Driving from Edinburgh to Inverness (or vice versa) is a well-liked route that many locals and vacationers take when visiting Scotland.
There may be a lot to see and do on the Edinburgh to Inverness drive, which follows the A9 north, and so I believed I’d share with you a few of my favorite issues to do alongside the route. I’ve additionally included my favorite lunch suggestions!
You gained’t have the ability to cease and expertise all of my suggestions in simply sooner or later, and so I counsel selecting 2-3 issues (max) from this record, plus a lunch cease. A few of the actions will take longer than others, so I’ve included solutions for a way lengthy you need to spend at every vacation spot.
I’ve additionally included some suggestions for driving this route; whether or not you’re driving from Edinburgh to Inverness, or the opposite manner round, you’ll discover this weblog publish immensely useful along with your planning!
Scotland Journey Tip
In the event you’re the kind of one that likes to see as a lot as potential, you’ll be able to rapidly cease and see a few of the castles and palaces I’ve talked about from the surface
Drive from Edinburgh to Inverness Generally Requested Questions
How lengthy does it take to drive from Edinburgh to Inverness (and vice versa?)
The drive itself is simply over 3 hours, nonetheless, if you’re stopping to see and do issues and have a lunch cease, I’d permit 6-8 hours for the drive to suit all the pieces in.
Are you able to drive from Edinburgh to Inverness in sooner or later?
Sure! I’ve completed this journey in each instructions many occasions. In the event you permit your self your complete day to make this journey you’ll be able to slot in a couple of stops alongside the way in which as properly.
In the event you want gradual journey (which I all the time advocate) you’ll be able to select a location in between the 2 cities to in a single day. I all the time advocate Pitlochry as an excellent place to cease in a single day; it’s an attractive mountain city with a number of enjoyable pubs, eating places and full services. If you wish to keep someplace a little bit extra off the overwhelmed path, Aberfeldy is a pleasant village with full services.
You may also e-book a self-catering lodging or lodge someplace distant on this space if you wish to be away from the hustle and bustle. So long as you’ve got a automobile, you’ll be able to keep just about wherever! We do that on a regular basis, as we take pleasure in our quiet nature getaways.
What’s the finest driving route from Edinburgh to Inverness?
One of the best route can be the quickest route, which fits by way of Perth, Pitlochry and Aviemore. This takes roughly 3 hours and quarter-hour. The actions and sights listed on this weblog publish are all very near this route, however could require a brief detour (not more than quarter-hour).
Right here’s a map of this route:
Necessary notice
You’ll drive alongside the A9 street when driving between Edinburgh and Inverness. As a result of the A9 is such a well-liked street, I like to recommend studying this information to driving in Scotland for first-timers to concentrate on a few of the risks on this street. It’s lengthy, and straightforward to lose focus when merging lanes- so do take care when driving this route!
Edinburgh to Inverness Drive: 12 Issues To See & Do
Dunfermline Abbey
Price: Free
Dunfermline Abbey is sort of a marvel- and you may see why King Robert the Bruce selected it for the resting place of his physique.
It was constructed by David I (who was attributed with constructing most of the lovely medieval abbeys throughout Scotland). He additionally constructed a nunnery subsequent to the abbey for his mom, St Margaret of Scotland.
Enjoyable truth: Robert the Bruce’s coronary heart is buried in Melrose Abbey within the Scottish Borders, one other spectacular abbey I like to recommend visiting if you’re visiting the south!
Time: Permit at the very least 1 hour right here to discover.
Lochleven Citadel
Lochleven Citadel is a hidden gem alongside this route; it’s straightforward to overlook this fort that stands on a small islet in the midst of a loch.
The island is called ”the jail island” as a result of Mary Queen of Scots was as soon as imprisoned within the fort for nearly a 12 months in 1567. Throughout her imprisonment, she sadly miscarried twins, and was compelled to abdicate her throne. She managed to flee, however this was the final time she noticed Scotland.
There may be at present no customer entry to the fort whereas the masonry is being inspected, however you’ll be able to marvel at it by means of a pair of binoculars from the Kirkgate Automotive Park.
Time: Permit half-hour for the detour to see Lochleven Citadel. If the fort is open, permit 1.5 hours minimal to catch the boat throughout and discover the fort.
Perth
I’ve written an in-depth journey information for issues to do in Perth, so do test that out.
Simply rapidly, a few of my favorite issues to do in Perth embody going for a stroll up Kinnoull Hill (which is particularly lovely in spring or autumn), unbiased buying, and the Black Watch Museum.
It’s additionally an excellent cease for lunch- see my suggestions for locations to cease for lunch between Edinburgh and Inverness additional on on this article.
Time: You possibly can permit as little or as a lot time to discover Perth- I counsel at the very least 2-3 hours for those who’re going to have lunch, do a spot of buying, or discover a few of the historic sights within the metropolis. The stroll up Kinnoull Hill takes at the very least 2 hours, so for those who’re planning to drive from Edinburgh to Inverness in sooner or later, I’d make this your important exercise.
Scone Palace
Price: Grownup £16.50, Youngster £12, Household £50
Open: 1st April – thirty first October
Scone Palace (pronounced ‘Scoon’) is situated a brief drive from Perth and was the positioning the place the Kings of Scotland (together with Robert the Bruce) have been topped up till the late 1400s.
Scone Palace is the unique dwelling of the Stone of Future (often known as the ‘Stone of Scone’) which was used through the coronation ceremony. It’s believed to have been introduced right here by Kenneth MacAlpin, the primary King of the Scots (810-858 AD).
In 906, King Constantine held the primary recorded council right here, and Scone grew to become the non secular and political centre of the Scottish realm.
Right now, the Palace is dwelling to the Earls of Mansfield. There’s a enjoyable maze to discover, lovely woodlands crammed with heritage timber to wander, and there’s, after all, the palace itself.
Time: There may be an unimaginable quantity of historical past to absorb right here, and I like to recommend spending a minimal of three hours exploring the Palace, church and gardens. If visiting Scone Palace, make this your important exercise of the day.
Dunkeld and Birnam
Dunkeld and Birnam are two villages separated by the River Tay.
Dunkeld is a tranquil village to go for a wander; it’s dwelling to the well-known Aran Bakery, which is owned by Flora Shedden, who was a contestant on the Nice British Bake-Off. Make sure you seize some candy treats for the journey!
Kids’s creator Beatrix Potter hung out in these villages throughout her childhood summer time holidays. It’s straightforward to see how this space impressed her writing! There’s a small backyard devoted to her within the centre of Birnam. Look out for Peter Rabbit!
Birnam is dwelling to the Birnam Oak and its neighbour the Birnam Sycamore, that are regarded as the one surviving timber of the good forest celebrated in Shakespeare’s Macbeth because the well-known Birnam Wooden.
Time: Permit at the very least 1 hour to discover these villages; quarter-hour for the Beatrix Potter Backyard, quarter-hour to see the Birnam Oak; half-hour to walk the streets of Dunkeld.
The Hermitage
Parking: There’s a small cost of £3 for parking.
The Hermitage is a well-liked woodland glen stroll situated close to Dunkeld. It’s particularly common throughout mid-September to mid-October when the autumn foliage is at its finest in Scotland.
The round stroll across the Hermitage takes round 2 hours, nonetheless, you’ll be able to merely park your automobile and stroll for so long as you want, and return by way of the identical path. There are many little paths that sprout away from one another, making this a superb stroll for youths to discover.
Highlights embody the folly Ossian’s Corridor, heavy flowing waterfalls, and Rumbling Bridge, an outdated stone bridge set excessive above a dramatic gorge.
Time: Permit 45 minutes for a fast stroll, or 2 hours for the round stroll.
Pitlochry
Pitlochry is completely positioned between the Edinburgh to Inverness drive, which makes this wee city a superb place to cease to interrupt up the route, and even spend a couple of nights to absorb all that Perthshire and the Cairngorms Nationwide Park has to supply!
In style with each locals and vacationers, Pitlochry has a wide variety of lodging, retailers, pubs and eating places for its measurement.
A few of my favorite issues to do in Pitlochry embody:
- Procuring on the Excessive Road. There are tons of unbiased retailers on the primary avenue promoting homeware, clothes, conventional Scottish presents, jewelry, skincare and extra.
- Heathergems. A jewelry manufacturing unit the place they make lovely items utilizing Scottish heather! In the event you’re in search of a singular present for your self or another person, pay a go to right here.
- Pitlochry Fish Ladder. There’s a viewing platform which is usually open to the general public, the place you’ll be able to see the fish swimming round. There are additionally pretty views throughout Loch Faskally and the River Tummel.
- Faskally Loch. There are some lovely woodland walks across the loch; so lovely that scenes from Season 5 of Outlander have been filmed right here! I truly stumbled throughout them filming sequence 5 whereas I used to be out strolling these trails. My private favorite is the Bealach Path (which is the realm they have been filming).
- Getting ice cream from Scotch Nook. They promote a number of enjoyable flavours, together with Scottish Pill- yum!
Afternoon Tea at Fonab Citadel
Price: Afternoon Tea £32.50 per particular person; Champagne Afternoon Tea from £52.45 per particular person.
Fonab Citadel is an totally beautiful Nineteenth-century fort that sits on the banks of Loch Faskally and Faskally Forest in Pitlochry.
The fort is a well-liked luxurious lodge, so it’s not open for excursions, however the easiest way to get a style of this fort is by reserving a desk for Afternoon Tea!
The Haggis and I did simply this on our babymoon and it was exquisite- probably certainly one of my favorite Afternoon Tea experiences in Scotland! Our desk appeared out onto views of Loch Faskally, which have been completely gorgeous in mid-October.
Fonab Citadel is the epitome of a luxurious fort keep; deal with your self to an evening or two if you wish to dwell like royalty. The Haggis and I’ll actually be again for a romantic staycation in some unspecified time in the future!
Time: Permit 1.5 hours for lunch and a stroll across the fort grounds.
Blair Citadel
Price: £16 per grownup
Open: April to October
I could also be barely biased as I’ve ancestral ties to Blair Citadel, however I’m assured nobody would argue that this fort is totally fascinating!
Dwelling to the Dukes of Atholl and the seat of Clan Murray, Blair Citadel is a singular Scots Baronial-style fort standing brilliant and white towards the backdrop of the Perthshire hills.
It skilled turbulent occasions through the Jacobite Risings of the seventeenth and 18th centuries, which pitted brother towards brother, and father towards son. It has additionally performed host to well-known figures together with Queen Victoria and Bonnie Prince Charlie.
The Walled Backyard is gorgeous, and there are numerous woodland walks across the property to discover. A busy river flows immediately in entrance of the fort, and an outdated stone bridge offers you spectacular views of the water making its manner downstream from the hills of the huge property.
Time: I like to recommend spending at the very least 2-3 hours right here to take all the pieces in, so make it your important cease for those who’re driving from Edinburgh to Inverness in sooner or later. The fort is big, with many rooms to discover that stroll you thru the historical past of the Dukes of Atholl.
The Home of Bruar Procuring Centre
The Home of Bruar Procuring Centre is sort of actually plonked in the midst of nowhere, surrounded by the hills of the Cairngorms Nationwide Park.
I’ll say this- buying right here is pricey, however there’s a big number of beautiful homeware, furnishings, kids’s toys, artwork, clothes, outside put on, and artisan meals.
For inexpensive buying, there’s a unbelievable outlet store I often browse to discover a cut price, which is situated across the again of the centre.
Consuming right here can be costly so I’d advise selecting someplace to eat primarily based on my suggestions additional down on this weblog publish. In the event you’re staying in self-catering lodging, I like to recommend shopping for some artisan meals for snacks or dinner- there’s a large number of locally-made Scottish produce within the store!
Time: It’s straightforward to get misplaced buying right here, so permit 1-2 hours to have a relaxed buying expertise.
Ruthven Barracks
Price: Free
Ruthven Barracks is certainly one of my favorite hidden gems in Scotland.
The Ruthven Barracks was as soon as utilized by the English to manage the Scottish Highlands. It was situated on Normal Wade’s Army Highway, a street constructed to watch the highlands through the Jacobite Rebellions.
Bonnie Prince Charlie’s military efficiently took management of Ruthven Barracks through the 1746 Jacobite Revolt, nonetheless, the troopers have been informed to flee and save themselves after their defeat on the Battle of Culloden in April 1746.
Right now, Ruthven Barracks is an attractive wreck situated close to the city of Kingussie. One of the best view of the Barracks is trying in direction of Kingussie, with the shadow of Creag Bheag looming behind.
Time: Permit half-hour to 1 hour for the detour and to discover the barracks.
Aviemore
Aviemore is a small mountain city identified for being the journey base within the Cairngorms Nationwide Park. There are tons of outside actions to do right here together with mountain climbing, kayaking, crusing, windsurfing, and snowboarding and snowboarding within the winter.
It’s additionally an excellent place to cease for some fast buying (I really like the Waterstones bookshop and the artwork gallery that sits subsequent to it) or a chunk to eat.
A couple of of my beneficial actions embody:
- Mountaineering. There are such a lot of wonderful hikes on this space for all levels- try the Loch Morlich Circuit or the Loch an Eilein hike to see the fort in the midst of the loch.
- Driving to Loch Morlich to see the UK’s highest seashore
- Go to the Cairngorm Reindeer Herd
You would additionally simply spend a couple of days right here, which I encourage for those who’re into your outside adventures. One of the best place to base your self can be Glenmore, a 10-minute drive from Aviemore into the Cairngorms, the place most of the hikes and watersports are situated. There may be additionally an incredible campground right here referred to as the Glenmore Campsite, and the Cairngorm Lodge Youth Hostel which is dog-friendly.
You possibly can learn my dog-friendly information to Aviemore for those who’re travelling along with your pooch!
Time: There are such a lot of issues to do in Aviemore that it makes it tough to counsel a size of time to spend right here, nonetheless, for those who’re passing by means of permit at the very least one hour to have a browse of the primary avenue and seize an ice cream. In the event you’re desirous to do some mountain climbing or outside actions, I’d counsel Aviemore as your important cease for the day, or choose to spend a couple of nights right here.
Locations to cease for lunch on the drive from Edinburgh to Inverness
I counsel checking the opening hours for the next suggestions, and reserving a desk if potential as many of those locations are common. In the event you’re travelling within the shoulder or low season (October-April) a few of these eating places will both shut for lunch or function on decreased hours.
Hetties Tea Rooms, Pitlochry – certainly one of my favorite locations to cease for lunch! I all the time get a hazelnut latte and a sandwich- there’s additionally a scrumptious choice of teas and candy treats accessible. I additionally get some cheesecake to remove with me – the Crunchie cheesecake is unimaginable!
Fonab Citadel, Pitlochry – I discussed having Afternoon Tea right here additional up, nonetheless, additionally they do lunch and dinner for those who’re in search of an expensive meal.
The Previous Mill Inn, Pitlochry – The Previous Mill is a vacationer favorite, but it surely lives as much as the hype. The meals is scrumptious, the decor is conventional and cosy, and there’s loads of outside seating. It does get busy- put together to have one other selection up your sleeve.
Effies Tea Rooms, Perth – one other excellent place for Afternoon Tea in a standard setting. Having Afternoon Tea right here is like sitting down along with your Scottish granny (in a cool manner) – or taking a step again in time to the twentieth century. Once we ate right here in 2022 they have been money solely.
The Previous Bridge Inn, Aviemore – for a standard pub meal (and a dram or two for the non-drivers) The Previous Bridge Inn is a superb spot. If the climate is good you’ll be able to take pleasure in a drink out on ‘the seashore’- an enormous garden with picnic tables and views of the River Spey. Let the youngsters run riot with the canine when you absorb the views!
The Winking Owl, Aviemore – one other enjoyable conventional restaurant and pub in Aviemore- with mountain views! The Bothy Bar can be tremendous cool.
While you attain Inverness
I’ve written an in depth information to spending two days in Inverness, so make sure you learn that. In the event you don’t have two full days in Inverness, I like to recommend selecting the sights that enchantment to you most from my itinerary (I cowl all of the must-sees).
If you’re planning on driving the North Coast 500, I’ve an in depth information on that too!
Do you’ve got a query about driving this route? Depart a remark and I’ll do my finest to reply.
Heat needs from Scotland! Yvette xx
