| Great escapes: Scotland 4 |
Scotland's roads offer two big advantages: first, there's always something spectacular to look at; second, there's nothing like the same congestion common on other UK roads. So get out there and enjoy it.
We've given you two routes to follow. The first is a spectacular trip into the Highlands. The second is shorter and better suited to families.
ROUTE NUMBER 1 - HIGHLANDS
1: Dunblane
Zero your trip meter at the services at the M80/M9 junction. Leave the area and head for Perth (M9). At 7.2 miles turn right to Dunblane (B8033). At 3.5miles, turn left then right at the
roundabout (3.8 miles). Park.
Dunblane Cathedral is the focal point of this ancient Scottish town. Today it is one of the few surviving medi_val churches in Scotland, dating from the 13th century. It still retains a healthy congregation.
Zero your trip meter and leave the Cathedral car park. Return the way you came and at 0.2 miles turn left towards Perth (A9). At 1.6 miles turn right for Perth (A9). At 9.3 miles turn left into Blackford.
2: Blackford
Blackford is a tiny but pleasant diversion off the A9. It's famous for the Highland Spring brand of mineral water.
Continue through Blackford and rejoin the A9 at 10.8 (miles). At 24.9 miles follow the signs for Perth (A93). At the mini-roundabout (26.1 miles), turn left and follow the signs to the city centre. At 27.7 miles turn right for the Canal St car park.
3: Perth
The 'Fair City' is is an ancient market town on the river Tay. Its elegant, light sandstone buildings and green spaces reflect the prosperity the town has known for some time. It was 'Britain in Bloom' Champion of Champions just last year. If you are looking for somewhere for the kids, try the Leisure Pool. It has heated indoor and outdoor swimming baths, flumes, and whirlpools.
Zero your trip meter as you leave. Turn right at the bottom of Canal St then right, back into South Street. At 0.1 miles turn left into Scott St. At 0.4 miles carry straight on into Barossa St. Turn right at 0.5 miles, and at 0.6 miles turn right (Rose Terrace) then at the end turn left. At 0.8 miles turn right towards Blairgowrie (A93). Cross the river, then at 1.0 miles turn left for Blairgowrie (A93). At 1.1 miles bear left onto the A93(tm)
• At 2.0 miles, you can turn left to explore Scone Palace. Here, 42 of Scotland's Kings were crowned on the Stone of Destiny, now on show at Edinburgh Castle.
... at 16.0 miles, turn left to Dunkeld (A923). At the end of this short street, turn left onto the A923. At 27.2 miles turn left again and carry on driving for 0.6 miles to arrive at Dunkeld.
4: Dunkeld
Dunkeld was the first ecclesiastical capital of Scotland, proclaimed by Scotland's first King, Kenneth McAlpin. You can still see the ruin of the Cathedral, the focal point of the town.
Leave Dunkeld the way you came. At 27.3 miles, turn left for Pitlochry (A9). Drive for 38 miles to Pitlochry (A924). Park in the car park at 38.1 miles.
5: Pitlochry
Pitlochry's popularity rose after General Wade drove his road through the town in the 18th century and later after the railway arrived and Queen Victoria visited. Today, a popular attraction are the fish ladders, built after the
hydro-electric dam was constructed, to allow the salmon to climb upriver to spawn.
Zero your trip meter. Turn right out of the car park to rejoin the A9, towards Perth. At 6.4 miles turn left for Aberfeldy, Ballanluig and Killin (A827). At 10.5 miles turn right to Aberfeldy then left onto the A826 for Crieff. Turn left at 16.4 miles onto the A826.
6: Aberfeldy
Aberfeldy is a small, Highland town with its own castle, a working mill and distillery, with the Dewar World of Whisky centre.
Leave Aberfeldy. Turn right onto the A822 at 25.7miles for Crieff. At 38.0 miles turn right onto the A85 for Crieff.
7: Crieff
Just like Pitlochry, Crieff's tourist trade blossomed overnight following a visit to the town by Queen Victoria. It soon became an important health resort and hand in hand with its growth came the elegant hotels such as the Crieff Hydro.
In the Crieff Visitor Centre, along with other attractions, you can learn about glass making and watch the local potters at work.
Leave Crieff. At 40.1 miles go straight on for Stirling, and at 40.2 miles turn left (A822). At 51.8 miles, join the A9 for Stirling. At 58.3 miles join the M9. At 64.8 miles turn left for Edinburgh and Kincardine Bridge (M9). At 65.3, you have returned to our starting point.
ROUTE NUMBER 2 - FAMILY DAY OUT
1: Dunblane
At Stirling Station set your car's trip meter to zero. Turn left out of the station, and at 0.2 (miles) take the second exit onto the A905. At the roundabout (0.9 miles) head for Alloa. At 3.2 miles turn right onto the Alloa road (A907). Follow the signs for Kincardine Bridge. At 13.7 miles take the A876 and cross Kincardine Bridge. At the roundabout (15.7 miles) take the second exit, signposted M876 Edinburgh, Grangemouth and Falkirk. Join the M9 for Edinburgh. At 18.9, Leave the M9 at J6 (18.9 miles) for Falkirk, Grangemouth A905. Turn right at 19.5miles, then turn right at the roundabout (19.8 miles). Take the third exit at the next roundabout, to Falkirk (A904). At 21.8 miles turn right towards Camelon and Glasgow. At 22.1 miles, turn left. Then, at 22.6 miles turn left at the mini roundabout. Park at the Union Inn.
1: Forth and Clyde canal
The Forth and Clyde Canal is unique in engineering history as it was the first trans-oceanic canal, joining the Atlantic and the North Sea. Finished in 1790, it allowed warships easy access to the Western Isles where the threat of Jacobite rebellion still remained, thus saving a long trip around the north of Scotland. The money seized from Jacobite estates paid for its completion after the Forth and Clyde Canal Co ran out of money.
The canal was mainly used to transport textiles from Glasgow and timber from Grangemouth. Latterly it was used by fishing boats and Clyde 'puffers', small jack-of-all-trade freight carriers. It closed on 1 January 1963 but is now open for all to enjoy. Cruises run by the Forth and Clyde Canal Society leave from Kirkintilloch. Today, the canal features two world firsts: the drop lock at Dalmuir and the Millennium Wheel outside Falkirk, based on a design by Leonardo da Vinci.
Turn left out of the pub car park and rejoin the A803. Turn left onto the A904 and continue for two miles to the junction with the M9. Drive under the motorway, taking the fourth exit on this roundabout, onto the A905. Continue until you reach the next junction with the M9. Here, turn left, following the brown signs 'Steam Railway and Clay Mine'. Then, turn right at the mini-roundabout and continue for 0.8 miles to turn right at the roundabout. At 1.8 miles turn left onto the A904 (town centre). At 0.9 miles turn left at the roundabout onto the A904. In 0.4 miles, turn left into Bo'ness station.
2: Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway / Birkhill Caverns
The Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway tries to tell, through its Scottish Railway Exhibition, Scotland's railway story. And it succeeds. It's a fabulous collection of carriages, wagons, and locomotives. Best for adults and kids alike, though, is a trip on the train to Birkhill with its lovely views over the Forth valley, and occasional whiffs of wild garlic as you climb towards Birkhill.
At Birkhill Caverns, don't miss a trip down the Fireclay mines, in the heart of the Avon valley's ancient woodland. You can also see 300 million year-old fossils here.
Zero your trip meter. Join the M9 at J5 heading west onto the M9, towards Stirling, Falkirk and Glasgow. At 15.3 miles leave the motorway at the junction of the M80 and A91. Return to your start point at Stirling station. |
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PARK GUIDE
River TiltPark
Blair Athol, by Pitlochry, Perthshire
Tel: 01796 481467
Open 31 Mar - 5 Nov
OS Ref 043/872656
TRIP 1
Distance: 135 miles
Time: all day/8 hours
Suitable for: all the family
TRIP 2
Distance: 45 miles
Time: 5.5 hours
Suitable for: all the family
REFRESHMENTS - TRIP 1
The Millpond Bistro and Gallery Tel: 01796 472203
Moran's Restaurant Tel: 01796 472469
REFRESHMENTS - TRIP 2
Bo'ness Stn Tel: 01506 824356
ATTRACTIONS - TRIP 1
Perth Leisure Centre Tel: 01738 492410
Pitlochry Dam:
Tel: 01796 473152
World of Whisky:
Tel: 01887 822010
Crieff Visitor Ctr:
Tel: 01764 654014
ATTRACTIONS - TRIP 2
Bo'ness Railway Tel: 01506 824356
Forth Canal Soc:
Tel: 0141 772 1620
TIP
There are no motorways in Scotland north of Perth, so allow more time for your journey.
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