A winter tour in Scotland is weather dependent: short days mean you should aim for sitting by a roaring log fire by late afternoon. (What’s not to like?) Take advantage of the nearness of Highland and Lowland – this tour takes in in Perthshire’s glens and lochs – always impressive.
A winter tour in Scotland certainly has plenty of atmosphere, sometimes by way of the uncertain or dramatic light, the sudden surprise of a clear crisp day – or even an unseasonal mildness that defies the Scottish weather stereotyping.
However, bear in mind the obvious: the further north in Scotland you travel, the shorter the days, naturally. It’s the downside of them being longer in the north in summer!
But if you would stir beyond the cities, then here’s a route from Edinburgh:
Oh, and here’s a link to a company who checks all the car rental prices in the UK – so you can get the best deal. (And we get a small commission.)
Day 1 – North Berwick And Glenkinchie Distillery
It’s simply the brief hours of daylight in winter that means this winter tour is a foray from central Scotland to the north, but not too far.
So let’s assume, for example, you already have spent a day or two in Edinburgh and seen the Edinburgh must sees.
If you have the flexibility of a car, then you can do both parts of this winter tour through East Lothian. If you go by public transport, then take bus or train to North Berwick and make a day of it there.
This little resort town, with its comfortable well-to-do air, has always been a popular excursion from the city.
If it’s a brisk wintry day then wrap up well and spend a few minutes strolling on the fine sandy beach that runs out to the west of North Berwick.
The Seabird Centre is a good choice if you have young children. Otherwise, enjoy the little boutique shops and have a light (and early) lunch. We like The Westgate Gallery’s Orangery Cafe and especially the dog-friendly Charlie’s Cafe in the High St.
If you have a car, you can then set course for the Glenkinchie Distillery near Pencaitland. I recommend going via Dirleton Castle – mentioned in the East Lothian tour from Edinburgh – though this may make you tight for time.
(Well done, Historic Environment Scotland, for keeping castles open in the winter.)
Then head south via Fenton Barns (cafe, shops here too), then Drem and Haddington. The tour and tasting at Glenkinchie is pretty much a standard distillery visit, and it’s well worth a look: the setting is pleasant, the guides are friendly and knowledgeable and you’ll be made very welcome. (Check their opening hours in advance.)
Winter tour: Day 2 Stirling Castle And Crieff (Or Perth)
(Pictured Below) View west up Strathearn on a winter’s day, from the top of the Knock Hill, Crieff, Perthshire. You can be lucky on a winter tour in Scotland and catch those still high-pressure days after snow.
The snow-level here looks around, say 400 m or 1200 ft but with hard frost in the strath (broad valley) below.
Next day, take in a small Scottish city by way of a visit to Stirling Castle. (Some information on the Castle is on that link, which describes another tour.)
Naturally, there are public transport links and you can overnight in Stirling, but if you have a car, then I’d recommend after you leave Stirling, you travel north on the A9 and head off this main route for the little Perthshire town of Crieff.
(If you want some afternoon shopping, then make it the much larger town of Perth.)
Should it, by chance, not be raining in Crieff – and, when we stayed there for more than three years, it did a lot – you could catch a wintry sunset and great views from the top of the Knock Hill above the town.
It’s just a short walk from the car-park above the Crieff Hydro Hotel and well worth the effort.
So, for your overnight, it’s either Perth or Crieff.
Day 3 The Perthshire Highland Loops
Perthshire touring is made easy with a choice of picturesque loch-filled glens with good roads running east-west. Head for the Sma’ Glen, reached by turning north on the A822 at Gilmerton, east of Crieff (so, west of Perth).
This is an old Scottish cattle droving route from the days when large herds of fat cattle were driven south to market in autumn.
The Sma’ Glen is just Scots for small, pronounced ‘smaa’ with a long vowel, and it gives a hint of Highland grandeur and you have a careful decision to make: at Amulree, a lonely cluster of houses amidst the moors, you can take an adventurous little road north-westwards to Kenmore at the east end of Loch Tay.
Now, I’d only like you to drive this part of your winter tour if the weather is good.
Actually, listen up, even that advice has been overtaken by the announcement a few years back thatthe road is going to be closed at the first sign of winter weather anyway!
There are fine views of moorland near at hand and the Ben Lawers range to the north-west, before the little road zig-zags (and I mean zig-zags) down to the village of Kenmore.
But it does cross high ground, so if there has been any snowfall higher up, instead keep to the main roads and head for Aberfeldy, pictured here on a grey afternoon in January.
It looks as though the clouds are probably not going to clear and it may snow again. In fact, looking back, I think it did.
Aberfeldy is an attractive little Highland town, with nice shops, plus a distillery (Dewars World of Whisky), and a handsome and historic military road bridge.
Above the town is a fine walk with a waterfall at the Birks o’ Aberfeldy, associated with Robert Burns. (We walked it one January day, but I’m not altogether saying you should!)
In fact, we’ve nominated the Birks of Aberfeldy on our list of romantic places in Scotland.
If you decide to turn west in this winter tour for the extra leg to Kenmore and a view of Loch Tay, you’ll probably find yourself at the Mains of Taymouth Courtyard, an upmarket deli and Scottish shop with cafe, restaurant and bar – just what you’d expect, really, in plush Perthshire.
Next, circle eastwards from Kenmore or Aberfeldy, down river for the main A9 ‘the Highland Road’ at Ballinluig.
If there is daylight left in the sky, you could extend the winter tour as far as Pitlochry, but I guess, it’s into the afternoon by now, so there is just light enough for you to turn south, stopping off at Dunkeld to admire its cathedral and attractive ‘Little Houses’ nearby.
Then it’s back to Perth/Crieff for overnight.
Winter tour: Day 4 – Spend Time In Perth
Next day, by way of taking it easy and not hurtling all over the countryside, you could take in the excellent Perth Museum and Art Gallery, or have an early lunch at Cafe Breizh.
This is a French restaurant with a Breton slant and a real air of enthusiasm and welcome – they serve delicious galettes.
It was certainly our favourite eating place in Perth. Oh, except for Pighalle, their other restaurant, also in Perth. We’re great fans.
But then, Cafe Tabou is also good….heck, there are so many nice places hereabouts.
Then head by fast roads back to Edinburgh – in about an hour.
Remember: if it’s winter, check the driving conditions at TrafficScotland.
Also, if it’s winter it might be year when the Northern Lights can be seen in Scotland. They are more common now that you can whack up the colour saturation on your phone pics!
Autumn in Scotland – or would you prefer springtime?