Winter Tour

- a little tour for the short Scottish days

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A winter tour in Scotland certainly has plenty of atmosphere. 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! (I am writing this at 4.30pm on 26 November, for instance, and it's already pretty dark out there - and I'm a little south of Edinburgh!) This has obvious implications for a winter tour.

Winter light over Fidra, by North Berwick. This little island is just one of several in Scotland that was said to be the inspiration of Robert Louis Stevenson's 'Treasure Island'. Certainly, RLS knew the area well: Gullane Sands, a little to the west, is the setting for an exciting chapter in his 'Catriona'.

Day 1 - North Berwick and Glenkinchie Distillery

It's the lack of daylight that means I recommend a winter tour basically as a foray from central Scotland to the north, but not too far. So let's assume, for example, you already have sent a day or two in Edinburgh and seen the sites within the city boundary. There's a list of Edinburgh must sees here. If you have the flexibility of your own or a hire 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 wintery 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.

If you are using 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 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.)

Day 2 Stirling Castle and Crieff (or Perth)

View west up Strathearn on a winter's day, from the top of the Knock Hill. 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 below.

The East Lothian day excursion, described above, returns you to Edinburgh by late afternoon. 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 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, you could catch a wintery sunset and great views from the top of the Knock Hill above the town - 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, prounounced '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.

The high road through Glen Quaich from Amulree, with Loch Freuchie in the distance. This is a view in March, and I'm not sure it was passable a few weeks before! This is fair-weather winter touring. Take care - be cautious!

Now, I'd only like you to drive this part of your winter tour if the weather is good. 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.

A grey afternoon above Aberfeldy (January). The clouds are probably not going to clear and it may snow again. In fact, looking back, I think it did.

This 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, downriver 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.

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 - a French restaurant with a Breton slant and a real air of enthusiasm and welcome - they serve delicious galetes. (It's certainly our favourite eating place in Perth.) Then head by fast roads back to Edinburgh - in about an hour.

Who can say what a Scottish winter will bring? The snow comes early, late or not at all. If the days are that little bit longer, then take a look at this more extensive autumn or winter tour.