Suggestions for 2 days of Scottish driving from Edinburgh

[cailean]

I am looking for any suggestions for 2 days of driving from Edinburgh. We will be based in Edinburgh (I know not the best part of Scotland for driving...) for 4 days and will have 2 days for driving. We will have our 5 and 3 year old children with us so it can't be extremely long days. Before we had children we used to love driving around Scotland and this is the first time we will be visiting since having children. I know as we will be based in Edinburgh we will not get up to the likes of Applecross etc.

Thanks for any suggestions

Edited by cailean on Monday 18th October 21:16

[JM]

A trip to Apllecross is easily do-able in a day trip from Edinburgh.

But there are plenty of good roads much nearer.

A simple route would be A701 south to Moffat, then A708 up past St Marys Loch and then a miriad of options either extending the run through the borders e.g to Duns, or just back up towards Edinburgh.

Other options are down to Dumfries and Galloway A702 etc.
I would also recommend heading a bit west and doing the Dukes Pass, A821 from Aberfoyle to Callander, and there are plenty of good roads from Callander.

[rallycross]

For some hilly/wild roads but very close to Edinburgh take the B6355 to Dunns, this - takes you over the top of the Lammermuir hills past Whiteadder water (good views, sheep on road, cattle grids etc so you feel like you are miles from anywhere) over to Dunns (visit the Jim Clark rooms?).

Then see a bit of the borders eg Newtown St Boswels/Galashiels and head back to Edinburgh via the A7.




Edinburgh to Haddington ((A1, 15 mins) to Gifford to Duns, Earlston, Selkirk, Galashiels - Edinburgh.

[masermartin]

This might be a long day with kids, but ...

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&a...

That B-road around Loch Leven at the top is worth the trip to Scotland all on its own, and the Glen Fruin road (leading to point B) is all sorts of awesome for completely different reasons.

If you run out of time, you could cut out points D-G and use the A85, but ... you'd really be missing out.

Edited by masermartin on Wednesday 20th October 18:29

[cailean]

Thanks guys, I will have a good look at the maps and decide.

[alfa pint]

I'd be heading for the borders.

A6105 from Earlston to Berwick is a lovely road. Melrose has a teddy bear museum in it and there's loads to do around the Abbey. Good place for a decent stop.

Duns is a nice little town and the Jim Clark museum is there and worth a short stop.

A697 from near Lauder across to Greenlaw / Coldstream is an epic road (daily drive for me for a while from Edinburgh, lovely lovely commute)

Duns to Cranshaws road (forget the number) is a very nice bimble.

Galashiels through Gattonside to the A68 has some absolutely brilliant brilliant sharp rises where we used to jump the cars when I were lad. Potential for some bottoming out, but on a mini you could get the wheels off the ground. Might make your missus sick, might make the kids laugh.

Kelso is a stunning little town with plenty for the kids and yourself to do.