Aviemore, Fort William, Edinburgh places to stay & see 29 March 2011 at 11:00AM in Scotland 6 replies 2.1K views

nicola00

Me and the kids (7 & 2) are thinking of tagging along with my partner next week to Aviemore on Monday, Fort William on Tue and the Edinburgh on Wed.

He has some staff training to do but this only last 9-11am each day and then the rest of the day is free. He was planning on driving up and down each day from Glasgow but I figured we could probably stay 2-3 nights for a little bit more than petrol (she says fingers crossed)

So I'm looking for any suggestions on places to stay and things to do, on a smallish budget

Sunday - Aviemore what to do where to stay?
Monday - Aviemore what to do?
Monday PM - Travel to Fort William where to stay?
Tuesday Fort William What to do ?
Tuesday PM Travel to Edinburgh, where to stay?

Thanks

NEH

nicola00 wrote: »

Me and the kids (7 & 2) are thinking of tagging along with my partner next week to Aviemore on Monday, Fort William on Tue and the Edinburgh on Wed.

He has some staff training to do but this only last 9-11am each day and then the rest of the day is free. He was planning on driving up and down each day from Glasgow but I figured we could probably stay 2-3 nights for a little bit more than petrol (she says fingers crossed)

So I'm looking for any suggestions on places to stay and things to do, on a smallish budget

Sunday - Aviemore what to do where to stay?
Monday - Aviemore what to do?
Monday PM - Travel to Fort William where to stay?
Tuesday Fort William What to do ?
Tuesday PM Travel to Edinburgh, where to stay?

Thanks

I am presuming he is doing his training in each place each day?

I certainly wouldn't suggest travelling from Glasgow each day as it's nearer 3/ 3 and a half hours each way on a good stretch to Aviemore...Doing 6/7 hours round trip in the car and having some time in each place would be a struggle....

You really ned to sit down and work out your timings taking into account the journey times above and work out how long you have in each area as it is quite ambitious to fit all that in in 3 days...They way your itinerary is is the best way to do it to minimise the longer journeys...Aviemore to Fort William could be done in a couple of hours...

Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh might be something worth considering given you've a 7 year old...Are you outdoors types?

nicola00

Thanks NEH, the driving up and down was only if he was going alone (madness), which is why I thought it be best , or rather I told him it would be best if we came

If we travel up on the Sunday then we have the full day Monday in Aviemore and Also the full day Tuesday in Fort William and again in Edinburgh.

I'll look into Dynamic Earth, Thanks

outdoorsy things are good however I have PBS/IC (Painfull bladder/Overactive) so cant venture to far from public spaces. I need to stratigically plan out the toilet breaks for the journey up

NEH

nicola00 wrote: »

Thanks NEH, the driving up and down was only if he was going alone (madness), which is why I thought it be best , or rather I told him it would be best if we came

If we travel up on the Sunday then we have the full day Monday in Aviemore and Also the full day Tuesday in Fort William and again in Edinburgh.

I'll look into Dynamic Earth, Thanks

outdoorsy things are good however I have PBS/IC (Painfull bladder/Overactive) so cant venture to far from public spaces. I need to stratigically plan out the toilet breaks for the journey up

I would definately suggest then that you stop at House Of Bruar (by Blair Atholl) on the way up....Fairly clean toilets and the only ones on the A9 between Perth and Inverness without going off the A9...;)

This website is quite good

http://visitcairngorms.com/


What about doing something on the Sunday to break the journey between Galsgow and Aviemore, the Pass Of Killiecrankie is a lovely place for a short walk

http://www.perthshire.co.uk/index.asp?pg=419

(and there are toilets there)

Give you a chance to stretch your legs...

I've not been to Fort William but i know people who have, i don't think there is much to do in Fort William itself but try this website..

http://www.visit-fortwilliam.co.uk/

might give you an idea what you can do given your circumstances...

Aviemore does have a swimming complex (owned by Macdonald hotels) which non residents can buy a day pass for. It has slides and wave machines and a childrens area for younger residents if that's something that interests you...

http://www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/aviemore/leisure/#leisure

As for hotels, i have stayed at the Macdonald hotel in Aviemore, quite nice, just your generic Macdonald hotels but they do have a range of accomodation to suit different budgets...

I was on the train from Inverness and i was recommended the Cairngorm Hotel opposite the railway station in Aviemore by some holidaymakers around here so might be worth a shot....

As for Edinburgh the premier inn used to be good at Haymarket but it's quite pricey now and the one nearest it isn't great....We've stayed in apartments which have tended to be the best bet but not sure if they do one nights or not...

http://www.princesstreetsuites.co.uk/accommodation-location/

These are good but you might be able to get a deal on them with laterooms, that's who we've used in the past when we needed to stay in Edinburgh...Also with parking in Edinburgh costing a fortune make the most of the park and rides and park there and get the bus or train in...

mvteng

In Aviemore Landmark is a must for the kids if the weathers good. Its an outdoor woodland adventure park. Also near Aviemore is the Highland wildlife park which is also good. Both are pretty much full day visits.

If the Macdonald comes in at a good price, its an easy option for the kids. They have the swimming pool, cinema, pottery painting, playpark. Also at nights they normally have childrens entertainment on. However, the food is expensive & not very good, so we normally end up at the Cairngorm hotel, which is just a short walk away.

nicola00

Thanks for taking the time NEH excellent ideas, hopefully I'll get a minute or two tomorrow night to sit and plan it all out

Mvteng, I had just said to my OH I'm sure there is a wildlife park up there and the hotel sounds good too

Much planning to do

NEH

nicola00 wrote: »

Thanks for taking the time NEH excellent ideas, hopefully I'll get a minute or two tomorrow night to sit and plan it all out

Mvteng, I had just said to my OH I'm sure there is a wildlife park up there and the hotel sounds good too

Much planning to do

Forgot the wildlife park, silly me...

http://www.highlandwildlifepark.org/opening_times.htm