A trip round Scotland - recommend me where to go?

Despite having travelled quite extensively in my life thus far, I have always headed East, West or South - but rarely North, certainly not past the Lake District anyway.

So, I was thinking of a long weekend in Scotland sometime in the near future, possibly to coincide with some snow as the snow gods have fallen short on us in the south of England so far this year!

Where would you recommend we go? It would be me and the missus in the Range Rover Classic - we would like to go to Edinburgh, so could use that as a base and head out each day, or do a loop around the country to see a bit more of it. We would need a day to get there and a day to get back, so would have 3 days to explore what Scotland has to offer.

Any recommendations for good roads (if there's no snow) or some pretty places to explore if there is plenty of the white stuff?

EDIT: the overall route might look something like this, stopping with relatives in Melton on Thursday night and Carlisle on Sunday night... http://g.co/maps/zc9ja

Cheers!

MikeV8SE said:

Despite having travelled quite extensively in my life thus far, I have always headed East, West or South - but rarely North, certainly not past the Lake District anyway.

So, I was thinking of a long weekend in Scotland sometime in the near future, possibly to coincide with some snow as the snow gods have fallen short on us in the south of England so far this year!

Where would you recommend we go? It would be me and the missus in the Range Rover Classic - we would like to go to Edinburgh, so could use that as a base and head out each day, or do a loop around the country to see a bit more of it. We would need a day to get there and a day to get back, so would have 3 days to explore what Scotland has to offer.

Any recommendations for good roads (if there's no snow) or some pretty places to explore if there is plenty of the white stuff?

Cheers!

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I normally go t'other side Oban and Fort William.

But we do go via Edinburgh, you'll need a good day to see the sights of Edinburgh to be honest and there's some great places to eat in the city centre pedestrianised bit.

If you like Whisky the Glenkinchie distillery isn't far away, not a whole day out but a great way to spend an afternoon

i recommend you go to Spain for a week and save yourself a fortune,
its pants being Scottish.

fikwit said:

i recommend you go to Spain for a week and save yourself a fortune,
its pants being Scottish.

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Thats dead right that. Kin expensive place for a holiday!!!

Perthshire and the west coast is my recommendation, stunning scenery. Don't stay in one place you will see more moving around.

SCOTSMAN said:

Don't stay in one place you will see more moving around.

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No **** McSherlock?

SCOTSMAN said:

Don't stay in one place you will see more moving around.

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That has to be "quote of the day"

:5bcheers2:

stating the obvious!!

Another vote for Fort William, stunning drive around Loch Lomond & then through Glen Coe. West Coast is a lovely area & maybe take the A1 from Edinburgh side & back down the East Coast.

If you're using Edi as a base, you can see a range of contrasts within 1 - 3 hours drive

1) East coast - Crail, Pittenweem, Anstruther

2) Around Loch Tay - Fortingall, Killin, Kenmore

3) West coast(ish) - Inveraray - eat at the original Loch Fyne Oysters

4) West coast proper - - Glen Coe through to Mallaig and up to Port Appin

5) If you need to - Loch Ness (it is pretty but bit touristy) but go via Fort Augustus

6) If you have time, an Isalnd is well worth a visit. Arran is the nearest west coast island, but I prefer Islay or Jura

Nearby but well worth a visit:

- Luss (Loch Lomond)

- Callender (but very touristy) - prefer Aberfoyle myself


Hope that gives you some ideas - I moved to Scotland (work in Edi, live across the Firth of Forth in Fife) 7 years back, so have explored a fair bit - but still not got as far North as I'd like to!

Thanks guys! My route in the original post looks good, then. We'd like to visit Edinburgh as we love Bath and they were largely designed by the same architect, so would be interesting to compare the two! We would drive to Melton after work on the Thursday and land in Edinburgh mid-afternoon Friday for some exploring and eating out. Probably a bit more wandering round on Saturday morning before heading out and over the scenic route to Loch Lomond - can anyone recommend a good place to stay on the west side of the loch? A nice B&B would be ideal.

Sunday we would head down the west coast some more and head to Carlisle for Sunday night, and long slog home on Monday.

Any recommendations (roads to drive, light greenlanes to explore (we will be travelling solo!), places to eat/stay, things to see!) around this route welcome!

Cameron House is meant to be good (have a chum with a boat there) but could be pricey

Lodge on Loch Lomond Hotel is cracking for location. (sorry - no idea why it's added a false internet link) - use http://www.loch-lomond.co.uk

Few B&Bs out to Crianlarich which is pretty close

It really is worth driving through glencoe !

And like wise over the lecht and through the cairngorms

Love those roads !

Go to your local tourist information office and they will give you loads of contacts for b&b.Log cabins are plentifull and cosy. Pity you didnt have more time, Edinburgh, Perth,Inverness,Fort William,Loch Lomond, then south from there into Dumfries. Good round trip but you would need a week min to appreciate it.

On the subject of Scottish accommodation, has anybody ever stopped at Morroch Bay ? Accessible only by a 4x4 for anyone who has never heard of it.

A vid clip of the drive leading down to the cottages. Note 1:20 - 2:00!!

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0OwBUgu8EE&feature=player_embedded]Morroch Bay Summer 2008 - YouTube[/ame]

Reminds me of the road down to Burnmouth on the East Coast of Berwickshire. Thought Ice Road Truckers in Bolivia was scary last night, anyone else see it.(Sorry to hi-jack the thread).

Skye.

only been to Dumfries... and we camped, ****ed it down, but thanks to buster and his missus and the nice campsite we stayed at it was a lovely weekend.

Mark L said:

On the subject of Scottish accommodation, has anybody ever stopped at Morroch Bay ? Accessible only by a 4x4 for anyone who has never heard of it.

A vid clip of the drive leading down to the cottages. Note 1:20 - 2:00!!

Morroch Bay Summer 2008 - YouTube

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nice vid.. looks lovely...

Mark L said:

On the subject of Scottish accommodation, has anybody ever stopped at Morroch Bay ? Accessible only by a 4x4 for anyone who has never heard of it.

A vid clip of the drive leading down to the cottages. Note 1:20 - 2:00!!

Morroch Bay Summer 2008 - YouTube

Click to expand...

Nope - but cracking location