A long weekend by road to visit Scotland

[Anordinarymum]

That's what we are planning to do. Drive up one Saturday before Christmas and stay over until Tuesday morning.

We would like to visit Glencoe/Inverness/Loch Lomond/Edinburgh as examples. We have a dog and she will be coming. Not that that makes a lot of difference but worth mentioning.
Can anyone help with ideas for places to visit?

The last time I did anything like this was over 40 years ago so my memory is not as sharp, but I remember camping at Ayr and Inverness and Fraserborough.

Any help appreciated.

Thank you

It may be an idea to have a plan B I case roads get closed due to heavy snow. The A82 from Crianlarich to Fort William has snow gates which the police close in adverse weather (once we were last car out).
If I was going up I would do a circuit . We've travelled up from South west England so have gone clockwise in a loop. Glasgow-Loch Lomond-Fort William- Loch Ness- inverness- Aviemore-Perth- Edinburgh and then home.

Where are you driving from? It could take a day to get to some of those places and if you get bad weather it will be dark for most of the day and there's potential for the roads to be closed due to snow. A lot of attractions in rural areas are closed for the winter so you need to plan what you're going what you're going to see and do. I'd be tempted to leave the dog at home and have a city break in Edinburgh.

Inverness to Edinburgh takes almost a whole day. And good chance the snow gates could close on the highest points of the A9.

I would focus on seeing fewer places. So Edinburgh and Loch lomond and places in-between would be doable. And around the Central belt - Glasgow- Stirling-perth- Dundee too. Some stunning places and views particularly around Stirling and Crieff st the moment.

I'd be tempted to leave the dog at home and have a city break in Edinburgh.

I agree. Arthur's Seat, Cramond and Portobello beach might be dog friendly though.

Those places are a LONG way north. Where are you coming from?
I'd suggest as an alternative Dundee, via the Kelpies at Falkirk and on to the East Neuk of Fife as far as St Andrews. Absolutely gorgeous scenery. Up through the borders which are also fabulous.

Thanks for the wise words people !

I think we will be going sooner rather than later. It's just a question of finding accomodation which is hotel based rather than B&B with the dog.
If there is a likelihood of snow we will not go.

I really want to go to Glencoe though..........

We are coming from Leeds.. sorry should have said

Glencoe is very bleak in my view! But people love it.

There’s too much in your itinerary as others have said, and bad weather is likely, so prepare for it. Mileages can be deceptive for judging journey times given the rural road network. It will also be dark until quite late in the morning and very early at night.

Also bear in mind that lots of shops and cafes and restaurants might be shut at that time of year.

I’m the voice of doom 🤣 Sorry. I love it here really.

@WouldBeGood

Glencoe is very bleak in my view! But people love it.

There’s too much in your itinerary as others have said, and bad weather is likely, so prepare for it. Mileages can be deceptive for judging journey times given the rural road network. It will also be dark until quite late in the morning and very early at night.

Also bear in mind that lots of shops and cafes and restaurants might be shut at that time of year.

I’m the voice of doom 🤣 Sorry. I love it here really.

They were just ideas. It can be honed down to just one or two on a 'round robin' to quote Dale Winton :)

I really need this. I need a break from everyday life and want to see breathtaking scenery... and breathe..

We do have breathtaking scenery 😃

Dumfries and Galloway is beautiful and much nearer England. Gatehouse of Fleet and surrounds are particularly nice

Glencoe is beautiful but I do think your itinerary means you’ll be spending a lot of time in the car. Bear in mind it will be dark from about 4pm until 8:30 am too so that will limit your time for scenic views (at least that’s what December is like where I am in the North East!) . Loch Lomond and the Trossachs / Perthshire might be better given that you only have a few days. Edinburgh is obviously amazing but not hugely dog friendly. St Andrew’s is also nice - has a good beach and some nice bars/restaurants/cafes etc and the V&A in Dundee is good too.

Heavy snow is forecast from today.

As a Highlander i would recommend not doing this. Edinburgh to Inverness is at least 3.5 hours on a good day on a bad day in the middle of winter you could be hours then get turned back at the snow gates as they close at very short notice. The Cairngorms are very treacherous and changeable at that time of year. We get snow drifts, knee deep snow and very dangerous conditions in certain parts of the Highlands. Also most tourist facilities are closed or on very limited hours. The day light hours are only really from 9 to 3 in December and that’s assuming it gets light that day which sometimes it doesn’t. A trip to Edinburgh is maybe better in the winter and Inverness and Glenco better in the summer. We get lovely long summer nights and some nights it’s never dark plus it’s much warmer and everything is open.

Thanks. Maybe a rethink is in order. A long weekend in Oxford is poor by comparison though........

Just to add (Scot here), at this time of year it is properly dark at 4pm, so it’s a very shortened day. Maybe come in the Spring.

I would still come but shorten the route as said that much far north is a lot of driving in Winter.
Perthshire is stunning scenary what about Loch Lomond, Loch Earn, Dunkeld then Edinburgh?
Nice loop but a few main road options incase of a bit of the white stuff.
Dunkeld house hotel is dog friendly, so is one on Loch Earn

What about the Borders, Northumberland coast and a day trip to Edinburgh from one of them by train?

There are a few year-round visitors centre type places around Perthshire and Loch Lomond but check in advance. The Dunkeld recommendation's a good one, then Edinburgh on the way back down. A few places won't be suited with a dog in tow (no dogs in the Botanics, I believe?) but you'd have options like Arthur's Seat and dog-friendly cafes.

Bamburgh on the way up is a lovely spot on the coast with dramatic scenery and great dog friendly pubs. Also Bamburgh castle is dog friendly.

Ooh yes - Northumberland would be a good compromise at this time of year. We had a few days staying in Alnmouth at Easter and it was gorgeous! Save Glencoe for the summer when it looks beautiful rather than bleak!

I believe that you can easily get to Edinburgh by train from Alnmouth if you really need to get a bit of time in Scotland. We booked a self-catering house via this website link - some of them are happy for dogs to stay.

@WouldBeGood

We do have breathtaking scenery 😃

Dumfries and Galloway is beautiful and much nearer England. Gatehouse of Fleet and surrounds are particularly nice

Agree with this. Some of the scenery is as grand and breathtaking as the Highlands and the towns are more picturesque and sophisticated. It's three and a half hours from Leeds to the Southern Uplands - mountains, lochs, castles and ruined abbeys. And we seldom get much snow.

@bellabelly

I believe that you can easily get to Edinburgh by train from Alnmouth if you really need to get a bit of time in Scotland. We booked a self-catering house via this website link - some of them are happy for dogs to stay.

It's an hour on the train from Alnmouth to Edinburgh. I've also stayed there in a property owned by that company! It's not cheap but it's dog friendly and comes highly recommended www.stvaleryalnmouth.com/

Cairnsmore of Fleet

Depending on what you want to do (obviously…) Edinburgh can be massively dog friendly. Lots of open space with lovely views on places like the Braid Hills where the dog can bound to its heart’s content but not far from civilisation.