drives north from edinburgh

[RealSquirrels]

I'm newly arrived in Edinburgh and have a car for a bit. Ive a whole day to kill tomorrow, i want to go for a drive northwards. Where should i go and where should i have lunch??? Thanks for the tips

[CO2000]

West coast or up Aviemore way (via the Lecht) too far? That's a couple of places where I'd be heading.

[TVR nut]

I'd head for Stirling then onto Aberfoyle, from there a great road to Callander( it has a name but can't remember) from Callander up to Lochearnhead. Keep heading north to Following the A85 to the Top of Loch Lomond. From there you have to routes home, the long way up the A82 to Fort William then home by Pitlochry and Perth or down the A82 down the side of Loch Lomond to Glasgow. Lots of pubs to stop for lunch around Loch Lomond. Weathers ment to be good for it tomorrow. Have fun wherever you end up going

[sherman]

TVR nut said:

I'd head for Stirling then onto Aberfoyle, from there a great road to Callander( it has a name but can't remember) from Callander up to Lochearnhead. Keep heading north to Following the A85 to the Top of Loch Lomond. From there you have to routes home, the long way up the A82 to Fort William then home by Pitlochry and Perth or down the A82 down the side of Loch Lomond to Glasgow. Lots of pubs to stop for lunch around Loch Lomond. Weathers ment to be good for it tomorrow. Have fun wherever you end up going

This is exactly what I would do. I would stop at the green welly for lunch.

[Technomad]

TVR nut said:

I'd head for Stirling then onto Aberfoyle, from there a great road to Callander( it has a name but can't remember) from Callander up to Lochearnhead. Keep heading north to Following the A85 to the Top of Loch Lomond. From there you have to routes home, the long way up the A82 to Fort William then home by Pitlochry and Perth or down the A82 down the side of Loch Lomond to Glasgow. Lots of pubs to stop for lunch around Loch Lomond. Weathers ment to be good for it tomorrow. Have fun wherever you end up going

That's the A84 N from Stirling -> A873/A81 to aberfoyle then right onto the A821 over the Duke's Pass - takes you back to the A84 just N of Callander - if you've time, turn left & head for Crianlarich/Tyndrum/Glencoe (although the Oban road from Tyndrum is a better drive). If short on time go as far as Lochearnhead , turn right onto A85, go as far as Comrie, turn right & head over the moors, which takes you back to the A9 thence back to Edinburgh.

Good Places to eat: Venachar Lochside (A821 after Duke's Pass & before you rejoin A84), Mhor 84 just off A84 @ Kingshouse/Balquhidder turning, (both of these Strongly recommended), Lake of Menteith Hotel, V decent snack bar at the Green Welly, Cafe Circa in the Antique centre on the A84 N of Doune.

If you see a grey 997 splashing the other way, give me a wave!

[Cambell]

TVR nut said:

Aberfoyle, from there a great road to Callander( it has a name but can't remember)

Dukes Pass

[marcus1875]

This will stir up a hornets nest....imo the dukes pass is overated. The tarmac is full of potholes and uneven, corners are off camber. Decent runs at it are blocked by tourists, buses or boyracers that think high revs equals fast speed.
Avoid in my opinion, or do it on weekday.
Marcus

[Cambell]

marcus1875 said:

This will stir up a hornets nest....imo the dukes pass is overated. The tarmac is full of potholes and uneven, corners are off camber. Decent runs at it are blocked by tourists, buses or boyracers that think high revs equals fast speed.
Avoid in my opinion, or do it on weekday.
Marcus

There's deffinately something in that, I prefer the run from Callander to Aberfoyle direction anyway..

[OlberJ]

It's very traffic dependent but get it clear and it's a riot.

[Robert Burns]

Its not worth it at the moment,

Flooded in parts, some really really nasty potholes and the leaves haven't been cleared making traction impossible for me in the m3

I wouldn't do it.

[Technomad]

Robert Burns said:

Its not worth it at the moment,

Flooded in parts, some really really nasty potholes and the leaves haven't been cleared making traction impossible for me in the m3

I wouldn't do it.

Wasn't too bad last week, before the really heavy rain, remembering that this is a technical road not a speed test - balance, throttle sense, smoothness and antici---pation much more important than outright traction or speed - that applies to car or bike.

[steelej]

Technomad said:

Wasn't too bad last week, before the really heavy rain, remembering that this is a technical road not a speed test - balance, throttle sense, smoothness and antici---pation much more important than outright traction or speed - that applies to car or bike.

Yeah i actually find the dukes pass a bit of a workout, usually need a wee rest after driving it quick

John.

[RealSquirrels]

Thanks to all for the routes and the thoughts. We headed up to aberfoyle and then over to callander, as suggested. Nice drive. We had planned to keep going to fort William, but it took us s couple of hours and an AA man to get to Stirling (busted undertray on the hire car made it undriveable above about 50mph), so we cut it short and just lapped the park
, coming back along loch lomond.

a very enjoyable drive, hardly any traffic, and a nice introduction to living in Scotland thanks guys. Cant wait to get out again.