scotland road trip 8 days

• WATCH ME SEE | A SCOTLAND TRAVEL BLOG
• Privacy Policy

• Scotland Trip Planning Workshops
• Itinerary Review
• Ready-Made Itineraries
• Bespoke Itineraries
• Planning Your Trip
• Scottish Regions
• Free Checklist
• Scotland Itineraries
• All Blog Posts
• Where to go?
• Scotland Resource Library
• Scotland Travel Journal
• Meine Schottland Bücher
• About Watch Me See
• Work with Me
• In the Press

Highlands , Itineraries

The best of scotland in one week: an epic 8-day scotland itinerary.

Scotland might be small, but there are a lot of destinations on your average Scotland travel bucket list. How will you possibly manage to visit Edinburgh, Loch Ness and the Isle of Skye in a mere 8 days? My Classic Scotland Itinerary for Scotland in one week should give you an idea of how to see the major touristy spots in Scotland without having to sweat it!

This post contains affiliate links from which I may make a commission. Find out more here . All opinions are my own.

Scotland is the kind of place where you could travel around for weeks and weeks and you still would not have seen all the highlights and only scratched the surface of understanding what’s going on in a Scot’s head. And that is even though the country is so small.

But there is no denying that you don’t always have months to spare to travel a place, so finding a way of squeezing as much of Scotland as possible into a week or two becomes a skill for many people planning a trip to Scotland.

Download my free Scotland Trip Planning Checklist to make sure you don’t forget anything important !

Dreaming of Scotland? Listen to my immersive travel podcast Wild for Scotland !

While after three years in Glasgow I am still far from ‘having done it all’ I have been on several trips with visiting friends and family to see some of the essential must-dos that Scotland has to offer – the classic Scotland itinerary, so to say.

Loch Ness, Edinburgh, Skye – these are only a few places you must not miss on your first trip around Scotland, so I thought a little one-week itinerary based my own experience could be a great start for your own research! Prepare for a tour de  force  through Scotland!

Need help finding cheap airfare to Scotland? Check out my tips for booking flights to Scotland .

How to get around Scotland

This itinerary is written with a rental car in mind – you can follow my route through Scotland by public transport as well, but you might have to cut a few stops due to time limitations, or simply because the bus or train won’t stop everywhere.

I always find the best deals at AutoEurope because they compare prices from a variety of rental car agencies, find the best price and add affordable carefree-insurance on top! I recommend renting with internationally renowned agencies, like Sixt, Europcar or Avis (all of which I’ve tried and had great experiences within Scotland), or with local brands such as Arnold Clark.

Nervous about driving? Learn about UK traffic rules & etiquette with the useful online guide by Tripiamo .

Read my full practical guide to hiring a car in Scotland !

You can also do this itinerary on public transport – it just requires a few adjustments. Use this public transport itinerary to plan your trip.

You can find more info on how to get around Scotland in my guide to everything you need to know about planning a trip to Scotland , and some tips for driving on the left-hand side in my Scotland driving tips .

You might also like: What’s the best time to visit Scotland?

8-Day Scotland Itinerary Map

Day 1: Arrive in Glasgow

Whether your plane actually lands at Glasgow airport or in Edinburgh, hardly matters because the cities and their airports lie so closely together and are so well-connected by bus, that it is easy to start your trip around Scotland in the one city even if you land in the other. To save you some driving on your way up to the Highlands I recommend to base yourself in Glasgow for the first night.

If you have some daylight left, who not hop on board the City Sightseeing Bus  ( read my REVIEW ) to get an overview of the city, and then head for dinner and drinks in town to get a feel for the city.

Not sure if this is the best itinerary for you? Find out how to choose the ideal Scotland itinerary !

Glasgow Travel Essentials Where to Stay in Glasgow | Hotels are super affordable – I summed up my favourites for all budgets here . Getting around Glasgow | Glasgow is a very walkable city, but you can get buses or the subway for longer distances between different quarters. Traditional black taxis can be a bit expensive, so I suggest to use private hire companies like  Network Private Hire  or the Uber! Things to Do in Glasgow | Check out this One-Day Itinerary and my  50 Travel Tips for Glasgow ! On a budget? Here are 45 free things to do in Glasgow. Looking for nature? Try one of these brilliant walks in Glasgow . The best restaurants in Glasgow  | There are more restaurants in Glasgow than sand on the beach. For Scottish food try Two Fat Ladies in the City , the Red Onion (vegan menu available) or Gandolfi Cafe . I also love Sarti  and  Paesano (both Italian), Nippon’s Kitchen (Japanese, sushi) and Ranjit’s Kitchen  (Indian curries). For a great food market, check out Platform , which is open every Friday to Sunday and is located in the Arches underneath Central Station. The best pubs in Glasgow | Glasgow’s pubs deserve a city trip in itself. Try Sloan’s , The Pot Still , The State Bar or Babbity Bowster for a taster – and a dram!

Day 2: Loch Lomond, Glen Coe & Fort William

Leave Glasgow right after breakfast to make your way north. You will be happy to have the entire day at your disposal because even if the drive from Glasgow to Fort William theoretically takes less than 3 hours, the scenic stops along the way and the windy roads will slow you down significantly.

Stop 1: Loch Lomond

Loch Lomond is Scotland’s largest lake (or loch , as the Scots call them) and it’s southernmost end lies only 45 minutes drive from Glasgow. Most tour buses will stop either in Balloch or in Luss, but I personally prefer the scenic points further north along the Loch, particularly the car park in Inveruglas.

Either way, wherever you stop along Loch Lomond, make sure to take in the stunning views. Maybe you can even spare some time for a short cruise starting in Tarbet.

Stop 2: Glen Coe

Glen Coe is the kind of place that dreams are made of – or James Bond films. You chose which one you prefer. Driving through Glen Coe is like travelling back in time; there are so many stories to be told about it.

It is one of Scotland’s most famous landscapes, a valley surrounded by some of the country’s roughest peaks and most popular hikes, such as the Three Sisters , the ridge of  Aonach Eagach or Buachaille Etive Mòr . 

Pressed for time you won’t manage to actually climb any of these mountains, but a quick stroll to Scotland’s most photographed cottage,  Lagangarbh Hut at the foot of Buachaille Etive Mor, is a scenic little walk to stretch your legs.

Alternatively, you could stop at Glencoe Lochan for a quick walk around the loch.

You might also like: The most scenic stops between Glasgow and Fort William

Stop 3: Fort William

Fort William is not so much exciting as a town, but rather for its surroundings. This is where the famous West Highland Way ends (key: plenty of outdoor equipment shops) and where the highest mountain range of the UK begins: the Nevis Range .

It takes only 15 minutes to drive from Fort William to the car park of the Nevis Range Mountain Resort from where a gondola  brings you further up the mountain Aonach Mor, right beside Ben Nevis. With too little time for the strenuous hike up Ben Nevis (this is not a tourist trail!) this is the next best alternative to climbing the UK’s highest peak.

Find out what else to do in my Fort William travel guide !

Fort William Travel Essentials Where to Stay in Fort William  | Fort William offers tons of accommodation options. I’d recommend Minaig B&B a little bit before you reach the town centre, or Muthu Fort William Hotel in the middle of Fort William. Restaurants around Fort William | For lunch on the way you could stop at the Real Food Cafe in Tyndrum for fish & chips, or at the Clachaig Inn in Glen Coe for an excellent pub meal! In Fort William, I’d recommend Crannog Seafood , because the chef is happy to whip up a vegan meal for you, but alternatively, you can also get good service and great food at The Grog & Gruel . There is also a new vegan cafe in Fort William, called The Wildcat . Things to do in Fort William | If you decide to spend more time in Fort William by adding an extra day to this itinerary, here are a few things to do: West Highland Museum , to learn about Highland culture and history; Ben Nevis Distillery , to have a dram and learn how it’s made; Neptune’s Staircase , to watch boats go through the locks of the Caledonian Canal.

Note:  Depending on the time of the year, you might not be able to fit in long stops at all three locations in just one day – chose wisely where to spend more time!

Day 3: Road to the Isles & Isle of Skye

The road from Fort William to Mallaig is a highlight, not only for Harry Potter fans. Although, if you are already here, head to the tourist office in Fort William to find out at what times the famous Jacobite Steam Train will be crossing over the Glenfinnan Viaduct and plan your road trip accordingly.

Read my story of what it’s like to ride the Harry Potter train !

The Road to the Isles is one of my favourite road trips in Scotland and the views you get from the passenger seat are absolutely stunning! Make sure to visit the Glenfinnan Monument and climb to its top for even better views of Loch Shiel.

Once you have arrived in Mallaig get your ferry ticket sorted (you should book this in advance, especially during the busy summer months) and kill some time with a takeaway of fresh fish & chips – but beware of the seagulls at the harbour!

You might also like: The most scenic road trips in Scotland

The ferry from Mallaig to Armadale on the Isle of Skye only takes around half an hour but offers a stunning vista of Skye and the Small Isles called Rum, Eigg, Canna and Muck.

Once you have arrived on Skye, stay and explore the southern part of the island. You could make your way to Glenbrittle, where you will find the famous Fairy Pools , which make for a great walk underneath the peaks of the Cuillins mountain range.

Or, you could head for Elgol, from where you can join a boat tour to one of Scotland’s most remote lochs, Loch Coruisk . Alternatively (especially if it rains) visit the Talisker Whisky Distillery in Carbost to learn everything about Scottish Single Malt Whisky and get a taster too!

Check out this post with more highlights on the Isle of Skye !

Isle of Skye Travel Essentials Where to Stay on the Isle of Skye | Accommodation on the Isle of Skye can book up far in advance, so make sure you book your B&B as early as possible – especially if you visit during the summer months or local holidays. We booked a B&B far off the beaten track to get some peace and quiet:  Fineviews B&B in Carbost – to be more central I’d recommend staying in Portree ! Places to Eat on the Isle of Skye  | The Isle of Skye might be big, but most villages are rather small and don’t have too many dining options. You will find the greatest variety of restaurants in  Portree , but we also had a lovely meal at  Taigh Ailean Hotel in Carbost.

Day 4: Isle of Skye

The Isle of Skye requires more than a day, especially if you want to visit such iconic places as the Old Man of Storr , Dunvegan Castle or the lighthouse at Neist Point . The earlier you can start your day, the better – it will be a long one.

But first – if you struggle to find accommodation on the Isle of Skye, or if you’d like to go off the beaten path, check out these Skye alternatives for your itinerary.

Stop 1: Trotternish Peninsula

The Trotternish Peninsula alone could take up a whole day because this is where some of Skye’s most popular landmarks are located. The peninsula lies north of Portree, and I recommend following my route suggestion anti-clockwise. In this area, you will find the  Old Man of Storr , Kilt Rock , Mealt Falls and the moon-like landscape of the  Quiraing .

All are worth a stop, but if you want to stop anywhere for a longer walk, I recommend either the Old Man of Storr (plan 2 hours) or an easy walk in the Quiraing! No matter where you walk, make sure you roam responsibly  and adhere to the Scottish Outdoor Access Code!

Stop 2: Dunvegan Castle

While Dunvegan Castle is often left out of traditional Skye itineraries, I think it is an absolute highlight, especially if you are into landscape gardening and wildlife watching.

Two things you must not miss while you’re visiting this castle: wandering the beautiful castle gardens and seeing everything in full bloom, and joining an official guided boat tour to the local seal colony !

If you’re into wildlife tours like this, you might also enjoy  this post about where to see Scottish wildlife .

Stop 3: Neist Point

Scottish lighthouses are there to impress (well, and to guide boats obviously) and Neist Point lighthouse  is no exception. While I haven’t been lucky to see this lighthouse on a clear and dry day yet, I will keep trying and so should you!

Follow these suggestions or use my Ultimate Skye Itinerary to build your own day on Skye!

Day 5: Eilean Donan Castle, Loch Ness & Inverness

Leaving Skye behind early in the morning and making your way off the island across the bridge, you come past the gorgeous  Eilean Donan Castle – how could you not stop for a few photos?

Now, you make your way east to one of Scotland’s most legendary places: Loch Ness . Hardly any other place has had scientists and wannabe-scientists wonder about the local wildlife as much as this lake – and who could resist the myth of Nessie.

I like to picture her as a friendly dinosaur-like creature that hides away until this world is finally friendly enough to welcome people/animals/creatures that are different. Until then, the myth lives on!

While I’m not one for the two (!) Nessie museums in Drumnadrochit, I can only recommend going on a monster-hunting cruise on the loch! Another highlight in Drumnadrochit is a visit to the castle ruins of  Urquhart Castle from where the views over the loch are particularly beautiful.

The final stop for the day is the town of Inverness , the capital of the Scottish Highlands. Base yourself here for the night, for a pole position for your way back south on the next day. If you have time today or tomorrow, explore with my guide for spending one day in Inverness .

You might also like: 10+ Day Trips from Inverness [Self-Drive & Guided]

Loch Ness Travel Essentials Where to Stay at Loch Ness | To save yourself some time on the road, base yourself in Inverness , but both times I visited I actually stayed in Drumnadrochit , close by Urquhart Castle. Restaurants in Inverness  | Options in the smaller villages and towns are limited – apart from Drumnadrochit. Even if you don’t stay in Inverness, it’s worth the drive there for a Scottish meal at the Castle Tavern !

Day 6: Blair Castle, Pitlochry & Edinburgh

The drive from Inverness back down to Edinburgh takes just around 3-3.5 hours – but who wants to spend time on the motorway?  Here are a few stops to make on your way down.

Stop 1: Loch Morlich

The Cairngorms National Park is worthy of a whole separate holiday, but if you only stop here, for one thing, make it Loch Morlich near Aviemore. It is arguably one of Scotland’s most beautiful lochs and you can either take a walk or try some water activities.

Stop 2: Blair Castle

While I’m not one for endless castle tours, the forest and gardens surrounding Blair Castle are worth the ticket and make for a great pit stop to stretch your feet after a couple of hours in the car.

Stop 3: Pitlochry

A quaint and picturesque town, Pitlochry is a very popular weekend getaway for many Scots. One highlight in the town is the Edradour Whisky Distillery , one of Scotland’s smallest!

Stop 4: South Queensferry

One final stop before you arrive in Edinburgh should be South Queensferry . From here you get a great view of the iconic Forth Railway Bridge that connects the Scottish capital with the region of Fife!

You might also like: 10 ideas for fun day trips in Fife

Stop 5: Arrive in Edinburgh

What better way to end your tour of Scotland’s highlights than in its capital: Edinburgh . Considering that you will probably arrive here in the late afternoon, give yourself a break and relax for a little while!

Have a leisurely dinner and a sunset stroll up Calton Hill , maybe grab a drink in the Old Town, but other than that don’t stress yourself.

Edinburgh Travel Essentials Where to Stay in Edinburgh | Hotels in Edinburgh can be quite expensive and hard to come by – especially in the summer months and even more so during festival season in August. I’ve summed up my favourite hotels in Edinburgh for every budget here . Getting around Edinburgh | Edinburgh is a very walkable city, but you can get buses for longer distances. Taxis can be a bit expensive, but there is also Uber! Things to Do in Edinburgh | Edinburgh has a lot to offer! Some of my favourite activities include the Camera Obscura, the Royal Botanical Garden, climbing Arthur Seat and visiting the National Museum of Scotland. Check out  my Edinburgh articles for inspiration! My favourite restaurants in Edinburgh  | There are so many restaurants in Edinburgh’s Old Town, it can be quite tricky to tell the real gems from the tourist traps. Some of my favourite restaurants (which all offer vegan options) include Civerinos , Holy Cow , Harmonium , Hula Juice Bar and Casa Angelina . Bars & Pubs in Edinburgh  | Some of my favourite pubs in the Old Town are Whistlebinkies and the Halfway House , one of Edinburgh smallest pubs!

Day 7: Edinburgh

There is much to see in Edinburgh, you could easily fill a week. Luckily many of the highlights are within walking distance from each other so that you can easily get a good overview in one day.

Note that if you want to visit multiple museums, the castle and other attractions you should consider adding one or two full days to your itinerary.

Here are some suggestions on how to fill your day in Edinburgh:

• Go on a guided walking tour around Edinburgh to learn about the city from a local. There are some of my favourite city tours in Edinburgh .
• Did you know that many people who originally owned buildings in Edinburgh’s New Town, benefitted from the transatlantic slave trade? Find out more about this here  or join a  Black History Walking Tour  of Edinburgh with Lisa Williams.
• Visit Edinburgh Castle and save time with a fast-track entrance ticket !
• Visit the National Museum of Scotland and make sure to go all the way up to its viewing platform.
• Escape the crowds by visiting the glasshouses in the Royal Botanic Gardens .
• Shop all the vintage you can find in and around the Grassmarket and the Stockbridge area – check out my ethical shopping guide for Edinburgh here !
• Patrol the Royal Mile and count how many bagpipe buskers you can find.

Book your advance tickets for top attractions and save time!

More Edinburgh recommendations Lunch & Coffee in Edinburgh | My top two cafe’s in Edinburgh must be Lovecrumbs  and Hula Juice Bar  in the Grassmarket area. For really nice falafel head to Palmyra Pizza close to the National Museum of Scotland. Dinner in Edinburgh | Time to branch out and head to The Kings Wark in Leith, right by the shore of Leith Water. The fully vegan restaurant Harmonium lives up to its raving reviews too. And finally, try Aurora – tiny restaurant in Leith for fantastic contemporary cuisine. Cocktail time  | The ultimate cocktail bar in Edinburgh is called Panda & Sons , a little speakeasy bar in the basement of a (fake) barbershop. Try to find it!

Day 8: Goodbye Scotland!

After an eventful week, it is time to say goodbye again and make your way back to the airport. While you’ve some beautiful places all over the country, it is really impossible to see the whole of Scotland in one week, Next time you visit, make sure you bring a bit more time with you!

Visit my shop to get a detailed version of this itinerary incl. a map, accommodation suggestions, driving times and more!

You could easily fill two weeks with this itinerary and do everything in a more relaxed manner, spend more nights in each location or add a few days in other destinations such as  Oban , the Isle of Mull , the Cairngorms National Park , the Royal Deeside , Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire  or St Andrews – to name just a few.

For more inspiration check out my post about 20 things to do in Scotland for first-timers  and find out what to bring on a Scotland trip by consulting my packing list .

Have you ever been to Scotland? What was your favourite experience or place to visit?

Pin this post for later: 

Planning a trip to Scotland?

Download my FREE Trip Planning Checklist

Join my Facebook group to find inspiration for big & small adventures

Listen to my podcast Wild for Scotland for lots of travel inspiration

Use my Scotland Travel Journal to document your trip

Make trip planning easier with my Scotland Resource Library

Save time and get one of my pick-up-and-go Scotland itineraries

Beat the overwhelm and hire me to plan a bespoke itinerary for you

175 thoughts on “ The Best of Scotland in One Week: An EPIC 8-Day Scotland Itinerary ”

Hello again!

I was also going to ask you how we could fit in Dunrobin Castle? We have 9 days and will be there in May!

Hi there, you could add a second night in Inverness and visit Dunrobin Castle from there! ☺️

I would love to follow this guide, however, I was wonder how I would fit in the Harry Potter train around day 3. I would love to ride it, but I know with the car we will still have to drive to Mallaig. What is the best way to alter the schedule to fit in the train ride and making it over to Mallaig in the rental car? I hate that we would have to come right back to Fort Williams to then drive back to Mallaig (where we just came from).

Unfortunately I don’t see another way if you have a rental car. Unless one person in your party doesn’t mind missing the train ride and drives the car to Mallaig, you have to go back for the car. Note also that the steam train only sells return tickets, so you have to pay for both directions even if you don’t intend to use the return journey to Fort William. There is also the regular train which uses the same tracks and is cheaper (no steam train though). It’s operated by ScotRail and on that you can buy a one-way journey ticket. But you’d still need to get the car somehow.

Pingback: 'Road to the Isles' - From Fort William to Mallaig - Wild for Scotland

Hi Kathi, thanks for such a detailed itinerary! could i check for the ferry from Mallaig to Armadale, if i were to drive from Glasgow all the way to Mallaig, is there a car ferry that would bring my car over to Armadale so i can use the same car to sightsee Isle of Skye? or would I have to park my car somewhere and come back for it.

Thanks in advance!

Hi Dickson, thanks for your question! You can bring your car across to Skye on the ferry – it’s quite a big boat. But you must book this in advance as it is a very popular crossing. Hope this helps!

Love this! Thank you! Question, should I book a ferry back from skye to mallaig on day 5 on the way to Inverness? Or is there another route that we would take that we don’t have to book the ferry? Thanks!!

Hi Cyndi, it’s the ferry over on day 3 and then leaving the island via the Skye Bridge on the way to Inverness – it’s faster and you see something different! ☺️

Hi Kathi, thanks for putting this together, it looks awesome and my partner and I have just booked to do it in November! We’ve substituted one day to go to Islay and do a whisky tour, but otherwise have copied it and are really excited. Thanks again for putting it together. We’ve also used your referral code. We’ll let you know how the trip goes!

Hi Will, that fantastic – glad you found the itinerary useful as a base for your trip! Would love to hear what you thought (esp doing it in autumn/winter)! Have a great trip. And if you post any pictures on Instagram use the hashtag #WildAdventuresScotland to share your pics with me! Kathi

Hi Kathi. We hope to visit Scotland in September and this is a great itinerary, although having been to Edinburgh previously we may choose a different final destination – maybe Sterling? We would like to fit in the following activities if possible and wondered if you could suggest the best places for each along this route? Kayaking/Paddle Boarding, Quad Biking, 1-2 hour circular bicycle ride. Can’t wait to visit -COVID19 permitting! Thank you

Hi Karen, if you want to skip Edinburgh and do all these activities, I’d probably suggest adding a night in a location already on the list (i.e. Fort William or Inverness) to make space for the activities, and then spend the last night around Stirling. You can find some of my recommended outdoor activities in this section of my blog: https://watchmesee.com/adventure-travel-scotland/ and if you sign up for my Wild Adventures Scotland Handbook (linked on that page), you’ll get a PDF with some recommended activity providers and regions. I don’t have experience with quad biking, but for kayaking/paddle boarding I’d recommend the Glencoe/Fort William area and for cycling check out options around Fort Augustus on Loch Ness. Hope that helps!

Thank you so much for your suggestions Kathi, that’s really helpful. You have a really great site here! Very excited for our trip 🙂

I have been to Scotland. How were you able to move there? It seems like immigration is quite strict.

I’m Austrian and moved here when the UK was still a member state of the EU. Any EU citizen can live and work in any other EU member state – it’s amazing! It’s much more difficult for non-EU citizens, although there are ways. The UK Home Office website is the best source of info on this!

Pingback: 22 Best Road Trips in Europe To Take in 2020 - Every Steph

Hi Kathi! First of all I just need to tell you that your blog is like my go to for tips for my own vacations. You have no idea how many times you’ve “saved” my life in stress like conditions while organizing my trips xD Anyway, me and my boyfriend are planning an 8 day and 7 night trip to Scotland. We do love to do a bit of hiking and we would rent a car to make it easier to go around. I was planning on arriving in Glasgow and staying for the night there. I probably wont have a lot of time to spend in Glasgow and we would leave for Fort William in the morning to enjoy the trip. Would you recommend a quick easy hike, enough to stretch our legs and to allow us to better enjoy the scenery? Then we would stay in Fort William for the night to leave early in the morning to Mallaig catch the ferry and visit to Skye. You said 1 day is not enough for Skye and I would very much like to spend 2 days there, probably staying in Portree for the night. The thing is… I’m not quite sure how to split the island in such a way to allow me to visit in a more balanced way, specially since in the second day we would be driving for Inverness. Do you have some tips on that matter? In inverness we would stay for the night and travel to Edinburgh in the morning. I’m not sure if it’s worth it to spend a morning in Inverness or if its better to just start driving to the capital and spend there the last 2 days, counting with some stops along the way for photos. I think we are left with one day (the 8th) with the trip back home around 17h00. So I guess we would only have the morning to enjoy the last of Scotland.

I understand that only 8 days is not enough to visit everything and I have to be realistic. I dont want to arrive home more tired than before my vacations, but I do want to enjoy my trip and see the most I can in a responsible way. Can you give me some tips on making this plan a bit more realistic and down to earth?

Thank you so much for your blog!!! <3

Thanks for your questions! There are many little walks in Glencoe and near Fort William – you might enjoy walking at Glencoe Lochan or to Steall Falls in Glen Nevis.

I recommend a minimum of 2 nights on Skye because it’s a big island. With two nights you can see some sites in the south as you arrive on the island, spend a full day discovering the north, and then see some more sites on the way off the island. I would not recommend going if you only have one night as you’re going to spend more time in the car than out exploring. There are many other beautiful sites between Fort William and Inverness that you can visit for epic mountain views – for example, Glen Affric!

I also recommend not driving straight from Inverness to Edinburgh without stops. There are many things you could do in Inverness – at least climb up to the Castle viewpoint – and so many beautiful stops along the route (see Day 6).

There is never enough time to see absolutely everything – my no 1 advice is always: Sometimes less (mileage) is more! You won’t be missing out if you don’t see some of the most hyped sites – everywhere in Scotland is beautiful 🙂

Happy trip planning!

This is a great itinerary! You get to see so much in such a short period of time. Love it. Thank you so much for sharing.

It’s pretty packed – not much time to rest, but you get to see a lot!

Hi Kathi, thanks for the amazing ideas and resources you have put into this site. We have 5 nights / 4.5 days in Scotland in late June before heading to London. We fly into Edinburgh and want to experience a few of the highlights in our first visit. After reading much of your site, there are too many amazing places from which to choose for a short visit!

So my question is, what areas would you target from your list of favorites? We are assuming 2 days in Edinburgh to start, and then renting a car to provide some flexibility. From your blog posts, my initial thought is that Skye would be a bit ambitious (unless that’s all we did), and so we are looking at Loch Lomond, Glen Coe, Fort William, Glenfinnan with overnight in the area, and then perhaps Isle of Mull or Bute on our way back through Glasgow for train or flight to London.

We would appreciate any advice on what destinations you might pick for a well-rounded experience outside of Edinburgh. Best regards.

Hi Brian, thanks for your comment + question! To be honest, with so little time, I’d try to spend even less time in the car and more exploring a destination. You could go a bit north over the Forth Road Bridge and explore Fife – Lomond Hills Regional park, Dunfermline, Falkland, St Andrews, Fife coast and fishing villages; it’s stunning! Or head to the Isle of Arran – it offers everything Scotland is famous for, but is much much closer and so beautiful. You could spend one night on Arran, then head on via the small ferry to Kintyre and drive back via Inveraray and Loch Lomond, maybe spend a night along that route and then back to Glasgow for a night. I hope this helps and gives you some ideas that are maybe a bit more off the beaten track – but still stunning 🙂

Thanks for the thoughtful feedback Kathi. We definitely would like an Isle experience, and did not realize Arran had so much to offer. I assume you recommend it over Bute or Mull because of the diversity? We are excited to visit my families homeland.

I think Arran is the best choice – it’s closer than Mull, so easier to visit with limited time, and just a bit more varied than Bute – even though Mull and Bute are also great islands to visit! But on Arran, you definitely get a very multi-faceted view of Scotland!

Very nice and useful blog!

My girlfriend and I are planning a 7-night/8-day trip to Scotland this July. There’s more that I want to see than I could possibly fit into that timespan, so I’ve culled it down to this, but I’m still worries it’s overly ambitious:

2 nights/days in Edinburgh 2 nights in Mull 2 nights in Skye 1 night in Inverness, then back to Edinburgh for a red-eye out of Scotland (to our next destination).

Thinking of doing a rough clockwise tour that would include visits to (but not overnight stays in) Stirling, Glencoe, Fort William (+ Jacobite steam train to Mallaig), Iona, Trossachs/Loch Lomond, Loch Ness, and some Speyside distilleries.

What we like: picturesque towns/villages, local color, beautiful landscapes, history (castles/churches), museums if they’re noteworthy/interesting What we’re not after: weekend warrior type stuff: no kayaking, no sailing, no golfing, no intense hiking, no camping

I’m hoping to avoid a too-frenetic pace. We love nature and wildlife, but won’t be packing binoculars or bird lists. I’m basically looking to go from one Hobbiton to the next, with scenic, beautiful drives in between, if that makes sense? I’m concerned that the above itinerary will have us spending too much time driving. Is that itinerary nuts?

Hi Chris, to be honest – it’s a pretty full-on itinerary.

Especially getting from Mull to Skye in one day is intense – it’s not far in terms of miles, but you do have to take at least one ferry and there are A LOT of pretty sites en route.

If you want to ride the Jacobite train you need at least a night in/near Fort William; if you just want to see it, you need to time your arrival at the viaduct with the train times.

I’d consider dropping one location – Skye or Inverness – and slow down the itinerary a bit to have more time outside the car. Check out my bespoke itinerary planning services if you need any help with your route: https://watchmesee.com/watch-me-see-scotland-travel-consultation/

I am in love with all your articles! Is making a lot easier my planning for my family trip to Scotland this year. Thank you so much for being so informative and detailed!! I have a question: we are planning on spending 6 days in Scotland and 4 days in England. I can figure out how to adjust this awesome schedule to make it for 6 days. What could you recommend we can skip in this route to make it on schedule?

Hi Mayra, thanks a lot for your comment – I’m glad my articles are making your trip planning easier! I would either skip Skye (because you really want to take your time to visit this island) and stay on the mainland; or skip going north to Inverness and go from Skye straight back to Edinburgh. I’d personally prefer the former option because the drive to Skye is far and you’d spend a lot of extra time in the car. Hope this helps!

If you’d like any more hands-on support with your itinerary, check out my itinerary services: https://watchmesee.com/watch-me-see-scotland-travel-consultation/

Thank you for the 7 day Scotland itinerary. We planned our trip using the route given by you and I must say we were able to cover the most essential parts of Scotland in 9 days. I traveled with my wife and my 5 year old son. We arrived in London and took a train to Edinburgh. From there we hired a car and went to Glasgow to start our trip. Our route was Glasgow, Fort Williams, Isle of Skye, inverness and Edinburgh. As a history lover Scotland was a real treat for me and the Edinburgh castle was the icing on the cake. We loved the whole trip and would comeback again to see more parts of Scotland. Your blog made it so easy for me to plan the journey. Again a big thank you to you!!!… with love from Sri Lanka.

Hi Migara, thank you so much for coming back here to share your Scotland story! I’m so glad you found this itinerary useful and had a fab trip based on my suggestions. I hope you get to come back one day and see even more of Scotland! All the best half-way across the world to Sri Lanka!

Awesome, I shall plan it

I went to Scotland with my dad back in August and basically followed your entire itinerary, including hotels and food, and I must say that it was the trip of a lifetime for both of us! Thank you for taking the stress out of planning for me and creating such a wonderful adventure. Every time we stopped at the sites you recommended, I would think to myself “Wow, I wouldn’t have seen this/be doing this if it weren’t for that blogger lady (sorry I couldn’t remember your name while we traveled).” My dad would like to especially thank you; this was his first trip out of the country (it took A LOT of persuading to get him to go), and it was a spiritual awakening for him, to say the least. All of your recommendations were spot on, and I will definitely be coming back to your blog if I ever plan a trip to Scotland again!

You just made my day! Thank you very much for making the effort to come back to my blog and telling me about your successful trip. I’m so happy to hear that you found my itinerary and recommendations useful! Good that your dad enjoyed his first international trip – hopefully, there will be many more to come 🙂 I have lots of other Scotland itineraries on the blog which will get you more off the beaten track. And I offer customised travel consultation, if you want to create an even more special trip. Haste ye back!

Th itinerary looks great. Just wondering if we could start it and end it in Edinburgh (as we fly in and out of Edinburgh.) we have exactly seven days to do the this trip.. would it be feasible.. ? how many nights in each city. Thinking of inverness, Glencoe, Isle of Skye and Fort William .. then return to Edinburgh.

Hi Mary, I think if you have less time than 8 days – so only 7 days / 6 nights, I’d stick to the mainland instead of driving all the way to Skye. It relaxes your itinerary and gives you more time out of the car than on the road! Don’t worry, you will still find many beautiful mountain views, sea lochs and coastlines to marvel at! Cutting 2 nights on Skye gives you one additional night to play with, which I should spend in the Glencoe/Fort William area (2 nights in the same place) or around Oban if you want to move on every night. Have a fab holiday!

This is so informative. Thanks a lot for the detailed write-up. I just need one advice from you.

1. I’m planning for a week trip (Oct 2-10). One option is to join any group as I’m a solo traveller so that it will be economical (I believe, pls correct me if I’m wrong) Would you pls suggest an agency or travel company (Affordable)

2. I heard that landscape of Scotland and a friend of mine suggested to do more hiking and camping. I’m not sure if there will be any groups which do only hiking and camping in Scotland. In case if you know, could you pls help me with details. If not, any suggestions?

There are lota of companies that run walking holidays in Scotland (I.e. WalkaboutScotland), but I’m not aware of any companies that combine more leisurely hikes with sightseeing and road tripping. My personal fave would be Rabbie’s – they’re a local company and only use 16-seater buses, so all small groups. Their drivers always try to include a couple of shorter hikes/walks in their itineraries! Other great options are Timberbush Tours, Haggis Adventures or Highland Explorer Tours.

We are planning for a road trip from Glasgow to Edinburgh. Just thought of checking if hiring a car from Enterprise or Alamo is safe/preferred/advisable. I note that you had mentioned your preferred ones (Europcar, Avis and Sixt) but right there are not too many deals on any of the 3. A quick response will help as we will be landing on Sunday, 22nd Sept, 2019.

Just to add, I am also looking at National, apart from Enterprise or Alamo. Please let us know if it safe/preferred/advisable to go with any of these.

Hi Lalit, I’ve not personally hired from National or Alamo before, but since they are big international companies, I would not worry about it – I’m sure they are fine! I hired from Enterprise last month and it was great! have a fab trip!

I will plan for the Scotland tour 2 days on December 2019. After I read the articles am going to extent my tour days and visit the places you have mentioned. Thank you..

I’m glad to hear that my blog could convince you to extend your stay! I’m sure you won’t regret it – 2 days would not be enough 🙂

…I forgot to add that castles are my favorite thing to see…so perhaps another popular one or so? Thanks!

I am planning a solo trip for May 2020 and I am so happy I found your site, thank you so much for all your effort. I am going to follow your itinerary and add on 3 days so I can see a Highland Games. Assuming that just adds on 1 day somewhere in there, where would you recommend I spend the extra 2 days? I will rent a car based on your advice…hopefully I will adjust quickly like you said. Thanks!!

Usually, I’d say Oban on the west coast – but with your love for castles, I think you should spend time in Aberdeenshire and explore the Scottish Castle Trail! Definitely Dunottar Castle by the coast, but there are tons of beautiful castles in the area, such as Craigievar or Fraser! Lots to choose from!

That sounds amazing, I can’t thank you enough!! I’m super excited.

If I pack very lightly would I have trouble finding places to wash my clothes?

Hm, I’m not sure actually. Some hotels would have laundry service, but you might also find laundrettes in bigger places like Fort William or Inverness. I’d definitely google that though to be prepared!

Hi Kathi, I am so happy to find your blog.. I am planning to spend 7 days in Scotland, with one stop in Edinburg and Glasgow…Coming solo I was a bit uneasy about it, but I realized that 6 days tours would be about 800-900 pounds approx., which I think is a lot..Now I am tailoring my own trip and would kindly ask you for an advice…What do you think if I take a Scotish railway pass for 8 days?. I know I will be slower… does it really mean that I can use some bus lines as well? that would be great thing to have on Skye… also, do I need to book the train fares, or I just show up? Is there a good tour operator that you can recommend if I am to do some longer trekking? thanks!

Hi Lidija, Thanks for reading the article and your questions. I’m glad you’re finding the info here useful!

Railway passes can be a great way to travel around by public transport, but I would definitely compare it with buying train and bus tickets individually – the passes can be restrictive as to how many days/times you can travel, so I’d do the maths to make sure it’s worth it. https://www.scotrail.co.uk/tickets/combined-tickets-travel-passes

I use Trainline to buy individual train tickets, https://prf.hn/click/camref:1100l46JV , and Citylink for most intercity bus routes. Megabus also has some bus routes in Scotland and can be very cheap. Booking in advance can be cheaper, especially on longer routes and you definitely have to purchase tickets before you board the train (at ticket machines or shops in the stations).

You will definitely be slower on public transport and I recommend focussing on a smaller radius, maybe using one or two homebases to explore the country from there.

I don’t have any personal experience with organised hiking holidays in Scotland – I always go by myself – but Walkabout Scotland is a great company, https://www.walkaboutscotland.com/ , and Girls on Hills is perfect for guided day hikes, https://www.facebook.com/GirlsOnHills/ .

I hope you have a great trip!

All the best, Kathi

Really appreciate your recommendations! We’re thinking going all the way to Skye is too ambitious for our family, but we would like to fit in some hiking. Where would you recommend?

Oh, so many other great places! I highly recommend the website walkhighlands.co.uk for route descriptions and info. You could hike in the Trossachs national park – around Loch Lomond – or in Glencoe; there is also lovely hiking around Pitlochry and Aberfeldy. Lots of options 🙂

Love the detailed post! We are planning to start from London – LHR from 14th Sept(Saturday) and return on 20th Spet(Friday) we are planning to take the train. Could you tell what would be the best location to return to LHR(or near by) on 20th ?

Thanks, Chai

Hi Chai, thanks for your message! I’m not sure I fully understand your question – are you asking for a good place to base yourself near London Heathrow? I’m sorry, but I don’t know the south of England very well, so I would not be able to recommend anywhere. In terms of Scotland though, I highly recommend relaxing the itinerary if you have only 7 days including travel to and from London – otherwise you’ll spend more time on the road, than actually enjoying the destinations. If you are not driving in Scotland either, I also recommend relaxing the itinerary as it’s written with a rental car in mind. I hope you have a great trip! All the best, Kathi

Hi, we are planning to do this tour from the 25th of September to the 4th of October. Can you tell us if this is a high peak season? I am asking because we are unsure if we need to book B&Bs in advance or we can do it day by day.

Another question… I know that weather in Scotland is impossible to forecast, but can you tell us if you think it will always rain or we will have some sun?

Thank you in advance and compliments on the web site and the tour organisation! It’s brilliant! Luca

Hi Luca, thanks for your comment and questions!

The end of September/early October is not peak high season anymore, but depending on the areas you want to see and stay in, it might still be advisable to book ahead (i.e. Fort William, Skye, Loch Ness). Popular areas can still be very busy.

Regarding the weather, you answered you own question 😉 It is impossible to tell. You might have some sunshine, you might have some rain. I’ve had both on different trips at that time of the year. I’d pack wisely and prepare for any weather.

Have a fab trip! Kathi

We just did this itinerary and it was awesome. July 19 – 25, family of four, Saint Lucia WI.

Hi there, thanks a lot for your feedback and taking the time to come back here after your trip! I’m glad you had a fab trip and found this information useful 🙂

Dear Kathi,

Really appreciate the hard work you have done ! I am planing a trip for 6 days in Scotland end of Dec 19 Starting from Edinburgh route going up to Inverness then Isle and then coming back to Glasgow. I was a little curious as I am travelling with my family in Winter can I cover something more or do you think this good ?

thanks a lot for your help 🙂

Hi Vishal, thanks for your question! In the winter, days are much shorter and you might have to leave out a few things on this itinerary. You could even leave out stops along the way or cut a destination in order to spend more time in the other places. I don’t recommend adding even more as this is already a very packed itinerary during the long summer days! I hope you have a great trip! All the best, Kathi

Loving this itinerary and want to actually go ahead with this but I would like to squeeze in Doune castle would you recommend us doing it when we get to Edinburgh? I would also like to see coos and wild ponies, do you by any chance know where we could come across these at the stops you have shown on this itinerary? or any other isle we could go to without staying in glasgow and driving straight to Oban and taking a day trip to isle of rum or mull? We would be arriving to Edinburgh from London at 8:30 am on the 1st of August and leaving on the 7th of August at 6:00 pm

Would really appreciate your recommendation!

You could visit Doune Castle on the way from Pitlochry to Edinburgh. I’m not sure about ponies, but I’m sure you find Highland cows along the way – some hotels keep them nearby too!

Regarding other islands, even if you go straight to Oban, I’d recommend staying there 2 nights in order to spend a full day on an island (or take evening ferries and spend one night on an island). Mull is the closest from Oban and there’s a lot to do/see. There are also boat trips available from Oban. Rum can only be reached from Mallaig and you have to walk or cycle on the island as you can’t bring your car across.

It sounds like you’re trying to squeeze in a lot in those 7 days you’ve got – the itinerary is already very packed, so if you add something you’ll have to take something else away.

I hope you have an amazing trip!!

Thanks you for taking the time to share all of this information. I am planning a trip with my wife in September. This was a great start to our information gathering. My wife and I are of Scottish decent and are really looking forward to tracing our roots. I am so thankful for your restaurant help, in notating the places that serve vegan options!! It seems as though you’re vegan and that information is relevant to you, or Scotland might be on trend. Either way, kudos for that m8. I loved the entry. Thanks again for getting us started.

Hi Dallas, thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. Glad you found the post useful! It’s a bit of both – I’m vegan, but Scotlans is also just really on board with that as a whole. Lots of restaurants and pubs now cater to a variety of dietary requirements and usually you will find something pretty much anywhere 🙂 Have a great trip! Kathi

Hello! Great blog! My husband and I are visiting Scotland for the first time next month from the US. Staying 3 nights in Glasgow, two nights in Inverness and 4 nights in Edinburgh. We’re taking the train to get to Inverness and then to Edinburgh. While we’re in Inverness we want to see Culloden , Loch Ness, Eilean Donan Castle and possible Portree but that may be a stretch. My question to you is that we probably need to rent a car to accomplish this and I’m wondering how difficult the drive is in the Highlands. My husband is very weary about driving there but I just don’t see how else we could see the sights we want to without a car rental. I need some first hand knowledge/experience/advice on thoughts of driving in the Highlands for people from the US (that drive on the other side! LOL). Can you please help put our minds at ease? Any advice you could offer is greatly appreciated! Thank you!

Hi Jill, glad you’re enjoying my model itinerary!

You can visit Culloden by using local public transport – there’s a bus that goes there as far as I know. I’d use Google Maps to find out the best route.

If you are nervous about driving, I recommend getting a guided tour. Rabbie’s does different 1-day tours from Inverness that include things like Loch Ness, Eilean Donan Castle and the Isle of Skye! Skye, in particular, is a long drive and day if you want to do it all independently! You can check out their tours here .

Driving on the left is a bit weird in the beginning, but you get used to it pretty quickly. It’s the narrow roads that are more difficult for drivers who are used to wide American roads. It will tire you out and needs a lot more concentration, especially if you do single-track roads. If I only had a few days, I would probably prefer leaving the driving to someone else, so I can relax, look out the window and soad it all up.

Hope this helps! All the best, Kathi

Thank you for all the info! Is there a way to get a pdf or easier format for the 7 day tour? Also, If you spent the first 2 nights in Glasgow, what would be the best way to tweak the tour? Flying in to Glasgow from US, getting there around 2 so plan to take it easy that day and start Day 1 on Day 2 of our trip. Thanks in advance. Actually sending my husband for a sabbatical, I know he will love it!

Hi Lauren, thanks for your comment! You make me want to create an e-book for this itinerary… Until I have time for that, feel free to print the blog post or create a spreadsheet based on it – I love spreadsheets for travel planning! To your itinerary question: If you spend 2 nights in Glasgow that leaves you with 5 nights for the rest of the itinerary. To be honest, I’d probably take out the two nights on Skye and re-distribute the free night you get by doing that . to either somewhere between Glasgow and Fort William (maybe a detour to Oban) or spend two nights in Fort William. If you’d like any more help with your itinerary, check out my travel consultation service: https://watchmesee.com/watch-me-see-scotland-travel-consultation/ I hope you have a great trip 🙂 ALl the best, Kathi

Thank you so much! Just to make sure I am reading it correctly, this itinerary suggest 2 nights in Portree or somewhere close by?

Yes, I always recommend spending at least 2 nights on Skye. Portree is a good option, because there is a lot of infrastructure (tours, shops, restaurants), but places like Dunvegan or Uig (in the north), Broadford (central) or Carbost (west) are also nice options! I’m talking more about options on Skye in this post: https://watchmesee.com/blog/things-to-do-isle-of-skye/ Have a great trip!

Pingback: 7 Days In Scotland - Our Photo Story - Synesthesia Art

Hi Kathi, I just wanted to say thank you SO MUCH for this blog. My husband and I live in the UK after moving from Australia and my father-in-law recently arrived for a visit. His big request was to see Scotland and so I set about planning a 7 day road trip. How excited I was when I found this blog. I’m happy to report that just two days ago we returned from our wonderful trip and I followed your itinerary exactly! Everything is so well thought out and I even used your other blogs to plan sections of each day. Thank you so much!!! My father-in-law had a blast seeing all the top spots and I was so glad that I had an expert in my pocket during our trip.

Hi Sigourney, thank you so much for taking the time to comment and also the shout out in your blog post! I’m so glad you discovered Watch Me See and found the right inspiration for your Scotland trip. Your photos look lovely – I hope you had a great time and don’t let too much time pass before you return for more of Scotland 🙂 Take care!

I will be going SOLO, am healthy fit retired gal, and will not rent a car. At first Kathi said one could get around Scotland without a car, but somewhere I missed how that is done. She mentions subway and buses to use in Glasgow but after that it seems one has a car. I would greatly appreciate knowing about the getting about without a rental car.

Hi Valerie, as I say fairly early on in this post this itinerary is written with a rental car in mind. In the city there is no need to drive yourself though because it’s easier to walk, take public transport or use taxis b3cause parking and one-way systems can be a nightmare for new arrivals. I don’t have a similar itinerary post for public transport, but you can find out more about different ways to get around Scotland here: https://watchmesee.com/blog/plan-a-trip-to-scotland/ Hope this helps! All the beat, Kathi

Hi Kathi! I wanted to tell you a short, kinda funny story! My boyfriend and I are planning a trip to Scotland in July and we recently booked our Airbnbs. I still enjoy perusing blogs for new ideas of stops along the way and came across your seven day itinerary, so it perked my interest since that was the time we have planned. Your itinerary is the exact opposite one I have planned based on the sites we are wanting to see! Starting in Edinburgh, traveling to Inverness, Isle of Skye, Fort William, and finishing up in Glasgow, enjoying as much of the sites as we are able in between!

Is there a reason you have your itinerary set from Glasgow to Edinburgh?

Thanks! Kate

Hi Kate, that’s funny – but just proves that this really is a Classics itinerary 😉 I live in Glasgow which is why I have started this loop there in the past – I don’t see a reason why you couldn’t do it in reverse! I hope you have an amazing trip!!

Great itinerary!!! We followed and had great fun!! Tranks for sharing it!

Glad you enjoyed it!!

Hi, we are going to holiday in Scotland this summer and I love your itinerary! We would really like to bring our dog with us, are there many dog friendly places to stay? Many thanks

I’m sure you will find plenty dog-friendly B&Bs – it’s just a matter of availability for this summer 😉 The VisitScotland accommodation search tool has a filter for pet-friendliness: https://www.visitscotland.com/holidays-breaks/pet-friendly/ Hope this helps!

We are thinking of touring with a caravan is this a good idea

Hi Julia, lots of people explore Scotland in a camper. As long as your comfortable driving a large vehicle, I don’t see why not 🙂

Hi Kathy..ur site is very useful.. we are a group of 15 pple travelling to scotland in May..

we have booked 3N in an Airbnb in Kirkhill , Inverness. Can you plz suggest what all we can cover in 3 days from Inverness..we really want to do Isle of Skye and what all can be covered in 3 whole days.. due to time and leaves contraint we have only 3days.. how can we make the most of it..as last 1N we have in Edinburg… Thank u in advance

Hi Kartiki, oh there is a lot to see in the Inverness area. It depends a lot on what you’re interested in, how you plan to get around and how much time you want to spend on the road/out of the car at attractions. Skye is a long day trip from Inverness with lots of driving. There are also many organised day trips leaving from Inverness. If you drop me an email at [email protected] I’m happy to send you info regarding my itinerary consultation services! All the best, Kathi

Love your site . We are planning a trip to Scotland in Oct. We have first 2 nights booked in Edinburgh and our last 2 nights booked in Glasgow (where fly out from). Leaving 3 nights in between that we were thinking from Edinburgh we would drive to Glencoe, Portree, Oban (spending one night in each ) then landing in Glasgow for last 2 nights. Does the 3 night road trip in between our time in Edinburgh & Glasgow sound too aggressive? Wanted a quick taste of Highland and islands between cities. Thanks!

Hi Dave, many thanks for your comment! Personally, I wouldn’t go as far as Portree if I only had one night on Skye. My recommendation would be to do a night in the Glencoe area and two in Oban. From there, do a day trip to visit some of the nearby islands (Mull, Iona, Kerrera, Lismore etc.) – that way you’ll get the best of Highlands and Islands without having to spend too much time in the car! Hope you have an amazing trip!

Hi Kathi, your itinerary and suggestions seem fantastic.I will be travelling to Scotland end of June for a week. I was wondering if after the Jacobite – we could do Islay instead of the Isle of Sky?

Was thinking of taking a ferry to Port Ellen.

Thanks Vipul

Hi Vipul, it depends on how much time to have – Skye is more or less on the way north to Inverness, Islay is a significant distance away from Inverness. So if you wanted to continue with the rest of this itinerary north, it would probably be easier if you have a few extra days. If you’re keen to see Islay within this time frame, check out my Argyll itinerary which you could expand by adding Islay: https://watchmesee.com/blog/itinerary-argyll-road-trip/ I hope this helps! All the best, Kathi

Hi I would like to visit Scotland from 27th to 31 May from London and would like have some advice on B&B for four (4) people along the routes on a daily basis. I will be grateful if you can advise. Many thanks

Hello, this is something I usually offer as part of my consultations service ( https://watchmesee.com/watch-me-see-scotland-travel-consultation/ ), but I’m afraid at the moment I am fully booked. Here are two colleagues who might be able to help: https://www.adventuresaroundscotland.com/itinerary-planning.html and https://www.thechaoticscot.com/scotland-itinerary-planning/ . All the best, Kathi

Hello Kathi, Loved you blog post. You help many people with these tips (like me – it will be my 1st time to Scotland). We will arrive to Edinburgh airport late at night. So I was thinking if it’s better to start next morning our journey by driving to Inverness, and actually follow your 7-day itinerary, but the other way around (then to Isle of Sky, then Glasgow, and back to Edinburgh). What do you think?

Hi Vasilis, I don’t see any reason why you shouldn’t to it in the reverse direction! If you land late, definitely spend the night in the airport area before heading out the next day – better get some rest before such a long drive 🙂 Have an amazing journey!

Hi! I’m planning a trip to Scotland for June/July 2020. I’m mostly sticking to your itinerary, but have one question. I understand to get the Isle of Skye, take the ferry from Mallaig to Armadale, but coming back from Skye to the mainland (on to Loch Ness) where should I catch the ferry? Thank you!

Hi Julia, there is a bridge from Kyleakin on Skye to Kyle of Lochalsh on the mainland! You dont have to take the ferry, I just recommend it in my itinerary so you don’t drive the same road twice and see something different instead! Have a great trip!

Hi Kathi. Hope you can help in determining how to spend two days….leaving Inverness Saturday morning in May and needing to be near Edinburgh airport Sunday night. We’d like to ride the gondola near Fort William and do one of the walks at the top. Anything else like this and where would be a good place to stay overnight? It seems a shame to miss Loch Lomond, but not sure best way to navigate and spend our (very short) time in that area. We will already have seen Stirling. We are a party of 5 with 3 teens in tow. Thanks!

Hi Suzanne, happy to give some advice! I’d stay in the area around Glencoe. Saturday – drive along Loch Ness, gondola & walks at Nevis Range and potentially some light walking at Glen Nevis. Sunday – light hiking in Glencoe (see suggestions here: https://watchmesee.com/blog/things-to-do-in-glencoe/ ) and drive to EDI airport via Crianlarich and Callander; I think that’s the quickest way! You could also book a half-day activity around Fort William or Glencoe on Sunday morning before driving to the airport! Have a fab trip! 🙂

Hi Kathi, I’m really enjoying your site. I’m heading to Scotland for the first time in March. My cousin is getting married in Ayrshire. I’ve been a bit disappointed to read that many of the attractions aren’t open until April, such as the steam train and numerous castles. In your experience, is it still worth a visit to see the outsides even if the castles themselves are closed in March? Any other recommendations for that time of year? Thanks in advance!

Hi Roxy, personally I wouldn’t be too worried about attractions not being open yet. To me, the main attraction is the landscape and that never closes! Visiting castles when they are closed can still be absolutely worth it to take photos and see how grand they are! Some have a gate, so you can’t get to then, but others you can get right up close! Hope you have a lovely trip!

Is your google map for this itinerary still available? I saw a comment mentioning it, but couldn’t find a link.

Hi Andrew, I’m not quite sure what had happened to the Map, but it’s embedded now again at the end of the post! You can also access it here !

Hi Kathi, This is Bansari from India. I just loved ur itinerary. I am travelling to Scotland in May with my husband and 7 year old daughter. But we are not comfortable driving abroad so can u suggest places or ur itinerary itself where i can use public transport and take tours where public transport is inaccesible. I know by taking public transport would mean missing out many things but would really love if you could help me with similar itienerary by public transport and take tours wherever necessary…. Thanks !

Hi Bansari, I’d be happy to help you with your itinerary. Please take a look at my consultation page and get in touch if you are interested: https://watchmesee.com/watch-me-see-scotland-travel-consultation/ You can do a similar route by public transport and with day tours – I’d be delighted to help you put this together! All the best, Kathi

Thanks for that awesome itinery! I’ve looked at different itinerys but this one seems to include so much more! I do have one question though: all of the itinerys I looked at seem to start by going north via the western route (Lomond, Fort William, GlenCoe) towards Skye and are coming back down via the Eastern Route (Pitlochry). Is there a specific reason for that? Or could one just as easily start East and end West? Thanks so muchc!

Hi Miriam, it’s a packed itinerary for sure! Depending on the time you visit (and length of days then), you might have to cut a few things, or you maybe decide to spend more time on one place over the other. Also, if you can add a night or two, I always recommend more time around Glencoe/Fort William and around Inverness too. There is so much to see 🙂 I don’t see a reason why you couldn’t do it anti-clockwise either! Let me know how you get on! Cheers, Kathi

Hi Kathi! Thanks for your advice! Since we arrive in Edinburgh and leave from Glasgow I am planning to go anti-clockwise now. We will be doing Edinburgh – Cairngorms – Portree – Glencoe/Ft William/Oban – Glasgow. I am not sure yet about how to spend and divide our time between portree and glencoe/Ft William/Oban. We do have in total 4 nights to spend on this part, meaning we can either drive up to Skye, stay for 3 nights and enjoy 2 full days before driving down and spending 1 night around Glencoe/Ft William/Oban before driving down to Glasgow. OR we could drive up to Skye, stay for 2 nights and enjoy 1 full day only, but therefore have 2 nights to spend in the Glencoe/Ft William/Oban area. What would be your suggestion? Thanks!!!

Hi Miri, thanks for your question! First of all, I’d say there is no wrong decision here 😉 I’d recommend that if you do the 3-1 split, that Oban might be out of your reach if you want to make stops along the way. You can see a lot of Skye on one full day as well, especially if you visit during the summer. I’d lean towards the 2-2 split, and spend the next two nights in two different places. That way you can maybe also squeeze some new Skye sites in on the day you leave the island again! Hope this helps!

Hey there! Thank you so much for this. Just thought I’d let you know that I used most of this to build my own week-long itinerary in Scotland two weeks ago. I’ve not found any similarly useful or detailed travel itineraries out there. You’re truly one of the best! Unfortunately the weather didn’t want to cooperate with me while I was in Skye, so I didn’t get to do the hikes (Old Man of Storr & The Quiraing), but I still managed enough to make it worth it, to include the Tallisker Distillery. I’d definitely like to get back when there’s snow and I can do some train journeys. Seriously, thanks again so much!

Hi Kyle, thank you very much for your comment – it means so much to me to hear from readers who find my advice useful and plan their trips based on my ideas! I’m glad you had a great time and even though it’s a shame the weather wasn’t great on Skye, it wouldn’t be Scotland if it was all sunshine all the time 🙂 It took me three attempts to get topnotch weather on Skye 🙂 I hope you get to come back too one day! All the best, Kathi

Hi Kathi We are planning to take Scotland trip from 28th Oct – 3rd Nov by car along with two children 5 and 7 yrs. Your itinerary seems great.

We will have 7 days with us. Please advise will it be better to start from Glasgow or Edinburgh? Which stops can be left without regret although every place you mentioned is beautiful and worth seeing. Will we be able to cover so many stops in Oct given that the days will be shorter and it becomes difficult to leave early morning with kids.

Are the hostels good for family accommodations? Looking for budget accommodation. Shall I book the stays now or shall wait for the prices to come down?

will appreciate your response.

Hi Sam, thanks for your comment! I feel like you kind of answered your own question – I think with the shorter days and travelling with kids, you might be better off slowing down and doing fewer destinations in a more relaxed manner. It depends on your usual travel style though – but it is a lot of driving to do this itinerary in 7 days. For accommodation I don’t see why you wouldn’t book already – I doubt that prices will drop as most places have fixed rates. As for hostels, again, it depends. There are party hostels in Edinburgh, where you’d probably not want to stay with kids, but there are also hostels that are quieter and family-friendly. If you’d like to work with me to create a good itinerary based partially on this, but taking into account the needs of your family, please take a look at my travel planning service and get in touch via email: https://watchmesee.com/watch-me-see-scotland-travel-consultation/ All the best, Kathi

Thank you for the itinerary, as I found it very informative.. My husband and I are planning a 7 day trip, flying into Edinburgh, over the Christmas holiday. Knowing the weather may be changeable, do you think that it would be possible to visit the Isle of Skye and the surrounding areas as mentioned in your post? Thanks.

Generally yes, but you might have to cut out some of the stops since the days are shorter – around Christmas and up north, you probably have only about 6-7 hours of daylight. One thing I’d be careful about are cancellation policies. It’s not super common, but just in case there is heavy snowfall and you have to change your route through the Highlands, you’d want to book accommodation that you can cancel on fairly short notice. I love Scotland in winter – the mountains are so beautiful in the snow!! Have a great trip!!

Hi Kathi, I stumbled on your site while planning my Scotland trip this Oct. This is such a great site and I’m enjoying reading your posts in addition to using it as a source to plan my trip. We will be renting a car and driving around but would also like to take the famous Jacobite steam train/ West Highland train past the Glenfinnan Viaduct. However, we are driving as well so does this mean we will have to leave our car at Fort William and take the return train trip to Malliag and back and thereafter, drive from Fort William to Malliag to continue with your itinerary? Sounds like there must be a better solution then going back and forth Fort William and Malliag! Would appreciate your help 🙂

Hi James, Unfortunately, I can’t think of a better way of doing this – ideally you could add a day to my 7-day itinerary which you spend in Fort William and do the Jacobite train as a day trip activity. Unfortunately, there is no way of transporting your car on the train… Driving the Road to the Isles is also a fantastic experience without the train though, and you can stop along the way and take photos of the train (e.g. when it crosses Glenfinnan Viaduct). I hope you have a fab trip!!

As far as the scenery goes…do you think it’s preferable to go clockwise…or do you think it does not matter?

I don’t think it really matters, to be honest 😉 But if the sun is shining, I’d want it in my back when driving through the Highlands, thus I’d stick with clockwise!

Thanks for this great post! My husband and I will be visiting Scotland at the end of August and plan to follow your itinerary since you do such a wonderful job laying it all out. I do have a few questions— if I rent a car in Glasgow, is it easy to drive in the city? Also, does the ferry to the Isle of Skye involve taking the rental car with you or do you have to leave the car and get a new rental on the Isle? Thank you!

Thanks for your questions! It’s easy enough to drive in the city, e.g. from the airport to your hotel or a car park nearby; however, for sightseeing I’d walk and take public transport or the hop on, hop off bus to save yourself the hassle of inner city traffic. And for the ferry from Mallaig to Skye you have to take the car across with you – I suggest buying the ticket in advance to get the time you want! It’s a busy crossing!

To continue on this post, to go back to Mallaig, do you take the ferry back or did you mention a bridge?! Thanks for all the info in this itenary. We’re planning a holiday for April with two young kids, and I think this will be too much for them,which places would you suggest to cut down from this itenary? Thanks 🙂

Hi Maria, thank for your question! We took the ferry from Mallaig to Armadale on Skye and then the bridge off to continue to Loch Ness. It really depends on what you’re interested, how many days you have, how old they are etc. Take a look at my travel consultation packages https://watchmesee.com/watch-me-see-scotland-travel-consultation/ and drop me an email if you’d like me to help with your itinerary! Cheers, Kathi

Hi there! We’re a family of 5 Aussies (3 adult kids) attempting a first-timers’ week in Scotland in late June. All of us are keen but feeling a bit daunted and time poor. Your detailed and varied itinerary, with multiple options and suggestions, gave me real enthusiasm and hope that we can actually achieve something! So excited that I immediately sent them your site link. I’ll let you know how we go following many of your suggestions! I appreciate all the time that’s gone into this.

Hi Roz, thank you so much for taking the time to write such a lovely comment! I really appreciate it and it means a lot to hear your feedback! I’m happy my post brought the fun back into planning for your trip. I’m sure you will have a fantastic time in Scotland – it’s almost impossible not to 😀 I’d love to hear how you get on!! Cheers, Kathi

thank you so much for this! my brother and I will be visiting in 2 months! you are amazing!

Thank you for your comment! I hope my blog posts are useful for your trip 🙂 Have a lovely holiday!!

This is great! Just today decided we’d like to try to plan a trip in August. Will be traveling with our 20- and 17-year old kids. Any recommendations for teen/young adult highlights?

Hi Kim, thanks for your question! Of course, it really depends on what they’re generally interested in. There are many shorter walks in the areas I mention in the itinerary (walkhighlands.co.uk) is a great resource for that). I really like the gondola up the Nevis Range, and seeing the Harry Potter train crossing the Glenfinnan viaduct is always a highlight. I also highly recommend the boat tour on Skye from Dunvegan Castle to the seal colony. Doing a small cruise on Loch Ness is a lot of fun and on Loch Lomond you could rent kayaks. You could look into companies like Vertical Descent or Nae Limits to see if they offer any activities along the route! Hope this helps and you all have a fun trip!!

This is all so great! I am landing in Edinburgh so do you recommend just taking transport from Edinburgh to Glasgow and follow the same plan? should I make any stops along the way?

Hi Katie, thank for your question. The itinerary is written with a rental car in mind, so if you land and depart from Edinburgh I’d get a car there and add the 45 minutes it takes to drive to Glasgow. It’s not far!

lovely Itenary. We too plan to visit Scotland end July .Would like to follow a few places from ur Itenary Loch Lomond, Glen Coe & Fort William.Which place would be easy to stay in order to make day trips to “Loch Lomond, Glen Coe & Fort William” also we would have one more complete day to move around and than plan a stay over at Edinburg

I’d probably base myself in the middle – so around Glencoe – and do day trips from there! Crianlarich might also be a good option. Have a great trip! If you have an additional day, I’d just spend it in one of the destinations you wanted to see anyway – there’s always more to do, and it takes the stress out a little bit!

Hi Kathi Your seven day itinerary is really great!! Just wanted to know whether i can squeeze in St Andrews somewhere??

Hi Ramji, honestly, you’d have to take something else out – like instead of spending time at Loch Ness and staying over night in Inverness, driving straight from Skye to St Andrews in one day. It’s a long drive, so I wouldn’t recommend taking the detour to Loch Ness on the same day. You can only fit so much into 7 days in Scotland, and it’s already a very tightly packed itinerary…

Pingback: The Active Scotland Itinerary: One Week in Scotland

A Big Thank you for helping many travelers like me with exciting details about Scotland. I’m planning for a 5-Day Scotland trip during Easter holidays (31st March – 4th April) along with my family which includes 4 month old daughter 🙂 . I have sent you an email with our sample plan . However would need your suggestion on this as our main criteria to go to nice scenery places that are easy to commute by Car.

Thanks in Advance Harish

Hi, you have an amazing scotland itinerary. I will be visiting from UK, hence i will be taking a bus to either edinburgh or glascow. I will be traveling for 5 full days and I want to see the main attractions. could you give me recommendations or a good 5 days itinerary in scotland.

cheers, anthea

Hi Anthea, you could cut this itinerary down to 5 days by either cutting out destinations or making fewer stops along the way. If you would like to have concrete suggestions for shorter itineraries, have a look at my travel consultations services and drop me a line: https://watchmesee.com/watch-me-see-scotland-travel-consultation/ Cheers, Kathi

Hi Kathi, Finished planning our road trip today with accommodations booked! We decided on 1st night in Glasgow, then Oban, Fort William, 2 nights on Skye, Inverness, Pitlochry and 2 night in Edinburgh. I know its a lot to fit in, but figured it would give a good overview, then we can decide what areas to spend more time in on another trip. Thanks so much for your blog. I didn’t know how to begin planning this, so I found it so helpful!

Great itinerary – you will have a such a beautiful and diverse trip through Scotland! And as you say, there is always a next time to see even more 🙂 Let me know how you got on!!

Enjoyed looking at your classic Scotland Itinerary which we plan to follow. We are heading to Scotland in May and have 9 days. Trying to decide what to add in to fill the 2 extra days. Was contemplating a night in Oban. But then would also like to check out Balmoral Caslte and St Andrews. Is this all too much to try to fit in?

Distance-wise you could probably also do the Royal Deeside for Balmoral Castle or a night in St Andrews on your way from Inverness to St Andrews, but it’s almost like opening a new cookie jar and then only eating half a cooke with only 2 nights… To be honest, I’d probably try to add more nights within the itinerary – Oban is a good call, or another night in Fort William, especially if you’d like to do some hiking in the Glencoe area! Hope that helps 🙂

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. Definitely plan to add a night in Oban after reading your post about it. The 2nd night, still not sure ….will need to do some more thinking about that. Just wish I had more time! Thanks for your great blog. it’s been so helpful in planning this trip.

You’ll love Oban – it’s such a pretty town and the scenery around it is amazing! Unfortunately there is never enough time to see everything – but that’s a good reason to come back 🙂 Hope you find a nice place to stay for that last night – would love to hear how your trip went!

Still trying to decide the extra night. Plan to either book a 2nd night in Fort William/Glencoe area or book a night in Pitlochry after leaving Inverness. This would allow more time in the Cairngorms before heading back to Edinburgh. Wondered if you had an opinion on this.

Oh yeah, that’s a great call! Aviemore area or Pitlochry area – both really beautiful 🙂

This seems like the perfect itinerary for us! I’m so happy I found it. After planning we realized we have one more day to just take it easy, so where would you suggest we spend a little extra time? Thanks!

Hi Becca, happy you found my itinerary helpful! I would suggest to either spend two nights in the Fort William or one in Glencoe, one in Fort William to allow more time for Glencoe and Ben Nevis area! If you wanted to squeeze another destination, spend Day 2 driving from Glasgow along Loch Lomond to Oban (my favourite coastal town and a great wee road trip through Argyll), and on Day 3 drive through Glencoe (definitely do the detour of driving through the valley) to Fort William! Cheers, K

Pingback: How to Plan a Trip to Scotland | WatchMeSee.com

Hi Kelly – Great info. We are staying in St. Andrews for a week in october for a golf trip. Do you have any recommendations as far as food/pubs go? Any must sees in St Andrews besides the golf? This will be my first trip to Scotland so I want to be sure I get the most of it! Thank you!

There’s loads to do – have you seen this post? http://watchmesee.com/blog/quick-guide-st-andrews/ Let me know if you need any more assistance!

I love this itinerary! My mom and I will be going in October, but we were hoping to actually be able to do at least one of the hikes (maybe the three sisters, though a recommendation would be appreciated) and visit St. Andrews for a day, as well as see the isle of skye and glen coe. We have 7 days – do you think this is possible? Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

Hi Joanne, I also got your email and will respond there with some suggestions 🙂

I read your itinerary and found it pretty exciting. However, me and my husband from India would be travelling in October 1st week but we have already finalized our stay at all places starting from Edinburgh to Inverness to Glasgow. Can you help us further with the best places we can cover in a week accordingly? It would be great if you can provide me with your email id to discuss it further. Thanks.

Hi Surbhi, I’d be happy to help with suggestions! If you send me your itinerary (like how many nights of accommodation you’ve booked where and your mode of transport) I can come up with some ideas. It’s [email protected] Cheers, Kathi

Thanks for your reply. I have mailed you the details. Let me know if you need more info. Thanks, Surbhi

Hi! This post is perfect as I’ll be traveling to Scotland in a couple weeks. I’m traveling alone from the US and was a little worried about driving (left side, being alone, stopping on the side of the road for pictures, where to get gas, etc.). Do you have any tips for the solo traveler? Or maybe suggestions on attempting this itinerary on public transport?!

You would definitely be able to do this itinerary by train and bus, but it would mean that you might have to leave out a few sights and stopping along the road for photos would be harder/impossible. I’d still suggest a rental car, and simply taking it slowly until you’re used to the left-side traffic – happens faster than you’d think. There are always plenty of lay-bys for photo stops and people are used to tourists on the roads – you won’t be the only one 🙂 There are petrol stations in most towns and villages along this route, and distances aren’t so far, that you’d run into trouble if you drive for a whole day without filling up. I hope this helps you gain some confidence and go for the rental car – it’s simply the most flexible mode of transport!

I did the same itinerary about a month ago, in a little bit different order. I’d spend more time in Skye hiking the coast lines and Glen Coe hiking the other trails there. I can agree with your comment on Ft. William. Spent one too many days there, that I wish I would habe spent on Skye instead. There’s always next time!

Sounds like you had a great time in Scotland! Any additional day for hiking is a winner 🙂 Where did you hike in Glencoe?

Hi Kathi, my fiance and I just finished a trip to Scotland following your 7-day itinerary, and I just wanted to say a big thank you! Each day’s drive had so much to see and covered enough ground, which made the whole experience a lot of fun. We also may not have stopped by Blair Castle if not for your recommendation, which would have been a shame; it was simply stunning! My fiance is a big whisky fan, so before we left Inverness, we took a small detour to take in a little of the Malt Whiskey Trail and check out some distilleries. Overall, it was such a great experience. Thank you so much for posting such a detailed guide and Google map, complete with food stops and ideas. It was super appreciated! Much love from Canada!

Hello Ada, thank you so much for your feedback! Sometimes I feel like this blog is taking up so much of my spare time, I doubt whether I spend too much time on it – comments like yours prove me wrong 😀 I’m glad you had a fantastic trip and managed to see so much of Scotland! The whiskies from Speyside are probably my favourites, but I’ve never visited a Distillery up there – which one dod you go to?

Hi, I am coming to Scotland in May, thanks for putting otgethere such a comprehensive itinerary, thislooks amazing. I arrive Saturday around 10am and leave the following Friday so It seems like if I follow this itinerary I will have one day to do either Glasgow or Edinbourgh. Any advice on which to skip? or another place you would cut out instead? Also, any advice on how to do this or a similar itinerary without a car?? Thank you so much!

Thanks for your comment! Instead of spending a night in Fort William and taking the ferry to Skye via Mallaig, you could drive on after Fort William and head to Skye via the bridge which is faster and cheaper. That already save you a night. You could also instead of spending a night around Loch Ness, visit the Loch/Castle ruins on your way from Skye to Edinburgh – that can easily be done in one day of driving! Another night saved. Hope this helps! Cheers, Kathi

Thank you so much! I was also wondering if you have any distillery suggestions

I have by far not visited all of them, but I really liked the Edradour distillery in Pitlochry as it’s tiny – I think the smallest operating one in Scotland – and they had delicious whiskey liqueur, which tasted like Bailey’s but better. There is also Talker on Skye, which is great for a rainy day activity, and Glengoyne near Glasgow which is the southernmost distillery in the Highlands and has a great 18 year old to try! There is also a distillery in Fort William, Ben Nevis, but I’ve not been yet!

Great post! We are motorhoming around scotland in June and I have taken note of your suggestions to plan our amazing itinerary!

That’s so cool – I’ve always wanted to do that! How much time do you have! If you need any help planning your itinerary, let me know!

Hello Kathi, We will be in Scotland for a week and we would like to assume your classic one week itinerary. We will arrive to Edinburgh airport in the night and we will sleep in a hotel in the airport, so our first day will start there. Do you advice to spend all the first day in Glasgow or maybe to begin/finish the day somewhere else? Thank you, David

Hi David, I think Glasgow would be a great day 1 – it’s such a great city that gets overlooked way too often. It’s also a great starting point to drive up north from, as it’s so close to Loch Lomond and the Highlands. If you have a rental car you could also spend the day exploring Stirling Castle, the Kelpies and or the Trossachs – and then spend the evening in Glasgow and go to a cool pub 🙂 Let me know if you need any more help planning!

Hi Kathi, Thank you for your response. How much different are the Trossachs from Loch Lomond area? Do you think that it is possible to visit the Trossachs for the first half of the day and then have enough time for the shopping areas in Glasgow? We will have a rental car and it seems to be an hour drive from Edinburgh Airport to the Trossachs and an hour from there to Glasgow. Thank you, David

Hi David, well the Trossachs are basically the hills east of Loch Lomond. The drive from Callander to Aberfoyle via Loch Achray is gorgeous – you could easily do that in the morning and then drive down to Glasgow for some shopping in the afternoon!

Hi Kathi, Are the Three Sisters, the ridge of Aonach Eagach and Buachaille Etive Mòr possible to see in a one week Itinerary? you mentioned that we will not have time to climb any of these but will it be possible to stop somewhere near road A82 and visit these places? Thank you, David

Hi David, absolutely! Buachaille Etive Mòr lies just at the entrance of Glen Coe – just before actually – and there’s a carpark from where you get a great view; the other two can both be seen from the same carpark in the glen a little further down the A82. The views are gorgeous and most travelers stop at these carparks to get some photos 🙂

This is a great itinerary! I’m definitely going to save it and break it down into some weekend trips from London. We’ve been meaning to see more of Scotland, but it’s so hard to decide where to start! Isle of Skye seems so far out and complicated to get to, so I like your ideas of stopping at places along the way so it doesn’t seem so bad.

Hey Kelly, yeah, for Isle of Skye is not really something I’d recommend for a weekend trip – it’s just too far to drive (although there are busses). I guess its biggest advantage is that you can reach it over a bridge and you’re not bound to specific ferry times necessarily! Either way, I hope you enjoy your weekend trips to Scotland – there’s so much to see 😀 Thanks for your comment!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

A MAGICAL 8-Day Scotland Itinerary – Everything You Need To Know

Looking for an awesome Scottish road trip adventure? Discover the best of Scotland with this 8-day Scotland Itinerary . 

Scotland, a rich and majestic country that often leaves you feeling that you’ve stepped out of reality and into a Harry Potter-esque world, is, in my opinion, the most beautiful country in the UK . 

Scotland is home to mystical forests, jaw-dropping lochs, hidden Isles, challenging trails, pristine beaches and some very strong whiskey. 

Whilst this 8-day Scottish road trip adventure will get you seeing some of the best bits of the country, I’m convinced that getting just a small taste of Scotland will leave you wanting more, so don’t expect this to be your last trip to this magical part of the British Isles . 

Scotland is now one of my favourite places in the world , and I am honestly annoyed that it took me this long to go on a Scottish road trip, considering I live in England. 

So, what exactly is included in this 8-day Scotland Itinerary ? 

Read on below to find out! 

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you decide to make a verified purchase through the links in this post I will earn a small commission. This will be at no extra cost to you. Thank you 🙂

Prepare for Your Trip To Scotland

🛏️ Accommodation:  When you’re hunting for great deals, make sure to check out different sites like  Booking.com   and  Hotels.com ! If you’re on a budget then make sure to check out  Hostelworld .

✈️ Flights: Check out the best flight deals with Skyscanner and Trip.com . I never search anywhere else!

🚆 Transport:  Need to book a bus or train whilst travelling? Check out your options on 12goasia.com , Bookaway.com and thetrainline.com .

🚗 Rental Cars : Looking to rent a car for your adventures? Check out prices on Rentalcars.com and Discovercars.com .

🐘 Activities:  Check out  Get Your Guide   and  Viator  for 100’s of activities whilst travelling.

🦋 Insurance:  Make sure you’re covered against any incidents during your trip. Get affordable and flexible insurance with   SafetyWing .

📱 Download an eSIM:  Avoid roaming fees, and have peace of mind that you have internet access when WiFi isn’t available. Download sims from either  Airalo  or  Holafly   for your time abroad.

About this 8-day Scotland Itinerary

This 8-day Scotland Itinerary was formed from the exact route I took on my own trip to Scotland. 

This itinerary is filled with adventure to ensure you see Scotland’s very best bits. 

This one-week Scotland Itinerary starts in Glasgow and looks like this: 

• Day 1 – Glasgow > Loch Lomond 

Day 2 – Loch Lomond > Glencoe (& Fort William)

• Day 3 – Glencoe (& Fort William) > Isle of Skye
• Day 4 – Isle of Skye 
• Day 5 – Isle of Skye > Isle of Lewis and Harris 
• Day 6 – Isle of Lewis and Harris 
• Day 7 – Isle of Lewis and Harris > Cairngorms National Park 

Day 8 – Cairngorms National Park

Getting to scotland.

This 8-day Scotland Itinerary begins in Glasgow, although you won’t be staying here. 

Glasgow is simply the gateway to the real first stop on this itinerary, Loch Lomond. 

If you are driving to Scotland from elsewhere in the UK, you can skip out of Glasgow and head straight to the area of Loch Lomond. 

You can fly directly into Glasgow airport from all major UK cities and most European cities.

You can catch the train to Glasgow Central Station from many cities in the UK. 

You can book your train tickets here . 

You can catch the coach to Glasgow Central Station from many cities in the UK.  You can book your coach tickets here.

How to get around Scotland

This is a Scotland road trip itinerary, so you must have a car for this. 

This is because many locations included in this itinerary are not accessible by public transport. 

If you have flown in or caught the train to Glasgow, pick up a rental car from Glasgow Airport or the town centre.  You can book a rental car here .

Day 1 – Glasgow >  Loch Lomond 

If possible, I would recommend not staying in Glasgow and heading straight for Loch Lomond. 

This itinerary focuses on immersing yourself in some of Scotland’s finest natural beauty spots, so it is best to spend as little time in the city as possible. 

The drive from Glasgow to Loch Lomond is 1 hour and approximately 45 KM.

Where to stay in Loch Lomond   

Budget .

• Rowardennan Lodge Youth Hostel 

Mid Range 

• Lochside Guest House

Luxury 

• Loch Lomond Waterfront Luxury Lodges

On day 2 of this 8-day Scotland itinerary, you will spend the morning exploring Loch Lomond. 

Loch Lomond is the largest loch in Scotland and is home to some pretty impressive scenery.

What to do in Loch Lomond 

Hike conic hill .

On this itinerary, I highly recommend that you spend your morning hiking Conic Hill.  

It’s a relatively easy hike, with some impressive views out over Loch Lomond. 

Other things to do in Loch Lomond 

If hiking isn’t your favourite pastime, here are some other things you can do in Loch Lomond:

• Head out on a Loch Lomond boat cruise . 
• Relax on the “beaches” of Loch Lomond
• Go kayaking on the loch
• Visit the Loch Lomond Sea Life Museum 
• Head out on a rock climbing adventure

Driving to Glencoe

Following your morning in Loch Lomond, you must drive to Glencoe.

The drive from Loch Lomond to Glencoe is approximately 1 hour, 20 minutes, and 98 KM. 

There are lots of scenic viewpoints you can stop off at on your way from Loch Lomond to the centre of Glencoe, of which I have recommended some below: 

• White (Lagangarbh) Cottage 
• ​​Buachaille Etive Mor View point 
• Glencoe Viewpoint 
• The meeting of three waters 
• Three Sisters viewpoint

Of course, the stop-offs will make your drive a little longer, but they’re oh-so worth it. 

Where to stay in Glencoe 

• Blackwater Glamping Pods

Mid-Range 

• The Ballachulish Hotel
• Riverbeds Glencoe

Day 3 Glen Coe (& Fort William) > Isle of Skye 

On day 3 of this 8-day Scotland itinerary, you will spend the morning exploring Glencoe and Fort William (which are a short distance from each other)  before heading to the Isle of Skye. 

Glencoe is Scotland’s most scenic highland glen and, as a result, one of the most popular spots in Scotland and rightly so. 

It has to be one of my favourite places in Scotland; it’s utterly stunning! 

What to do in Glencoe (& Fort William)

On this 8-day Scotland Itinerary, I recommend spending your morning first going for a leisurely stroll around the stunning Loch Leven , which is located in the centre of Glencoe Village, before setting off for Fort William. 

Steall Falls Hike

Once you have arrived in Fort William, you HAVE TO do the Steall Falls hike. 

This is the second-largest fall in Scotland and was also the set and backdrop for some of Harry Potter’s most famous quidditch scenes. 

The Steall Falls walk is a 3.5km trip and will take you roughly 2 hours to walk. This hike has a difficulty rating of easy to moderate. 

Read more about the Steall Falls hike here .

Other things to do in Glencoe (& Fort William)

• Visit Loch Etive and Skyfall Road (featured in James Bonds Skyfall) 
• Visit Glenfinnan Viaduct (The Famous Viaduct featured in Harry Potter) 

Driving to the Isle of Skye 

Following your morning in Glencoe and Fort William, you will need to head to the next stop on this 8-day Scotland Itinerary, the epic Isle of Skye. 

The drive from Fort William to the Isle of Skye is approximately 2 hours, 40 minutes, and 168 km. 

There is a bridge connecting the Isle of Skye with the mainland, so you don’t have to worry about ferries just yet.  

Where to stay on the Isle of Skye 

For this 8-day Scotland road trip Itinerary, I recommend staying in the areas of either Portree or Uig. 

• The Cowshed
• The Portree Hotel
• Braken Hide Hotel 

Day 4  – Isle of Skye

The Isle of Skye is like a wild painting, full of rugged landscapes, ancient stories, and jaw-dropping beauty and simply cannot be missed if you’re doing a Scotland road trip

What to do on the Isle of Skye

On day 4 of this Itinerary, you have a full day to explore the Isle of Skye, and I recommend visiting these top stops.

Portree 

Portree is a charming coastal village that looks like a colourful postcard come to life.

Down at the harbour, you can enjoy the freshest seafood or just soak up the lively vibes. 

Wander around, and you’ll find cosy pubs, quirky shops, and cafes where you can grab a warm cup of tea. 

Portree’s got that friendly small-town vibe mixed with breathtaking scenery.

Old Man of Storr 

The Old Man of Storr is an iconic rock formation located on the Isle of Skye.

Standing at 165 feet tall it is one of Skye’s most famous landmarks that draws visitors with its mysterious allure and breathtaking vistas. 

Legend has it that it is the petrified thumb of a giant. 

The hike to the Old Man of Storr offers adventurers panoramic views of the Isle of Skye’s dramatic coastline.

Fairy Glen 

A trip to Fairy Glen is like stepping straight into a fairy tale with its lush green hills, quirky rock formations, and winding trails. 

Locals say it’s where fairies dance under the moonlight, adding to its mystical charm. 

You can explore the mini landscapes, climb up to Castle Ewen for epic views, or just chill and soak in the enchanting vibes. 

Other things to do on the Isle of Skye 

• Visit Kilt Rock and  Mealt Falls 
• Hike the Quiraing 
• Dip in the Fairy Pools 
• See the dinosaur footprint at Corran Beach

Day 5 – Isle of Skye >  Isle of Lewis and Harris 

Day 5 of this Itinerary will see you make the journey from the Isle of Skye to the Isle of Harris and Lewis.

You will need to catch a ferry from Skye to the Isle of Harris and Lewis which can be booked directly through Caledonian MacBrayne (Calmac) ferries.

The ferry departs from Uig Port on Skye and arrives at Tarbert Port on Harris. 

The journey is approximately 1 hour 30 minutes and ticket prices start from £7.45. 

Where to Stay on the Isle of Lewis and Harris 

The Isles of Harris and Lewis are given two separate names although they are connected by a narrow strip of land, making them a part of the same landmass.

The Isle of Lewis is in the north, and the Isle of Harris is in the south. 

It doesn’t matter too much where you base yourself as it’s easy to get around the island with a car. 

Some of the best hotels are listed below: 

• Royal Hotel Stornoway
• Harris Hotel

Day 6 – Isle of Lewis and Harris

The Isle of Lewis and Harris is a windswept paradise, with its stunning beaches, rugged cliffs, and rich Gaelic heritage and has to be my favourite spot on this 8-day Scotland Itinerary.  

What to do on the Isle of Lewis and Harris 

Visit luskentyre beach.

It’s hard to believe that Scotland of all places would have beaches that resemble something you might find in Australia or the Caribbean.

But Luskentyre Beach offers you exactly that with its clear turquoise seas and bright white sands. 

This is rated as one of the top beaches in Scotland (and the world) so do not skip this from your itinerary. 

Explore the Gearrannan Blackhouse Village

Gearrannan Blackhouse Village is an impressive coastal crofting village located on the west coast of Lewis that was built in the 1800s.

The original inhabitants of the village left in the 1970s and from the late ’80s the local community restored the cottages using traditional methods. 

Walk around the Calanais Standing Stones

Placed here over 5,000 years ago (making them older than Stonehenge), the Calanais Standing Stones are an impressive collection of cross-shaped stones. 

For over 2000 years, they have been an important place for rituals. 

Although no one officially knows why the stones are there, people believe that it is an astronomical observatory.

Other things to do on the Isle of Lewis and Harris

• Go on a boat trip to St Kilda
• Wander around Stornoway Harbour
• Seal spotting at Finsbay

Read my ultimate guide to the Isle of Lewis and Harris here .

Day 7 – Isle of Harris and Lewis > Cairngorms 

Day 7 of this 8-day Scotland Itinerary will see you heading back to the mainland to Cairngorms National Park. 

You will have to catch the ferry from Stornoway Harbour in Lewis to the port town of Ullapool. 

You can book ferries directly through Caledonian MacBrayne (Calmac) ferries. 

The ferry takes approximately 2 hours 40 minutes and tickets start from £11.15. 

I recommend taking the afternoon ferry so that you get another full morning on the Isle of Lewis and Harris. 

From Ullapool, the drive to the town of Aviemore in Cairngorms National Park is approximately 1 hour 40 minutes. 

Where to stay in Cairngorms National Park 

For this itinerary, you’ll want to stay in the town of Aviemore. 

• Aviemore Youth Hostel
• High Range Lodge Hotel
• Sweeney Rooms Aviemore

On your last day of this 8-day Scotland itinerary, you’ll be exploring the beautiful Cairngorms National Park. 

Cairngorms National Park is a lush green wonderland packed with towering mountains, ancient woodlands, and plenty of wildlife to discover.

What to do in the Cairngorms 

Visit loch uaine .

In Cairngorms National Park, you’ll find Loch Uaine, known as the “Green Loch” for its emerald waters. 

It’s hugged by old forests and tall mountains, making it a peaceful spot for hikers and nature fans. 

Loch Uaine’s calming vibe and natural charm make it a lovely secret spot to explore.

Stroll around Loch an Eilein

Loch an Eilein is a peaceful lake surrounded by thick forests and with a castle ruin on a little island, it’s a lovely place for walks, picnics, and spotting animals. 

Go there to enjoy nature and relax by the water.

Other Things To Do In the Cairngorms 

• Visit Balmoral Castle 
• Explore Loch Morlich 
• Admire the Falls of Bruar

Leaving Scotland

If you have flown in or caught the train to Scotland, you do not have to go all the way back to Glasgow from the Cairngorms. 

The closest city to the Cairngorms is Inverness, and you can catch a flight or train home from Inverness Airport or Inverness Central Station. 

However, if you plan to leave from Inverness, make sure your rental car can be dropped off at a different location and does not have to be returned back to Glasgow. 

Scotland Itinerary FAQ’s 

How many days do you need for scotland.

To see the best bits of Scotland and the highlands I would recommend at least a week. 

However, if you’re just planning a city break to Edinburgh for example then you’ll only need 2-3 days. 

Is 8 days enough for Scotland?

Yes, as you will see from this itinerary you can explore a great deal of the country in just 8 days. 

How much would an 8-day trip to Scotland cost?

The cost of an 8-day trip to Scotland can vary widely depending on factors like accommodation, transportation, dining preferences, activities, and season of travel. 

On average, a mid-range budget for accommodation, meals, transportation, and activities could cost you around £700-£1000 per person. 

Is Scotland expensive to visit?

Scotland’s cost can vary, but it’s generally moderate. Cities like Edinburgh and Glasgow are pricier, especially during peak seasons. 

Staying in budget accommodations, eating at local spots, and enjoying free attractions can help manage expenses.

Exploring natural areas and less touristy spots can also be more affordable.

What is the cheapest month to go to Scotland?

Avoid visiting Scotland during the UK summer holidays (end of July & August) and major holidays such as Christmas and Easter to get the cheapest rates on hotels and transport etc.

Happy Exploring

I hope this 8-day Scotland Itinerary has helped you plan the perfect Scotland road trip.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out.

Similar Posts

An EPIC 5-Day Albania Itinerary (Mountains & Beaches)

Looking for an amazing 5-day Albania itinerary from Berat? You’ve come to the right place! Albania is one of…

The ULTIMATE 5-Day Greece Itinerary From Athens

Looking for the ultimate 5-day Greece Itinerary from Athens? You’re in the right place!  A 5-day adventure in Greece…

The ULTIMATE 1-Week Kerala Itinerary For First Timers

Looking for the ultimate 1-week Kerala itinerary? You’ve come to the right place. The state of Kerala, often referred…

The ULTIMATE Seychelles 7-Day Itinerary

Need help planning an AWESOME Seychelles 7-day itinerary? Read on below to find out more! Located out in the…

Tromso to Senja – ULTIMATE 5-day Norway Road Trip Itinerary

If you’re looking for a fantastic Norway road trip Itinerary then look no further. In this post, I’ll discuss…

The ULTIMATE 1-Week Albania Itinerary From Tirana

Looking for an awesome 1-week Albania itinerary from Tirana? You’ve come to the right place! Albania is one of…

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Find Your Tour

6 - 8 days in scotland.

One week in Scotland gives you enough time to see the famous places without feeling too rushed.

An itinerary for 7 days in Scotland could comfortably include visits to Edinburgh, Culloden, Loch Ness, Skye, Glencoe, and Loch Lomond. You might even fit in a day trip to Iona or a ride on the Jacobite Steam train.

But these are all mainstream tourist attractions and the aim of Secret Scotland is to show you the great places in Scotland that other people miss.

For example, a great way to spend a week in Scotland would be island hopping up the west coast. With 7 days, you could start with a day in Edinburgh then cross the country to spend a relaxed 2 nights on the Isle of Arran. From Arran, it is a short hop to the Mull of Kintyre for a great scenic drive to the lively harbour town of Oban. After a stopover in Oban, you could catch a morning ferry to the Isle of Mull and base yourself there for 2 nights whilst exploring Iona, Staffa and Ulva.

Our range of 6 - 8 day itineraries caters for all sorts of interests and paces of travel. So we can help you whether you want an itinerary that ticks a “bucket list” of famous places OR you prefer a relaxed road trip away from the crowds.

6 - 8 Day Tours from Edinburgh

Classic scotland east to west.

We call this the “Classic Scotland” as it is a tour plan that covers all the famous places that come to mind when you think of Scotland. If using this itinerary for 7 days in Scotland , you could pace it as follows.    >>> READ MORE

• Day 1 - Explore Edinburgh
• Day 2 - Edinburgh to Pitlochry
• Day 3 - Pitlochry to Inverness
• Day 4 - Inverness to Skye
• Day 5 - Tour Skye
• Day 6 - Skye to Oban
• Day 7 - Oban to Glasgow / Edinburgh

Scenic Flexi East to West

The Scenic Flexi tour plan caters for people who want to see a lot of Scotland, but also like the idea of staying 2 nights in each location. The tour is called “Flexi” as we provide lots of day trip options around Edinburgh, Inverness, Skye, and Oban. So you can choose which day trips suit your interests best. For a 7 day Scotland itinerary you could schedule the tour plan as follows:    >>> READ MORE

• Day 2 - Edinburgh to Inverness
• Day 3 - Day trips from Inverness
• Day 7 - Oban to Glasgow or Edinburgh

Best of Scotland East to West

Like the Scenic Flexi tour, this itinerary includes lots of day trip options to let you adapt the tour to your schedule and interest. The Best of Scotland takes you up to Gairloch in the North West Highlands. The scenery around Gairloch is stunning and Mike rates it as his favourite place in Scotland. For 8 days in Scotland, we’d suggest a schedule such as below.   >>> READ MORE

• Day 2 - Edinburgh to Cairngorms
• Day 3 - Cairngorms to Gairloch
• Day 4 - Gairloch to Skye
• Day 6 - Skye to Fort William / Glencoe
• Day 7 - Day trips from Fort William
• Day 8 - Fort William to Glasgow / Edinburgh

Famous Landmarks

This itinerary is similar to the Classic Scotland, but it features a visit to St Andrews as part of the driving route. If you have 8 days in Scotland you can use this itinerary as a plan for visiting Edinburgh, St Andrews, Culloden, Loch Ness, Eilean Donan, Skye, Glenfinnan, Glencoe, Mull, Iona and Staffa. To pace as an itinerary for 8 days in Scotland , we’d suggest the following:   >>> READ MORE

• Day 2 - Edinburgh to Pitlochry via St Andrews
• Day 6 - Skye to Oban via Glenfinnan
• Day 7 - Day trips from Oban to Mull & Iona
• Day 8 - Oban to Glasgow / Edinburgh

Romantic Scotland

Ideal if you have one week in Scotland and prefer to tour at a relaxed pace. This itinerary features lots of pretty villages, woodland walks and romantic settings. For a Honeymoon, or just a laidback week in Scotland, you could pace this itinerary as below.    >>> READ MORE

• Day 1 - Explore Edinburgh 
• Day 2 - Explore Edinburgh
• Day 3 - Edinburgh to Pitlochry
• Day 4 - Day trips from Pitlochry
• Day 5 - Pitlochry to Loch Fyne
• Day 6 - Day trips from Loch Fyne
• Day 7 - Loch Fyne to Glasgow / Edinburgh

Whisky Explorer

One week in Scotland gives you time to visit a lot of distilleries and sample whisky at its source. But this itinerary has also been designed to cater for the family members who aren’t so interested in whisky and it includes options to keep spouses happy whilst their “other halves” are in the tasting rooms.     >>> READ MORE

• Day 2 - Edinburgh to Pitlochry 
• Day 3 - Pitlochry to Royal Deeside
• Day 4 - Royal Deeside to Speyside
• Day 5 - Speyside to Inverness
• Day 6 - Inverness to Cairngorms
• Day 7 - Cairngorms to Edinburgh

Island Explorer

Island Hopping is one of the most enjoyable ways of touring Scotland and in one week you can “bag” quite a few islands. Our “Island Explorer” tour can start from Edinburgh or Glasgow and then visits Arran, Oban and Mull with options to visit a few other small islands along the way. Schedule this tour as follows for one week in Scotland.     >>> READ MORE

• Day 2 - Edinburgh to Arran
• Day 3 - Explore Arran
• Day 4 - Arran to Oban
• Day 5 - Oban to Mull
• Day 6 - Explore Mull, Iona & Staffa
• Day 7 - Mull to Glasgow / Edinburgh

Historic Scotland

This itinerary is a good option for a week in Scotland if you want an itinerary that features some 2 night stays. The route takes you to castles and battlefields that witnessed some of the pivotal events in Scottish history. You can pace this itinerary over 7 days as follows:    >>> READ MORE

• Day 2 - Edinburgh to Pitlochry via Stirling
• Day 4 - Day trips from Inverness
• Day 5 - Inverness to Oban
• Day 6 - Day trips from Oban

6 - 8 Day Tours from Glasgow

Classic scotland west to east.

The “Classic Scotland” tour plan features all the iconic places that Scotland is best known for. It is a good choice if you are a first time visitor looking for a comprehensive tour of Scotland. If scheduling this itinerary for 6 days in Scotland , we suggest you pace as below.    >>> READ MORE

• Day 1 - Glasgow to Oban
• Day 2 - Oban to Skye
• Day 3 - Skye to Inverness
• Day 4 - Inverness to Pitlochry
• Day 5 - Pitlochry to Edinburgh
• Day 6 - Explore Edinburgh

Scenic Flexi West to East

The Scenic Flexi tour plan caters for people who want to see a lot of Scotland, but also like the idea of easing the pace with some 2 night stays. The tour is called “Flexi” as we provide lots of day trip options around Oban, Skye, Inverness and Edinburgh. So you can choose which day trips suit your interests best. One week in Scotland could be paced as below.    >>> READ MORE

• Day 2 - Day trips from Oban
• Day 3 - Oban to Skye
• Day 4 - Tour Skye
• Day 5 - Skye to Inverness
• Day 6 - Inverness to Edinburgh
• Day 7 - Explore Edinburgh

Best of Scotland West to East

Like the Scenic Flexi tour, this itinerary includes lots of day trip options to let you adapt the tour to your schedule and interest. The Best of Scotland takes you up to Gairloch in the North West Highlands. The scenery around Gairloch is stunning and Mike rates it as his favourite place in Scotland. For 8 days in Scotland, we’d suggest a schedule as shown below.   >>> READ MORE

• Day 1 - Glasgow to Fort William
• Day 2 - Day trips from Fort William
• Day 3 - Fort William to Skye
• Day 5 - Skye to Gairloch
• Day 6 - Gairloch to Cairngorms
• Day 8 - Discover Edinburgh

6 to 8 Day Tours from Inverness

North coast 500.

The best way to drive the NC500 is to plan some 2 night stays along the route so you have time to explore the quiet corners. Although it’s not part of the NC500, we also include a guide for exploring Orkney. To drive the NC500 in one week, you could schedule a tour as follows:     >>> READ MORE

• Day 1 - Arrive Inverness / Inverness Day trips
• Day 2 - Inverness to Gairloch
• Day 3 - Day trip to Applecross
• Day 4 - Gairloch to Ullapool
• Day 5 - Ullapool to Thurso
• Day 6 - Day trip to Orkney 
• Day 7 - Thurso to Inverness
• Previous Article
• Next Article

Subscribe To Our Newsletter And Receive 5 Free Guides

A week in Scotland: Ultimate 6, 7 or 8 days Itinerary + My Best Tips

One week in scotland: which itinerary for 6, 7 or 8 days.

You’re planning to visit Scotland during your next trip and you’re looking for the best itinerary?

You’re at the right place!

In order to help you plan your stay , I have prepared for you this 1 week Scotland itinerary. During your 6, 7 or 8 days trip , you will visit Edinburgh , do a road trip through the Highlands , and discover the magnificent Isle of Skye .

In this guide, in addition to th e best things to do and must-see attractions, I will also give you all my best tips as well as my list of the best accommodations depending on your budget.

So, how to spend a week in Scotland?

Let’s find out!

Where to stay in Edinburgh

Where to stay in fort william, where to stay on the isle of skye, scotland tours: 1 week.

• You’re traveling to Scotland? These articles will help you!

1) Edinburgh (2 days)

If you want to visit Scotland in a week , the best is to arrive in Edinburgh, the capital.

As 1 week is quite short and you don’t want to waste time with public transports, you should really rent a car (unless you plan to go there with your own, of course!).

Personally, I always use the Booking.com Cars website for my car rentals. Here is why:

• You can easily compare all car rental agencies rates and reviews for a given location. You’re 100% sure to get the best price for your 1 week car hire in Scotland.
• You can opt for their “Full protection” insurance, to be fully refunded in case of accident or theft. Tested and approved – they refunded me more than 1300€ in total! The refund process is very quick and simple. 1 Email with the info they ask for and you get your refund in less than 5 days.
• Cancellation or modification of your reservation is free of charge !

You need to rent a car for your trip? If you know your travel dates, your should really compare the rates and rent your car as soon as possible. It’s the best way to get the best price (car rental prices only go up with time).

After getting your car, drive to the city center of Edinburgh , the first stop of your one week road trip in Scotland.

Edinburgh is a city of history and the place of many legends .

The city is divided into 2 parts :

• Old Town , the medieval city
• New Town , the contemporary city

The great thing is that both can easily be visited on foot!

For this first day of your 1-week itinerary in Scotland, you should start with a visit to Old Town district and its iconic main street: the Royal Mile . The street runs from Edinburgh castle down to the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

I suggest you to start with a visit to Edinburgh Castle , the most famous monument of the city.

Perched on an ancient volcano, it majestically dominates the town and marks the beginning of your tour in Old Town. The visit is very interesting and you should plan at least 2 hours to see everything.

Also, keep in mind that it’s often crowded at Edinburgh Castle, especially in summer!

So the best is clearly to buy your skip the line tickets online here , so you don’t waste time waiting in line.

Just past the castle, at the beginning of the Royal Mile , you will find one of the oldest attractions in the city: the “Camera Obscura and World of Illusions” . It’s well worth a visit, especially if you’re traveling with your children.

In this unusual museum, you will discover the amazing world of optical illusions through several activities, including an animated panorama of Edinburgh. The visit takes 1 to 2 hours.

Just like for the castle, you should really buy your tickets for the Camera Obscura in advance by clicking here.

You can then walk down the Royal Mile .

With its unspoiled medieval architecture , this beautiful cobbled street takes you back to the Middle Ages. Don’t forget to explore the numerous small perpendicular alleys on either side of the avenue.

Here are the most important monuments to see on the Royal Mile :

• Saint Gile’s Cathedral
• Canongate Kirk
• The Real Mary King’s Close (this guided tour is amazing!)
• Milne’s Court
• Dunbar’s Close Garden
• White Horse Close
• Scottish Parliament House

You will also find several free museums :

• The Museum of Edinburgh, about the history of the city
• Writer’s Museum focusing on Scottish literature
• Museum of Childhood and its collection of antique toys
• The People’s Story , as its name suggest, tells the story of the people of Edinburgh

And if you’re up for a snack , you should stop at Clarinda’s Tearoom. There, you will be able to enjoy a tea in a “so British” atmosphere , with small flower tablecloths, lace and porcelain dishes. Located almost at the end of the Royal Mile , at 69 Canongate Street, this tea room closes quite early (4:30pm).

After this sweet break, you should visit the Palace of Holyroodhouse: located at the very end of the Royal Mile, it was the prestigious home of Mary Stuart and is today one of the Queen’s second homes .

You can visit the interior, the art galleries, the abbey ruins and the gardens. Here too, the best is to buy your ticket in advance.

Behind the Palace of Holyroodhouse, you can also walk to Arthur’s Seat . This lovely short hike in the moors will take you to the top of an ancient volcano dominating the city. You will for sure love the stunning 360° view from the top of the hill!

At the end of the day, for your first dinner in town, you can for example go to David Bann restaurant. A great place to enjoy delicious, light and original cuisine at an affordable price in a relaxed atmosphere. It’s located on St Mary’s Street (you should book in advance).

To end the evening with a typically Scottish visit, why not take a night stroll through the picturesque Greyfriars Cemetery, located on Candlemaker Row? It’s said to be the most haunted cemetery in the world!

Guided tours are organized every evening, you need to book yours right here.

To learn everything about Edinburgh’s Old Town , the best is for sure to opt for a guided tour!

You will have the chance to learn more about the city’s great historical sites such as the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Castle or the Parliament.

The best guided tour of Edinburgh can be booked directly here:

And if you’re a fan of Harry Potter , you should definitely book that guided visit . It’s amazing!

After a good night’s sleep, for your second day of your one week tour in Scotland, you will head to the contemporary districts of New Town.

The modern side of Edinburgh was built at the end of the 18th century and stretches around 3 main avenues: Princes Street, Queen Street and George Street.

Vast elegant squares, green spaces and typical Georgian architecture await you for this day of sightseeing!

In New Town, you shouldn’t miss:

• Princes Street Garden: this vast garden mark the border with Old Town. It offers large lawns, shaded areas and a beautiful view over the castle and medieval city.
• Charlotte Square: one of the most beautiful areas of New Town. You can see the official residence of the Prime Minister (Bute House, at No. 6), a typical Georgian house (Georgian House, No. 7 – You can visit it!) and very pretty streets in a poetic setting.
• Calton Hill: this small hill located in the Regents Garden offers a nice view over Old Town and the sea.
• The Museums (free): The Scottish National Portrait Gallery and the Scottish National Gallery
• Dean Village: in this old millers village, you can enjoy a nice walk along the river. It can be reached on foot from Edinburgh city center in 15-20 minutes.
• Royal Botanic Gardens: admire the world’s largest collection of rhododendrons, discover a Chinese garden, greenhouses, an arboretum and wander through the flowers with your new squirrels friends 😄 – These are just some of the things you can do in these beautiful 28-hectare gardens.

Spend your last night in Edinburgh and get up early to hit the road the next morning.

You can find more information about Edinburgh in my detailed article: The 20 things to do in Edinburgh.

in Edinburgh city center, parkings are expensive and limited to 4 hours maximum.

There are also several long term car parks (including one right at the foot of the castle), but they are also quite expensive. So the best is actually to try to find a free parking space on the outskirts of the city , near the Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith Park or Murrayfield Stadium for example.

Another good solution is to opt for a free in a “park and ride” outside the city and take a shuttle bus to the city center.

• Edinburgh Central Youth Hostel: Youth hostel located only 800 meters from the train station and Princes Street. Bed in a dormitory from 30€ per night, breakfast at 6€. Strong points: cleanliness, great location, friendly staff.
• Leonardo Royal Hotel Edinburgh Haymarket: Located in the city centre, 10 minutes walk from the castle. Contemporary and elegant double room from 90€, breakfast included. Strong points: the very helpful staff, the spacious rooms, the very comfortable bed. It is my favorite for its amazing value for money!
• Radisson Blu Hotel, Edinburgh: Located on the historic Royal Mile Street, 10 minutes from the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Chic and refined double room from 200€ per night, breakfast at 14€. Strong points: central location, spa, heated indoor swimming pool, gym, and the excellent breakfast!
• Radisson Collection Hotel, Royal Mile Edinburgh: 5 star hotel located on the Royal Mile, 600 meters away from the castle. This luxury hotel offers comfortable and elegant double rooms starting at 300€ per night, breakfast at 18€. Strong points: located in the heart of Edinburgh’s historic centre, the interior design, very helpful staff, absolute comfort. This is the best hotel for a luxury stay in Edinburgh!

2) Discovering the Highlands (3 days)

For the 2nd part of your 1 week itinerary in Scotland, you will spend 3 days exploring the Highlands , one of the most beautiful regions of the country.

You will for sure love the Highlands mystical and fairy-tale atmosphere , with its endless moors, hills, numerous castles and lakes (the famous lochs!). There is a good reason that so many films have chosen this splendid region as a backdrop.

So, don’t miss the Highlands during your one week road trip in Scotland!

In this region there, are very few houses, lots of sheep and a huge wilderness. The program for the next 3 days is therefore mainly dedicated to hiking and discovering wonderful natural places.

By car, it will take you about 2.5 to 3 hours drive to reach the Highlands from Edinburgh . By bus, the journey takes about 4-5 hours with the Scottish Citylink buses.

First, head to Glencoe , a charming village located in the heart of Glen Coe Valley. This place is especially famous for its magnificent mountains dotted with small waterfalls.

Glencoe is the starting point for many hikes, including the Lochan Trails. These short forest walks (about 1 hour) are perfect to get a first grasp of the Scottish landscapes!

If you’re motivated, you can also do the superb Pap of Glencoe hike that leads to the top of the mountain of the same name.

The ascent isn’t very difficult, even if it’s quite a climb, and the panoramic view over the valley and loch Leven from the summit makes this hike one of the best in Scotland. Plan about 4 hours for the round trip.

If you have the time, or if you don’t want to do “Pap of Glencoe” hike you can also do:

• The walk on the hill of Signal Rock . This beautiful 45 minutes hike starts close to Glencoe Visitor Centre.
• The Lost Valley Hike starts about 9km from Glencoe. It will take you around 3 hours round trip.

At the end of the day, your should head to Port Appin to admire the charming Castle Stalker , located in the middle of Linnhe loch. It was build during the 14th century and it’s one of the most photographed castles in Scotland.

It can only be reached by boat , but you will have a great view over Castle Stalker from the small beach located nearby and from the road.

Spend the night in one of the hotels I recommend a bit below.

After your amazing  first day in Glencoe, you shoud devote your second day in the Highlands to a visit to Glenfinnan.

This charming village, located only a few kilometers from Glencoe and Fort Williams , has been very popular among tourists since the release of the Harry Potter films . A few major scenes were actually shot there !

You will be able to admire the beautiful 21-arch viaduct that appears in the movie “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” .

For a great view over the viaduct , you can follow a path from Glenfinnan Station Museum that brings you close to the viaduct in less than one hour.

It’s the best place to see the Jacobite Express steam train (Hogwarts Express’s real name) passing by.

The train passes every morning around 10:30 and in the afternoon around 15:00 .

Here are a few other points of interest to see in Glenfinann, Scotland:

• The Glenfinnan Monument, built on the edge of the Loch Shiel in honour of those who fought in the Jacobite Risings. It’s possible to climb to the top of the tower (with a guide) to enjoy a beautiful view of the loch and the surrounding hills.
• Glenfinnan Church: an authentic and charming Gothic church overlooking Loch Shiel
• Glenfinnan Station Museum: This tiny museum located in the ancient train station will allow you to learn more about the viaduct and history of Scottish railways
• Walks from the Glenfinnan Visitor Centre: These nice 45 minutes to 1 hour loops will allow you to visit the surroundings.

At the end of the afternoon , your should return to Fort William, only 30 minutes by car or bus from Glenfinnan.

You can spend some time to discover this quite touristic city, with its cobbled streets, pubs and very nice bookstore.

And if you want to enjoy a bit more nature, you should really go to the Steall Falls , about 20 minutes drive from downtown Fort William.

Here you can enjoy a beautiful walk in the midst of sparkling nature with waterfalls, streams and lush green moorland. Not often mentioned in travel guides, it’s nevertheless a great walk to do during your 1 week trip in Scotland!

Spend a second night in the Highlands.

For this third day in the Highlands , you will go to the famous Loch Ness . Impossible to visit Scotland in a week without going there!

Of course, everyone has heard about it and its famous monster. I must however admit that Nessie is quite shy, and you will have little chance to see her 😅.

With a surface of 56km², Loch Ness is actually the second largest loch in the country. It’s located between Inverness (the capital of the Highlands, in the North) and Fort Augustus (in the South).

In the morning, head for Fort Augustus , about 50 minutes drive from Fort William.

This pretty village built on the southern tip of Loch Ness offers great views over the lake. From there, you can take a cruise : by Zodiac for speed enthusiasts, or on a small cruise ship. It’s an activity you should really do during your 6, 7 or 8 days trip to Scotland!

Have lunch at Fort Augustus, then drive along the lake towards Drumnadrochit (40 minutes drive) and enjoy the beautiful scenery from the road.

The village of Drumnadrochit is cute, with pretty terraces and an interesting museum about the myth of the Loch Ness monster. It’s also the starting point of a few beautiful walks, including one going to Glen Urquhart .

If there is just one thing you should do in Drumnadrochit, it’s clearly the visit to Urquhart Castle , located just outside of the town. You can visit the ruins of this medieval castle built on the edge of the Loch Ness and enjoy a breathtaking view of the lake.

To combine the 2 best things to do at Loch Ness (the cruise and the visit to Urquhart Castle), you can also opt for a tour for only €25 per person . It includes a 1 hour boat trip on Loch Ness and a visit to the castle. You need to book it in advance right here.

After your visit, drive up to Inverness , where you can make a stop, and then go to Dores about 13 km south on the east bank of the loch. This charming village has a lovely pebble beach and offers a beautiful view over the loch Ness.

Here, you can also meet Steve Feltham , the famous “monster hunter” who has lived here since 1991 and continues his relentless quest to find Nessie . He sell small clay figurines to finance his activities.

After this day around Loch Ness, it’s time to return to Fort William and spend one last night there.

You can learn more about the Highlands in my detailed article: The 20 best places to visit in the Highlands.

• Fort William Backpackers: Located in the center of Fort William. Bed in a dormitory from 22€. Strong points: the atmosphere, the welcome, the location. The best choice for backpackers!
• Ben Nevis Hotel & Leisure Club: Located 1.5 km from Fort William. Scottish style double room starting at 100€/night with breakfast included. Strong points: indoor heated swimming pool, the free parking, the breakfast.
• Nevis Bank Inn: Located on the banks of Nevis river, 10 minutes away from Fort William’s town center. Large double room from 190€, breakfast included. Strong points: pleasant staff, very clean and a good restaurant.
• Inverlochy Castle Hotel: 5-star hotel located 6 km away from Fort William. The place is actually a small castle that offers double rooms with a view on the gardens and the peak of Glen Nevis. Prices start at 550€ breakfast included. Strong points: the extraordinary setting, the amazing breakfast and the wonderful staff. The best choice for a luxury trip to the Highlands!

3) Isle of Skye (2 days)

For this last part of your 1 week stay in Scotland , you will spend 2 days on the Isle of Skye , one of the most amazing places to visit during your road trip in Scotland .

2 days is the minimum to make the trip from the mainland: there are a lot of things to see on this beautiful island.

During these two days, you will tour the island by car, walk through moorland and bogs, along steep cliffs, and discover breathtaking waterfalls.

To get to the Isle of Skye from Fort William, the easiest way is to take the ferry from Mallaig , 1 hour away.

Mallaig is a cute small fishing port, with some nice snack bars and restaurants. It’s also the arrival destination of the Jacobite Express from Fort William.

You should go to Mallaig early enough in the morning to take one of the first ferries and have as much time as possible on Skye. There are 9 crossings a day. Count about £6 per passenger round trip and £20 for the car.

For this first day, you will discover the South West of the Isle of Skye

Upon arrival, take the road towards Sligachan : you will probably take a few breaks to admire the views over moors, mountains, lochs and waterfalls.

You should make a short stop in Sligachan to take pictures of its photogenic stone bridge , with the beautiful Cuillin Hills in the background.

Not far from Sligachan, about 20 minutes drive away, don’t miss the Fairy Pools, located in the heart of the Cuillin Hills mountain range. This succession of waterfalls cascading into a turquoise water pool takes on a tropical look as soon as the sun shines through the clouds.

To reach the Fairy Pools, you will need to park your car and walk for about 30 minutes in the middle of nature. And if you’re there around lunch time, it’s really a magical place to stop at for a picnic.

You can then continue to explore the Cuillin Hills, whose landscapes are among the most beautiful on the island.

In the afternoon, you can drive back to Dunvegan and visit its castle (£14 entrance fee for the castle and gardens) and/or go on a boat trip to meet the seals (from Dunvegan Castle, around £7 per person).

You can also go to Neist Point Lighthouse, the famous lighthouse you can see on many postcards of the island.

At the end of the day, head to the town of Portree where you’ll spend the night.

On the next day, you will continue your one week itinerary in Scotland by discovering the North-East coast of the isle of Skye .

From Portree, take the A 855 road along the coast. You will make several stops during your journey.

Your first stop will be to see the Old Man of Storr , a beautiful natural site located about 10 km north of Portree. You can just admire it from the road, or stop at the car park, which is also the starting point for a nice hike.

The hike will take you closer to the Old Man of Storr, an impressive 50 meter tall vertical rock . It will take you 2 to 3 hours to do the round trip, photo breaks included!

The Old Man of Storr is also know to be one of the best photo spots of the Isle of Skye : the site is splendid and offers amazing viewpoints over the Trotternish peninsula.

After your hike, you should head to Kilt Rock waterfall , about 15 kilometers further north . This impressive waterfall flows directly into the sea from a high cliff!

After your visit, keep heading north and go to Quiraing mountain range covered with moorland and peat bogs. There are some beautiful hikes to do here, and you can enjoy great views over Staffin Bay .

Continue on the road and you will soon reach the ruins of Duntulm Castle , abandoned in front of the sea.

You can get close to the castle, but the ruins aren’t accessible to the public for safety reasons. In this enchanting setting, it is time to let yourself be lulled by the gusts of wind and to soak up the mysterious atmosphere of the place.

Not far from Duntulm Caste, you can also visit the Skye Museum of Island Life to discover a group of typical 19th and 20th century thatched cottages and immerse yourself in the former daily life of Scotland’s rural population (admission is £2.5 per person).

After this long epic journey, get back to Portree where you will spend your last night on the island before taking the ferry back to Mallaig on the next day.

It will then be time to head back to Edinburgh or Glasgow to catch your return flight!

However, keep in mind that you will need around 4 hours to drive back to Edinburgh from Mallaig (and this does not include the return ferry crossing).

So if your flight leaves early, it might be better to remove one day from this itinerary (for example spend only 2 days in the Highlands) to devote the penultimate day of your 1 week road trip in Scotland to the return journey.

You will thus make sure that you don’t miss your flight the next day!

For more info about the Isle of Skye, you can read my detailed guide: The 20 best things to do on the Isle of Skye .

If you only have 6 days in Scotland and not a full week, you should remove one day in the Highlands .

If you have an extra day and you can spend 8 days in Scotland : after your 2 days on the Isle of Skye, make a 1 day stop at Loch Lomond, in the splendid Trossachs National Park. Located halfway between Skye and Edinburgh, this is the ideal stop to split your journey!

The Isle of Skye being very touristic, I strongly advise you to book your accommodation as early as possible. Here are those offering the best value for money!

• Portree Youth Hostel: Youth hostel located in the center of Portree. Dormitory bed from 23€. Strong points: ideal location, cleanliness, staff. The best Youth Hostel of the island!
• Sky Lodges: Located at 2.9 km from Portree. You will stay in small, well-equipped and tastefully decorated wooden chalets starting at 130€ per night. Strong points: the ecological concept, the modern facilities, the cleanliness.
• Cuillin Hills Hotel: Located in a 6 hectare estate facing the bay of Portree. Double room with traditional decoration from 210€ per night, breakfast included. Strong points: the magnificent view, the succulent meals, the charming staff. My favorite hotel for its excellent location on the Isle of Skye!
• Skeabost House Hotel: Located on Loch Snizort, in Portree. Very cosy double room with view on the park or Loch from 270€, breakfast included. Strong points: the superb view, the comfort of the rooms, the very warm atmosphere, the golf course. This is my recommendation for a romantic stay on the Isle of Skye!

On Voyagetips.com , I give you all my best tips and itineraries to plan your trip to Scotland by yourself. (All my Scotland travel guides are here)

However, if you prefer to book a 7-day Scotland tour with a travel agency , I recommend you to check the 10 best Scotland tours by clicking the button below:

Scotland travel Guides

• Buy the Lonely Planet Scotland guide on Amazon.com or on Amazon.co.uk
• Buy the DK Eyewitness Scotland guide on Amazon.com or on Amazon.co.uk

You’re traveling to Scotland ? These articles will help you!

Discover all my articles about Scotland : All my articles to help you plan your trip to Scotland are listed there.

You’re using Pinterest? Here is the picture to pin!

Creator of the Voyage Tips blog, travel and photography lover. I give you all my best tips to plan your next trip.

Related Stories

3 Days in Athens: The Perfect Itinerary (First Time Visit)

2 Days in Athens: The Perfect Itinerary (First Time Visit)

4 Days in Athens: The Perfect Itinerary (First Time Visit)

Discussion 6 comments.

This itinerary in Scotland looks amazing we will do this next year, great information & beautiful photography.

Thank you so much we arrive in September from france for one week but we will go to mull instead if sky

Thank you so much for useful information

Thanks Jay! I’m glad my one week itinerary in Scotland is helping you to plan your trip.

Don’t hesitate if you have any questions.

Have a nice day,

amazing ,crisp and meticulous itenaries!! can see your passion for travel and photography. i had a quick query- we are booked to start our trip to scotland from inverness (4 days) & then do edinburgh (2 days) to return to london via lake district. possible to help with a meticulous itenary with routes for day trips fron inverness towards edinburgh in the end? would highly appreciate! thank you in advance

For places to visit around Inverness, you’ll find everything in my other article: The best things to do in the Highlands . There’s a map to help you find places easily.

To go from Inverness to Edinburgh, you need to follow the A9 (the easiest way is to look up the route on Google maps). I advise you to make a short diversions to visit Stirling Castle, 1 hour’s drive from Edinburgh.

To visit Edinburgh and other things to do in Scotland, you can find all my articles here: Destination Scotland .

Enjoy your trip to Scotland!

Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Your Name (required)

Your Email (required)

Your Website (optional)

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Middle East
• North America
• Cheap car rentals: my best advice
• Back to Homepage

How To Plan An Epic Scotland Road Trip (Map, Itinerary + Tips)

A detailed guide to help you plan an amazing Scotland road trip – including a map, 8 day itinerary, a free travel planner and a ton of helpful tips!

Have a dream of going on a Scotland road trip but have no idea where to start? In this comprehensive guide I will walk you through all of the important things you need to know to plan the best Scotland road trip. Let me help you figure out what to prepare, where to go, how to drive, what to see, things to do and what to pack! Also included is my Scotland road trip map and 8 day itinerary.

Doing a Scotland road trip was one of the most incredible experiences of my life, I’m not even exaggerating  a little . This experience is one for the bucket lists, so if you’re even the slightest intrigued – DO IT. I promise you won’t regret it. Its about time you explore Glasgow , Edinburgh and the Scottish highlands on the most epic Scotland road trip of your life.

Now, keep reading for my best tips on making your Scotland road trip the best one ever!

Table Of Contents

What to prepare for a scotland road trip, what to pack for a scotland road trip.

• Tips On Driving In Scotland

Free Printable Scotland Road Trip Planner

• DAY 1-2: Glasgow
• DAY 3: Highlands Part I (The West)
• DAY 4: Highlands Part II (Isle of Skye)
• DAY 5: Highlands Part III (Loch Ness & Beyond)
• DAY 6-8: Edinburgh

This post contains affiliate links

Planning a Scotland road trip might seem overwhelming at first, but don’t worry. Let me break it all down for you and show you what and what to prepare for a Scotland road trip.

1. Research & Plan In Advance

There are an unlimited amount of beautiful things to see and do on a Scotland road trip, especially through the Scottish Highlands. Although driving around the highlands with no plan in mind sounds very zen, it’s not the best idea if your travel time or money is in any way limited – as it is for most people. The distances are big, and if you want to spend your time smart on your Scotland road trip you should have a plan.

Do proper research and figure out what things you and your travel companions want to prioritize, and plot it all into Google Maps. Play around with different driving routes and see what you can make time for on your Scotland road trip. Try not to stress, you’re already halfway there by reading this guide.

2. Rent A Car

Unless you’re doing a tour that includes transportation, getting around the outer parts of Scotland is hard without renting a car. There is honestly no way around it: Rent that car. As they may literally run out of cars, I recommend booking a rental car in advance, especially during peak season. I suggest making sure you’re booking one without a stick shift if you’re not used to it from before. Driving on narrow Scottish roads and on the left might be enough for most people, you shouldn’t have to worry about learning to clutch on top of it all.

3. Schedule In Extra Time

… in case something happens. You may get ill, have an accident of some sort, or your car may break down. Our itinerary was pretty full, but we were always within reach of our final destination (driving time wise). We also had an extra buffer since we were planning on s few days in Edinburgh before flying home. You should also get travel insurance , for the same reasons.

4. Book Accommodation In Advance

Although Scotland is a popular destination to visit, accommodation is still limited in the rural areas and I recommend you always book in advance. Not only to make sure you actually have a bed to sleep in, but for your wallets sake as well. It can get very expensive. With websites like Booking.com you can get free cancellation on a bunch of places, which makes it easy to change your mind and book another place if your plans change.

5. Take Prints & Prep Your Phone

Cell service can be very unstable in certain parts of the highlands. Even though there are hotels and restaurants with wifi every now and then, do yourself a favor and do some prep work instead of stressing with getting wifi every time you stop your car. Get prints or screenshots of your driving route, important addresses, hotel names & numbers, nearby restaurants, etc. I also recommend creating a travel map on Google Maps and downloading it on your phone so you can use it offline – game changer! You should also download some playlists on Spotify for the drive.

Deciding on what to pack for a Scotland road trip can be tricky. The content of your packing list will obviously vary with what season you’re traveling in and what activities you’ll be doing. I’ll leave the detailed packing list up to you, but here are some general tips on what to pack for a Scotland road trip to get you started:

• Pack a selection of everyday outfits depending on season, preferably layers. Beware that similar to Norway and Ireland, the temperatures in Scotland vary a lot even in summer. So make sure to bring some warm layers like a neutral wool cardigan or knitted sweater you can wear over most outfits. Comfort is key for driving and experiencing the highlands, but I would also include a few nicer outfits for city life in Glasgow and Edinburgh .
• Bring sportswear like tights and t-shirts if you’re hiking or doing other outdoor activities during summer. Hiking The Old Man of Storr we saw a young woman wearing a dress and the highest wedges I’ve ever seen.. Needless to say, she didn’t get far.
• A waterproof jacket is a must in all seasons. I brought my favorite yellow raincoat, but although it looks cure in pictures it wasn’t ideal for active days. The lack of ventilation made it unsuitable for hiking, so if I suggest you learn from my mistakes and bring a jacket in a more breathable and windproof material if you’re planning on being active like us. The Arc’teryx Beta SL Hybrid Jacket is a great option. If you’re traveling during winter you should consider bringing a warm parka as well, like the Fjällräven Barents Parka which is both wind- and waterproof.
• Comfortable outdoor trousers is also practical for outdoor activities. An elastic pair like the Fjällräven Abisko Trekking Tights are great for the warmer months, while the Fjällräven Vidda Pro Trousers are better for the colder months.
• Gloves, a scarf and a warm hat are a must for the colder seasons.
• Bring wool thermals in the colder months, or if its a cold summer.
• I recommend packing one pair of sneakers or other comfortable shoes that go with most of your outfits. The kind you would wear on a regular basis back home.
• If you like to dress up when in the city you can consider packing one fancier pair, but you could always just use your sneakers for that too.
• Pack one pair of hiking shoes depending on season, weather conditions and your personal preferences. Preferably ones in a breathable and waterproof material, and with a good grip. I know a lot of people prefer hiking boots due to their ankle support, like  these waterproof Timberland boots . I personally find hiking boots bulky and heavy to wear and if you’re anything like me I recommend trying lighter shoes, like these waterproof  Salomon X Ultra hiking shoes  with Gore-Tex.
• Consider bringing warm boots if you’re visiting Scotland in winter. It can be a real struggle to find winter boots which are both warm, waterproof  and  stylish. The nicest ones I’ve found so far are the Timberland Jayne Waterproof Boots and the Timberland Jayne Waterproof Teddy Fleece Boots .

Electronics & Misc.

• Don’t forget to pack a durable and travel sized umbrella. I mean, it’s Scotland after all.
• A powerful  Powerbank  is a must for charging your devices on the move.
• A power adapter for UK outlets is always clever to pack.
• Bring a reusable bottle for the road trip and your hiking adventures. Or even better, a Camelbak – my personal favorite hydration system. (PS: The tap water in Scotland is safe to drink).
• A daypack for hiking and day trips is a must. The ever-faithful Fjällräven Kånken  will do on day trips, but for hiking I suggest you get a more comfortable daypack like the Osprey Daylite Plus . Especially if you’re bringing heavy camera equipment. Don’t forget to pack a rain cover !
• A camera with extra batteries and memory cards. I recommend a light travel camera with interchangeable lenses and the option of shooting in RAW. My favorite is the  Sony a6500  camera with the  30mm 1.4 lens  for portraits and detail shots, and the  16mm 1.4 lens  for landscapes.
• Waterproof  dry bags  are great to pack in any season to protect clothes, electronics and other items. A must if you’re bringing camera equipment while hiking in the rain.

Also Read: How To Avoid Overpacking

6 Tips For Driving In Scotland

When our Scotland road trip was getting closer, I remember becoming more and more anxious about how I would handle driving in Scotland. Every travel blog I read warned me about narrow roads and low cell service, but none of that sounded unfamiliar to me. One of the perks of growing up in northern Norway, I guess? But the one thing that stressed the hell out of me about driving in Scotland was the fact that I knew I had to drive on the left. Sounds familiar? Keep reading for my best tips on how to succeed when driving in Scotland.

1. Don’t Stress About Driving On The Left

I’ll admit, driving on the left side was super weird at first. But I swear you get used to it pretty fast! I suggest doing a practice drive when picking up the rental car, it helps a lot. The thing is that the cars are adapted for driving on the left, so as a driver you’ll sit on the right and use your left hand to change the gear. In other words, everything is opposite ‘your normal’, making the process surprisingly logical. (The exception is the pedals, which are located in the same place as you’re used to). Focus a little extra when you have to make a right turn and in roundabouts, and you’ll be fine.

2. Be Attentive Of Your Surroundings

Remember to always be attentive of your surroundings when driving in Scotland. Keep in mind that the weather can change suddenly, and be aware of possible wildlife (I almost hit a deer, eeek). And whatever you do, do NOT hit the breaks and stop for photos in the middle of the road. You should also let other cars pass if you drive slowly.

3. Use The Passing Places

The roads are narrow in the Scottish highlands, which is part of its charm. Wherever the road get sparticularly narrow you’ll see designated passing places (see photo above). Make sure to use them if you meet a car on a narrow road. The general rule of thumb is that whoever is closest to a passing place stops and wait for the other car to pass. If someone stops for you, it’s polite to give them a little wave or turn on the emergency button for a few seconds as a sign of gratitude.

4. Stock Up On Gas & Food

Gas stations and other service stops are few and far between, especially in rural areas like the Isle of Skye. Keep an extra eye on your gas tank indicator and stop to refill waaay before you need to. It might be helpful to mark gas stations off in your offline maps as well. Also make sure you use the correct fuel. For the same reason I also highly recommend you stock up on food, snacks and drinks for the drive. Trust me, running out of food and drinks while driving in a foreign country is no fun at all.

5. Laws & Signs You Should Know About

Laws and signs in Scotland are similar to the ones you’ll find all over Europe. I recommend you have a look here if you’re not used to European or UK signs, it can be quite helpful. Unlike most of Europe, the UK operates with miles instead of kilometers and all speed limits are stated in miles per hour (mph). The speed limit is usually 30 mph (48 km/h) unless signs show otherwise, normally in built-up areas. The limit often increases to 60 or 70 mph once you get out of built-up areas and/or hit larger roads. You should also note that Scotland has a zero tolerance for drinking & driving.

6. Get Insured

In addition to your regular travel insurance, make sure your rental car is insured in the best possible way. I know car rental companies make some serious bucks on this, but for us it was worth it to not worry. Imagine your car breaking down in the highlands. Not only will it get expensive getting it towed and renting a new car, but your plans & schedule will take the hardest hit. NOT worth it. We paid extra so that in case out car broke down in the middle of nowhere, not only would someone pick us up and tow the car – they’d also bring us a new rental car so that we could continue with our road trip! Although this didn’t happen to us, it was still worth every penny. 

Places To See – Our 8 Day Scotland Road Trip Itinerary

Since we only 8 days to spend we wanted our Scotland road trip to be as efficient as possible, although without stressing around too much. There were so many places in Scotland we wanted to see, and in order to find a realistic driving route we could all be happy with, we adding everything from our wish list into Google Maps.

First, we set aside a few days each in our first and last locations, Glasgow and Edinburgh. We scheduled in an extra day in Edinburgh since we figured we’d be tired from all the driving in the highlands (we were right about that part), and as a precaution in case something were to happen during our trip (it didn’t, but it was still worth it). Second, we played around with different driving routes, while checking suitable accommodation options, until we found the perfect compromise:

DAY 1-2: Glasgow DAY 3: Highlands Part I – Doune Castle – Loch Lomond – Glencoe – Eilean Donan Castle DAY 4: Highlands Part II – Isle of Skye – Sligachan – Old Man of Storr – Kilt Rock Viewpoint – Fairy Glen – Neist Point Lighthouse – Loch Ness DAY 5: Highlands Part III – Loch Ness – Urquhart Castle – Inverness – Culloden Battlefield – Midhope Castle DAY 6-8: Edinburgh

Our 8 day Scotland road trip itinerary might be a bit hectic for some people, and I’ll admit, it were three eventful days. But it was AMAZING and I wouldn’t change this adventure for the world. We personally like this way of travel, and although we would all love more time in Scotland it wasn’t possible at this time. Our Scotland road trip itinerary never seemed rushed and we took our time at every stop along the way. If you want a more relaxed trip and have more time on your hands, you could also easily do this road trip in 4 or more days. Heck, not even a month would be enough!

CLICK TO SEE MY SCOTLAND ROAD TRIP ITINERARY MAP

SCOTLAND ROAD TRIP DAY 1-2: GLASGOW

As mentioned previously, our Scotland road trip adventure started with two days in Glasgow. It rained pretty much the entire time, but it didn’t matter – we still loved every second of it. Impressive street art, delicious food, fun pubs, gorgeous architecture, lovely locals? Check x 6. So if you’re even considering skipping Glasgow on your Scotland trip, just cancel those plans right now.

Read: A Complete Guide To Glasgow

SCOTLAND ROAD TRIP DAY 3: THE HIGHLANDS PART I

371 km | 5 hours, 21 minutes

Our alarms went off at 5AM our first day of the road trip. We went straight to the airport to pick up our rental car and by 7 AM we were already on our way to our first stop: Doune Castle. The first part of the drive was mainly highways, which don’t even exist in arctic Norway, so I’m sure even martians could hear the sighs of relief coming from Anette and I when native Detroiter Samantha volunteered to drive first. THANK YOU. Sam did great and the drive went surprisingly fast.

DOUNE CASTLE (A.K.A. WINTERFELL & CASTLE LEOCH)

We stopped at Blair Drummond Smiddy Farm Shop for a quick breakfast and some much needed coffee before heading to Doune Castle. Smiddy’s is this adorable café, butchery and farm shop all in one, and their selection of local produce and specialties from Scotland were great. The perfect place to enjoy a meal and get some souvenirs. A couple of minutes more on the road and we arrived Doune Castle. We were so excited – our very first Scottish castle experience!

Doune Castle may look familiar. It’s a famous castle in Scotland that’s been a popular filming location throughout the years. Most people might recognize it as Winterfell from the first season of Game of Thrones, or as Castle Leoch in Outlander. Monty Python and The Holy Grail was also filmed here. In reality, the castle was built as the home of Regent Albany in the 14th century. In other words, there is a lot of interesting history to take in while walking in the footsteps of both fictional and real rulers.

Since we were there when they opened it thankfully wasn’t too crowded. Included in the entrance ticket is an audio tour, which was a very comfortable way of learning about the castle since you get to walk around at your own pace. The audio tour helps you imagine how life must have been like back in medieval times. It was an added bonus that the tour was narrated by Outlander’s own Sam Heughan (aka Jamie Fraser). He must have the most comfortable voice in history. It didn’t take long until the castle started to get crowded, however, so I recommend getting there early in the morning to avoid the worst. Visit their official website for updated prices and opening hours.

LOCH LOMOND & THE TROSSACHS

From Doune we continued driving northwest towards Glencoe. It was my turn to drive and I was grateful our highway days were over and the huge roads were replaced with narrow, rural ones instead. It was just like driving back home in northern Norway. You know, except the part about driving on the left side and nearly peeing in my pants the first few miles. It was the fun type of challenging though, and I quickly adapted to the UK style of driving.

We shortly entered the outer parts of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park and the nature was simply gorgeous. This was our first real encounter with the Scottish nature and we were shocked by how green and lush everything looked. It was a bit foggy but that only made the experience more magical. We pulled over by Loch Lubnaig to stretch our legs and it was so peaceful sitting by the water in complete silence. I wouldn’t mind seeing more of the national park, all the locals we talked to in Glasgow recommended it wholeheartedly.

After another hour in our cute little Ford, the beauty of Glencoe started to reveal itself. It was pouring rain, a little foggy, but we could still see the mountains and hilltops surrounding us. We couldn’t get over how green everything was! It sounds weird but it was like a different kind of green than we’ve ever seen while traveling. My favorite sights in Glencoe were The Three Sisters and the Skyfall location and I still get goosebumps whenever I think about those places. Once in a while, the sunlight would shine through the heavy clouds and turn the lush green a bit more yellow, before suddenly disappearing.. Leaving everything green and moody again. It felt a bit like magic.

We continued driving until we reached Glencoe Village, where we stopped to grab dinner at Glencoe Gathering . Their food was good and it was next door to cozy Glencoe Inn , which seemed like a great place to stay. The three of us all fell in love with Glencoe in our short stay, and if we had more time this is definitely a place we would spend a few days. There is so much to do in and around Glencoe, making it the perfect hub. We would love to hike The Three Sisters or even Ben Nevis – the highest mountain in the British Isles. Glencoe is a short drive form Fort William and the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct from Harry Potter. You can even catch the Jacobite train, aka the Hogwarts Express! I’m definitely spending more time in Glencoe on my next Scotland trip, preferably staying at lovely Glencoe House – it looks incredible.

EILEAN DONAN CASTLE

Our drive continued a few hours until we arrived Eilean Donan Castle . This is one of the most famous castles in the highlands and have been featured in movies like James Bond – The World is Not Enough , Highlander , Elizabeth: The Golden Age , Made of Honor , and many more. Since we got there quite late in the afternoon we almost got the entire place all to ourselves. The only people around were a couple of newlyweds having a photo shoot by the loch, and another couple from Spain who we randomly ran into while hiking the following day (small world, huh). The 13th century castle was such a beauty and we had a lot of fun walking around exploring the area and learning about it’s vivid history .

Since we got there after opening hours we didn’t get the chance to see the inside of the castle or visit the gift shop & café, so make sure you check their opening hours before visiting. We still enjoyed it a lot though, so I would still recommend stopping by even if it’s after they close. The little island the castle is located will be open regardless of their hours, so it’s still a fun experience.

TIP: From Eiliean Donan Castle we drove directly to our hostel in Sligachan on the Isle of Skye, since we wanted to begin our hike to The Old Man of Storr early the next morning. It is also possible to find accommodation a bit closer to Eilean Donan Castle, like in Broadford on the Isle of Skye. Broadford is larger and has a larger selection of places to eat and places to sleep , which is perfect after a long day of driving and exploring.

SCOTLAND ROAD TRIP DAY 4: HIGHLANDS PART II (Isle Of Skye)

314 km | 5 hours, 25 minutes

Day 2 of our roadtrip we woke up in Sligachan on the Isle of Skye. We stayed at Sligachan Bunkhouse which was right up our alley: Nothing fancy, you get a room with clean beds and shared bathrooms. But that was literally all we needed. The hostel has common areas which makes it social for those who would like to make new friends, and there is a kitchen on site as well.

The bunkhouse is located next to Sligachan Hotel , which has both a restaurant and bar, so we went there to enjoy a Scottish breakfast before heading out. The food was delicious, and they have a good selection og fluten free, vegetarian and vegan options. Sligachan Old Bridge and various hiking routes are right outside their doorstep, and the ultimate whisky legend Talisker Distillery is only 8 miles from the hotel. I would definitely stay here next time I’m in Sligachan.

TIP: If you would like to stay in an area of Skye with more dining options and things to do, you should consider Portree . Such a beautiful village! Broadford , as I mentioned previously, is also a great option.

THE OLD MAN OF STORR

Starting in Sligachan, we drove north on the beautiful Isle of Skye, enjoying the wonderful view until we reached the Old Man of Storr car park after about 30 minutes behind the wheel. There were a ton of parking spaces there, which indicates how popular this hike really is. We instantly recognized the magnificent rock formations that Storr is known for from the car park and it was very easy to spot the trail. The main trail quickly spreads into a large number of different pathways you can choose from, so we never felt like we were walking in a queue despite crowds growing with every hour.

The hike was incredible, and the rain and clouds didn’t hurt. Frankly, they set the perfect moody tone Scotland does better than any other place. We walked around exploring for hours, enjoying ourselves completely. The hike isn’t too hard and it should be within reach for people in any shape – just take your time if it gets hard. You can do it. Remember to bring water and some snacks or food if you plan on spending some time up there like us.

Wear suitable clothes for the weather and maybe bring an extra shift so that you can change at the top if you get sweaty, as it can get quite windy up there. Unless it’s super slippery there isn’t necessary to bring hiking boots for this trip in our opinion, if you have sneakers with a good grip you should be fine. However, if you’re an inexperienced hiker it might be a good idea to wear hiking boots for extra balance and grip. We ran into a few people that couldn’t make it up there due to wearing high heels, so please be smarter haha.

KILT ROCK VIEWPOINT

After our hike we continued driving north until we arrived Kilt Rock Viewpoint. From this observation point you get to see two major sights on the Isle of Skye: Beautiful Mealt waterfall and Kilt Rock (a rock that resemble a kilt). There were a lot of other tourists there when we visited so we didn’t stay long, but it was a wonderful sight nonetheless. Ohh and there was a man in a kilt playing the bagpipe when we were there, which was fun.

A short drive from the viewpoint we reached Staffin, a community with some restaurants and accommodation options. We were pretty hungry from our adventurous day, so we stopped at the first place we saw that served food. Turns out we got lucky – Columba 1400 is number one on TripAdvisor in this area. They had good and filling food, highly recommended after an active day outdoors.

TIP: There is a lot more to see & do in this area. For instance, you can check out real dinosaur foot prints not far from Kilt Rock Viewpoint (as long as you time it with the tide, which we did not). The Quiaraing , a popular hiking destination, is also in this area.

THE FAIRY GLEN | CASTLE EWAN

After dinner we continued driving north towards Uig. Although you can reach Uig by driving through The Quiaraing, we continued driving the A855 around the top of Isle of Skye. Although I hear the Quiaraing is supposed to be breathtaking, the drive around was insaaane as well. There’s just something about the rock formations by the Scottish coast, it’s so beautiful.

Once we reached the western side of Isle of Skye we headed towards The Fairy Glen – a strange and unique landscape in the middle of nowhere. It’s hard to explain exactly what it is. I would say it’s like a miniature Scotland within one area; you’ve got lush green grass, sheep, a glen, and loads of tiny hills you can climb and trails you can follow. We walked around there for an hour or so, climbing Castle Ewan (the most popular little top) and it was a really lovely place to visit. There weren’t too many other visitors at the time, but I hear it can get very busy at times. Maybe we did something right by arriving in late afternoon? Who knows.

NEIST POINT LIGHTHOUSE

After The Fairy Glen we continued further west on Skye until we arrived Neist Point Lighthouse. In addition to The Old Man of Storr, Neist Point Lighthouse is probably the Scottish landmark I’ve seen the most on Instagram . And I completely get why. The landscape is incredible with it’s dramatic cliffs rising straight from the wavy turquoise ocean, with an iconic lighthouse at the very outer cliff. There is also loads of adorable sheep running around eating and playing.. YOU GUYS THERE WERE SO MANY CUTE SHEEP!

It’s approximately a 15 minute walk from the parking area to the lighthouse, but with all the wonderful sights around I can almost guarantee the walk will take a larger toll on your schedule. Be aware that there is a steep staircase down the first part of the trail, which can be a challenge for people with walking disabilities, FYI. You can still see quite a lot from ‘above’, though!

Although I wish we got to experience more of the western part of Skye, we had to drive straight to our hostel by Loch Ness after visiting Neist Point Lighthouse. But before we left Skye we had the most amaazing drive in the sunset along the B884 road towards Sligachan. I can’t even begin to describe how beautiful it was! The perfect end to our Isle of Skye visit.

TIP: The western part of Skye has a lot more to offer than we had time for, like loads of amazing nature and lovely villages. If you have more time than us you should consider visiting Dunvegan Castle & Gardens which looks amazing! Or the The Talisker Distillery which is also located here.

SCOTLAND ROAD TRIP DAY 5: HIGHLANDS PART III (Loch Ness & Beyond)

308 km | 4 hours, 11 minutes

LOCH NESS & URQUHART CASTLE

Loch Ness was literally the first thing I saw when I opened my eyes the morning of day five. I had to enjoy the view for a while, try to take it all in. We stayed at The Lochside Hostel , which is the perfect option if you’re on a budget or if you want to socialize with other travelers on your trip. The common areas were super cozy, and you can even take a swim in Loch Ness if you want – the Lochside has it’s private beach. If you value more comfort and privacy, the Tigh Na Bruach B&B might be a better fit for you.

A short drive from our hostel was Urquhart Castle; One of Scotland’s largest castles once upon a time. It served as a medieval fortress for 500 years and played a vital role in many conflicts during this time . The government troops blew up the castle at the end of the Jacobite Risings, and only Urquhart’s ruins remains. The castle is still a beautiful sight, especially since it’s marvellous location – overlooking the Loch Ness. You have to purchase a ticket to enjoy the castle up close, but it is really worth every cent. The gift shop was also really cool! It’s a very popular destination so I recommend arriving slightly before they open to hopefully avoid the worst crowds.

If you want to really experience Loch Ness up close I suggest you take a cruise for the very best view of the loch and the castle. Who knows, maybe you’ll get to see Nessie? You can also combine a Loch Ness cruise with a visit to Urquhart Castle – the perfect combo.

From Urquhart Castle it only took us roughly 30 minutes in our tiny Ford to get to Inverness. It was the most charming town we’d seen in ages so we spent most of our day here exploring and wandering the lovely streets of the town.

Our first stop was Leakey’s Second-hand Bookshop in Church Street. Oh my gosh, I can’t even begin to describe how much we loved this place. The bookshop is enormous and is located in an old church, creating a special atmosphere not only book lovers like ourselves will appreciate. We browsed around and hung out in their comfortable couch before buying a few ones each. Worth a visit, even if you just want to have a quick look. Inverness has plenty of other stores too; something for everyone for sure.

Inverness also has a castle and we got a great view of it while crossing Ness Bridge, towards Columba Hotel. If you want the best view of River Ness and the town from above, you can visit Inverness Castle Viewpoint right by the castle. Check out The Castle Tavern for food when you’re in the area. We enjoyed some coffee and dessert at SO COCO , but they recently closed permanently, what a shame.

CULLODEN BATTLEFIELD

It’s impossible to visit Scotland without learning a little about the dark and interesting history of this beautiful country. One of the most important battles of Scottish history took place at Culloden Moor, a mere 20 minute drive outside of Inverness. The Battle of Culloden took place on April 16th 1746 and was the final confrontation of the Jacobite rising. Although the battle only lasted one hour, it was a violent and bloody one, leaving 1,500 – 2,000 Jacobites wounded or dead. The conflict was the end of the Jacobite rising, leaving Great Britain with the power, and was actually the last pitched battle that was fought on British soil.

Honestly, I probably would never have visited Culloden Battlefield if it wasn’t for Outlander’s role in making me interested in the history of Scotland. And I’m very grateful it did, because the history is really interesting. The battlefield itself is free of charge to visit, but if you want to put what you see into context there is an award winning visitor centre with both a museum, café and a shop at the grounds too. Tickets are only £11 and they include an audio tour (available in six languages).

TIP: We drove the A9 south from Culloden Battlefield towards Edinburgh, following the outer parts of Cairngorms National Park . And it was such a wonderful area! I recommend you explore more of this park if you have the chance.

MIDHOPE CASTLE (A.K.A. “LALLYBROCH”)

Any Outlander fans who regognize this castle?? That’s right, it’s Lallybroch! When we saw it was only a 40 minute drive from Edinburgh we had to stop by before returning our rental car in Edinburgh. It was late afternoon and we got the entire place to ourselves. It felt so surreal walking around the property with no one else around.

From Midhope Castle it’s only a 15 minute drive to Blackness Castle, another Outlander location. This 15th century fortress was used to represent Fort William in Outlander (remember where Jamie was punished by Black Jack Randall in season one?). 

It’s definitely possible to visit these Outlander locations without renting a car, but it’s significantly cheaper to book a tour than to order a taxi between the locations (and to/from Glasgow or Edinburgh). This one day tour offers visits to both Midhope Castle, Blackness Castle, Doune Castle (mentioned earlier in this post) and a few more. The price is really good, too! 

SCOTLAND ROAD TRIP DAY 6-8: EDINBURGH

After three amazing days on the road we returned our rental car and replaced nature life with city life in Edinburgh. We spent three lovely days here sightseeing, shopping, enjoying ourselves in wonderful Edinburgh before heading home. The city of Edinburgh was very different from Glasgow, and it was charming in a completely different way. There were a lot of beautiful buildings and fun things to do, and we truly enjoyed it. A perfect way to end our Scotland road trip adventure!

Read: The Ultimate Guide To Edinburgh

Pin For Later.

AAAAH what an epic trip we had!! Thank you, Scotland. I hope you found this Scotland road trip guide helpful, and that you’ll trip will be just as amazing as ours were. Don’t forget to enjoy the scenery while driving!

Other Posts You Might Enjoy

Enjoyed this Scotland road trip map & itinerary guide? Here are some other posts you might enjoy as well:

Fun Things To Do In Glasgow, Scotland A Perfect Weekend In Edinburgh – Itinerary Ideas Magical Things To Do In Dublin At Christmas How To Spend A Perfect Weekend In Manchester, England

Psst! Have you read these posts?

My central park map & guide, things to do in da nang, vietnam, croatia | how to spend 48 hours in rovinj, one day in chicago | itinerary guide, 63 comments.

Great detailed post for anyone planning a trip to Scotland. I lived in Scotland for close to three years and broke up my highlands visits into 4 trips over that time. I think the highlands are magical, I particularly love Glencoe and Isle of Skye. Definitely saving this one!

Thank you so much, Dee! Living in Scotland for 3 years sounds like a dream come true!

I’ve been obsessed with the Scottish Highlands as long as I can remember! The castles are a DREAM and I also love all the sheep haha. And your photos are STUNNING. Need to plan a trip back there ASAP…

Yaaay another sheep lover! 😁🐑 hahah. Thank you so much Kelsey, I truly recommend this trip, not to be missed ✈️ Hope you get to visit Scotland soon 🌼

Love your sheep obsession 😉 I really love sheep as well. Thank you for all these great tips. You’ve seen so many things in three days! We always love to take our time while traveling, but of course, if you don’t have much time you can see so many things if you just plan it out. I’m extra excited to make it to Scotland one day!

Thank you, Roxanne! And I’m glad to hear I’m not the only traveler with a sheep obsession hahah 😂🙈

Yeah I like to take my time while traveling as well, but with school & work it’s not always easy and I sometimes choose to take advantage of every minute ☺️ Really glad we did that on this trip as we got to see so much. The next trip was way more chill though 😄 I love the balance! Thanks for stopping by ❤️

Great post, very descriptive and your photos are stunning! Love all the fluffy sheep ❤️ I went trekking in the Scottish Highlands while back and even though it was raining and moody most of the time it was one of my favorite holidays. Thank you for reminding me!

Thank you so much, Helena! Yes the sheep are so darn cute 😍 Sounds like you had an amazing trip to Scotland too. I found the moodiness an added bonus really, it wouldn’t feel as ‘authentic’ if it was sunny the entire week in Scotland 😄

I am just in the process of planning my trip to Scotland, so glad to come across this post. I loved all the details you have mentioned, made it so easy to plan my trip! Thank you

That’s great, fun to hear its helpful! Hope you’lk have an amazing trip 😄❤️

I need to go back. I’ve only been into the highlands once and didn’t have nearly enough time there. I love Scotland and grew up right on the border but on the England side. Your pics inspired me to want to visit again, hopefully soon

Awe I hope you get to go back asap 😍 such a beautiful place

I want to cry because I want to go here so bad! Your photos look incredible and I’m loving all the nature. This is literally my dream place! Looks like you visited the best spots.

I think that is the nicest compliment I’ve ever heard! Thank you so much 😌🌼 it’s even prettier in person, hope you get to go soon!

I’ve been wanting to visit Scotland for the longest time! This area seems amazing. I really love all your photos :D. Thank you for sharing this post 😀

Thank you! It’s even more beautiful in real life 😍

My hubby and I want to do a road trip in Scottland in 2020 or 2010, I thought this post was very helpful in giving me some idea of what to look forward to!

Thats great, hope you get a great trip 😄😄

I love your blog! I cant wait to visit Scotland–its my #1 bucket list “to-do”

Thank you so much! Scotland was incredible, you’re gonna have such an amazing time!

Your pictures were amazing, my boyfriend and I are planning a trip to Scotland in March and I would love to know the camera and lens you shot these photos with?

Thank you so much Kaila! Most of these were taken with my Canon 6D camera and a Tamron 24-70mm f2.8 in RAW. Edited with my own presets in Lightroom 😊☺️

You’re gonna have so much fun! What are you planning on seeing? 😄

Oh Scotland! My dream location. I had a trip booked and had to cancel it due to illness. Need a redo stat! Loooove your photos! So dreamy!

Thank you so much 😄 ohh I’m so sorry you had to cancel, hope you get to go soon ☺️ it was an incredible trip, will never forget it!

Hey Tina! Great article and your photography is gorgeous. I recently came back from Scotland where I opted to do a tour because I was nervous about driving on the other side of the road. Some of the roads in the Isle of Skye seemed damn near impossible. Did you ever get in trouble over there? I really want to go back and explore at my own pace but the driving looks super iffy. Thanks so much,

Hi you! Thank you so much, that means the world to me! Honestly, the roads on the Isle of Skye were not that crazy to me due to growing up with similar ones in northern Norway. I was more nervous driving in the cities. But it all went super smooth, no trouble at all! Got used to driving on the left pretty fast, and on the iffy & narrow roads everyone drive pretty slowly and it never felt unsafe or anything like that. I would probably feel more stressed in the winter months, though. It was an incredible experience and you should try it! I’m 100% sure you can do it too 🙂

Thank you so much for taking the time to do this and for including such stunning shots! I am in the middle of planning a trip and your itinerary and advice have been helpful.

Thank you so much, Ariane, it means so much ☺️ I’m glad it could be helpful!

Love seeing people explore my home! Your photos are beautiful!

Awe thank you 🌸 You’re lucky to come from such a beautiful country 😍

Great post! Your pictures from your trip are great.

Thank you <3 <3

I’ve been meaning to visit Scotland for ages! Lovely pictures and lots of good info, will save this for when I actually start planning a Scotland trip!

Thanks Greta, glad you found it helpful 😄

I loved Scotland! It quickly became one of my favourite countries. I love your advice to leave extra time because there are always places you want to stop in at spontaneously during a Scottish road trip.

Right?? We wanted to pull over every other second 😂

I would love to visit Scotland one day although I’m a little bit intimidated by the potentially harsh weather! But the scenery looks just so incredible that it would probably be worth it regardless of the weather haha! PS your photos are amazing.

Ohh don’t be! I swear, it is so charming in any weather! 😄

Wow! This is such a useful guide! We want to go in the summer and will definitely save this for our trip!

Yayy! I hope your trip is amazing 😍😍

Seriously bookmarking this for my future trip there – really great post! You told us everything we need to know. My hubby and I have wanted to do this trip for a LONG time!

Happy to help, thanks for reading Andi 😄❤️ Can’t wait to hear about your take on Scotland once you go 😄

Wow I love how detailed this post is ! So much good information and the photos are gorgeous 🙂

Thank you so much Lauren 😄🌸

I did a Scotland road trip few years ago and I can’t tell you how many fond memories reading this has brought back. I love how detailed this guide is as there are definitely some spots that I overlooked and now feel like I need to go again to fully explore the region.

Thank you so much, Charu ☺️

I love both Scotland and reading your post on it especially with the beautiful photos! Great tips and an excellent road trip itinerary. I have driven about 1/3 of that and would love to go back and do this route! 🙂

Thanks Vanessa! I wanna go back too 😍🌸

This is such an awesome + comprehensive guide! I went to Scotland for the first time back in 2016 and we went to a number of the same places you did, but I’d love to go back again for a more in-depth visit someday. There was so much to explore there and it was so pretty! :] I love the fluffy sheep!

Awe thank you so much! Scotland is breathtaking, can’t wait to go back either 😍

Many years ago, I lived in Scotland for some time. Now a lot has changed! But still, this is the perfect place for me! I plan to be there after quarantine! Thanks for sharing!

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for this! Amazing. Planning my trip now as I sit at home during quarantine!

Your comment made my day! So happy you found it helpful, I hope you have a wonderful trip once quarantine life is over 😀

Thank you!! Looking forward to your Edinburgh blog!!!

This is such a comprehensive guide. I never really had Scotland in my priority list of places to visit but your guide makes me want to visit it soon!

Thank you so much for your lovely comment, Jes. Glad you liked it & that it inspired you!

I stumbled upon this post when planning a road trip to Scotland myself this autumn. Your post was very elaborate and helpful 😊! Thanks so much! Also the photos are simply stunning! I can’t wait now!

Thank you so much, Marjolein! Glad it was helpful 🙂 I’m sure you’ll have an amaaazing trip to Scotland

At what month did you travel to Scotland? Great blog by the way! Will definitely visit Scotland soon

Thank you so much! We visited in June!

loved your trip! we plan to go this year too! may i ask what travel camera setup you use? I have a few lenses to choose from but can’t decide 😀 also, these colors :O did u use a preset for these?

Thank you so much, I’m glad you found my Scotland road trip guide helpful. If I remember correctly, I used a Canon 6D with a Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 lens on this trip. Since then I’ve made the switch to Sony and I find choosing lenses sooo difficult – so I feel you! I love a low aperture, and having a zoom lens while traveling is ace in my opinion. I shot the images in raw, and then used my own presets to edit them in Lightroom 🙂 I hope you have an amazing trip!!

we gaan in september naar schotland

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Manhattanite.co is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Legal Terms & Privacy Policy .

keep in touch