First time in Scotland

[patsypam]

Hello All !

We are travelling up to Scotland on Saturday from Devon, first time I’ve been to Scotland and we’ve rented a beautiful home on Loch Lomond. Me and DH are wanting to do a day trip into Edinburgh, we have a car but would like to do a park and ride to avoid having to drive into the city. (Both for expense and the chaos that city driving brings)

can anyone recommend a good park and ride easily accessible from the direction we will be coming from?With any added info will be greatly appreciated. (Pricing, travel time, etc)

We are both also Harry Potter mad - so would love any must dos Harry Potter wise while in the city! We’ve of course googled a few.

Any great spots for lunch? We don’t want fine dining, but good food with decent portions. (No dietary requirement's)
Any fantastic bakery’s?

and outside of Edinburgh … with us staying in Loch Lomond - and must dos? Great places to eat? Worth noting our travel group varies massively, from 11 months old to 82! (However Edinburgh will just be me and DH).

Thank you in advance.

Where on Loch Lomond are you staying? East or West?

I would park at the park and ride at Ingliston by the airport and get the tram in to town. Parking is free and the tram is something like £5.50 each for a day ticket. Hop off at Edinburgh Park on your way in to get breakfast at Patina, an amazing bakery tucked away in the business park.

The info listed with the house info states “ Known as the gateway to the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, Balloch sits at the south end of Loch Lomond and is on the main road connecting Glasgow to the Western Highlands. “ xxxx

That’s great thank you - do you know how long the tram ride is from there to the city Centre? X

I would take a trip up to Glenfinnan. You can see the Harry Potter viaduct there, though I don't think the train is running atm. But the scenery is amazing en route and Glenfinnan is lovely.

Ingliston park and ride and get the tram in, it'll take 25mins to princess st.

Harry Potter, there's a walking tour 'potter trail' and potions afternoon tea at Department of Magic or The Cauldron cocktail bar. Victoria St was the inspiration for Diagon Alley and there's a shop there (but tourist trap v expensive).

Millarochy bay on loch Lomond is beautiful.

i would get the train from Balloch to Edinburgh (change at Glasgow Queen Street). It will be as quick as driving, around 1 hour 45 to 2 hours. More relaxing and would save you driving back in the dark.

it is dark here at 4 o’clock.

i agree with @OffOnOurHols just get the train from Balloch and avoid getting tied up in traffic on the M8.

Mor bakery in Edinburgh Waverley does the best bacon sandwich ❤️❤️❤️ all freshly made. They do some fantastic sandwiches and cakes too..... highly recommend ❤️

There is also a really lovely ice cream/gelato place in Waverly market. I did look at other things in Edinburgh apart from the food 😂😂

Tram from the airport is about 30 mins to the city centre.

From Loch Lomond? By heck, that is like driving London to Birmingham, while passing so many places on the way that are brilliant...So ignore this.

You are in the Trossachs, so explore some of that.
Lomond side is nice - a few places to stop and visit, but make sure you do east road as well as west side. Lovely honest cake stall at Rowardennan with lovely autumnal walks for all ages, visitors centre, hotel etc.

The islands on Loch Lomond are worth a visit - not sure of boat timings, but best one goes from Balmaha to Inchailloch. There are also great walks from Balmaha along the shore.

Glasgow is worth a visit - you can do it by train from Balloch. Great city, easy to get around on bus, underground and tram. Lots of free museums and gallerys such as Botanic Gardens, Kelvin Grove, Modern Art Gallery, House for an Art Lover, Transport Museum etc. Good shopping too.

Aberfoyle is a drive over the hill, but worth it. Up the hill is the David Marshall lodge with amazing view, waterfall walk, play areas, cafe, Go Ape etc. Aberfoyle itself is near Loch Ard and the forest park is littered with walks and amazing forest views - feels Canadian in many ways.

Falls of Falloch at the north end of Lomond are stunning after or during rain - worth a wander, and as you go through Glen Falloch the Highlands really open up.

A longer drive (but still not Glenfinnan FFS!) is to Glencoe, so much to see and really really great views. But choose a better day as you want to see the mountain tops, maybe even take the chairlift up at the ski centre.

Stirling is also worth a day out - great castle, wallace monument, Kings Park, free museums and some shopping. From Stirling there is a hill called Dumyat - it over looks the lowlands one way and Highlands another way. A few km and couple of hundred metres up as the car park is high up the hill, but a real adventure and feels bigger than it is. Easy path no worries about getting lost.

Are you travelling up in one day?!

we went to Glenfinnan see the viaduct that features in Harry Potter, it’s was a nice area to walk around, but don’t think it’s particularly close to where you are staying.

Each to their own, but it's a 2 and a half hour drive through some of the most spectacular scenery in Scotland with a Harry Potter themed place at the end. I would rather do that round trip than drive to Edinburgh myself. The drive (as long as it's not raining) is breathtaking.

I'm not sure about parking and pricing etc, but just wanted to say how beautiful Edinburgh is! It's my favourite city, so historic and atmospheric (The Old Town is my favourite) The Art Gallery, National Gallery of Scotland, is absolutely awe inspiring, some beautiful, huge paintings (if you like that kind of thing)
There is just such a beautiful ambience in Edinburgh, I hope you both have a wonderful visit 😊

So a 5+ hour drive in total?
While true it is spectacular, driving through scenery is a poor second to really getting out there and exploring Scotland on foot, in person, meeting wildlife, locals and scenery that from a car is a poor second to getting out into it first hand. I do feel Scotland holidays have become driving holidays now...and that is not ideal after you have just driven up from southern England.

Also, there is equally stunning scenery within an hour or so of Balloch - from west coast ferries, to huge mountains, lovely beaches, stunning empty woodlands, thundering rivers and waterfalls etc etc. Why would you drive past just because a main road goes that way to an overcrowded place?

Agree with everything @outdooryone says.

I'm mainly confused as to why stay in Loch Lomond if you want to go to Edinburgh? Go to Glasgow instead and have a wander round the main building of Glasgow University which feels very Hogwartsy even though it wasn't used as a filming location then go down to Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery. Stirling Castle is much better than Edinburgh Castle and the ceiling of the Inner Hall is incredible so do that. And yes, explore the Trossachs, they are beautiful.

What an absolute treat awaits @patsypam

The west coast is truly beautiful

A wee taster

Loch Lomond and Trossachs

their actual menu (if seafood is your thing ofc)

And not forgetting the legendary deep fried mars bar at the chippy😂😖

www.walkhighlands.co.uk website is really good for walking routes.

Are you unable to consider that other people's opinions are just as valid as yours?

They have an 11 month old and an 81 year old in the party and so I based my recommendation on what my parents would have enjoyed at that age, which is a scenic drive.

I have relatives come over from Canada to stay with my family in the Glasgow area and they have always done this trip in a day and enjoyed it.

I'm not forcing anyone to do it. I'm suggesting it. I don't see why you are so riled up about it.

Some people like driving.

The OP is absolutely entitled to think she doesn't want to drive on the holiday but it's not the daftest idea in the world like you are making it out to be. The scenery is spectacular.

I'd wait and see about the weather re the Glenfinnan drive, if it's pouring with rain or foggy you won't see much and it does get dark early at this time of year. It is a long way and there is lots to do and see closer to Balloch. Also if you are driving from Devon and back you might not feel like it. We have stayed in Balloch a few times and tend to stick to about a 90 min drive radius most of the time or you are in the car all week.

We like Stirling Castle (agree it's much better than Edinburgh), Stirling is nice for a wander round and getting the train into Glasgow is quick and easy. We also like to drive round to the Trossachs and maybe go to Callender which is a pretty little town. Drive up to Killin which is another nice little town with waterfalls in the middle. On the west side Luss is a pretty village with nice cafes and a beach. There are walks of all levels of difficulty all
over the place. Inverary is also nice for a wander round and bite to eat. Oban is further but a very scenic route, Ben Cruachan hydro electric power station on that road has a visitor centre and underground tour which is interesting.

At Balloch you can go on a boat trip out onto Loch Lomond. When we visit the area we always go for a family meal at Duck Bay Marina which has stunning views.

Thank you very much - that’s great.

A early start with several stops but yes, one day. But then there for 7 days.

Thank you, we had planned to do glenfinnan, was gutted to see the train doesn’t run this time of year though! Would have loved that. X

It’s always been on our list to do! And our little ones grandparents have planned to take our little one out for the day so me and DH can make the journey and explore the city for the day. Very much looking forward to it, it looks so idyllic. Beautiful city.

We didn't pick the location of where we are staying, but we’ve always wanted to visit Edinburgh and figured while we are up there, we’d make the journey to finally do it.
We do also plan to visit Glasgow. - will also add Stirling castle to the list, I expect the older crowd with really enjoy that too. X