Need advice from scottish members

C

chrismann85

Active member
 West Midlands
I'm planning my first road trip in the Z to Scotland next weekend for my girlfriend's birthday. Never been before so could really use some advice. What is the best place to visit, what route should I take? Would love to drive around some beautiful landscapes like I've seen posted on here. Any help would be very much appreciated. I'm fairly useless at planning these things. She wanted to leave early morning and make it a day trip, but I might surprise her with a nice hotel somewhere. :)
 
If West Midlands is your start point and you're daytripping it, then you're really limited to the southern half of Scotland (south of Edinburgh) IMO - it's quite a drive to get up north of Glasgow where argueably the best scenery starts. So an overnighter in a nice hotel might be a decent plan. I'd guess you don't want to be driving the entire time, so perhaps aiming for a hotel at the furtherest away point (or close to) would be sensible, perhaps Perthshire: Dunkeld Hilton ain't cheap but the location is stunning, blew me away so much we got married there outdoors.

To get to Dunkeld from Glasgow I'd suggest:
- starting from Stirling, A91 to Yetts 'O Muckhart
- north past Gleneagles on A823
- continue north to Crieff on A822
- after Crieff continue north on A822 directly to Dunkeld
(the above was pretty much the route taken on a z4-forum meet last year)

From Dunkeld:
- east on A923 to Blairgowrie
- north on A93 as far as Braemar (stunning road and scenery)
- and return

Just be aware the weather conditions are making the roads somewhat dodgy at times, but it's changing on a daily basis...
 
The weathers really bad up here just now as we have had over 30cms of snow in the last two days 12cm of that last night, so I'd keep an eye on the weather before you leave, The roads are clear although they do have a covering of ice where the gritters don't go down far enough. Stick on the A9 and head up through Stirling, Perth, and up towards Dunkeld. You won't get far in one day, I reckon you will need to stay overnight. A Travel Lodge is cheap enough.
 
I lived in glasgow for 3 years and argueably the best scenery is north of Glasgow however glasgow is 1.5 hours from the scottish border then another hour out of glasgow you start to hit the beset scenery, also Loch Eck just past dunoon is a place I visit regularly for the Cowal games which is 3-3.5hrs drive from Newcastle) but if thats too far, south west scotland coastal route:

http://www.motorcyclescotland.com/southwest-scotland-motorcycle-route.asp

and the galloway forest park:

http://www.google.co.uk/images?um=1&hl=en&biw=1199&bih=564&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=galloway+forest+park&aq=f&aqi=g1&aql=f&oq=&gs_rfai=

provide some stunning scenery also.


Andy
 
thanks for the tips guys. Seems like a 5.5hr drive up to glasgow from here, will probably have to stay overnight round there then head off to Dunkeld. Thanks again :thumbsup:
 
Hi Chris,
The weather on the eastern side is pretty bad A9 etc.
My son often drives up from B'Ham for the weekend to visit us in Oban.
Its about a 6hr drive, traffic permitting.
The weather and roads are generally pretty clear . We have had little snow on the west coast here and at the moment it is pretty mild.
The scenery etc just N of Glasgow Loch Lomond, Inverary etc is fantastic. Easily do able for a Friday nite to sunday visit.
M6 M74 M8 A82 A85 ... Oban
Check out www.obanbedandbreakfast.org or call 01631 770693 for details.
There are lots of fantastic scenic routes around Argyll. I can help you get the best out of even a short visit.
Hope it helps.
Jeff
 
I used to love the drive from Glen Urquhart (Loch Ness) to Glasgow, down through Glen Coe on the A85 :thumbsup:
A bit too far for your day trip perhaps and probably not the best with the current weather.

It's a shame that in winter the weather gets in the way and in the summer the darn tourists get in the way :headbang:

There's then lots of nice scenery north of Loch Ness, such as Glen Affric, usualy some impressive dear up there.

I must go for a drive up there when I get my next Z :driving:
 
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