We spent about 10 days in Scotland a few years ago. We flew in and out of Glasgow We rented a car and drove a loop via Loch Lomand, Stirling, St. Andrews and Edinburgh. You mentioned countryside so I don't think that you will want to spend much time in Glasgow. Loch Lomand was lovely and we were really happy that we went there. It was very rural and scenic. Stirling was great for a day. It is a small cute town and the castle was great. St. Andrews was waaaaaayyy better than I thought it would be. An adorable town with amazing views. Love Love Love St. Andrews. Edinburgh was pretty special too.

You could drive directly from Glasgow to Loch Lomand and spend a couple of nights there. Then you could drive to Stirling for a day, drive one to St. Andrews. Spend a night or 2 there and then finish up in Edinburgh.

Have fun!

You could consider heading up to St. Andrews on a day or overnight trip from Edinburgh. See the university and re-create the "Chariots of Fire" beach scene with your family running along the sand (it's where they filmed that bit).

If you do drive up to St. Andrews, stop in Anstruther in Fife where the 'best' Fish and Chip shop in the UK is located.

http://www.anstrutherfishbar.co.uk

You don't have much time. If you get to skye you will be traveling the whole time.
I would do 1-2 days edinburgh, then head up to oban for a couple of days, then back through glasgow.

We will be there for 5 nights. Not terribly long. Right now we have an empty slate/itinerary as we just found out we are going. I think at least one day will be in Edinburgh. I doubt we will stay in the city as we generally prefer the countryside when we travel (not always but usually).

I'm trying to decide how ambitious to be as there is so much I want to do. Where should we concentrate our time? I would like a day trip to the Highlands. I would ideally love to make to the Isle of Skye. I would love to see Stirling. I've heard Oban is a nice place. So much and so little time. . . .

Highlands and Edinburgh are beautiful. Glasgow has its charms, but they are less obvious: some amazing Rennie Mackintosh stuff to see, good museums, great food.

This might sound silly, but the coolest thing we did was visit a cooperage-- barrel makers. The story of those whiskey barrels is kind of amazing (the wood is 30 - 50 years old by the time they put whisky in it!), and the process of turning the old wood into new barrels, still done in the traditional style, is fascinating.

That's a Highland thing. The Highlands in general are beautiful. Go to Inverness, take the kid to Loch Ness. Make sure to see some of those shaggy Highland cows. I can't remember any names, but there are some old estates where you can tour the house; your kid might get a kick out of the less-modern ones, see how people used to live.

And of course, Culloden, the battlefield of the last Highland uprising against the English, where the clans were destroyed and the Highlands subjugated under English rule. It's a big open field, with boulders to mark each clan that fell. It's eerie, and moving.

For you, if you haven't already, read Outlander, by Diana Gabaldon. I love reading the fiction associated with a place I'm going to visit, and this is a fun, fast-moving novel that will give you a sense of what Scotland and the Scots used to be.

The food is pretty bad, btw. I generally quite like English food, and thought Scottish food was lousy. Haggis is tasty, as a breakfast meat. Black pudding, too. Just don't think real hard about what it is. Fish & chips are generally a good bet.

How many days will you be there? I lived in Edinburgh and it's just a fabulous city. Glasgow is great as well. Lots to do.

Where are you staying and when are you going?

I was Edinburgh over New Year with my family (parents, spouse, 3yo). If you are in the center of Edinburgh, Princes Street Gardens, the Camera Obscura up by the castle, the Castle (of course). The National Museum of Scotland has a Viking exhibit that might be fun on a rainy day.

In Glasgow, the Transportation Museum is cool, and I believe there is also a museum of toys or childhood?

If the weather is nice, a day trip to Largs or the ferry over to Millport. If you go to Largs, get the kid a knickerbocker glory from Nardini's.

Hadrian's Wall -- on the border of Scotland and England. Also you must go to the Highlands and Inverness, they are SO BEAUTIFUL. You will see Highland cows.

I also loved Edinburgh and make sure you see the castle there in the city.

I was NOT impressed with Glasgow and would limit my time there if I were you. It kind of sucked.

We are planning trip to Scotland for next month (DH just found out he is going and we are tagging along). Three of us (2 adults, 1 6 yo). Flying into Glasgow and out of Edinburgh (or vice versa, I forget). I need some help getting started on things to do.

Any tips, recs, must sees to get me started??? Very excited but a little overwhelmed at all to do in such a short timeframe.
Thanks!