9-Day Scotland Family Itinerary: Edinburgh & Perthshire
Edinburgh & Perthshire, Scotland · 9 days · Family (young kids) · May 2025
Shared by Andrew C.
Tags: family-friendly, culture, scenic drives
What We Loved
With three little ones, the Perthshire farm stay at Pitmeadow Farm is the undisputed highlight — collecting eggs, walking ponies, feeding pigs. Our kids call this their favorite trip ever. Edinburgh has incredible character and is completely walkable. St Andrews on a Sunday when the Old Course is open as a public park is a magical free experience. The Kirkstyle Inn is the kind of local pub you dream about finding.
What We'd Do Next Time
Some Edinburgh pubs don't allow children — call ahead before walking in with kids. Would spend an extra night at Pitmeadow Farm — four nights wasn't enough. The Oban/Glencoe loop is long for one day; consider breaking it with a stop.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Arrival — Edinburgh
- Check in — Brunswick Rd Airbnb, Edinburgh — Leith area — settle in, get oriented.
- Explore Leith & the waterfront — Low-key first evening. Walk down to the Shore for dinner.
Edinburgh — Castle & Royal Mile
- Edinburgh Castle — Book online. Go early before the tour groups arrive.
- Lunch on the Royal Mile — Plenty of options. Check child policies if doing a pub.
- Walk the Royal Mile down to Holyrood — Take your time — every close and alley is worth exploring.
Holyroodhouse & City
- Palace of Holyroodhouse — Less crowded than the Castle. Great for kids — fascinating rooms.
- Lunch in Edinburgh city centre — Call ahead to any pub to check child policy.
- Arthur's Seat or Calton Hill — Easy afternoon walk with big views.
St Andrews Day Trip
- Rent a car — drive to St Andrews (1hr) — Sunday is the key day — Old Course is open to the public as a park.
- Walk the Old Course, St Andrews — Completely free on Sundays. Genuinely special. Kids can run the fairways.
- Lunch in St Andrews town — Lovely coastal town. Walk the castle ruins and cathedral.
- Drive back to Edinburgh — Easy 1hr return.
Stirling Castle → Perthshire Farm
- Check out Edinburgh — drive to Stirling — 45 mins from Edinburgh.
- Stirling Castle — Brilliant castle, less crowded than Edinburgh. Allow 2 hours.
- Drive to Pitmeadow Farm, Perthshire — 40 mins from Stirling. Arrival at the farm is a moment.
- Check in — Pitmeadow Farm — Meet your hosts. Kids immediately want to see the animals.
- Dinner at The Kirkstyle Inn — Your new local. Book a table.
Oban & Glencoe Road Trip
- Early start — drive toward Glencoe — Long day. Glencoe is 1.5hrs from Pitmeadow.
- Glencoe Valley — Stop and walk. One of the most dramatic landscapes in Europe.
- Fish & chips on Oban harbour — Classic. Eat outside looking at the bay.
- Oban town & McCaig's Tower — Short walk up to the tower for panoramic views.
- Drive back to Pitmeadow Farm — 1.5hr return. Scenic all the way.
Dunkeld & Farm Day
- Farm morning — eggs, ponies, pigs — Let the kids lead. This is the memory they'll talk about for years.
- Dunkeld village & cathedral — 20 mins away. Walk the river path. Beautiful and peaceful.
- Lunch in Dunkeld — Small selection of good cafes and pubs in the village.
- The Kirkstyle Inn — Go again. You won't regret it.
Pitlochry Day Trip
- Pitlochry — dam, fish ladder & distillery — 30 mins from Pitmeadow. Fish ladder is fascinating for kids.
- Lunch in Pitlochry — Good range of cafes on the high street.
- Blair Athol Distillery tour — One of Scotland's oldest. Family-friendly — kids get juice while adults do the tasting.
- Final evening at the farm — Soak it in. Say goodbye to the animals.
Departure Day
- Last farm morning — One more round of egg collecting if you can manage it.
- Drive to Edinburgh Airport — Allow 1.5hrs from Perthshire to EDI. Return rental car.