Our trip in June 2008 (7 people) was originally starting in Edinburgh, ending in Glasgow. However, several have said they really didn't want to stay IN Glasgow the last three nights - instead we want to stay somewhere more village-like, and do daytrips around the area, including into Glasgow.

SOOOO>.... we're coming from Mull (only 4 of us at this point, the other 3 are taking off for London earlier). We would like a place close enough to both Edinburgh and Glasgow for day trips and trip to the Edinburgh Airport Sunday morning for our flight out. Suggestions?

I was told Stirling is full of tourists, and crowded. Perhaps Callander? Looks nice to me, and I found a couple interesting B&Bs, like Brook Lin. Would love some input! Thanks

Oh, yes, we'll still have a car at that point.

www.gleneagles.com

I'm afraid that's a bit out of our budget! We are looking at something less than $100 per person per night, which means the cheap B&Bs or guesthouses

Even IF Gleneagles wasn't above my pay grade no way the location would work for you.

My suggestions would be

1) somewhere along Loch Lomond - like Luss, Balloch or Drymen (Drymen is not ON the loch but quite near) From these you could visit Glasgow. You wouldn't need to drive in since there is good train service. Plus you could see Hill House in Hellensburgh and explore all around Loch Lomond.

or 2) somewhere like Aberfoyle/Callander. They are a bit farther from Glasgow but still an easy day trip and it would be a great base for the Trossachs, Balquhiddar (where Rob Roy is buried) and as far as Killin/Falls of Dochart and Lochs Earn and Tay.

Thanks janisj - I'm leaning towards Callander, as that seems closer to Edinburgh for our flight out. It also looks like a neat village and beautiful area!

Green Dragon:
Look at Bridge of Alan near Stirling. You could visit Balquhidder, Stirling or Loch Lomond. Plus, B of A is very "village-like".
d1

Linlithgow, Dunblane/Doune, Peebles, Lanark

Personally I'd rather stay in Glasgow than in Callander.

Linlithgow would give you options. Obviously Linlithgow Palace but from there you can easily visit Stirling, Falkirk (including the Falkirk Wheel) plus a short trip to the Bo'ness and and a trip on the Bo'ness and Kinneil steam railway, Blackness Castle, the House of Binns.
There is also a good railway link which you can use to travel into Glasgow city centre which would save having to drive / park in Glasgow.
Linlithgow is also very close to Edinburgh Airport and would be an easy journey when you go to return the hire car.

Caroline, why don't you like Callander?

Linlithgow sounds lovely, but how do you pronounce it? My tongue keeps tripping

Exactly as it sounds

I mean looks

gow or goe?

Linlithgo

Callander to me is fairly dull, totally geared towards tourists & rather old-fashioned - just a bit depressing, generally. I may be wrong but whenever I've stopped there, I've always got the impression that it is full of elderly vistors who are looking for a 1950s style British holiday experience. But lots of places in Britain are like that - Callander is no worse than most and better than many. And it is near a lot of nice scenery. I've only ever used it as a place to stop off for a food / drink / loo break, when pushed.

OTOH I really like Glasgow and go there frequently.

Well, one of the reasons we don't want to stay in Glasgow is we really aren't enamored of big cities. We like the small, sleepy villages - and have no problem simply using it as a base for daytrips.

since you'll have a car you don't need to stay right IN Callander. Though you'll want to go there for the terrific tourist information cebter, shops, and so on. There are lots of villages surrounding - like Aberfoyle, Port of Menteith, Thornhill - and plenty of B&Bs in the countryside not actually "in" anyplace.

Falkirk, Linlithgow, etc have really good sites to visit (Linlithhgow palace is vast/very interesting) but IMHO aren't the best places to stay.

or -- tourist information <b>center</b> . . . .

hehe.. the typing gnome strikes again!

I found a cool B&amp;B that looks really nice outside Callander.

http://www.brooklinn-scotland.co.uk/brooklinn.html

Seems very reasonable, in a beautiful setting, with nice decor and big rooms.

Aberfoyle is a nice little town. Pretty area, easy drive to Loch Lomond or Sterling. Rail connections in Sterling get you to wherever you want to go easily. Also, not a bad drive to Glasgow for the day.