Route map help

maggiesoop

I'm taking some friends from Edinburgh to Inverness. Doing to usual touristy places (Urquhart Castle, Loch Ness, Stirling Castle etc) but wonder if anyone could tell me of any "off the beaten track" places you've found, ie wonderful views or wonderful walks of less than an hour. Many thanks.

Kinski

My oh is a tour guide and he suggests that you stop at The House of Bruar, it's a shopping centre http://www.houseofbruar.com/ ( Scotland's answer to Harrods ), if you go behind the centre there is a lovely walk to the Falls of Bruar http://www.perthshirebigtreecountry.co.uk/index.asp?pg=24, the shopping centre and the falls are about half way into your journey. If you don't fancy that there is also The Fenicular railway http://www.cairngormmountain.co.uk/see-do/funicular-railway, or there's Loch-an-Eilein which is in the same area as the railway http://www.kincraig.com/walks/loch-an-.htm
Hope this helps.

Terri

skintbint_2

recommend Dunkeld to stretch your legs, walk up by the cathedral and alongthe banks of the river tay, will be beautiful at this time of year with the tree turning.

ailuro2

Walk up to the Wallace Monument, follow the trails aroundf the base of it - we did this on Friday, the start is a bit steep, doesn't need walking boots steep, just enough to feel you've earned a cake in the cafe at the end.

Urqhuart castle is probably my least favourite castle, Stirling is definitely my favourite, lots to do and tons of info on the free tour.

Bannockburn is, to be brutally honset not that awesome... yes the big statue is impressive, but other than that it's just a wee centre with some chain mail to try on.:o ( we were there last week)

Get Historic Scotland membership for everyone, will save you a packet on entry to Edinburgh/Stirling/Urqhuart...think it gets you into Cawdor Castle too, which is well preserved and has lovely gardens too.
It will cover Doune Castle too - we visited this last week, i's the one where Monty Python filmed the Holy Grail and is unique because it was built to one person's design and hasn't been added to. It's about 7 miles up the road from Stirling.

Probably not on your route is Pictavia, we did this a few years ago, was interesting to see the older history but maybe not worth deviating from your route, unless you come back via Aberdeen and the coast road.;)

http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/ is the Historic Scotland link, I'd plan your visits around the sites on offer from them, otherwise it gets expensive very quickly.

nic2075

Not exactly off the beaten track but we just came back from Nairn and we went to Culloden and Clava Cairns (1 mile from Culloden) my 5 and 2 year olds also loved it all.

I recommend joining NTS or Historic Scotland (depending on which castles/attractions you chose etc). Each place is over £10 per adult to get in. We have a family one and have more than got our moneys worth this summer.

loadsacash

We went to Urquhart castle earlier this week and spent a couple of hours there.

Afterwards we drove over to Glen Affric - it is really lovely and well worth a visit

http://www.glenaffric.org/glen_affric.html