looking at Pitlochry. It looks easy to get to and is close to Blair Atholl. The theater there would be entertaining.

We did easily make the run up to Blair Atholl, but I agree with poster who said distances by car take longer than one might think.

Sorry, the run from Pitlochry to Blair Atholl.

If your first day/night is for exploring the city -- there is no place outside the city that makes sense. Stay in the very center of Edinburgh. You will be walking distance to everything -- castle/old town/new town/Princes Street/etc.

Then either collect your car in Edinburgh, or if driving in the city is too daunting (and it can be difficult) take the airport coach back out to EDI, pick up a car and head out on your driving tour.

Now I'm thinking we may spend the first night in Edinburgh, then train to Pitlochry, use that for a base for three days, then train back to Edinburgh. We would plan to stop at Stirling Castle and then go by bus to Curloss on the way back to Edinburgh. Does that sound doable?

If you take a train to Pitlochry -- how do you plan to get out and about from there. Buses? Public transport will get you from point A to point B, but seldom to points C, D and K in between. And even from point A to point B -public transport is not usually that efficient for touring around in rural areas.

It will be much easier if you collect a car upon leaving Edinburgh. If you want to rely on public transport - you'll want to stay in bigger cities/town where there are more bus routes.

"<i>We would plan to stop at Stirling Castle and then go by bus to Curloss on the way back to Edinburgh. Does that sound doable?</i>"

You'd take a train to Stirling (about 1 hr 20mins), explore the castle, walk into the town and catch a bus to Dunfermline, get off in Culross, then an hour later (or 2 hours if you miss the next one) catch the same bus route on to Dunfermline and then a train in to Edinburgh. Since Stirling Castle alone takes about 3 hours this would be a very long day. And if you really wanted to get to EDI - you can't do that by train.

To follow up on janisj's point about driving in Edinburgh. They're putting in a light rail system there and the streets are full of detours, and construction sites and it took me a LONG time to get out of town last month.

If you decide to drive up to Pitlochry, and have time, you could see Scone Palace (which I thought was pretty cool) or stop at Dunkeld - very pretty on the river.

Oh - I just saw where you posted you are going to stay in Edinburgh after Pitlochry (or wherever). So you can totally ignore the >><i>And if you really wanted to get to EDI - you can't do that by train.</i><< bit :)

But for 4 of you, I <u><B>really</B></u> suggest a rental car for the 3-4 days outside of Edinburgh. 4 X train fares will cost more than a car. And you'll have much more flexibility.

Thanks for the reality check about it being a bit much to go to Stirling and Curloss on the way from Pitlochry to Edinburgh. I can see that needs rethinking.

Yes, I would love to get a rental car for the time outside Edinburgh. I haven't been able to talk the others into doing that yet, but maybe they will agree to do that.

I have read some more about Pitlochry and some people like it a lot and others are saying that it is a very touristy town and they would not want to stay there. What is your opinion about that? I do like the idea of staying in a town that would have some activities and also be a good base for day trips.

Dunkeld looks lovely, but I'm not sure that it has enough activities unless we do rent a car.

I've read about St. Andrews and it seems very golf oriented and we don't play golf.

Our interests include gardens, mountain scenery, lakes, architecture, history- of course, I'm sure lots of places would fit that description.

Sheila, I just read your very interesting ( May 2007) itinerary for the Pitlochry/Dunkeld area and now I really want to rent a car so we can follow it. It sounds like there are many beautiful and interesting places to visit.

"<i>I've read about St. Andrews and it seems very golf oriented and we don't play golf.</i>"

Sure there are all the courses. But there is also a wonderful castle to clamber over and under (yes -under), and the iconic Cathedral ruins, and the beaches, and the nearby fishing villages.

http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.u...ral/index.html

http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.u...tle/index.html

Check these out of just one of the fishing villages - Crail.

http://tinyurl.com/2ao788l

If you had a car you could easily see St Andrews/Crail/Anstruther - AND the Dunkeld area - AND Culross in 3-4 days ;)

(really try to sell the idea to the others)

The town of St Andrews isn't that 'golfy' really. And once your group takes that drive, they'll THANK you.

We don't golf, but we love St. Andrews.

Oh and we stayed here in Pitlochry: http://www.craigatinhouse.co.uk/
It was one of the best places we stayed at, and gets very high reviews and has won awards. (Number 6 in all of Europe for that size of a place, guest house?, when we stayed there).
It was a nice base for us after a day of visiting Scone Palace, Perth, and Drummond Castle Gardens (highly recommend).
The town was good for us because we walked to a restaurant from the B&B (many to choose from) and we were able to find the gifts that I wanted to get for family back home all on one street. We then went to Dunkeld and I know a lot of people love it, but I was glad we just had lunch there and didn't stay there (less action as you say). Then on to the Beatrice Potter museum.

Check out my pictures of the gardens, etc.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tammima...7621786086269/

amelie, I enjoyed looking at your photos.

Any other garden recommendations?

After doing some more research, I find that both my ancestors from Scotland, the Reids and our friends' the Fergusons are originally from the Blair Atholl area. Although I believe my more recent ancestors are from outside Aberdeen.

I am going to try hard to encourage our group to rent a car so we can more easily go to the very interesting places that all of you have mentioned. My husband and I have no problem driving in Italy or France, but he is worried about driving on the left side of the road. Our friends have never been to Europe or the UK before, but I expect that once they are in Scotland, they will actually be fine with driving there.

Going on the left isn't that hard, just take it easy and you'll be fine.

Crathes Castle gardens, but you might not be in that area.

Crathes is too far up the eastern coast unless you decide to go up into Aberdeenshire.

But Flakland Palace garden in Fife is not far from St Andrews. Drumond Castle Garden is an absolute must. And Branklyn Gardens on the route between St Andrews and Perth.

http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.u...ace/index.html

www.perthshire.co.uk/index.asp?pg=129

Thanks for all your help- especially about the gardens. Next time I would like to come to Scotland in the summer or spring to see the gardens' peak blooming.