3 week tour of scotland

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3-week road trip in Scotland

Are you planning a 3-week vacation? Do you want to discover Scotland and all its details ? You will love this itinerary!

With this road trip, explore Scotland and discover its must-sees as well as its hidden gems . You will never forget this trip!

Here is a glimpse of the beautiful experiences awaiting in this 3-week road trip  in Scotland:

• Discover Glasgow through its Necropolis
• Experience your first Scottish landscapes by exploring the Loch Lomond National Park , near Arrochar
• Meet the wildlife on the Isle of Mull
• See the varied and beautiful landscapes of the Isle of Skye
• Visit the historic Eilean Donan Castle from Plockton
• Canoe from Gairloch Harbour
• Explore the Scottish highlands from Ullapool
• Take a break at a whisky distillery in Grantown-on-Spey
• See the salmon ladder at Pitlochry Dam Power Station and Fish Ladder
• Visit Edinburgh Castle, and experience the magic of the old city

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Itinerary of a 3-week road trip in Scotland

Glasgow > Arrochar > Isle of Mull > Skye > Plockton > Gairloch > Ullapool > Grantown-on-Spey > Pitlochry > Edinburgh

Some practical information before your trip to Scotland

For this itinerary, we recommend  renting a car from Hertz . It’s possible to rent it in one city and return it in another without exorbitant prices and limiting hidden costs.

You want to buy a paper travel guide ? We recommend this one ! In our opinion, it is the most complete and the most visual!

Need a road map to prepare your itinerary? We recommend this one , the most detailed and the most pleasant to read!

The best time to travel in Scotland is from May to September . These are the months when the weather and temperatures will be most pleasant. However, rain and clouds are never far away… But after all, that’s the charm of the country! See more details here .

Scotland is also a culinary heritage . Although it may not suit all taste buds, some specialities are worth trying! Starting with the must-try: haggis . This is a mixture of meat, oatmeal and spices, usually served with mashed potatoes. Then there’s porridge , a much-loved local snack that can be found all over the country. For those with a sweet tooth, you’ll have to try the traditional dessert, the Cranachan , made with raspberries, cream, oats and whisky, in short, only good things!

Contents: 3-week road trip in Scotland

1- Glasgow – Stop 1 of the 3-week road trip in Scotland 2- Arrochar – Stop 2 of the 3-week road trip in Scotland 3- Isle of Mull – Stop 3 of the 3-week road trip in Scotland 4- Isle of Skye – Stop 4 of the 3-week road trip in Scotland 5- Plockton – Stop 5 of the 3-week road trip in Scotland 6- Gairloch – Stop 6 of the 3-week road trip in Scotland 7- Ullapool – Stop 7 of the 3-week road trip in Scotland 8- Grantown-on-Spey – Stop 8 of the 3-week road trip in Scotland 9- Pitlochry – Stop 9 of the 3-week road trip in Scotland 10- Edinburgh – Stop 10 of the 3-week road trip in Scotland

Itinerary of a 3-week road trip in Scotland: step by step

Stop 1: Glasgow

What to do in Glasgow?

Glasgow, the most populated city in Scotland is famous for being dynamic and welcoming. A cultural rich city that you will love!   This is a great first local immersion in this 3-week road trop in Scotland.  

• Go up to the Necropolis . It can seem creepy but taking a long and calm walk through the graves while enjoying the panoramic view will be an exceptional experience!
• Eat a famous  fish and chips in  Bath Street .
• Feel like  James Bond  and go for a « Power Boat » ride on the  Clyde river .
• Step in the city’s Cathedral , an impressive and beautiful building!
• Discover a medieval historic house:  Provand’s Lordship .
• Architecture lovers, you probably already know about Charles Rennie Mackintosh , a famous Scottish Art Nouveau architect. Explore the  Mackintosh House . This house will amaze you!
• Stroll through the  Botanic Gardens and Kibble Palace  admire different plants and relax in this gorgeous flowery garden.
• In the heart of  Glasgow , take a break and have a snack at  The Willow Tea Room .

Continue your visit of Glasgow:

• Visit  Glasgow University , on top of a hill. Be quiet, people are studying!
• Walk in the city streets and take pictures of the typically Scottish facades decorated with  street art .
• If you like vintage and old objects, go to  Riverside Museum of Transport and Travel  where many vintage vehicles are displayed.
• History lovers, get to know more about  Glasgow  at the  People’s Palace and Winter Gardens .
• Roam around  George Square  where many famous Scottish celebrity’s statues are displayed.
• Go find unique souvenirs at the  Barras Market .
• Visit the  Gallery of Modern Art  where you will get to see many different (living!) artists’ artworks.
• Science nerds, explore the  Glasgow Science Centre .
• Drink a beer (or two) on a night out in  West End .
• Eat the local speciality, the  haggis , at  Stravaigin , in  Hillhead .

Where to sleep in Glasgow?

• Mid-range: Located in Glasgow city centre, close to George Square, Chic Living in the Heart of the City has a terrace and all the necessary facilities. Offering views of the city, enjoy Natalya’s hospitality and the large rooms she will provide.
• High-end: The Kimpton – Blythswood Square Hotel is located in the city centre. The hotel is housed in a renovated building and offers luxury rooms designed in a period architectural style. The former ballroom has been converted into a restaurant for your enjoyment and pleasure.

Stop 2: Arrochar

What to do in Arrochar?

Arrochar is well-known by mountaineers because it gives you access to the Arrochar Alps. For us, it will just be a stopover town for you on this 3-week road trip in Scotland.

• Explore Argyll Forest Park   don’t forget to check out one of its most beautiful waterfall:  Ben Ime . The park has different trails for you to hike on.
• Discover the city’s church , the ruins of the former church and the historic cemetery. All these monuments are in the same place, so easy to explore.
• Stop by  Loch Lomond National Park  just a few km/miles away and enjoy a picnic by the lake or just go for a walk.

Where to sleep in Arrochar?

• High-end: Rated 10/10 on Booking, the Amazing Alps and Loch view has a terrace and offers stunning views of the lake. In a clean and tidy environment, recharge your batteries in the spacious rooms and enjoy the barbecue to liven up your evenings.

Stop 3: Isle of Mull

What to do on the Isle of Mull?

The Isle of Mull is part of the Inner Hebrides. You will get to see stunning landscapes.

• Go for a long walk on the white sand beaches .
• Gor for a hike up  Ben More , on the Isle of Ulva or  Aros Park .
• You dream of seeing dolphins and eagles ? Go for a day trip and make your dream come true! It will be a magical experience on your 3-week road trip in Scotland.
• The Isle of Mull  also has many smaller isles to discover on a boat trip .
• Taste local specialities : whisky (but not too much!), beef and seafood.
• Explore the craftsmen markets of the Isle and get handmade souvenirs. Soap, cookies, a nice sweater…
• Visit the 6 castles of the Isle and get to know about its history.
• Want to go on an unusual adventure ? Go for a unique horse ride on the beach or in the mountains.
• Take pictures of blackhead sheeps and  Highland Cattle . What is this? They are cute little cows with amazing fur!

Where to sleep on the Isle of Mull?

• High-end: Treat yourself to a night of authenticity and comfort by staying at Pennygate Lodge . This B&B is set on a beautiful estate, with welcoming hosts and a delicious breakfast.
• Castle:  Live the ultimate overnight experience in a Scottish castle at Glengorm Castle . Ideally located, with stunning views, tastefully decorated rooms, an excellent breakfast and the perfect starting point for hikes.

Stop 4: Skye

What to do in Skye?

Skye or rather the Isle of Skye is a stunning stop of this 3-week road trip in Scotland, made of mysteries and unusual discoveries. 

• Walk around the village of Portree , the biggest one on the Isle. You will be amazed the colorful houses.
• Go for the  Old Man of Storr  hike, it’s a 30min hike during which you will get to see beautiful landscapes and view over different lakes.
• Go see the Kilt Rock Cliff and  Mealt Falls .
• If you haven’t had enough of hiking, go do the  Quiraing hike . A 1-hour round trip with beautiful panoramas and calm.
• Admire the sunset from Neist Point . Beware of the wind if it’s blowing hard, it could be dangerous!
• Visit the only castle of the Isle: Dunvegan Castle . You will get to explore the inside, observe seals and relax in the gardens.
• On a boat, discover Loch Coruisk   in the middle of  Black Cuillin , in the village of  Elgol .
• Whisky lovers, go see the Talisker distillery  and learn about how whisky is stored.
• Eat delicious pies from  Skye Pie Café  after your  Old Man of Storr hike.
• Enter a magical dimension when visiting  Fairy Glen .

Where to sleep on the Isle of Skye?

• Mid-range: Located just outside Skye in the Highlands, Bothan Beag is well worth a visit if you want to explore the area! With hosts who will give you all the advice you need, take the opportunity to switch off and explore the area.
• High-end: Looking to disconnect on your holiday? Then Mount Barker is the place for you! This establishment is a large, detached Victorian house set in 4,000 square metres of grounds. Enjoy the large rooms and friendly hosts as you recharge your batteries.

Stop 5: Plockton

What to do in Plockton?

Plockton is a lovely little village for a charming and green stopover on this 3-week road trip in Scotland.

• By foot, during low tide , go to of on the two island in the bay.
• Stroll through the village and admire the small houses and the unusual settin.
• Taste Haddock soup in  Plockton Shores Restaurant .
• 20 min away, discover the Eilean Donan Castle  and enjoy a moment out of time!

Where to sleep in Plockton?

• High-end: Right in the centre of the beautiful village of Plockton, The Holt offers you a combination of comfort, warmth and a warm welcome! It’s a perfect place where everything you need is at your disposal.

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Stop 6: Gairloch

What to do in Gairloch?

Typical Scottish village, Gairloch is a must-see on this 3-week road trip in Scotland: flowers, beaches and bucolic forest. 

• Take a walk on  Gairloch Beach and Pier : from  Gaineamh Mhr   beach to  Charlestown’s pier  and come back through the  Flowerdale Arboretum . An hour-long walk to discover the area.
• Visit the  Marine Life Center  and observe the wild life around the nearby loch.
• Get on a boat and discover rare marine animals.
• Observe the  Gavia Arctica , also called « black-throated diver », a rare bird that only lives in the North-West of Scotland and in Nordic countries.
• Hop on a kayak or canoe and cruise around the port of Gairloch .
• Discover  Gairloch Heritage Museum  and learn about the village’s history.

Where to sleep in Gairloch?

• High-end: With a warm welcome from Emma, The Old School House has everything you need to relax! Whether it’s the sea view or the hearty breakfast, this B&B is sure to please.

Stop 7: Ullapool

What to do in Ullapool?

Before getting to  Ullapool , stop at the pink sand beach of Gruinard Bay .

You will inevitably fall for the lovely Ullapool, seventh stop of your 3-week road trip in Scotland! A small but busy fishing port on Loch Broom.

• Taste  haggis neeps and tatties , THE Scottish dish at  Seaforth . If you are curious, it’s just a fancy name for turnip and potatoes.
• Go fishing for herrings with le locals in the clear lake.
• Stroll through the village and appreciate the gorgeous white houses.
• Go discover  Lewis Island from the port of  Ullapool .
• 20 min away from  Ullapool , head to  Corrieshalloch Gorge  and admire this nature reserve’s waterfalls.

Where to sleep in Ullapool?

• Mid-range: 5 minutes from the town centre, Harbour House has a garden, pebble beach and stunning sea views. The hosts will give you a warm welcome in their spacious and clean establishment, so don’t hesitate!
• High-end: In a paradisiacal setting by the sea and within walking distance of many hikes, Tigh na Mara offers quiet, clean and comfortable accommodation where you can go canoeing and fishing.

Stop 8: Grantown-on-Spey

What to do in Grantown-on-Spey?

Before getting to Grantown-on-Spey, stop at the Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve  in  Inverness . You can also make a stop along the mystical Loch Ness .

Largest whisky producing city, Grantown-on-Spey is ideal to get to know the region deeply. 

• Take a walk on a trail in the  Anagach Woods up to the  Spey River . You will get meet birds and other wld animals!
• Big reader? Head to   The Bookmark Bookshop .
• Athletes, discover the many activities you can do here: canoeing, golfing, hiking , arrow shooting …
• Discover the city’s history at Grantown Museum .
• Visit  Balmenach Distillery , a lovely whisky distillery. It’s the perfect time for a little whisky tasting on this 3-week road trip in Scotland. Don’t forget,  Excessive drinking is dangerous for t he health!
• Get a breath of fresh air in  Cairngorms National Park  a few km/miles away from the city.

Where to sleep Grantown-on-Spey?

• Mid-range: Stay at Ardenbeg , a charming little guesthouse close to the town centre. As well as lovely, comfortable rooms, you’ll enjoy a garden and very helpful hosts.
• High-end: treat yourself to a night at Ravenscourt House , an Edwardian guest house that has it all! Well located, historically decorated, hosts ready to share with you all their good tips for visiting the area, a delicious breakfast… what more could you want!

Stop 9: Pitlochry

What to do in Pitlochry?

Pitlochry is the ideal small city to get back to the hustle and bustle of larger Scottish cities, as your 3-week road trip in Scotland is slowly coming to an end. 

• Walk around the city and get gifts for your friends and family.
• A 10-min drive away, go to the Whisky Edradour distillery . You can also get to the distillery by foot, it’s a 1-hour hike through the  Black Spout Forest .
• Stroll around the exotic plant garden: Explorers Garden .
• Eat some  fish and chips at  Strathgarry Restaurant .
• Go see the main attraction of the village :  Pitlochry Dam Power Station and Fish Ladder . A nice walk to a dam with a fish ladder. Have you ever been that close to salmons?
• Admire the panoramic view over the valley and Loch from  Queen’s View .
• Early in the morning, go for a hike on Ben Vrackie . You can even have a picnic at the top of the mountain and enjoy a 360 view.

Where to sleep in Pitlochry?

• Mid-range: Located just 10 minutes’ drive from the Cairngorms National Park, the charming detached cottage The Old Coach House offers a huge fully enclosed garden and free parking. Enjoy all the modern comforts of home in a peaceful haven.
• High-end: Sleep in a real castle! With Scottish-style luxury and stunning views of the Loch, Fonab Castle Hotel is a dream come true. With tastefully decorated rooms, 2 restaurants and a cellar stocked with a wide selection of wines, whiskies and gins, this is the place to be.

What to do in Edinburgh?

Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh is a must-see when coming to Scotland. A mysterious city, famous for Harry Potter fans, you will fall for this city and its rich heritage. 

• Fell like Harry Potter when walk through the narrow streets of Edinburgh .
• Stroll around the old city center and its colorful steets until you get to the Edinburgh Castle . We recommend taking part in a guided tour to discover all there is to know about the history of the place.
• Visit  Calton Hill  and appreciate the gorgeous view over the city ! You will immediately get why it is UNESCO-listed !
• Discover the  Royal Mile Market  which used to be a church.
• If ghosts don’t scare you, head to Greyfriars Kirkyard . Maybe you will get to meet the ghost of Georges MacKenzie ?
• Follow Queen Elisabeth ‘s steps at the Holyrood Palace  where she stays when she comes to Scotland.

Continue your visit of Edinburgh:

• History lovers, be sure to go to the National Museum of Scotland , learn about the country’s long history and culture.
• Explore the  Royal Botanical Garden   aiming to preserve the local wildlife and flora.
• Never been to Paris? Circus Lane  will make you feel like you actually are in (a Scottish) Paris!
• Stroll around  Dean Village  along the river.
• Walk up  Arthur’s seat  and appreciate the gorgeous view over the city.
• You read the  Da Vinci Code ? Then you will love to go to the South Leith Parish .
• Potterhead ? Stop by  The Elephant House  where J.K Rolling spent hours writing her world-famous books.
• If you need a breath of fresh a air, go to Portobello Beach and unwind.
• End your day by having diner at the  Grassmarket  and get to taste the local cuisine.

Where to sleep in Edinburgh?

• Mid-range: The Rose Apartment is a fully-equipped self-catering apartment located 600 metres from the centre. Bright and beautifully decorated, this flat is sure to meet your expectations.
• High-end: Stay at the Rutland Hotel & Apartments to start your Scottish journey in comfort. Modern decor, spacious rooms, charming staff and a great location are to be expected.

Learn more about your road trip in Scotland…

• You want to know all the information about the country ?  It’s here .
• Then, to rent a car at the best price, we recommend  this website .
• Finally, to book a flight at the best price, we recommend  this website .
• You are looking for a great travel insurance  for your 3-week road trip in Scotland?  We recommend this one !

Do not hesitate to share your trip with us, we can’t wait to hear all about your adventures!

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3 Weeks In The UK Itinerary

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The UK has been my dream destination for the longest time. In College, I had a fascination, borderline obsession with the UK’s medieval history. It was a dream to see the castles, paintings, and even the burying place of iconic British figures.

That has finally happened and I honestly can’t believe I got to see as many places as I could in just 20 days. I can’t wait to go back that’s for sure.

The UK is such a great destination to spend your 3-week vacation. It comprises four beautiful countries: England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Visiting the UK will make the most out of your annual holiday.

You will get to chill at the beach (if visiting in summer), hike a mountain or two, visit ancient cities and ruins, explore vibrant cities, and, well, finally, have the best fish and chips you will ever have.

In this article, I will show you how to spend 3 weeks in the UK. I will first list things you should prepare before you book anything, and then I will proceed to show you must-see places and must-do activities during your holiday, plus tips on places to stay in each country.

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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE GOING TO THE UK

The United Kingdom, also known as Great Britain, can be confusing to people who are not local. The name Britain came even before the now-known United Kingdom.

When Scotland and Wales joined England in 1707, the name Britain was used. Ireland has always been part of the English colony since the 12th century, but not officially. When Ireland was divided into two, Northern Ireland formally joined Great Britain, and the term United Kingdom of Great Britain became official.

Today, the terms the United Kingdom and Great Britain are used interchangeably. Here are some quick tips for travelling to the UK; before you book anything, take a look and plan your trip properly:

When is the best time to go to the UK

Normally, when we talk about the best time to visit a place for a holiday, the summer season in the Global North is the preferred time to go on a holiday.

But for the UK, the best time to visit is during spring. It’s the time when it’s drier and warmer. Summer in the UK is filled with rain, while winter is freezing and still raining. If you get allergies from the pollen that spring brings, remember to bring your medications.

Are 3 weeks enough for the UK

The UK is not a massive country when it comes to land size; however, there is just so much to see. I really want you to focus on creating a travel itinerary , even though it is just a basic one. In this way, you can see how much you are willing to spend in one place and what type of attractions you prefer to see.

Renting a car will only save you time if you plan to use it anywhere but London . In that city, it’s better to use public transport. But in countries such as Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, having your own vehicle can help you see more places.

Average cost of 20 days in the UK

The cost depends on many things, such as your preferred type of accommodation, dining, and transportation. But to give you a quick idea, $2,300 is a good mid-range budget . You’ll dine out in a private room in a mid-range hotel.

But if you have a tight budget, you can bring that down a little bit to $1,500, where you’d be staying in youth hostels and probably half cooking at the hostel and half eating out.

If you want to make this a luxury trip, $4,500 will be an amazing budget for sleeping in 5-star hotels and eating out at fancier restaurants.

Accommodation will cost the most when travelling in the UK, especially in London, where a room can easily cost as much as $90 per night for a basic mid-range hotel. If you can minimise your stay in London to 2-3 days, it will make a big difference in your budget.

How to get around the UK

The UK have one of the best transportation systems in place. There are domestic flights, buses, and the most popular – train. Sure, they can be annoying for being late sometimes, but it’s still reliable.

If you have an international driver’s license that is valid here, you can also rent a car , which will give you so much more freedom with your schedule.

If you need to get out of the UK, there are a lot of affordable flights going to other parts of Europe. At the same time, Heathrow is one of the busiest airports in the world. Flights here go all over the place, to Latin America, North America, Asia, Africa, and even all the way to Australia.

On the other hand, taking the bus and the train will be more affordable, but you have to plan accordingly to ensure you won’t be wasting too much time in bus terminals or train stations.

CHECK-OUT: Scandinavia for 3 weeks itinerary

The UK always had a different visa policy than the EU, which is a member of the Schengen States. So, Brexit didn’t really affect travellers visiting the UK.

If you are from an EU country, you can enjoy a 180-day visa-free , the same goes for North Americans, countries from Oceania, some countries in Latin America, Namibia and Botswana, East Asia, Malaysia and Singapore. On the other hand, Ireland has freedom of movement with no time limit.

Other travel tips

For basic tips like where to look for accommodation, booking a car rental, and even where to find awesome tours, I always use these services:

PINNED MAP OF THE MUST-SEE PLACES IN THE UK

Click the top-right logo to enlarge the map. Credit: map data: Google

3 WEEKS IN THE UK ITINERARY

In this travel itinerary, I will be covering all 4 countries in the UK, which are composed of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. I must say, though, this itinerary is a bit packed.

If you want to slow it down or spend more time in other countries, you can cut down some days from England and leave some for your next visit.

If you want to travel slower , you can reduce the number of countries you want to see. Here are a few samples: 7 days in England, 6 days in Scotland, and 6 days in Northern Ireland. You can also try 7 days in England, 6 days in Scotland, and 6 days in Wales. Then explore the country you missed on your next holiday in the UK.

Day-to-day overview

• Day 1: Arrive in London – pick up your car rental if you decide on that
• Day 2-4 : Explore London – get a hop-on, hop-off bus tour or The London Pass valid to 90+ attractions
• Day 5-8 : Either day trips outside of London, or choose a smaller city around English such as Bath, Birmingham, or Manchester
• Day 9 : Travel from England to Wales by train , driving, or bus
• Day 10-12 : Explore Wales
• Day 13: Travel from Wales to Scotland by train , driving, or bus
• Day 14-16 : Discover Scotland – dont’t forget the day trip to Loch Ness, Glencoe, Scottish Highlands
• Day 17 : Get to Northern Ireland from Scotland by bus and ferry, car and car ferry, or plane
• Day 18-19: Travel around Northern Ireland
• Day 20 : Catch a flight back home, you might have to travel back to London or to Dublin, Ireland

England for 9 days

England is not a very big country, but there’s too much to see; maybe 10 days won’t even cut it. While reliable train connections exist between all the big areas of England, it can still take some time to travel around. Renting a car will give you a bit more flexibility.

England is known for its historical spots , very diverse culture, and people, and it is home to many food hubs and pubs. Not to mention, most Harry Potter film locations are around England (some are in Scotland).

London alone has so much to offer, from history, architecture, adventure, and local pubs. If you are staying right in the city centre, you can see many iconic landmarks just by walking around. You won’t run out of things to do near Tower Bridge and of course Buckingham Palace.

If you only want to see England in the UK, we have an itinerary for 3 weeks in England as well.

Best places to see in England:

Let’s start with London, it’s easier to get around by either using hop on-hop off bus or using public transport. There’s also a bus tour with cruise .

• Tower of London and Crown of Jewels – you can book a tour
• Tower Bridge and Big Ben
• Join a fun Harry Potter guided walking tour and get a ticket to Harry Potter Warner Bros Studio
• The British Museum
• Kensington Palace – you can join a sightseeing tour or a Royal high tea
• Buckingham Palace
• Book a spooky Jack the Ripper tour
• Westminster Abbey – hop on a boat cruise from Westminster to Greenwich
• The National Gallery
• London Eye – you can get a fast-track ticket to save time
• St. Paul’s Cathedral
• Stonehenge – you can get on a tour from London
• Madame Tussauds – visit one of the most popular museums in London, get your entry ticket
• Windsor Castle – get your admission ticket
• World War II – walking tour with a visit to Churchill war rooms
• Trafalgar Square
• The Shard – you can get a ticket to enjoy a panoramic view
• Book a dinner cruis e at the Thames River

South and Southwest of London:

• The Royal Pavillion
• Leeds Castle
• Bodiam Castle
• Hever Castle & Gardens
• Hampton Court Palace
• Thorpe Park Resort
• Salisbury Cathedral
• Stonehenge – get your ticket here if you’re planning to get there on your own

North and northwest of London (Leeds/Liverpool/Manchester):

• Cadbury World
• Get a hop-on-hop-off bus for Liverpool – this includes a city tour and Beatles tour – or simply book The Beatles Story tour
• Shakespeare’s Birthplace
• Mersey River – book a cruise
• Dayton Manor Theme Park
• National Railway Museum York
• Blackpool Pleasure Beach

This list is just a few of many. Check out our pinned map; from there, you can see which attractions are close to each other. You can uncheck the layers per city to see a better look.

You can plan your trip to start in London , then go south, southwest, then the north part – Machester/Liverpool/Leeds area. This England city break guide will also make sure that you get to see what England, especially London has to offer.

Accommodations in England:

• Budget hostels (London): Wombat The City Hostel or YHA London Central
• Mid-range hotels (London): The Lilac Door or The Brownswood
• Luxury hotel (London): Montcalm Royal or The Landmark London
• Budget hostels (Brighton): Selina Brighton or The Queensbury Hotel
• Mid-range hotels Brighton): The Twenty One or Sea Spray
• Luxury hotel (Brighton): The Grand Brighton or Jurys Inn Waterfront

Wales for 3 days

Wales is the place for people who love the outdoors but perhaps not planning to travel all the way to Scotland. The great National Park of Snowdonia is popular with foreign tourists and locals.

Even though Wales is significantly smaller than England, there are still many places in Wales that you must see during your visit, such as the following:

Best places to see in Wales:

• Join the wandering tour of South Wales – read the reviews and check the price
• Caernarfon Castle
• Devil’s Bridge
• Snowdonia National Park and Snowdon – book this tour with 3 castles visit or Snowdonia with Portmeirion tour
• Conwy Castle
• The National Waterfront Museum
• Llangollen – go on a whitewater rafting or canoeing tour
• Cardiff Castle
• Prembrokeshire Coast National Park
• West Wales – there’s a mystical tour you can join
• Harlech Castle
• National Trust – Bodnant Garden
• Barry Island – filming locations of Gavin and Stacey
• Swansea Castle

Accommodations in Wales:

• Budget hostels (Cardiff): BunkHouse
• Mid-range hotels (Cardiff): ibis Budget Cardiff or Cardiff Sandringham Hotel
• Luxury hotel (Cardiff): Lincoln House or Hotel Indigo

Scotland for 5 days

If you have 3 weeks in the UK, you must include Scotland on your itinerary. When one thinks of Scotland, we quickly go to the inaudible England accent and the very traditional kilt (a Scottish skirt-like). But this country is more than that.

Not only is it filled with beautiful destinations for hiking, camping, and historical spots, but Scotland is also rich in culture and offers such wide and interesting varieties of whisky .

If you’re a fan of Harry Potter, there are more filming locations and activities you can do here. Do you know that golf came from Scotland?

Best places to explore in Scotland:

• If you can spend five days in Scotland, check the itinerary on this 5-day tour to save you time and make the trip more convenient
• Edinburgh Castle – get your skip-the-line ticket
• The Royal Palace
• National War Museum
• Loch Ness – join a full-day Scottish Highlands tour or this tour
• Palace of Holyroodhouse
• Dean Village
• Hogwarts Express – ride the train from Inverness or from Edinburgh
• See more of the Harry Potter – HP guided walking tour
• National Museum of Scotland
• Arthur’s Seat – you can take the trail from Holywood Park
• St Andrews and Fishing Villages – check the tour price
• Calton Hill
• Camera Obscura & World of Illusions
• Craigmillar Castle
• Portobello Beach
• Don’t miss the spooky features – haunted underground and graveyard tour
• Duddingston Golf Club
• Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
• Loch Lomond – you can enjoy an hour of boat cruise
• The Trossachs National Park
• Tease your taste buds with – chocolate tour and Scotch whiskey tour or food tour with drinks
• The Gatehouse
• Scottish National Portrait Gallery
• From Inverness – you can do a full-day tour to the Isle of Skye and Eilean Donan Castle
• Stirling Castle

Accommodations in Edinburgh:

• Budget hostels: High Street Hostel or Royal Mile Backpackers
• Mid-range hotels: Native Edinburgh or Holyrood Aparthotel
• Luxury hotel: Apex City of Edinburgh Hotel or Kimpton – Charlotte Square

Northern Ireland for 3 days

I’m not going to lie; I didn’t have a lot of expectations from my visit to Northern Ireland, but that’s on me for not being aware enough about Northern Ireland. But I was super surprised. I can now say that 3 weeks in the UK are not complete without visiting Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland (especially the city of Derry) may be known for having a long and dark war history that happened not long ago. Some people might even think that the tension is still as strong as it was about 30 years ago.

There are places you should visit to learn more about the war in the 1990s. There are also so many beautiful spots to see. Many are related to the famous Titanic.

Not to mention how adorable and honestly hard-to-understand accents people have. And if you love whiskey or are simply curious, make sure to try traditional Irish whiskey.

If the Potterheads had their day in Scotland and England, Game of Thrones fans would also enjoy a great time in Northern Ireland.

ALSO READ: 3 weeks in Ireland and Northern Ireland itinerary

Best places to explore in Northern Ireland:

• Crumlin Road Gaol Visitor Attraction and Conference Centre – get a self-guided tour
• Titanic Belfast
• Peace Wall Belfast – combine Peacewall and Mural in a tour
• Northern Ireland War Memorial Museum
• SS Nomadic – you can book a guided tour for SS Nomadic and Titanic Experience
• Vertigo Titanic Park
• Wall Mural – join a political taxi tour
• CS Lewis Square
• Game of Thrones – book a day tour that includes Giant Causeway
• From Dublin – there’s a package tour for Giants Causeway, Dark Hedges, and Belfast
• Have fun at Beer Bike tour in Belfast
• Giant’s Causeway – you don’t want to drive there, you can enjoy a luxury coach tour
• Get the hop-on, hop-off bus for Belfast
• National Trust – Divis and the Black Mountain
• Join the Bloody Sunday and Bogside Mural guided tour
• Museum of Free Derry
• Bishop’s Gate, part of the Derry Walls

Accommodations in Northern Ireland:

• Budget hostels (Belfast): Vagabond Hostel or Belfast International Youth Hotel
• Mid-range hotels (Belfast): Tara Lodge or ETAP Hotel
• Luxury hotel (Belfast): Ten Square Hotel or Titanic Hotel

SUMMARY OF 3 WEEKS IN THE UK

The UK has so much to offer every kind of visitor. History lovers, hikers and, nature enthusiasts, even people who want to explore the UK through different dishes – there’s always something for everyone. You can cover all four countries and do so many things during this time.

I hope that you found these 3 weeks in the UK itineraries helpful and that you will have a fun holiday in this region.

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The Perfect 3 weeks Scotland itinerary

• September 8, 2023

Table of Contents

Scotland is a country that is full of natural beauty and history. If you’re looking for an unforgettable adventure, then this Scotland itinerary is perfect for you! This 3-week itinerary will take you to some of the most beautiful and interesting places in Scotland. You’ll get to see everything from rolling hills and lochs to ancient castles and lively cities. Use this Scotland itinerary as a guide or inspiration to craft your own unique exploration of the beautiful country. Planning your Scottish adventure is so much easier with all our tips :)!

How many days do you need to travel through Scotland?

Depending on your plans and how much you want to see, you could need anywhere from three days to 3 weeks or more to travel through Scotland. If you only have a few days, you should focus on one region in order to get the best experience. On the other hand, if you have more time as we had with our 3 weeks you can visit a lot of places in Scotland.

This 3 week in Scotland itinerary is based on our trip that you can use as inspiration for your next vacation.

When you have for example one week you can visit Edinburgh, Skye and the area of Fort William. With two weeks you can extend it with the North Coast 500 or with Caimgorn, Loch Ness, and Loch Lomond. There are so many options to choose from.

How much budget do you need for this Scotland itinerary?

Traveling in Scotland can be expensive but does not have to be. You only need to know how to travel on a budget. Are you planning a trip to Scotland but concerned about the cost? Our article can help! We share our top tips and tricks on how to explore Scotland without breaking your budget. From transportation costs to meals and activities, we cover it all so that you can have an amazing time in this beautiful country for less than expected. £100-150 / $123-185 should be sufficient per day. Curious how? Read it in our article about Scotland trip cost .

Transport Scotland

The best way to get around in Scotland depends on your plans and budget. The best experience for discovering Scotland is by renting a car or motorhome. This will give you flexibility in terms of destinations and travel times.

We traveled through Scotland with a motorhome and loved it. You are flexible and do not have to search for any accommodation which saves a lot of time and hustle. We used IndieCamper and recommend using it. Renting a car can be quite affordable if you book it in advance, we always use Rentalcars to find the best deals.

Alternatively, you can use public transport such as buses and trains are convenient for traveling between major cities but not when traveling to the mainland. If required, you can book transport tickets in advance via this link.

Tip: traveling with a motorhome? Consider utilizing the Camp4night app, a convenient tool for locating both paid and free overnight parking spots.

Scotland road trip

The best way to travel through Scotland is by car or motorhome. You can enjoy the freedom of traveling at your own pace and exploring the country all by yourself.

For anyone looking for an adventure, we suggest driving along the North Coast 500 (NC500). The destinations we recommend are all located on the mainland, so you don’t have to take ferries.

Our suggested destinations are conveniently located on the mainland, so you won’t have to worry about needing ferries to get there.

No matter where you decide to go on your Scotland road trip, you’re guaranteed an unforgettable experience! Check this Scotland itinerary to get an idea of the places you definitely want to see.

Where to stay when traveling through Scotland?

Scotland offers a wide range of accommodation options for travelers, from luxury hotels and B&Bs to youth hostels and campsites. Depending on your budget, you may wish to stay in a city center hotel or look for more affordable options in smaller towns or rural villages. Whether you’re looking for a romantic getaway or an outdoor adventure, there’s something to suit every taste and budget in Scotland.

In our Scotland accommodation article , we share per destination what the best places are to stay. This article is useful to use because in one overview you see all the best options to choose from. So all you have left to do is make a reservation at one of the recommended accommodations.

Scotland Itinerary clockwise or counterclockwise?

When planning your Scotland itinerary, you may be wondering whether to plan it clockwise or counterclockwise. The best option is to go counterclockwise as this will allow you to experience the Highlands at the end of your trip. The Highlands are the most beautiful part of Scotland and when visiting at the beginning the rest will not that be impressive.

The perfect Scotland itinerary 3 weeks

Our Scotland itinerary has a good mix of city life and nature. In three weeks you have the time to explore the whole country in depth, from the beautiful beaches of the north coast to the spectacular mountain scenery of Scotland’s Highlands. Our Scotland trip is planned based on our experience and has a good balance of being active and having time to relax.

We have written an article for each place. Here you can read what you can do and where you can stay. You will also find a map of the destination with all the detailed information. We also share useful tips per destination that will make your travel reservation so much more fun.

The map below outlines our recommended 3-week itinerary for Scotland. Feel free to add or skip parts of the itinerary based on your personal interests and agenda. Click on the top right corner to enlarge the map.

All of the places you will visit are listed below, including how many nights and days you will spend at each location.

You can customize the number of nights and days you stay in each destination to suit your needs. However, we think this travel plan is a great balance between different aspects, such as culture, nature, city life, rural areas, activities and relaxation. This mix allows you to get the most out of your holiday!

Cairngorms National Park

The Cairngorms National Park is a stunning wilderness, located in the heart of Scotland. With its towering mountains, beautiful forests, and breathtaking lochs, it is for sure one of the great places to travel to in Scotland.

Whether you’re looking for an outdoor adventure, culture sightseeing, or simply want to take some time away from the hustle and bustle of city life, the Cairngorms have something for everyone. Be sure to check out our Cairngorms National Park article for more information about this incredible destination.

From Cairngorms National Park you can start the North Coast 500 . If you do not have many days you can skip the North Coast 500 and travel via Loch Ness to the Isle of Skye .

Tip: stay 3 nights | day 1 – 4 | Travel time Edinburgh airport – Cairngorms National Park: 2 hours and 40 minutes.

North Coast 500

The North Coast 500 also called NC500 is Scotland’s answer to the famous Route 66 in the United States — a 500-mile road trip around some of Scotland’s most stunning coastline. This route takes you through some truly breathtaking locations, from iconic castles and picturesque fishing villages to rugged mountains and glittering lochs. With countless activities available along the way, this is an ideal destination for adventurers looking for a unique experience, like hiking in Torridon . If you’re planning a trip to Scotland, make sure you check out the North Coast 500 — you won’t regret it! Don’t forget to read our 5 days North Coast 500 article for more information about this incredible journey.

Tip: stay 5 nights | day 4 – 9 | travel time Cairngorms National Park – start NC500: 40 mins.

Isle of Skye

The Isle of Skye is one of Scotland’s most beautiful and our personal favorite! We loved the rugged coastline, spectacular scenery, and abundance of wildlife, it’s no surprise that the Isle of Skye attracts visitors from all over the world. Whether you’re a keen photographer looking for inspiration or an adventurer seeking out new thrills, the Isle of Skye has something for everyone. With its unique history, delicious seafood, and fascinating ancient sites, this is an island unlike any other. So if you’re planning a trip to Scotland, make sure you add the Isle of Skye to your itinerary — you will love it! Be sure to take a look at our article 2 days in Isle of Skye itinerary for more information about this magical island.

Tip: stay 3 nights | day 9 – 12 | travel time end NC500 – Isle of Skye: 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Fort William

Fort William is a small city located in the Scottish Highlands, renowned for its majestic natural beauty and many outdoor activities. Fort William is a great place to explore the area like hiking the Ben Nevis and visiting the legendary Glenfinnan viaduct . Besides these two activities, there are more great things to discover in Fort William. Check out our Fort William article for more information.

Tip: stay 2 nights | day 12 – 14 | travel time Isle of Skye – Fort William: 2 hours and 20 minutes.

Glen Coe is a stunning area of Scotland’s Highlands, known for its rugged beauty and dramatic scenery. Home to some of the country’s most recognizable landmarks — including the Three Sisters mountains and Lost Valley — a visit here is sure to be unforgettable. The best things to do in Glen Coe are hiking and doing road trips in the area. In our Glen Coe article, we capture all our tips and share unique information to get the most out of your trip.

Tip: stay 2 nights | day 14 – 16 | travel time Fort William – GlenCoe: 30 min.

Loch Lomond

Loch Lomond is one of Scotland’s most famous lochs, located just a short drive from the big cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh. With its crystal-clear waters, spectacular surroundings, and great outdoor activities that you can do, it’s a awesome place to visit. You can hop on a boat to explore the islands or take in the breathtaking views during one of the hikes in the area.

If you’re looking for some exciting things to do in Loch Lomond , look no further than our article! We’ve compiled a list of the best places to explore and things to experience during your stay.

Tip: stay 2 nights | day 16 – 18 | travel time GlenCoe – Loch Lomond: 1 hour 45 minutes.

Finally, no trip to Scotland would be complete without a visit to Edinburgh. Immerse yourself in a city dripping with history and culture! Stroll along the cobblestone streets lined with centuries-old buildings and monuments, yet experience its modern vibrancy at every turn. The atmosphere is one like no other.

Our Edinburgh itinerary will help you make the most of your trip, with tips on where to stay, what to see, and how to experience the city’s distinct culture. Check our itinerary to prepare yourself.

Tip: stay 2 nights | day 18 – 20 | travel time Loch Lomond – Edinburgh: 1 hour and 10 minutes.

More tips for Scotland 3 week itinerary

If you’re looking for more ideas for your 3-week trip to Scotland, here are some tips:

Are there any special tips for traveling in Scotland?

Yes, first of all make sure you plan your budget using our Scotland trip costs article. In addition, you should always take warm and waterproof clothing with you, as the weather can change quickly in Scotland.

Tip: interested in exploring the stunning world of hiking? Dive into our beginner’s guide to hiking ! Click here to discover essential tips, gear recommendations, and beginner-friendly trails to embark on your hiking adventures with confidence.

What tips do you have for making the most of my trip to Scotland?

Make sure to book accommodations in advance, by using our Scotland accommodation article , this will help you get the best deals. Use comfortable walking shoes. Spend at least one evening in an Inn (pub) where you can enjoy traditional Scottish dishes. And ask locals for advice – they know the area better than anyone else!

What type of food should I expect to eat while traveling in Scotland?

You can expect to eat a variety of traditional Scottish dishes while traveling in Scotland, such as:

• Haggis – a traditional dish made with sheep’s offal, oatmeal, and spices.
• Scotch pies – a savory pastry filled with minced meat.
• Cullen skink – a thick soup traditionally made with smoked haddock, potatoes, and onions.
• Shortbread – buttery cookies traditionally eaten during the holidays.
• Fish and chips – deep-fried fish with fries served in paper cones.

What type of climate can I expect during my trip to Scotland?

Scotland has a temperate climate, meaning it is generally mild. You can expect to experience warm summers, cool springs, and cold winters. Rainfall is common throughout the year but snow is usually short-lived and not very heavy.

Safety when traveling for 3 weeks in Scotland

Your safety is always the most important thing when you are traveling. Scotland is a safe country to travel to, but you should still be careful. Do not show expensive things in public and make use of certificated tours. Also, make sure to always carry a copy of your passport.

Travel insurance

World Nomads travel insurance policies offer coverage for more than 150 activities. Get a quote, make a claim, or buy or extend your policy while on the road.

Travel Guide Scotland

If you want to go to Scotland, it is a good idea to read our Scotland travel guide . This will give you some helpful information about the best time of year to visit, what the most popular cities are, and other tips.

What do you think of our Scotland itinerary ? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Disclaimer: the prices mentioned in this article may differ from the current situation. We regularly update our articles. Would you like to help us to provide to best possible insights to help other travelers leave a comment with the latest information. Thanks!

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Hello, we are Cynthia & Alexander, the team behind Travel Your Memories! Traveling is our passion. When it comes to exploration, we love sharing our tips and adventures to inspire you. Welcome to Travel Your Memories, where we share our love for travel with you! Read our story .

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The Northern Lights viewed from Oban

© VisitScotland / Oban and Lorn Tourism Alliance / Sheila McIntyre

The Ultimate Scotland Itinerary

Venture across Scotland, exploring some of the most popular attractions and locations in this 14 day Ultimate Scotland Itinerary.

From the well-known scenic landscapes, famed attractions, iconic monuments, and breathtaking locations that have made cameo appearances in TV and Films - Scotland is a must-visit destination. Come and uncover the best of Scotland, which will leave you in awe and itching to come back to explore everything else on the map.

• Distance 548 Miles 877 km
• Transport Bus
• Main theme Sightseeing

Day 1 Edinburgh

Where better to start off your journey than in the Scottish capital?  Edinburgh  is one of Scotland's much loved cities and is home to world-renowned summer festivals, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as bags of  history  to uncover.

Explore historic monuments, lovely green spaces, top-class dining experiences, fantastic shopping locations and much more in all the nooks and crannies across the city.

Edinburgh Castle Edinburgh - City Centre

Edinburgh Castle in the sunshine

Time your visit just right so you're there to witness the firing of the famous One o'Clock Gun. 

Just walking up the esplanade on approach, you know you're about to step into one of Scotland's most special historic buildings. Take in the views across the city and learn about the dramatic events which have played out between these ancient walls as you explore great halls, royal chambers, monuments and dungeons. To avoid disappointment, make sure to book your tickets far in advance for guaranteed entry.

• On Public Transport Route
• Accessible Parking Or Drop-off Point
• Level Access
• Cafe or Restaurant

Arthur's Seat Edinburgh - City Centre

Salisbury Crags by Arthur's Seat

Why not take a picnic to enjoy whilst you soak up the views of the city from the top of Arthur's Seat?

Probably not many city getaways involve climbing an extinct volcano, but we think the more adventurous of you are going to love it, especially on a clear day! Head to Holyrood Park, located near the bottom of the Royal Mile, and take in the best views of the city from the top of Arthur's Seat. You'll get incredible panoramas over Edinburgh and beyond, across the Firth of Forth to the majestic Kingdom of Fife.

Calton Hill Edinburgh

Scottish National Monument.

© Kenny Lam, VisitScotland. All rights reserved.

The short walk up Calton Hill is a great place to begin and get your bearings. The whole city can be admired in all directions from the top of this hill, including key landmarks - Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh Castle and the Three Bridges. There are views across the Firth of Forth in one direction and the Pentland Hills in the other. The good news is, it's a really quick wander, so you can have the rest of the day to explore the city.

Day 2 Scottish Borders and Dumfries & Galloway

Journey southwards from Edinburgh to the glorious  Scottish Borders  and picturesque  Dumfries & Galloway . From the rolling hills and moorlands that inspired Sir Walter Scott, to the friendly towns and glorious green countryside of Dumfries & Galloway - there are miles upon miles of  landscapes  in  southern Scotland  to explore.

Melrose Abbey Melrose

Melrose Abbey

We're very lucky to share with you wonderful stories of Scotland's historic past, and Melrose Abbey is no exception. Originally founded by David I in 1136 for the Cistercian Order, the abbey is believed to be the final resting place of Robert the Bruce's heart. Although largely destroyed by Richard II's English army in 1385, you can take an audio tour around the site and see its striking architectural details up close. A few significant features to spot include hobgoblins, cooks with ladles and even a bagpipe playing pig. The question is, can you find them all?

Why visit one Borders abbey when you can visit another three, you're on holiday after all! Discover the magnificent ruined abbeys of Dryburgh, Jedburgh and Kelso along  The Borders Abbeys Way . This 103 km walk takes you on a colourful journey through history dating back to the 12th century. Admire the picturesque scenery as you stop off to explore the pretty towns and villages or if you're looking to catch a bite, head to the River Tweed and River Teviot for a bit of morning fishing.

Caerlaverock Castle Glencaple

Caerlaverock Castle

Surrounded by its own moat and built in an unusual triangular shape, kids and adults alike will have a blast exploring the ruins of Caerlaverock Castle. There are multiple levels within the castle to explore as well as a short nature walk through the woods to the site of the old castle.

Day 3 Glasgow

The day starts bright and early as you travel north west to the cultural hub of  Glasgow . Here you can explore a whole host of attractions and gems that capture the true personality of the city.

Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum Glasgow West End

Exterior of the Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery

© VisitScotland / Kenny Lam

Glasgow's trendy West End is home to Kelvingrove, a free museum packed with over 8,000 intriguing objects and artefacts. The museum houses an extraordinary collection of art, from the Dutch Old Masters and the French Impressionists, to perhaps its most famous piece, Christ of St John of the Cross by Salvador Dali.

• Hearing Loop
• Accessible toilets

Riverside Museum and Tall Ship Glasgow City Centre

Riverside Museum

The Riverside Museum is a visual feast - the building itself is one of the most striking modern buildings in Scotland. Inside, the museum houses all kinds of exhibits related to transport. Vehicles, bikes, and locomotives dating from different periods can be found. In addition, you can also explore the Clyde-built Tall Ship, which is berthed alongside the museum.

Day 4 Falkirk

Up next is  Falkirk . Head north east from Glasgow to experience outstanding attractions, modern wonders, and historical treasures, as well as great shopping centres, award-winning boutiques,  restaurants  and more. Nearby, don't miss The Kelpies , the largest pair of equine sculptures in the world.

The Falkirk Wheel Falkirk

The Falkirk Wheel

The Forth & Clyde and Union canals are linked together by The Falkirk Wheel, an impressive piece of engineering, which opened in 2002. Learn about and ride a canal boat on the world’s only rotating boat lift and enjoy activities by the canal, such as cycling, walking, canoeing, segway rides and playing in the water park. You can hire canoes, bikes and electric boats, so there’s no excuse for not taking to the water! Here you’ll also find a walk to see the remains of the Antonine Wall, which was created from earthen mounds in Roman times.

• Pets Welcome

Stirling Castle Stirling

Stirling Castle

Stirling Castle is one of Scotland's most historically important sites and was once a favoured residence of the Stewart kings and queens who held grand celebrations at the castle. Meticulously restored, today you can meet costumed characters in the roles of bodyguards, court officials, maids of honour and servants who will bring the world of Scotland's 16th century court to life.

Day 5 Stirling

Stay in the area a while longer and explore the gems of  Stirling . It's a wee city with a big history, fascinating attractions and spectacular scenery to enjoy. Don't forget to explore the many places to shop, eat and drink as well as experience lively events throughout the year.

National Wallace Monument Stirling

The National Wallace Monument

An outstanding landmark and one of Stirling’s most striking visits - commemorating the life of Sir William Wallace.

Bannockburn Stirling

Robert the Bruce Statue at the Battle of Bannockburn Visitor Centre

The Battle of Bannockburn changed Scotland's history forever in 1314. Scotland's great warrior king, Robert the Bruce, led Scotland to victory against King Edward II and the English army. The visitor experience puts you at the heart of the action with cutting-edge 3D technology.

Day 6 Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park

This extraordinary national park is home to wild scenery, thrilling history and superb local  food and drink .  Loch Lomond  is one of our most beautiful and iconic locations that has inspired love songs, as well as tales and stories throughout the years. At the heart of the park you can find Loch Lomond itself.

Did you know, the park is home to 21 Munros, 19 Corbetts and 22 large lochs?

Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Loch Lomond & The Trossachs

Loch Katrine

Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park is a hiker's paradise, with stunning vistas in every direction. Lace up your boots and explore the  Luss Heritage Trail , a lovely short walk around a quaint loch-side village. Or, why not spend another day here and challenge yourself to something a little more strenuous? The most southerly Munro  Ben Lomond ,  Ben A'an , and  The Cobbler  are all rewarding climbs nearby.

Inveraray Castle Inveraray

A view of the Castle from the South-West.

Feel like you're in a fairytale and visit one of Scotland's most romantic castles. Visitors will be able to view historic pieces of armoury, a fine collection of china, silver, tapestries and much more. If you fancy staying longer, the expansive estate offers first-class holiday accommodation to help you get a good night's rest.

Day 7 Fort William

Start your day bright and early with a scenic journey northwards to  Fort William . Here you can conquer  Munros , taste some of the finest Scotch  whisky , enjoy loch-side wanders, take a trip aboard the steam train that took Harry Potter to Hogwarts and much more.

Ben Nevis Fort William

The River Lochy with Ben Nevis

You’ve arrived at Fort William, part of the ‘Outdoor Capital of the UK’, so it’s time to get active! Keen hillwalkers will relish the challenge of scaling Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Scotland, which stands at 4,406 ft (1,343 m). Make sure to visit  Walk Highlands  for detailed maps, difficulty levels and walking advice before you climb.

Day 8 Glenfinnan

From Fort William, make your way along to  Glenfinnan  at the head of Loch Shiel to see stunning scenery and experience the magical atmosphere for yourself. Here you can see the magnificent Glenfinnan Viaduct up close, which also transports the famous  Jacobite Steam Train  from Fort William to Mallaig. Glenfinnan has also been the scenic backdrop for many scenes in the famous  Harry Potter  films and you can even hop aboard the real Hogwarts Express that was used in the films for an atmospheric journey across the viaduct.

Glenfinnan Monument Glenfinnan

Glenfinnan Monument & Visitor Centre

While you’re here, make sure to snap some pictures of the nearby Glenfinnan Viaduct – it’s a famous filming location from the  Harry Potter  movies.

Stretch your legs and breathe in fresh Highland air as you visit the Glenfinnan Monument on the banks of Loch Shiel. Bonnie Prince Charlie raised the Jacobite flag here in August 1745 (beginning the final Jacobite Rising), after arriving on the mainland from the  Outer Hebrides .

Climb the monument for views out across Loch Shiel and pop into the visitor centre to learn more about the 1745 Rising.

Day 9 Loch Ness

Shrouded in mystery, myths and legends,  Loch Ness  is home to the famed creature that is the Loch Ness Monster. The loch is the UK's largest body of water and is around 700 ft. deep, so finding Nessie herself may take a while. Loch Ness is the perfect place for quiet, scenic walks, afternoon picnics and taking in the natural beauty around you.

Urquhart Castle Loch Ness

Urquhart Castle viewed from Loch Ness

St Columba is said to have worked miracles here in the sixth century.

The magnificent Urquhart Castle is located on the banks of the famous Loch Ness. Stand and soak in a thousand years of history - it has witnessed some of the most dramatic chapters in Scotland's past where clan rivalries saw bloody raids carried out in the 15th and 16th centuries. You might even witness a historic event yourself, should you spot the elusive Nessie, Loch Ness's most famous resident.

The Loch Ness Centre Drumnadrochit

View of Loch Ness from Urquhart Castle

In Drumnadrochit, find out more about the legends of Nessie, all the sightings - real or not - and find out where the stories and tales stemmed from all those years ago, at the Loch Ness Centre.

Stay in one of the local cottages, B&Bs or hostels and complete your stay by enjoying some delicious local food, and even try a dram or pint of some traditional Scottish drinks.

Day 10 Sutherland

It's an early start as you set off to Sutherland, near Lairg, for spectacular, sweeping landscapes, fantastic attractions, stunning  gardens , scenic views, and traditional Scottish  wildlife  in every corner. 

Dunrobin Castle Golspie

Dunrobin Castle

© VisitScotland / Paul Tomkins

Dunrobin Castle is also one of Britain's oldest continuously inhabited houses dating back to the early 1300s, and was home to the Earls and, later, the Dukes of Sutherland. 

The magnificent Dunrobin Castle is the largest house in the Highlands. Crowned with a myriad of fairytale towers and turrets, Dunrobin is unique for resembling a vast French château rather than the baronial stronghold typical of the Highlands. It has a whopping 189 rooms, making it one of the biggest homes in the country.

Its lavishly furnished interior, sprawling formal gardens, and grounds which stretch as far as the sea, are nothing short of breathtaking. It's even said to have a ghost...

Aviemore Aviemore

Cairngorm Lodge Youth Hostel

© Hostelling Scotland

Spend time in the picturesque town of Aviemore set in the north west corner of the park. Surrounded by spellbinding scenery, it makes an excellent base for exploring the park and offers easy access to an incredible range of outdoor activities. Nearby is the  Highland Wildlife Park  where you can get tantalisingly close to Scotland’s rarest indigenous species including the Scottish wildcat and elusive capercaillie. 

Day 11 Cairngorms National Park

The  Cairngorms National Park  is a haven for wildlife, dense woodland, picturesque lochs and miles upon miles of forest trails to explore. Twice the size of the Lake District, this national park has more mountains, forest paths, rivers, lochs, wildlife hotspots, friendly villages, and distilleries than you can possibly imagine.

Did you know that the Cairngorms is where the majority of Scotland's wildcats call home? So make sure you keep your eyes peeled!

Day 12 Aberdeen

Aberdeen  is shrouded in fascinating history, boasts streets lined with astounding architecture, all while featuring a picturesque coastline and harbour. Explore rolling hills, open farmland and towering mountains in the splendour of  Aberdeenshire .

Balmoral Castle Ballater

Balmoral Castle

You'll recognise this iconic castle which featured in the Oscar-winning film  The Queen , a 2006 portrayal of HM The Queen, Elizabeth II.

Royal Deeside is home to the famous Balmoral Castle, a firm favourite with the Royal Family. The estate has been in the family since 1848, after it was purchased by Queen Victoria. Enjoy a stroll around castle gardens, visit the ballroom and special exhibitions or relax with a drink in the coffee and gift shop.

Day 13 Perth

Head south to the wonderful city of  Perth . Here you can explore fabulous city gems, glorious parks and green spaces, historically-significant attractions and much more, all with bustling markets and quirky shops to browse too.

Scone Palace Perth

Scone Palace, Scottish Visitor Attraction, Historic House, Palace, Castle

© Scone Palace

Scone Palace was the crowning place of Scottish kings where Macbeth, Robert the Bruce and Charles II were once crowned.

Scone breathes history like nowhere else in Scotland. It is the family home of the Earls of Mansfield and the ancient crowning place of Scottish kings on the stone of Scone. See where the Stone of Scone, known as the Stone of Destiny, once stood at Moot Hill. It now resides at the new Perth Museum .

Day 14 Dundee & Fife

The east of Scotland is a gem in itself, featuring picturesque coastline trails, world-renowned city hotspots, scenic hills and glens to explore and much more. Get ready to uncover the unique city of  Dundee  and the glorious region of  Fife  in the final stop of your tour.

RRS Discovery Dundee City

Purple sunset over Discovery Point and RRS Discovery in Dundee. Reflection of RRS Discovery on the water.

Hop on board the ship which has travelled to the ends of the earth and back! Captain Scott and his hardy crew reached the then undiscovered polar region of Antarctica in the early 1900s in one of the most significant expeditions to have ever been undertaken. Wander through the ship, see objects that belonged to Scott and his men, and discover their brave tales of seafaring and difficulties in the Antarctic. At this family attraction, there's plenty of engaging things to see and do that kids will really enjoy.

St Andrews Cathedral St Andrews

St Andrews Cathedral

A ‘must-see’ for any visitor, explore the remains of St Andrews Cathedral, which was once the largest church in Scotland. The cathedral’s museum houses an outstanding collection of medieval sculptures and relics which were found on the site. Make sure to climb St Rule’s Tower, which dates from the 12th century, to see amazing views across St Andrews and Fife.

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Scotland Road Trip: The ONLY itinerary you need (29 unmissable places)

Planning a Scotland road trip? Trying to figure out where to go and what to do during your visit? Here are the best Scotland itinerary ideas for variety of durations, including long weekends, 4-5 days, 7-10 days and 14+ days, although you can mix, match or extend as you wish!

Don’t forget to grab your free guide to the best places to see on a Scotland road trip below- to help you plan your perfect road trip.

*We work hard to make this the best motorhome travel blog and road trip website possible, full of helpful content for you. The website is supported by our readers, so if you buy through links on this site we may earn a commission- at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain our own .

If you find this post useful, you can also treat us to a coffee – we promise to enjoy it while creating more useful content like this- we might even indulge in a biscuit (or two!)

JUMP AHEAD TO...

Scotland Road Trip- why visit?

Put simply- Scotland is just magical.

It’s one of those incredible places where you turn corner after corner and each is more breathtaking than the last! (Exactly the same as  Norway ) .

You can expect to say ‘wow’ a lot and stop frequently to take a million photos of the scenery. And the Highland cows. And sheep.

Did I mention the scenery?

The problem is there is SO MUCH to see.

Planning a Scotland road trip can be DAUNTING. Trying to squeeze a visit to a country into just a few days is tough, but it IS possible to plan a Scotland travel itinerary with the best places to visit, as well as some places off the ‘beaten track’.

In this post, we’ll show you the best scenic routes & driving roads in Scotland , lochs, castles, towns you definitely should visit, plus how to visit the Scottish Highlands .

Whether you’re touring Scotland by car on a self-drive holiday, motorhoming or campervanning in Scotland or exploring by motorbike (or any other vehicle!), our map of our Scotland road trip will help you plan your own adventure.

How to plan a Scotland Road Trip

So, how DO you narrow down all the ‘must-visit’ places into a reasonable itinerary, especially if you only have a few days for your Scottish road trip? 

Do you focus on visiting beautiful cities like Edinburgh, seeing the history of Scotland, like Culloden, visiting HARRY POTTER sites , hiking in the Highlands, driving the North Coast 500 ? Or a bit of everything??

In this blog post of Scotland Itinerary ideas , we’ve included a bit of everything to allow you to create your perfect Scottish Road Trip and make the most of your time in this beautiful country.  

The Wandering Bird Scotland Road Trip Planner

Feel overwhelmed? Wish someone could do all the hard work for you?

You’re in luck!

If you want to enjoy a Scotland road trip without the weeks of planning and struggling to figure out where to visit first, consider using our Scotland Road Trip Planner.

Planning a trip to Scotland?

We’ve done the hard work for you!

Grab our complete Scotland travel planner and get:

• 80+ ideas for places to visit
• Maps and itinerary suggestions
• Routes and things to see along the way
• Tips, customs and much much more!

Complied after years of experience touring and exploring Scotland, it contains all the best things to see and do, plus everything you need for incredible Scottish road trips for years to come.

It helps you compile a day-day plan for your trip, removing the stress whilst leaving you plenty of time to enjoy yourself, both before and during your trip!

Where should I go on a road trip in Scotland?

As you’ll see below, there are many (many!) beautiful places to visit in Scotland.

Your exact itinerary will be created from the things you enjoy. We plan our UK road trip itineraries like this and it’s not let us down yet!

For us, we prefer to stay away from big cities when we’re travelling in our motorhome and instead focus on areas like national parks, nature reserves, mountains, waterfalls… you get the idea.

‘Scenic Scotland’ does not disappoint- we’ve seen some of the most breathtaking places on our trips to Scotland, which I share with you in this itinerary.

Having said that, Edinburgh is an incredible city and well worth visiting if you can. So are several others. So don’t write off all towns and cities on your Scotland Road Trip itinerary just yet!

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What is the best road trip in Scotland?

The ‘best road trip in Scotland’ is going to be subjective based on what you enjoy and also what the weather is like!

Certainly, the most famous road trip in Scotland is now the NC500 (North Coast 500 route), which is 516 miles of pure magic around the north of Scotland.

I’ve driven the NC500 in my motorhome and it was fantastic- highly highly recommend it (although NOT in the school holidays as it gets very crowded.)

The NC500 also includes John o’Groats, which has to be one of the most famous points in Scotland. The 10 day Scotland road trip itinerary we’ve included below also includes this landmark.

However, there are several incredibly scenic roads in Scotland which we highly recommend you explore- some of them are perfect for just a few days, while some require a little more time to drive.

How long does it take to road trip Scotland?

Oh, that’s an open question! How long do you have?

Whether you have a weekend, 5 days, 7-10 days or longer, you can absolutely fill your time. I know people who’ve spent 3 months exploring the Scottish Highlands and STILL didn’t see everything they wanted to.

The Scotland road trip itinerary below took us 10 days, but there are some bits you can miss if you only have 7 days for your trip. See our alternative 7-10 day North Coast 500 itinerary here.

Likewise, if you have longer, you can either travel more scenic routes around Scotland (especially on the Highlands tourist route), see more incredible places,  do some more tours around Scotland, taste more whisky or just take your time and linger a while over your favourite places.

When I drove the North Coast 500, I took just under 14 days to do most of the loop. This was just the part in Scotland- it also took me a week to get up there!

TOP TIP for Scotland Road Trips: Be sure not to plan too much into your itinerary, as many of the roads are narrow and slower and you won’t be able to travel as far or as fast as you might expect.

How to travel around Scotland?

Scotland is very well connected to the rest of the UK; at least, the lowlands are. You can easily reach Glasgow and Edinburgh by road, train or air.

If you’re hiring a rental car or renting a motorhome , these are the two cities to aim for as there is so much choice.

Want to rent a vehicle for your road trip?

These might help:

• Discover incredible deals for motorhome/ camper rentals
• Find the best deals for car rental

READ: 10 essential questions to ask before you rent a motorhome

Of course, if you’re driving your own vehicle up via England, there are plenty of motorways near the border, so it’s easy to travel around.

Of course, you can use public transport or even a guided tour if you prefer not to drive yourself, but for the purposes of this blog post, we’ll assume you have your own vehicle.

When is the best time to visit Scotland?

If you want to road trip Scotland and would like to increased your chances of enjoying good weather, then the best time to go is either late Spring/ early Summer (May or June) or in early Autumn (September/ October).

This way, you avoid the high crowds AND the midges, which are mostly around in July and August.  

I did my NC500 tour in September/ October and the roads were fairly quiet, I had some fantastic weather (plus a couple of storms) and there were only a few patches with really bad midges. All in all, Autumn is usually a wonderful time for a Scottish adventure!

Want some more ideas for places to see in Autumn? Here are 27 of the best places to experience Autumn in Europe .

Scotland Road Trip Map and Itinerary

The map below shows our 10-day driving route for our tour of Scotland.

We travelled from the Isle of Skye to John o’Groats using the main driving roads (which are quicker), but otherwise, we tried to take scenic roads where possible (although that’s not always easy in a Motorhome!)

Because we only had 10 days, our itinerary missed out the beautiful west coast of Scotland. If you have extra time, I highly recommend doing this coastline (part of the NC500 route) as it contains some of the prettiest views in Scotland.

Our Scotland Itinerary is around 800 miles (1300km), with around 23 hours of actual driving over a 10 day trip.

The map starts on the west coast of Scotland, but, of course, you can do the drive in reverse if you prefer. 

Our Scotland Itinerary planner:

Scotland itinerary ideas- day one.

Start your Scotland tour in either Edinburgh or Glasgow. Of the two, I much prefer Edinburgh…

(That sound you hear is me being skinned alive… one of my best friends comes from Glasgow. Sorry hon xx) 

Edinburgh is the perfect city to dip in and out of. There’s always something going on.

If you’re looking for a relaxing long weekend in the UK, you could fly up to Edinburgh. Similarly, if you only have 3 or 4 days in Scotland, it’s a wonderful start to get a taste of the country.

Don’t miss visiting Edinburgh Castle, which has spectacular views over the rest of the city and Arthur’s Seat.

I also recommend a visit to George Street (grab a cocktail from the Dome) and enjoy the atmosphere, especially around Christamas.

Rose Street and Cockburn Street have wonderful independent boutiques where you can find great gifts (for others or yourself!)

Driving in Edinburgh

Before we go any further… DO NOT DRIVE YOUR MOTORHOME INTO THE MIDDLE OF EDINBURGH.

No. Really.

Let me repeat that so it sinks in.

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR MOTORHOME INTO THE MIDDLE OF EDINBURGH!!! 

We tried it. With a Motorbike trailer on the back.

It did not go well. There are NO Motorhome parking spaces near the City Centre. And the streets are narrow and not designed for lorries, let alone Motorhomes!

We stopped in Edinburgh for a few hours and, honestly, the only thing we did was see Edinburgh Castle- which is beautiful but left us wanting more. I was gutted as I’d already planned a self-guided Harry Potter tour of Edinburgh – yes, really. 

We’re already planning a trip back up sometime… just not with the motorhome!! But from what we saw, there are at least 3 days worth of activities in Edinburgh if you have the time.

If you enjoy food- you’re in for a real treat- Edinburgh has some FANTASTIC eating places. Here are 10 vegan-friendly restaurants in Edinburgh for everyone to enjoy.

Where to stay

There are plenty of places to stay in Edinburgh. If you’re in a motorhome, stay outside the city and get public transport in. I recommend the Edinburgh Caravan and Motorhome club site.

If you’re driving a car, book a hotel with parking, as it can be difficult to find in the city centre. The Sheraton Grand Hotel, which has rooms overlooking Edinburgh Castle, is a brilliant option if you want to treat yourself.

There is PLENTY of things to see and do in Glasgow and you can easily spend a couple of days enjoying the city before you set off on your driving holiday.

TOP TIP – If you’re not from the UK and you don’t really understand football (soccer!), don’t mention football in Glasgow.

The rivalry between Celtic and Rangers fans (both clubs are based in Glasgow) is HUGE and openly supporting the wrong one could end in tears- for you.  Different pubs support different teams and it frequently gets… heated!!

Scotland Road Trip DAY 2- LOCH LOMOND and the Trossachs National Park

Loch Lomond National Park

Ok, now that you’ve enjoyed a couple of days in Glasgow or Edinburgh, let’s head up into the ‘real’ Scotland. Loch Lomond is one of my favourite spots,  and is definitely one of the must-visit places in Scotland.

Loch Lomond is actually part of the Trossachs National Park, which has 22 lochs! Loch Lomond is the biggest. You can kayak, paddleboard, canoe and even hire jet-skis in the summer. There are 30 islands on Loch Lomond alone to explore- plenty to keep you occupied if you want to stay for a few days.

The loch is absolutely breathtaking, especially if you’re lucky enough to see it on a sunny day.

Don’t believe me? See it for yourself:

WATCH VIDEO of us at Loch Lomond (and seeing the Harry Potter sites!)

Motorhome Tour Scotland - Wild Camping - Family tours Europe in a Motorhome

Wild camping in scotland.

Wild Camping is regulated within the Trossachs National Park, so be careful where you park up for the night if you’re in a camper. You need to have a permit between March and September and can only stay in approved areas.

Find out more about wild camping in Scotland here

Road Trip Scotland DAY 3- Oban and Fort William

If you have time while you’re touring Scotland, detour to Oban . I LOVE this town- it has the prettiest harbour and in Summer you can do a ferry tour out to some of the islands- well worth the trip on a calm day.

We stayed here in a log cabin a few years ago (before we got our motorhome) and the views were spectacular- especially at night.

I remember standing outside our log cabin and gazing up at the stars in absolute amazement- they were so bright and clear. Magical.

Another detour worth the effort is to Devil’s Pulpit – a hidden waterfall between the rocks. Full directions can be found here .

Fort William is known as ‘the gateway to Ben Nevis’ , which is the UK’s highest peak. It’s also close to Steall Falls – the second highest waterfall in Scotland at 120m and the waterfall in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, in case you’re wondering!! (Check out these other beautiful waterfalls in Europe)

Getting there is about a 2.5 miles walk and takes about 1.5-2 hours depending on how often you stop. It’s suitable for kids, as you can read here.

Scotland Itinerary DAY 4- Harry Potter Time!

Scotland is full of places used in the Harry Potter films. We visited a few of them, all on the way to Mallaig (where the ferry is for the Isle of Skye. In one day we saw:

Glenfinnan Viaduct

This is the viaduct made famous in the Harry Potter films. You can walk right up to the base of it.

You can also ride on the Jacobite Steam train, which is the one used for the film and which goes straight over the viaduct! The train goes from Fort William to Mallaig and does get booked up well in advance, so be sure to book early!

We got our favourite travel drone out and took some amazing shots of the viaduct and Loch Sheil, as you can see in the video above.

This is the loch used as Hogwarts Lake, along with Loch Morar. This is where Buckbeak dips a happy toe (claw?) in the waters in Prisoner of Azkaban.

We parked in the visitor centre on the shores of Loch Shiel, which also allowed a walk up the slope for incredible views of the viaduct, even in the rain!

Dumbledore’s Grave

Loch Eilt, along the same road as the viaduct and Loch Shiel, is where the little island of Eilean na Mòine lies, which played the starring role as the site of Dumbledore’s Grave.

We sent the drone up to get a picture of this beautiful island… but alas, Mr WB is NOT a die-hard Harry Potter fan (boo!) and therefore had no idea which island he was meant to be filming. Bless him, at least he tried!

It’s about an hour drive from the western end of Loch Ness to Mallaig, which is where the ferry to Skye goes from. You can also drive over the bridge to the Skye- but it’s much further north.

Scotland Road Trip Itinerary DAY 5 & 6- Isle of Skye

Search “Isle of Skye” on Google and you’ll get pages and pages of blog posts and itineraries, all waxing lyrical about the beauty of Skye. And they’re right- it is beautiful. And there is loads to see and do.

As long as it’s not raining!!

Our Isle of Skye itinerary contains things to do in the sunshine, but also things to do in the rain- as it rained for 48 hours when we visited!

We are not ‘hike whatever the weather’ people and we really don’t enjoy getting sopping wet climbing a mountain when there’s no view anyway, so you might find that itinerary useful if the weather is looking… unpleasant. 

Having said that, Skye is beautiful and well worth a trip if you’re touring the west coast of Scotland. 

Driving Scotland Day 7- Eilean Donan Castle, Loch Ness and up to Thurso

Eilean Donan

This was one of our longest driving days- about 5 hours and 350km. Leave Skye and head up towards Thurso, stopping at the incredible Eilean Donan Castle on the way.

We didn’t go inside, as we knew we had a long day ahead of us, but it’s beautiful from the outside. There’s also a little cafe at the carpark here which does a great coffee!

DECISION TIME

At Eilean Donan, you need to make a decision. Do you keep driving up to Loch Ness, or start on the NC500 route ? If you’re going up the western coast, this is where you turn off and start the slower (but probably prettier) roads. If you don’t have the extra time, stick to the faster roads via Loch Ness.

Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle

You can’t come to Scotland and not stop to search for the Loch Ness monster-especially if you have young children.

Loch Ness village itself is VERY touristy. It’s ok for young kids, but it’s pretty expensive, so if you’re on a budget you might want to keep driving and stop at one of the many laybys alongside the loch.

You can also visit Urquhart castle , which are impressive ruins along the shore of Loch Ness. There is parking here, but it can be limited for Motorhomes, so be prepared to have to park some distance away in high season.

Alternatively, why not treat yourself to a boat trip on Loch Ness and be taken there in style!!

Driving Tips for Scotland

Be aware of your fuel levels on this part of the trip- we passed very few fuel stations.

We did debate going all around the western edge and completing the NC500 (there are some beautiful campsites on the North Coast 500 ), but we only had 10 days for touring Scotland, so we decided to cut across to save time, plus see Loch Ness and to escape the rain!

We used the A87, which passes down the side of Loch Clunie, a hydroelectric dam. It’s a beautiful place for a picnic if the weather is pleasant.

If you have time, Inverness is definitely worth a visit. Again, we made a compromise and chose to visit Orkney instead- we’ll get to that shortly!

Highlands Road Trip Day 8 – John o’Groats and Duncansby Stacks

John o’Groats

John o’Groats is one of those places which is a bit tacky but you need to go just to tick it off the list!

It was great to make it and see the famous post, but the place is a little underwhelming! There are a few tourist shops, a harbour and a snack shack- that’s about it!

We waited for the John o’Groats post to be empty so we could take photos with our motorbikes… and then we felt a little lost.

That’s the weirdest thing about travelling- when you finally get to your destination, it can sometimes feel a little hollow. But we were blessed with INCREDIBLE weather at John o’Groats- definitely made up for the misery of Skye!

Duncansby Stacks

Whilst we were at John o’Groats, we saw a postcard of the Duncansby stacks, which were apparently just down the road! We’d never heard of them before, but they looked pretty, so we decided to pay them a visit.

They’re a little tricky to find but well worth the effort! Basically, head for Duncansby lighthouse and park right next to the lighthouse. Then walk (with the lighthouse on your left) over the field and keep going- you’ll see them from the bottom of that field. PLEASE be careful with kids and dogs… it’s a sheer cliff and a long drop.

Here’s the first EVER video where we flew our drone over the sea… the views of the shoreline and the rocks are incredible.

NC500 - SCOTLAND road trip - Duncansby Stacks - DJI mavic pro drone

Dunnet head.

We stayed at Dunnet Bay campsite near John o’Groats for a couple of nights, which allowed us to ride our motorbikes and leave the motorhome somewhere safe. If you’re looking for a beautiful spot to stay, we highly recommend this campsite- lovely wardens, great little shop and stunning location right on the beach!! Just look at this view!!

Day 9 – One day trip to Orkney

We didn’t plan to visit Orkney during our Scotland road trip- and we definitely didn’t plan to visit Orkney on our motorbikes.

However, the day after we visited John o’Groats, the weather was still beautiful and we learnt we could get to Orkney by ferry for just the day- so we did! It is a beautiful place, although VERY busy in July and full of tourists.

Still, if you have the time, you should try to add Orkney into your itinerary. If you don’t want to drive, there are guided tours by coach which go all day, so book yourself onto one of them. 

Scotland Road Trip Itinerary Day 10- Dunrobin Castle and Aviemore

Dunrobin Castle

Dunrobin Castle is possibly one of our favourite castles . It’s about a 90-minute drive south from Thurso. It’s the largest castle in the Northern Highlands- and set in the most breathtaking scenery! You can pay to walk the gardens, but we decided to press on and head south before the rain closed in.

Aviemore & The Cairngorms

If you enjoy hiking and national parks, you need to put the Cairngorms onto your bucket list. It’s the largest National Park in the UK and was voted as one of the top 20 places to visit IN THE WORLD by National Geographic.

The park is 4500 square kms and contains a fantastic mixture of mountains, scenic views, castles, whiskey distilleries and outdoor pursuits.

One of the most popular reasons to visit is hiking.  There are multiple trails and walks within the park (you can purchase guidebooks at the tourist offices), or you can just turn up and wander wherever you fancy.

Dog walking is allowed, but the area is full of wildlife, so please be cautious and obey local signage. A word of caution – the weather can change VERY quickly in this area, so please carry appropriate equipment/ clothing.

If hiking isn’t for you, how about another sport? Within the Cairngorms you can enjoy cycling, skiing (in winter), golf, fishing, kayaking, rafting, swimming, windsurfing or gorgewalking. There are several watersports centres in the park and they offer lessons and gear hire.

Aviemore is in the Cairngorms National Park and is Scotland’s winter sports mecca, but there’s plenty to do in the summer too, including a visit to the famous Speyside Distilleries.

Restaurants and shops were open, as were many outdoor activities for all ages. The Aviemore website is a great place to find out more. 

If you’re not wild camping in Scotland in a motorhome or camper, there are plenty of places to stay within the park, including local B & Bs, hotels, hostels, campsites and log cabins.

The Perfect Scotland Itinerary idea

As you’ve seen, this Scotland driving itinerary can be adapted to suit all tastes, vehicles, abilities and durations.

If you’ve only got a few days in Scotland, don’t cram too much in- you’ll get overwhelmed and exhausted.

Conversely, if you’re retired and have no deadline, take your time to really explore the culture and heritage of this wonderful country.

Some things you need to know about Scotland before you go.

• Scotland is part of the UK, so they speak English * I really want to insert a bad Scottish joke here… but I’ll be good! ;)*
• British Pound is the currency. Don’t worry if you get notes saying ‘Bank of Scotland’ instead of Bank of England- they are all Pound Sterling (although some places in England get funny about taking Bank of Scotland notes- there’s no reason for this; it’s perfectly legal tender.) 
• There is another language in Scotland called Gaelic (pronounced GAH-LICK) which is technically the National language, but only 1% of the population speak it. You might see some signs in Gaelic around the country, but there will always be an English version too! (It’s the same in Wales- see our Wales road trip itinerary ideas here )
• Driving in Scotland isn’t any scarier than anywhere else with mountains. They drive on the left, just like the rest of the UK.
• There is no proper border between Scotland and England, so you can explore Scotland from England without taking a passport. We drove right up after our England Road Trip
• Scotland has an amazing law called Right to Roam. It allows you much more freedom to wild camp in your vehicle (with certain restrictions of course.)

Weather in Scotland- is it suitable for a driving holiday?

For us, it rained solidly for 3 days on the west coast- the Isle of Skye was a complete washout, even in July, but up at John o’Groats it was beautiful weather- so we detoured and went up there instead!

My suggestion is to plan your itinerary on Google Maps , and then be as flexible as possible to work around the weather. This is obviously easier if you are touring Scotland in a camper, instead of driving in a car and using hotels, but do the best you can.

The weather in Scotland can change very quickly, so please dress appropriately and take suitable clothing if hiking etc.

What is the best month to visit Scotland?

If you’re driving in Scotland, the best months to visit are April- October. Roads should be free of snow then and the temperature is warm enough to enjoy outdoor activities. Our favourite time to visit Scotland is June or October. (Want more ideas for October travel? Here are 15 of the best places to enjoy Europe in October )

When is peak tourist season in Scotland?

UK school holidays are July and August. I would try to avoid these if you possibly can.

Where is the most beautiful place in Scotland?

There are too many to pick just one and a lot will depend on the weather. Personally, I love Loch Lomond and Glen Coe, Loch Shiel and the Glenfinnan viaduct- but that was because I’m a Harry Potter nerd.

I also love the Cairngorms and the Scottish highlands are always breathtaking- you need to include them on your Scotland road trip!

But some of the most beautiful places on mainland Scotland have to be on the western coast- the beaches are stunning. So are the fairy pools on Skye if you get them on a sunny day.

Don’t forget to grab our free list of 57 best (and secret!) places in Scotland (which includes the pyramid in Scotland!

What is the best way to travel around Scotland?

In my opinion, a road trip holiday is the best way to see Scotland- and by that I mean a self-drive holiday, not a tour. Having your own vehicle allows you to set your own itinerary, plan your visits, pick the best roads in Scotland and generally be more in control.

Having a motorhome or campervan will further increase your flexibility and allow you to choose the scenic route based on weather or interest, not on hotels you’ve booked. 

How far are the Scottish Highlands from Edinburgh?

Did you know there is actually a place called Highland in the Scottish Highlands?? Driving time from Edinburgh to Highland is 3 hours and 15 minutes (157 miles)

How long does it take to drive to Scotland?

Well, this obviously depends on where you’re starting from (!) but driving to Scotland (from London to Edinburgh) takes about 7 and a half hours.

If you’ve been road tripping in Cornwall and want to drive from Lands End to John o’Groats, it will take you about 15 hours non-stop.

How long does it take to tour Scotland?

As long as you have- or as long as you let it!! 🙂 If you are lucky enough to have longer than a couple of weeks to explore Scotland, there are LOADS of places to visit you can add into your itinerary. 

Have you visited Scotland? Where was your favourite place? If you haven’t, where would you like to go first?

How else can I help you today??

Planning a Scotland road trip? You might find these posts useful:

• How to get to Orkney (and what to do when you’re there!)
• The PERFECT Isle of Skye Itinerary
• How to plan the perfect UK road trip
• Scotland- complete Travel Guide

See all our Scotland tips and ideas

See all our UK travel itineraries and tips

Want to save this list for later? Here’s the pin.

Kat never planned to buy a motorhome. She also never planned to quit her job as an air traffic controller, go touring around Europe in said motorhome, start one of the UK’s largest motorhome travel websites… or get a cocker spaniel.

Find out how she went from stuck in the rat race to being a digital nomad and inspiring thousands of people to have their own epic adventures here.

If you’d like to connect with Kat, send her an email or follow her adventures on social media.

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28 comments.

Love love love this itinerary (and all the Harry Potter references). Scottland has been on my list for a while and this post just organizes everything beautifully. Love the pictures! That Isle of Skye does look amazing but I hear you, when it’s raining and miserable outside, just give me a hot bowl of soup or something and a cozy place to sit in and watch the rain… Great itinerary! hope I’ll get to explore Scottland soon.

Hi Maya- thanks for your lovely comments. And yes- having somewhere to hide away is so useful!! That’s why we love touring Scotland by motorhome or camper- you have your own cozy space to relax in. Hope you make it there soon! 🙂

Thanks for sharing an incredible amount of things to do and see in your Scotland driving itinerary. I would really love to get to the Isle of Skye, the Duncansby Stacks and Dunnet Head for those incredible coasts and views. Have added these to my list of “must-dos” for a future driving trip to Scotland!

Yes! Driving tours of Scotland are the best! 🙂 Let me know how it goes

Loved this post. A motorhome/motorbike combo sounds perfect for a trip like this. We keep meaning to go to Scotland (we only live in Manchester ? but never make it – this itinerary might just be the push we need to hire a camper and do it!

I know- we were the same!! It’s almost too close… but totally worth the effort.

Wow that’s a very comprehensive post! I’ve done a similar trip to Scotland so can relate. Thanks for sharing!

This is a wonderful itinerary— especially intrigued by Dunrabie Castle which I’ll aim to see next time I’m in scotland. Even though I don’t ride a motorcycle this itinerary is clearly one to keep.

Hope you get to see it- it’s a beautiful castle. And any form of transport works- car, motorhome, campervan, cycle! 🙂

This is an epic trip! Scotland has been on our list for too long, and this post may just be the thing that finally gets things moving.

Awesome! I hope you make it to Scotland one day 🙂

Wow I had no idea Scotland was this beautiful ! I am doing some Europe travel next year – I’ve never been ! Your pics are amazing ! Valetie

WOW. You have just skyrocketed Scotland up to the top of my bucket list! What a beautiful country and your photos are just divine. I’m now trying to see if I can squeeze it into my 2019 travel plans 🙂

I knew Scotland was gorgeous but WOW is it gorgeous. Sadly I’ve only ever been to Glasgow and Edinburgh (like you I prefer Edinburgh) but haven’t had the opportunity to explore the countryside. But, it’s something I would love very much to do. thank you for such a wonderful guide. I’ll certainly be referencing it when I finally have time to explore.

What would be an expected rental rate for a Motor home for two weeks?

What would be a rental rate for a Motor home for two weeks?

Hi Mike, that will depend on a lot of things, like time of year, destination, group size and driver experience.

So assume I would be there in the Summer months and would be there with a party of two. Little experience with an RV but have been driving for 40 + years. What would be a ball park number to use for the cost of the RV rental for a two week period?

That is easy enough to find on your own. Just search/google for “motor home rentals Scotland”. There are several vendors. Find one that will be near where you are arriving. Then search for the right size, etc, and enter your travel dates. You can easily get quotes.

I recently searched for the larger motor homes that sleep 5-6( or in my case, 4 adults/teens). For one week out of Edinburgh, it was going to run me about 1100 GBP before adding any extras (like insurance, bedding, etc).

I am seriously considering camping through Scotland. It would be one week out of a possible 3 week itinerary. Camping seemed like a great way to experience it.

Brilliant post! We’re off to Scotland in August so have already saved this pin to help us with our planning. Need to watch the Harry Potter films again I think! 🙂 Thanks for sharing Kat.

Fantastic! Have a wonderful time- let me know how it goes!

We drove much of the same itinerary and found Scotland to be more beautiful than any photos we have ever seen. I would like to go back and see more. One highlight of our tour was the Applecross Penninsula. No tourbuses fit onto those roads, so a large motor home would be a bit challenging. Bikers seemed to abound out at the Applecross Inn. We did spend a few days in Edinburgh. It is delightful. I returned for a few days the next year and spent all of my time without a car exploring the city centre. Warning. Parking spots are ridiculously difficult to find near Edinburgh Castle. Also, a mound is not like an ant hill as I thought. A mound is between the height of a hill and a mountain and steep for walking.

Really great Scotland itinerary covering all the highlights. We spent 7 days just covering the North, a kind of adapted NSC500. We had the most glorious weather. We even got sunburnt!! I have to say though, the photos just don’t look as good in bright sunlight! The only day we had a bit of mist and wain was the day we got the best photos. It actually looked like we were in Scotland!!

Thanks for sharing all the tips. We want to go back to continue adding to our Scottish photography portfolio and we’ve now got inspiration for extra places!

really awesome posts about Scotland travel

Thanks so much- glad you enjoyed it.

Brilliant Scotland guide!! If anyone ever gets the chance to pass through Gretna Green then the Famous Blacksmiths Shop is a brilliant stop-off point They’re a 5-star tourist attraction with a museum, shopping and food, plus their own hotels. Really handy to break up a journey if you’re travelling on the M6, especially with family. 🙂

Glad you liked it Lou. And thanks for the tip.

Great post! Thanks for the info, can’t wait to visit 🙂

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Planning A Trip To Scotland – The Ultimate Guide

Now you’re thinking of discovering Scotland – excellent idea! With its rugged landscapes, mystical castles, rich history and friendly people, Scotland is a destination that is attracting more and more travellers. But preparing for your Scottish adventure requires some key information, and our local advisors are here to guide you and answer any questions you may have! Off you go!

When should you leave for Scotland?

Inevitably, this is a question you ask yourself very quickly before booking your holiday… The best time to go to Scotland depends on your preferences:

-If you want to avoid the crowds and enjoy the peaceful countryside, spring and autumn are ideal.

-If you’re looking for cultural excitement and long days, opt for summer.

-If you enjoy winter landscapes and festivities, winter is the season for you.

For more details, read our articles When to go to Scotland and Climate in Scotland.

When should you plan your trip?

Plan ahead! That’s the key word here, because Scotland is a destination with the wind in its sails. Anticipating by booking early is the best way to get the best accommodation, the best rooms, the best rates on activities and to be sure of having availability for car hire.

-For a July or August departure, we recommend booking no later than March and ideally, where possible, from the previous September.

-For a departure in May or June , we recommend booking no later than March and ideally, where possible, as early as January.

-For a departure from January to April or from September to December , it is less important to plan ahead, and booking a month in advance is conceivable (except during the end-of-year festive period).

Should you organise your trip yourself or go through an agency?

It depends on your profile, your desires and your constraints. Here are some of the main reasons to use a local travel agency:

1. You don’t want to miss your trip

A local agency has intrinsic expertise in places, seasonal events and places less frequented by mass tourism. It will be able to guide you to hidden gems that most tourist guides don’t mention.

2. A tailor-made trip that’s just like you

Rather than following a standard itinerary, a local agency will listen to you to understand who you are, what you like and dislike, and what you are looking for in a trip, so as to create a tailor-made trip based on your interests.

3. You want to save time:

Organising a trip can be time-consuming. A local agency takes care of bookings, itineraries and logistics, so you can relax and look forward to your next adventure.

4. Access to exclusive activities/services

Local agencies like ours often have close relationships with hotels, restaurants and activity providers, which can result in exclusive experiences, upgrades or travel benefits.

5. Local assistance:

In the event of a problem, emergency or simply a question, it’s reassuring to know that you have a local contact you can rely on, who speaks the language and knows the particularities of the region.

6. Positive economic impact:

By choosing a local agency, you directly support the country’s economy, creating a more sustainable and responsible form of tourism.

Local agencies are often better informed about local conditions, whether it’s the weather, roads or events. They can therefore guide you safely throughout your trip.

8. Authenticity:

Instead of a standardised experience, a local travel agency immerses you in the heart of Scottish culture, allowing you to experience and feel Scotland authentically.

9. Practical advice:

From recommendations on the best times to visit certain sites, to tips on how to avoid crowds or take advantage of local festivities, a local agency is a mine of practical information.

10. Peace of mind:

Knowing that every detail of your trip has been meticulously planned by a local expert gives you invaluable peace of mind, allowing you to make the most of every moment.

How long should I allow for a trip to Scotland?

You’ve decided on the period of your trip, and now you’re wondering how long you should allow to discover Scotland. Once again, it all depends on what you want to discover. From a few days to several weeks, each duration has its own charm. But in our opinion, a trip worthy of the name requires at least 8 days.

For a quick overview: 3 to 5 days

If you don’t have much time, concentrate on a few highlights. Edinburgh, the capital, deserves at least two days for its iconic sights such as Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile and Arthur’s Seat. Add a day to escape into the countryside and discover the Borders or Loch Lomond and the Trossachs: a very short break, but one that will give you a tantalising glimpse of what Scotland has to offer. Another very interesting option is to head for the Isle of Arran, known for being a condensed version of what Scotland has to offer. Check out our 3 to 5-day tour ideas.

For longer exploration: 7 to 10 days

This length of time allows you to add destinations such as Glasgow, the Isle of Skye, Harris and Lewis, the Cairngorms and, of course, a few whisky distilleries. You’ll have time to experience Scotland in greater depth, visit less touristy sites and soak up the local culture. But that’s not enough to do the whole tour! Check out our ideas for 7- to 10-day tours.

For complete immersion: 2 to 3 weeks

If you’re lucky enough to have two to three weeks, Scotland is yours! In addition to the destinations mentioned above, explore the Orkney Islands, visit the deserted beaches of the Outer Hebrides and take in the rugged beauty of the Cairngorms. You’ll also have time to attend local festivals, discover Scottish cuisine and meet the locals. Check out our ideas for 2 to 3 week tours.

Follow the local rhythm: Scotland is a country where you can relax, take your time, enjoy the scenery and spend time with the locals. Don’t try to see everything, but rather live each experience to the full.

Classic itineraries:

-3 days: Edinburgh or Glasgow, and surrounding areas: Loch Lomond or the Borders region

-8 days: Edinburgh and/or Glasgow, Fort William and the Highlands.

-10 days: Add the Isle of Skye to the 8-day itinerary.

-15 days: Head for the Isle of Skye or Harris and Lewis, or explore the North Coast 500.

-21 days: Explore the Highlands, Orkney, Shetland and the Hebrides in depth.

How much should you budget?

Unless money isn’t an issue for you (which we hope it isn’t), preparing for a trip will require some financial planning. So how much should you budget for a Scottish holiday? Here’s an overview of the costs to anticipate.

Transport :

Plane: Depending on your point of departure and the season, a return flight to Scotland can vary greatly. To get the best rates, book in advance and be flexible about your dates. From Paris to Glasgow or Edinburgh, return flights in low season (October to April) average between £100 and £200. In high season (May to September), a return flight can cost up to £400.

Train: a return train ticket from Paris to Edinburgh will cost you on average between £100 and £400, depending on the season and how far in advance you travel.

Internal transport: If you plan to hire a car, expect to pay between £50 and £100 per day, depending on the type of vehicle. Don’t forget fuel and insurance. Otherwise, the train and bus network is excellent, although fares can rise during the high season.

Accommodation :

Youth hostels: Around £20 to £30 per night in a dormitory.

Comfortable Bed & Breakfasts: Between £100 and £140 per night for a double room, often with a full Scottish breakfast.

Hotels : Rates start at 80 euros and can reach several hundred euros for top-of-the-range establishments.

Meals: A meal in an average pub or restaurant costs between £25 and £35. Gourmet restaurants are obviously more expensive.

Drinks: A pint of beer costs an average of £5, and a whisky tasting starts at £10.

Activities :

Entrance to castles and attractions: Prices vary, but expect to pay between 10 and 20 euros for most sites. Consider the Explorer Pass if you plan to visit several historic sites.

Miscellaneous:

Souvenirs: Tartan, cashmere, whisky, shortbread and other typical souvenirs can add to your budget. Define how much you want to spend on these purchases to avoid impulse spending.

Gratuities: Gratuities are not compulsory in Scotland, but are appreciated for good service.

Tips for saving money :

Travel out of season: By avoiding the high season (summer), you can take advantage of reduced accommodation and transport fares.

Eat like a local: Pubs and fish and chips are often more affordable, but for gourmets, bear in mind that fish and seafood are delicious and that Scottish gastronomy is much richer and more surprising than you might think. For more information on local gastronomy, see our dedicated article.

Opt for free activities: access to nature is free, so make the most of it!

In conclusion, the question of budget for a trip to Scotland will depend on your choices and your style of travel. Whether it’s a budget trip or a luxury break, Scotland offers a range of options to suit all budgets. Plan ahead, set your priorities and make the most of every moment in this magical country!

How do I get there?

Most travellers arrive at Edinburgh or Glasgow airports. Ferries are also available from Ireland and mainland Europe. Trains have recently become popular, with journeys from Paris taking between 7.30 and 9.30 hours and tickets costing around £350. Once you’re in Scotland, there are a number of scenic train routes to take you to different parts of the country and enjoy the scenery. Discover our ideas for train holidays: the Highlands by train.

What should you pack?

Pack warm, waterproof clothing, a pair of good walking shoes and electrical adaptors. Here’s a list of 10 essentials to pack for a trip to Scotland, taking into account the country’s fickle weather and popular activities:

-Waterproof clothing: A waterproof jacket and trousers will be essential. Rain can come at any time of year in Scotland.

-A good pair of walking shoes: Whether you’re exploring the cities or hiking in the Highlands, comfortable, sturdy shoes are a must.

-Scarf, hat and gloves: Even in summer, the weather can be chilly, especially in the mountains or on the coast.

-Electrical adapter: Scotland uses UK-style plugs, so make sure you have an adapter to charge your devices.

-Bug spray: Particularly if you’re visiting during the summer months, these little insects can be a nuisance, especially in the Highlands. (How to avoid them)

-Layers of clothing: Given the changeable weather, favour the layering system to add or remove layers depending on the temperature.

-Daypack: To carry your essentials when out and about, whether in town or on a hike.

-Camera and binoculars: You’ll want to capture the stunning scenery and perhaps observe wildlife from a distance.

-Travel guide or map: Even in the digital age, having a physical guide or map can be useful, especially in areas where the signal is weak.

-Sun protection: Yes, even in Scotland! When the sun is shining, especially at high altitudes or near water, it’s important to protect yourself.

With these essentials in hand, you’ll be well prepared to make the most of your trip! And for a trouble-free trip, leave with peace of mind by entrusting the organisation of your trip to our specialist advisers.

How do I hire a car in Scotland?

It’s best to book in advance. Make sure you have an international permit if necessary. There are many car hire companies, the best known being Arnold Clark and Avis.

What are the different types of accommodation in Scotland?

B&Bs, hotels, hostels, gîtes, campsites and bothies.

The choice of accommodation plays a crucial role. Here’s an overview of the different options available to help you find the one that best suits your needs and budget.

1. Hotels :

From luxury hotels to simple family-run establishments, Scotland offers a wide range of hotels. In major cities such as Edinburgh or Glasgow, you’ll find international chain hotels, as well as charming boutique hotels set in historic buildings.

2. Bed & Breakfast (B&B):

One of the most traditional forms of accommodation in Scotland, B&Bs offer a more personal experience. Often run by families, they offer comfortable rooms and a full Scottish breakfast to get the day off to a good start.

3. Youth hostels:

Perfect for travellers on a budget or those looking for a social atmosphere, youth hostels are plentiful, especially in tourist areas. They generally offer dormitories, but sometimes also private rooms.

4. Holiday rentals :

If you’re planning a longer stay or travelling in a group, renting a house or flat can be a sensible option. It also gives you the freedom to cook and live at your own pace.

5. Bothies :

These traditional mountain huts, often in remote locations, offer basic shelter for hikers. They are usually free, but expect very basic facilities and remember to respect the code of use for bothies.

6. Camping and caravanning:

For those who like to sleep under the stars, Scotland has many well-equipped campsites. What’s more, the “right to roam” often allows wild camping, as long as you follow the Scottish countryside code.

7. Unusual accommodation :

For a truly unique experience, why not sleep in a castle, an old prison, a lighthouse or even a tree house? Scotland is full of unusual accommodation to make your stay memorable.

8. Self-catering cottages:

Located in the countryside or small villages, these cottages offer a peaceful setting, often with a traditional touch. They’re the perfect option for a rural escape.

Tips for choosing your accommodation :

Plan ahead: popular accommodation, especially in high season, can be booked months in advance. Our advisors are in direct daily contact with hotels and B&Bs, so take advantage of their expertise!

Trust our local advisers: they travel the country all year round and know the best accommodation to recommend and the worst to avoid! 

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A Week In... Scotland

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• Small Group

Year, Departure Type

Select small group departures (averaging 24 Tauck guests), or classic departures, and the year you would like to travel.

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Uniquely Tauck

EXPERIENCE WITH TAUCK

TAUCK'S YELLOW ROADS – A drive off-the-beaten path in the dramatic Scottish Highlands

TAUCK VALUE INCLUDES

Entertainment during dinner in Inverness, featuring Scottish bagpipers and Highland dancers

Private tour of Glenturret Distillery, the Highland's oldest single malt distillery

Travel through scenic Glencoe, home to Highland moors, forests, & mountains

Castle visits steeped in history & lore: Cawdor, Blair, and Edinburgh

Private visit to Holyroodhouse (when the King is not in residence)

SEE WHAT YOUR JOURNEY INCLUDES

Guests should be able to easily walk one to two miles, which may include climbing one or two flights of stairs and walking over uneven pavement, groomed hiking trails or cobblestones. Standing up to one hour or more may be required.

Moderately paced, and may include some early morning hotel departures, one or two on-tour flights, and extended motor coach travel.

Along Europe's Scenic "Yellow Roads"

The haunting skirl of the bagpipes during a private evening in Inverness... treasured family tartans... the strong traditions of the Clans... a private tour of Glenturret Distillery, the Highland's oldest single malt distillery...

This is Scotland. Tartans and kilts... the fields of Culloden where Bonnie Prince Charlie lost his chance at the crown and a piece of the nation's heart... the King's residence at Holyroodhouse... Cawdor Castle (home of Macbeth)... St. Andrews (the home of golf)... Edinburgh and the Royal Mile of pubs, shops, and enchanting historical sites... you'll become part of the unique story of Scotland, today and yesterday...

Special evening celebrating Scottish traditions

Celebrate the best of scotland at a lively evening of scottish traditions.

Bagpipers... Highland dancers... tartan and kilt making demonstration... iconic Scottish traditions that come to life on a special Scottish evening following dinner at Kingsmills Hotel.

Private tour of 244-year-old The Glenturret, one of the Highlands' oldest distilleries

Enjoy a privately guided tour at the glenturret, the highlands' oldest working distillery.

A tour and tasting at the Highlands' oldest single malt distillery reveals, in the words of The Glenturret, "Since its origins among the smugglers and illicit stills of the 18th century, The Glenturret has had some fascinating stories to tell. Whisky booms and prohibition might have ruffled its feathers, but The Glenturret scotch malt whisky, still made by hand in the traditional way, weathered all these challenges and has matured into an enduring brand that remains as the only traditionally hand mashed whisky in Scotland."

Experience an unforgettable evening of music, ceremony, theatre and dance at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo (seasonal)

Attend a performance of the fabulous royal edinburgh military tattoo.

Attend an outdoor evening performance of the annual Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, taking place on the esplanade of Edinburgh's iconic castle. an unforgettable evening of music, ceremony, theatre and dance. See Pricing & Availability for more details.

St. Andrews

It is the birthplace of golf and home to the third oldest university in the English-speaking country, where Prince William graduated himself. St. Andrews in Scotland is a treasure trove of history with remarkable coastlines and castle finds. If you choose to visit this beautiful city, you'll have time to visit the historic town and learn more about its golf origins that date back to the 15th century. During those early days, the ball was a pebble and players would attempt to hit one over the dunes and around tracks using a bent stick or club. The sport was banned in 1457 by the Scottish Parliament, but locals refused to stop, and in 1502 it gained the royal seal of approval by King James IV of Scotland, making it the world's first golfing monarch.

Tauck takes the worry out of travel and allows you to experience unique events that would be very difficult to arrange on your own.

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All the information you need for this journey at your fingertips – day-by-day details, map, hotel descriptions, key highlights and more.

Where you stay is an important part of your journey – with Tauck, accommodations have been handpicked and carefully selected for their location and ambiance, enhancing the destinations you explore. Download accommodation details and your travel plans begin!

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The kimpton blythswood square hotel.

Glasgow, Scotland

Kingsmills Hotel

Inverness, Scotland

The Balmoral

Edinburgh, Scotland

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About Booking This Tour

Travel Documents

If you are a U.S. citizen traveling internationally, you will need a passport valid for six months after the completion of your Tauck journey to enter the United Kingdom; however, you do not need a visa for the short duration of this tour.

If you are a citizen of another country traveling internationally, you should contact an embassy or consulate of the United Kingdom to determine what travel documentation is required.

Please note that longer stays abroad for any purpose may require additional travel documentation.

We recommend that you make at least two photocopies of all the travel documents that you bring with you. Include copies of the photo page of your passport that contains the date of issuance, the date of expiration and your citizenship. Secure one set of copies in the safe in your room while traveling and leave one set behind with someone at home who will assist you in the event your documents are misplaced, lost or stolen.

TRAVELING WITH CHILDREN AS A GUARDIAN: If you are traveling as the guardian of a child/children, we strongly suggest that you carry a letter from both parents of the child authorizing emergency treatment in the event of illness or accident. For travel abroad, many foreign countries have specific entry requirements for children under 21 who are traveling internationally without BOTH parents. (These requirements are in response to the increased incidence of children being abducted and taken abroad.) PLEASE NOTE THAT TAUCK IS NOT RESPONSIBLE for the disruption of travel caused by improper documentation for children traveling without both parents.

How to Book a Tour

See your travel advisor, or call Tauck at 800-468-2825 to make a reservation.

At the time of booking, please have the following information ready for all members of your party:

• Tour Name and Departure Date
• Traveler's Name: First and last names as they appear on your passport or driver's license
• Traveler's Address(es)
• Email Address*
• Traveler's Phone Number(s)*
• Emergency Contact Information: Please provide the name and phone number  of a relative or friend (not travelling with you) whom we could contact during the tour in the unlikely event of an emergency
• Interest in purchasing a travel protection plan (US and Canada)
• Interest in extending your trip by staying in a Tauck recommended hotel before your trip begins or after it ends
• Interest in our specially negotiated airfares

* Required Fields

Deposits & Final Payment

Deposits and fees for the optional Protection Plan or Cancel Fee Waiver [CFW] coverage are due at time of booking.

The deposit amount is $600 per person

Final Payments:

Final Payment is due to Tauck  90  days before departure for lands trips, and  120  days before departure for cruises and rail journeys. If your deposit was made by credit card, final payment will be automatic unless you opted out at time of booking. Bookings without full payment at this time may be subject to cancellation without notice. Failure to make payment will be a considered a cancellation by the guest and all applicable cancellation fees will apply.

Travel Protection Plan

Effective for plans purchased as of July 1, 2021:

Tauck's Guest Protection

Tauck's Guest Protection provides you with cancellation protection before your journey begins as well as insurance benefits while you are traveling. Guest Protection includes the following:

Cancellation Waiver – Provided by Tauck:

Under Tauck's Cancellation Fee Waiver you can cancel your tour for ANY REASON up to the day before departure and receive a money-back refund (except in Extreme Circumstances*) on the land tour cost, based on your original method of payment.

*Extreme Circumstances:  In the event of an act of God, war (whether declared or undeclared), terrorism, accident, natural disaster, outbreak of disease, or other event or circumstance beyond our control that contributes to or results in cancellation rates above our historical cancellation rates in the absence of such event or occurrence, Tauck reserves the right to issue a credit to you in lieu of a money-back refund, applicable to a future Tauck journey.

Travel Insurance Benefits – Underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company.

• Trip Cancellation –  If you must cancel your tour due to a covered reason, the plan provides coverage for the amount you paid for your travel arrangements. Since the non-insurance cancellation waiver takes care of the land package cancellation fees already, this benefit reimburses the airfare cancellation charges up to the value of your original airfare purchase.
• Trip Interruption –  If you have to interrupt your tour for covered reasons, the plan provides reimbursement to catch up to your tour or return home.
• Travel Delay –  Provides reimbursement for missed, prepaid travel arrangements if you are delayed by a common carrier, natural disaster, unannounced strike, or other reasons as cited in the plan.
• Medical Expense –  Reimburses covered medical expenses incurred in the event you become injured or sick during your trip. 
• Baggage / Personal Effects Protection –  Provides reimbursement in the event your luggage or personal effects are, lost, stolen, damaged or delayed during your trip.
• Worldwide Emergency Assistance Services –  Provided by Carefree Travel Assistance; 24-hour emergency telephone assistance hotline for medical and travel related problems.

The cost of Tauck's Guest Protection is: $449  per person

This protection provides insurance coverage that applies only during the covered trip. You may have coverage from other sources that provides you with similar benefits but may be subject to different restrictions depending upon your other coverages. You may wish to compare the terms of this policy with your existing life, health, home and automobile policies. If you have any questions about your current coverage, call your insurer, insurance agent or broker.

This optional Guest Protection must be requested at time of booking and fee must be included with initial payment. Fees are based on costs as of July 1, 2021, and are subject to change. Details will be provided with written confirmation of your tour reservation. Guest Protection does not protect travel agent commissions. Reimbursements will be made according to original method of payment. The amount of any refund shall be reduced by any recoveries obtained by you from any third parties.

The Guest Protection plan waives cancellation fees outlined below, provided we are notified of cancellation before your tour departs. Tour cancellation fees are waived regardless of reason, without written notice, and Tauck will refund land tour cost.

To obtain your state-specific Certificate of Insurance that contains the complete terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions of the certificate, visit  affinitytravelcert.com/docs/TACGPPINTL .

If You Have To Cancel

If you cancel within 10 days of initial deposit Within the first 10 days after you place your initial deposit, you may cancel your reservation for any reason with no cancellation fees. If you cancel more than 10 days after initial deposit Regardless of reason, cancellations result in costly charges from our travel and hotel providers covering penalties and fees incurred by canceling confirmed bookings. These fees vary from tour to tour. Therefore, the following fees apply.

Cancellation Fees with Tauck's Guest Protection Plan:

Loss of Guest Protection fee, per person 

Cancellation Fees without Tauck's Guest Protection Plan :

90 days or more before departure = $600 per person

89-8 days before departure = $900 per person

7-1 days before departure = $1500 per person

Time of cancellation will be when notice is received in our Wilton Woods, CT office.

In the event of an unforeseen circumstance beyond our control, Tauck reserves the right to amend the cancellation terms outlined herein.

Note:  All Guests, regardless of residency, who book a Tauck journey have the option of purchasing the Cancellation Waiver provided by Tauck in the event they need to cancel their trip after making their reservations. Tauck's Guest Protection, which includes both the Cancellation Fee Waiver and the Travel Insurance Benefits and Assistance Services described above, is not available to residents of Puerto Rico.

Travel Terms and Conditions

Click here  to find Tauck's Travel Terms & Conditions.

Travel Requirements For This Tour

Air Information and Luggage Restrictions

AIRFARE: Airfare to and from this destination is not included in the journey cost. If purchasing your air elsewhere, it is very important to provide us with your confirmed arriving and departing flight information no later than 3 weeks before your arrival date. Flight information can be submitted to Tauck (or verified, if you've already provided it) in the My Account section of Tauck.com.

TAUCK AIRPORT TRANSFERS are included at the start and end of the journey between the airport and the Tauck hotel. Airport transfers are available for any pre tour or post tour hotel stays immediately consecutive to the tour, providing flight information is received in the Tauck office no later than three weeks in advance. Details on locating your transfer upon arrival to the tour start city will be included in your final documents.

AIRLINES and CHECKED LUGGAGE: Due to space limitations during your Tauck journey, we ask that you please limit your checked luggage to one average-size suitcase per person. Besides complying with the Tauck restriction noted above, you should also be sure to research and comply with all airline baggage restrictions relating to your flights to and from your Tauck journey. Airlines have become much more strict in enforcing size and weight limits in recent years, and are free to revise luggage policies without notice. Researching and complying with airline luggage restrictions is the responsibility of the guest, and Tauck cannot be held responsible for any costs or disruptions to travel caused by the failure to research and comply with airline policies. PLEASE NOTE that if you are booked on a tour that includes on-tour flights, the checked luggage weight restrictions for these flights may be lower than the weight restrictions for your international flights.

Checked Luggage – General

Due to space restrictions, we ask that you please limit your checked luggage to one suitcase per person weighing no more than 50 pounds (23 kg) and with overall dimensions (length + width + height) not exceeding 62 inches (158 cm).

Besides complying with the Tauck restriction noted above, you should also be sure to research and comply with all airline baggage restrictions relating to your flights to and from your Tauck journey. Airlines have become much more strict in enforcing size and weight limits in recent years, and luggage exceeding airline standards for size or weight may result in expensive overage fees or other consequences.

Airlines are free to revise luggage policies without notice, and certain airlines have different baggage allowances for different classes of service. Researching and complying with airline luggage restrictions is the responsibility of the guest, and Tauck cannot be held responsible for any costs or disruptions to travel caused by the failure to research and comply with airline policies.

Tauck luggage tags will be provided by your Tauck Director on Day 1 of your itinerary. Please do not attach a Tauck luggage tag to any carry-on items, as the Tauck tags designate luggage that is to be handled and transferred by ground operators and hotel staff during your journey.

Carry-on Luggage - General

Although oversize bags and wheeled, carry-on luggage are popular for airline travel, they are often not convenient or appropriate for motor coach travel or for many on-tour flights. Most modern sightseeing motor coaches offer limited space for numerous or larger items. Space under seats or in the overhead rack is typically small, and designed to accommodate items like coats, hats, purses, and small camera bags, etc.

For your day-to-day travel while on tour, we recommend that you limit your hand luggage to a small, soft-sided carry-on piece, and that you bring only those items you need handy during the day such as make-up, medications, cameras, film, etc. Items too large to fit under the motor coach seat or on the overhead rack must be stored in the luggage bays beneath the motor coach, and may be inaccessible during daytime travel.

Health, Safety and Mobility

HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS

While drinking water is generally safe at all our hotels, bottled water will be available wherever the local water is not fit to drink. We also provide bottled water on the motor coaches.

There is a smoking ban in public places throughout Scotland. The Blythswood Square Hotel and the Charlotte Square Hotel are a non-smoking property, with no 'smoking' rooms available. The Kingsmills Hotel has 5 guest rooms designated as 'smoking' rooms, and these must be requested at time of booking and cannot be guaranteed.

Please check with your health insurance provider to determine whether you are covered while traveling. If you will not be covered under your current policy, we strongly suggest that you arrange for adequate coverage while on tour.

If you have a medical condition that might limit your participation in activities, please consult your physician for pre-departure health advice and notify us as soon as possible, if you have not already done so. We will advise your Tauck Director accordingly.

VACCINATIONS  

If you are a resident of the U.S., no vaccinations are currently required for travel to Scotland. For complete vaccination and inoculation information, please contact your physician, the public health service in your area, or the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to obtain information about vaccinations that may be required for your journey. The CDC operates a 24-hour information line at 800-232-4636 (toll-free in the U.S.). You may also log on to the CDC website by clicking here .

If you are a resident of another country, please contact an embassy or consulate of the United Kingdom to determine what vaccination(s) may be required for your travel.

SPECIAL DIETARY REQUESTS

The restaurants, hotels, caterers and numerous other partners we work with all do their best to accommodate special dietary requests from Tauck guests. However, given the diverse nature of those food providers (from small wineries to grand hotels to world-famous restaurants in more than 70 countries worldwide), some of our partners are better able than others to accommodate such requests. We therefore cannot guarantee that all dietary requests can be accommodated at every meal. Also, please note that where dietary requests can be accommodated, choices will frequently be limited.

A Week in… Scotland involves a considerable amount of walking. To enjoy this tour, you should be in good health and able to walk reasonable distances, often over unpaved and uneven surfaces. Some of the most memorable sightseeing can only be accomplished on foot. The visits to the castles involve some stair climbing and walking up inclines. The amount of walking you do, however, is at your discretion.

PLEASE NOTE: We regret that this Tauck itinerary cannot accommodate wheelchairs or motorized scooters. Likewise, we regret that we're unable to provide individual assistance to guests with walking difficulties or other personal needs. The responsibility of the Tauck Director who accompanies your trip is to ensure that the larger group enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing individual assistance to any one guest. Guests requiring such individualized assistance must be accompanied by an able-bodied companion who can provide it.

Reading List

We have compiled a reading list of recommended books to give you more information about the destinations you will be traveling to on your upcoming journey!

You can view the reading list  here.

Scotland's climate is temperate and, as in the rest of the U. K., the weather tends to be unpredictable. In general, Scotland tends to be cool, damp and cloudy, and is colder on average than the rest of the U.K. The coldest areas are the highlands, and the northern latitude has short winter days and very long summer evenings. The east coast experiences more sunshine, but colder winters, compared to the west. The average high temperatures for May through September range from 55 to 65˚F (13 to 18˚C) and the average low temperatures range from 45 to 55˚F (7 to 13˚C). Glasgow on the west coast has almost 50% more rain per year than either Inverness or Edinburgh.

To read about current weather conditions, we suggest you log on to the Internet website by clicking here .

What To Pack

Bringing the right clothing for your trip is important – we've partnered with New Headings who provide an "easy-to-use, one-stop shop" for your Tauck travel needs, specifically selected for this trip. Click here to visit their site .

The weather in Scotland is moderate but unpredictable. Your journey is designed with leisure in mind. Dress for comfort and convenience with a wardrobe that is adaptable and allows for layering. Generally, during the day, casual, comfortable, cotton clothing is recommended. Cool weather at higher elevations or at night will require warmer, layered clothing.

In Europe, especially in finer restaurants, it is generally customary to dress somewhat formally. Slacks or a dress for women and a jacket and tie for men are acceptable dining attire, although not required. It is advisable to avoid wearing jeans, sneakers or shorts for dinner. You may also wish to dress up a bit for the welcome reception and the farewell dinner, but by all means be comfortable.

You will find a hair dryer located in your hotel guest room. Irons and ironing boards are available upon request. Valet laundry and dry cleaning services are also available for a fee.

We recommend that you pack an adequate supply of your prescription medication in its original container to last through your entire journey, together with a copy of your doctor's prescription or a letter from your health-care provider on office stationery explaining that the medication has been prescribed for you, a list of the generic names of your medication, your travel documents and a change of clothing in your carry-on bag to avoid any inconvenience in the event that your flight or luggage is delayed.

Following is a list of recommended items to pack for your trip to Scotland:

• Casual daytime wear – shorts, slacks, long and short-sleeved shirts
• An optional jacket and tie for men
• Casually elegant evening wear for ladies
• Sunglasses, sunscreen, hat
• A light sweater or jacket for higher elevations or a breezy night
• Binoculars (7x50 preferably)
• Insect repellent
• Camera, lenses, batteries, memory cards and chargers
• Lightweight, comfortable, sturdy walking shoes that have already been broken-in
• Travel alarm clock/cell phone with alarm function (many hotels do not have clocks in the rooms)
• Rain poncho and collapsible umbrella
• Daypack for camera equipment
• Sundries and toiletries that may be difficult to find en route
• Copies of your travel documents that should be secured in the safe in your hotel room while traveling

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One Week in Scotland: The Perfect Itinerary

This seven-day Scotland touring itinerary has something for everyone, whether you're an urban connoisseur or a wilderness fan. Historic castles, legendary outlaws, and mythical sea monsters all vie for your attention. So does the seafood, fished from cold North Sea waters, as well as the water of life—more commonly known as Scotch whisky. Any short visit to Scotland is bound to leave you hungry for more.

This driving itinerary is organized day by day rather than hour by hour. It's meant to give you a good overview while providing enough freedom to allow you to pick and choose without losing the plot. As long as you end up in the suggested destination at the end of each day, you should have plenty of time to discover what makes Scotland special and especially loved by visitors.

Day 1: Edinburgh

TripSavvy / Jess Macdonald

Morning: Start your day in Edinburgh early, with a hearty Scottish breakfast at your hotel. Edinburgh is a very hilly city and you want to stoke up on carbs for all the walking. Don't pass up the oatmeal that's usually included in a Scottish breakfast. The pinch of salt they add makes it very special.

Then head for the bottom of The Royal Mile ; starting at The Palace of Holyrood House, this street climbs through Old Town and ends at Edinburgh Castle. Though most people walk down the Royal Mile, we think it works better in the opposite direction when you still have lots of energy.

The Palace of Holyrood House , the Monarch's official residence when she is in Scotland, is only partially open to the public. The self-guided audio tour will take you an hour or less.

Across the street, you'll find the Scottish Parliament. Controversial (it cost more than $506 million after an original proposal of $12 million) and architecturally interesting, you can see the key areas in about 15 minutes.

Afternoon: The Inn on the Mile is a handy place to stop for lunch, and is about three-quarters of the way up the Royal Mile .

When you're done eating, climb up to Edinburgh Castle for the spectacular views at the top. Unless you are fascinated by military history, skip the museums and exhibits; instead, walk down through Princes Street Gardens to the Scottish National Gallery on the Mound.

Evening: Sample any one of more than 300 brands of scotch whisky at the Bow Bar on West Bow in the Old Town. Then head for an early supper at Edinburgh's famous Italian deli, Valvona & Crolla , or a casual pizza at the popular La Favorita. If jet lag is starting to set in, order online and they'll deliver to your hotel room.

Day 2: Scotts View, Abbotsford, and Traquair

 Michelle Kelley Photography/Getty Images

Morning: Head out of the city and south into the Borders, a county punctuated by the meandering River Tweed and rich in history and literary connections. On your way, take a few minutes to stop at Scott's View . A favorite of novelist, playwright, and poet Sir Walter Scott, this spot gives you stunning views of the Eildon Hills , three distinctive volcanic plugs, and the Tweed Valley. There's a small parking area with an orientation table a historic marker.

Afterwards, pay a visit to Melrose Abbey . Built in the 12 th century, the abbey is believed to be the burial place of Robert the Bruce's heart . There is a memorial stone marking the spot.

Make your way to Abbotsford House next. Sir Walter Scott almost bankrupted himself building this remarkable faux-medieval fantasy palace surrounded by beautiful gardens on the Tweed. After his death in 1832, the house immediately became a place of literary pilgrimage. It has been open to the public since 1833. Stop for lunch at Abbotsford before moving on to Traquair.

Afternoon: Traquair House is the oldest continuously inhabited house in Scotland and has been in the same family for 900 years. It is a fascinating place, connected to stories of political intrigue, Jacobites, secret Catholics, Bonnie Prince Charlie, and Mary Queen of Scots. You can even sample a bevy from Traquair's own brewery. The house and grounds can be visited daily between April and the end of October, and weekends only in November.

Evening: Return to Edinburgh and enjoy some fine dining in Leith, the city's waterfront district. Try The Kitchin or Restaurant Martin Wishart , both owned by celebrity chefs and spangled with Michelin stars. Book either online before you leave home.

Day 3: The Forth Bridges, Falkirk Wheel and Stirling Castle

Morning: It's just a 15-mile drive from Edinburgh to the Forth Bridges . When the first one opened at Queensferry in 1890, it was the world's biggest man-made steel structure and a marvel of Victorian engineering. About nine miles from Edinburgh, the historic railroad bridge is now a UNESCO World Heritage site, joined by two other remarkable bridges. When the Forth Road Bridge opened in 1964, it was the largest long-span suspension bridge outside the U.S. The Queensferry Crossing opened in 2017 and is the longest three-tower cable-stayed bridge in the world. There's a terrific viewpoint to see all three at Hawes Pier in Queensferry.

The Falkirk Wheel is the world's only rotating boat lift. It raises and lowers boats and their passengers—to a height of 115 feet—between the Forth&Clyde and Union Canals. Book ahead on the website and you can take a 50-minute ride on it. Have some lunch at the visitor center before moving on.

Afternoon: Plan on spending the whole afternoon at and around Stirling Castle , about 13 miles away. Sitting on top of an impressive volcanic rock and protected on one side by dramatic cliffs, the castle has long remained a symbol of Scottish independence with its strong connections to William Wallace, Robert the Bruce, and Mary Queen of Scots. It was first mentioned in 1110 when King Alexander built a chapel there, but in all likelihood it is much older. There are a range of guided and self-guided audio tours you can take to see the royal palace's great halls and kitchens, chapel, and regimental museum. From the castle walls, you can see Stirling Bridge, the site of William Wallace's 13 th -century victory over the English.

Just below the castle is Stirling Old Town . It is a virtually intact Medieval town and you should plan on spending some daylight hours walking around it.

Evening: Have dinner and spend the night in Stirling. There's a good selection of hotels and plenty of casual bistros, cafés, and pubs.

Day 4: The Cairngorms, Urquhart Castle, and Loch Ness

Morning: Fill up on fuel and water before leaving Stirling; you'll be passing through some of the emptiest areas and highest plateaus of Cairngorm National Park . First stop: Balmoral , the Queen's private vacation home. Built by Prince Albert for Queen Victoria, the Scottish Baronial estate is surrounded by beautiful woodlands and mountain views. You can only visit a small part of the house, but there is usually an interesting exhibition to see. The house is closed to the public when the Queen and the royals are in residence, from August through October. Tickets need to be booked in advance.

Note: If you're in the area when the Queen is in residence, visit Blair Castle on the Blair Atholl estate or Braemar Castle instead.

Afternoon: Heading north on a curving route from Balmoral, you'll enter an area that has recently been dubbed the SnowRoads . It includes the highest public road in Britain and the highest public road mountain pass. The scenery, though lonely and empty, is also spectacular. In the northwest corner of the Cairngorms is Speyside, one of Scotland's most important whisky-making areas. Stop in the little market town of Tomintoul to pick up a bottle or two for later.

Now's your chance to look for the Loch Ness Monster. Urquhart Castle offers a high vantage point over Loch Ness. Even though it's a ruin, the location makes this one of the best castles in Scotland.

Evening: End your day by driving to Invermoriston Falls, a spectacular series of rapids and waterfalls crossed via a historic, pedestrian-only 19 th -century bridge . The Glenmoriston Arms Hotel, across the parking lot for the falls, has decent food, traditional music, and comfortable beds.

Day 5: Eilean Donan and Glencoe

Morning: Leave Invermoriston for Eilean Donan Castle , probably the most quintessential image of an early medieval Scottish fortress. The drive there is unforgettable; you'll pass forbidding dark lochs through valleys of brooding mountains.

Originally built as a fortress to defend the mainland from the Vikings, Eilean Donan was destroyed in the  Jacobite rebellion of 1719 . It was rebuilt between 1911 and 1932 from surviving ground plans of earlier buildings. The castle occupies an island at the confluence of three great sea lochs, but you can reach it on foot via a stone bridge. Eilean Donan's re-enactors make this a fun visit.

Afterwards, drive over to Fort William , often called the gateway to the Highlands. The town—located underneath the shadow of Britain's highest mountain, Ben Nevis—is a handy place to stop for lunch. There are plenty of quick food outlets and fish and chip shops, but if you're feeling adventurous, hop on a gondola for a mountain lunch at the Snowgoose Restaurant .

Afternoon: Glencoe is one of the most important landscapes in Britain and no visit to the Western Highlands would be complete without. Be sure to check out the  eco-friendly visitor center . Here you can start a short nature and wildlife walk on the edge of the glen, find out more about the epic adventure trails, and immerse yourself in the sad history of betrayal and murder that still haunts this valley.

Evening: In the nearby village of  Ballachulish , you'll find a range of accommodation, from hotels and guest houses to campsites. There are places to eat within a short distance of the visitor center as well.

Day 6: A Scenic Drive and a Loch Lomond Cruise

 Dennis Barnes/Getty Images

Morning: Take the short, scenic drive through Glencoe to the green, romantic hills of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park . It's an easy, quiet road, but take your time and stop whenever you see a place to pull over; the scenery is spectacular and the geology that formed it astonishing.

When you reach Loch Lomond, continue down its west bank to Tarbet or all the way to Balloch on the southern shore. Tarbet is a quiet village near a narrow part of the loch, with good tourist services and access to some fabulous cycling. Balloch is the main commercial tourism center for Loch Lomond. What you do for the rest of the day depends on how active you like to be.

Active Afternoon Itinerary: If you want to see as much as possible, head over to Tarbet and park in the public parking area near Tarbet Pier. After you explore the village, hire a bike from Cruise Loch Lomond . You can take the bike with you on the Waterbus to Inversnaid; from here, ride the four miles along the north shore of Loch Arklet to Stronachlachar.

At Stronachlachar Pier, board the Steamship Sir Walter Scott for a round trip cruise on Loch Katrine. When it's over, cycle back to Inversnaid and return to Tarbet Pier on the water taxi. Then make your way to Balloch for the night.

Relaxed Afternoon Itinerary: Want to take it much slower? Instead of going to Tarbet, drive to Balloch and climb aboard the " PS Maid of the Loch ," the last paddle steamer built in Britain. Afterwards, grab some souvenirs at Loch Lomond Shores, a nearby shopping center.

Take the Waterbus from Balloch Pier to Luss, a conservation village on the west bank of Loch Lomond. Most of the cottages in in this flower-bedecked village date from the 18 th and early 19 th centuries. There are several marked circuits ranging from an easy, 15-minute walk around the village to an hour-long Heritage trail.

Walk to the end of Luss Pier for good views of Ben Lomond. From Luss, you can take a short Waterbus trip to Inchcailloch, a secluded island just offshore with several good paths. Return to Luss, and from there, back to Balloch for the evening.

Day 7: Glasgow

TripSavvy / Christopher Larson

Morning: It's a mere 20 miles from Balloch to Glasgow, Scotland's liveliest city. When you reach the city, tour the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum . It's a huge late Victorian storehouse, featuring everything from Scottish and European paintings to dinosaur skeletons and stuffed animals. Don't miss Salvador Dali's remarkable "Christ of Saint John of the Cross," one of the museum's great treasures.

When you're done exploring the museum, check out Kelvinbridge. This part of Glasgow's already trendy "west end" (so hip the name is never capitalized) was recently voted one of the 50 coolest neighborhoods in the world. Shop for vintage and retro fashions, and buy a takeaway picnic at Roots, Fruits and Flowers —Glasgow's local answer to Whole Foods.

Afternoon: Climb the hill of Kelvingrove park—one of Glasgow's gorgeous green spaces—and enjoy your picnic there. Then check out the City Center Mural Trail . Made up of 25 murals, this trail of outrageous street art is all within an easy stroll of the city center.

Have your mind blown by an afternoon show at Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre . A permanent exhibition by a Russian emigré artist, this indescribable production combines kinetic sculpture, automata, music, and lighting effects.

Evening: Make your last meal in Scotland a good one. Dine in Finneston, the hub of Glasgow's somewhat macho foodie scene. Try The Finnieston , known for its top seafood and gin bar. Or chow down on amazing dry-aged beef and game at Porter & Rye.

Glasgow's nightlife is famous. For comedy, take your chances at The Stand . See new and emerging bands at King Tut's Wah Wah Hut or downstairs at Òran Mór, a multi-arts venue that also hosts comedy and theatre.

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Find Your Tour

12 - 14 days in scotland.

If you are planning an itinerary for 2 weeks in Scotland , you have lots of options.

14 days gives you enough time to consider exploring Scotland’s more remote corners.

You could even manage our Grand Tour of Scotland route that goes all the way from the Scottish Border country to the extreme north coast.

Alternatively, with 14 days in Scotland you can plan a relaxed pace of itinerary and stay 2 - 3 nights in each location.

Our range of 12 - 14 day itineraries lets you choose between using your 2 weeks to travel as much as possible, or to focus on doing day trips from a few touring bases where you stay 2 or more nights.

12 - 14 Day Tours from Edinburgh

Best of scotland east to west.

This itinerary includes lots of day trip options to let you adapt the tour to your schedule and interests. A highlight of the Best of Scotland is a stopover in Gairloch in the North West Highlands. The scenery around Gairloch is stunning and we rate it as one of our favourite places. For 14 days in Scotland, we suggest a schedule such as below.   >>> READ MORE

• Day 1 - Explore Edinburgh
• Day 2 - Explore Edinburgh
• Day 3 - Edinburgh to Cairngorms
• Day 4 - Day trips from Cairngorms
• Day 5 - Day trips from Cairngorms
• Day 6 - Cairngorms to Gairloch
• Day 7 - Day trips from Gairloch
• Day 8 - Gairloch to Skye
• Day 9 - Tour Skye
• Day 10 - Tour Skye
• Day 11 - Skye to Fort William / Glencoe
• Day 12 - Day trips from Fort William
• Day 13 - Day trips from Fort William
• Day 14 - Fort William 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 - 3 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. An itinerary for 12 days could be scheduled as below.    >>> READ MORE

• Day 3 - Edinburgh to Inverness
• Day 4 - Day trips from Inverness
• Day 5 - Day trips from Inverness
• Day 6 - Inverness to Skye
• Day 7 - Tour Skye
• Day 8 - Tour Skye
• Day 9 - Skye to Oban
• Day 10 - Day trips from Oban
• Day 11 - Day trips from Oban
• Day 12 - Oban to Glasgow / Edinburgh

Scottish Treasures

We created this tour plan specifically for the first time visitor looking to do all the “must see” Scottish places. If doing this Scotland itinerary in 12 days, you can take advantage of the several day trip options we provide around Edinburgh and Skye. This tour works as a 12 day itinerary if scheduled as below.    >>> READ MORE

• Day 2 - Explore Edinburgh 
• Day 3 - Edinburgh to Stirling / Trossachs
• Day 4 - Stirling to St Andrews 
• Day 5 - St Andrews to Pitlochry
• Day 6 - Pitlochry to Royal Deeside
• Day 7 - Royal Deeside to Speyside
• Day 8 - Speyside to Inverness
• Day 9 - Inverness to Skye
• Day 11 - Skye to Oban

Grand Scenic Tour

This is a comprehensive itinerary for a 14 day tour of Scotland’s scenic highlights. You could drive the route in less than 2 weeks, but we recommend that you pace the trip with some 2 night stays and have provided a choice of day trips around Edinburgh, Inverness, Skye and Oban. To drive this Scotland Itinerary in 14 days  we suggest the following schedule.    >>> READ MORE

• Day 2 - Explore Edinburgh
• Day 3 - Edinburgh to St Andrews
• Day 4 - St Andrews to Royal Deeside
• Day 5 - Royal Deeside to Speyside
• Day 6 - Speyside to Inverness
• Day 7 - Day trips from Inverness
• Day 8 - Inverness to Ullapool
• Day 9 - Ullapool to Skye
• Day 10 - Tour Skye
• Day 12 - Day trips from Oban
• Day 13 - Oban to Inveraray
• Day 14 - Inveraray to Glasgow / Edinburgh

Grand Tour of Scotland - Borders to Orkney

Our Grand Tour of Scotland route takes you from the bottom to the top of the country. This tour takes in the full diversity of Scotland’s landscapes with a route that stretches from the fertile fields and rolling hills of the Borders all the way up to the windswept islands of Orkney. It’s a lot of driving, but you can do this Grand Tour of Scotland route in 14 days if you schedule it as follows:    >>> READ MORE

• Day 3 - Edinburgh to The Borders (Melrose / Jedburgh)
• Day 4 - The Borders to Oban
• Day 5 - Oban to Skye
• Day 6 - Tour Skye
• Day 7 - Skye to Gairloch
• Day 8 - Gairloch to Ullapool
• Day 9 - Ullapool to Thurso
• Day 10 - Day trip to Orkney
• Day 11 - Thurso to Inverness
• Day 12 - Inverness to Royal Deeside
• Day 13 - Royal Deeside to Stirling
• Day 14 - Stirling to Edinburgh / Glasgow

12 - 14 Day Tours from Glasgow

Best of scotland west to east.

This itinerary includes lots of day trip options to let you adapt the tour to your schedule and interests. We call it the Best of Scotland as it features lots of our favourite places in Scotland. For 14 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 - Day trips from Fort William
• Day 4 - Fort William to Skye
• Day 5 - Tour Skye
• Day 8 - Day trips from Gairloch
• Day 9 - Gairloch to Cairngorms
• Day 10 - Day trips from Cairngorms
• Day 11 - Day trips from Cairngorms
• Day 12 - Cairngorms to Edinburgh
• Day 13 - Discover Edinburgh
• Day 14 - Discover 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 staying 2 - 3 nights in each location. 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. An itinerary for 12 days could be paced as below.    >>> READ MORE

• Day 1 - Glasgow to Oban
• Day 2 - Day trips from Oban
• Day 3 - Day trips from Oban
• Day 4 - Oban to Skye
• Day 7 - Skye to Inverness
• Day 8 - Day trips from Inverness
• Day 9 - Day trips from Inverness
• Day 10 - Inverness to Edinburgh
• Day 11 - Explore Edinburgh
• Day 12 - Explore Edinburgh / Return to Glasgow

Island Odyssey

Scottish Islands offer a unique holiday experience and 14 days gives you plenty of time to explore Skye and the Western Isles. For a relaxed 2 weeks in Scotland touring the Highlands & Islands, you can pace the Island Odyssey itinerary as below.    >>> READ MORE

• Day 2 - Day trips from Fort William (e.g. Jacobite Steam Train)
• Day 3 - Fort William to Skye
• Day 4 - Tour Skye
• Day 5 - Tour Skye
• Day 6 - Skye to Harris
• Day 7 - Tour Harris
• Day 8 - Tour Lewis
• Day 9 - Lewis to Ullapool
• Day 10 - Day trip from Ullapool
• Day 11 - Ullapool to Cairngorms
• Day 12 - Day trip from Cairngorms
• Day 13 - Cairngorms to Edinburgh
• Day 14 - Discover Edinburgh

Authentic Scotland

This is an itinerary best suited to people that prefer the countryside and villages over big cities. If used for a 12 day itinerary in Scotland we would suggest you pace it as follows.    >>> READ MORE

• Day 1 - Arrive Glasgow
• Day 2 - Glasgow to Loch Fyne
• Day 3 - Loch Fyne to Glencoe / Fort William
• Day 4 - Fort William to Skye
• Day 6 - Skye to Gairloch
• Day 7 - Gairloch to Ullapool
• Day 8 - Ullapool to Inverness
• Day 10 - Inverness to Royal Deeside
• Day 11 - Royal Deeside to Pitlochry
• Day 12 - Pitlochry to Edinburgh / Glasgow

12 to 14 Day Tours from Inverness

North coast 500.

The best way to drive the NC500 is to schedule in lots of 2 night stays so you have time to explore the quiet corners of the Northern Highlands. Although it’s not part of the NC500, we also include a guide for spending a few days on Orkney. For 12 days in Scotland driving the NC500 and staying on Orkney, you can schedule this itinerary as below:     >>> READ MORE

• Day 1 - Arrive Inverness 
• Day 2 - Inverness Day trips
• Day 3 - Inverness to Gairloch
• Day 4 - Day trip to Applecross
• Day 5 - Gairloch to Ullapool
• Day 6 - Day trip around Inverpollaidh
• Day 7 - Ullapool to Thurso
• Day 8 - Sail to Orkney
• Day 9 - Explore Orkney Mainland
• Day 10 - Explore Isle of Hoy
• Day 11 - Explore Isle of Rousay
• Day 12 - Orkney to Inverness
• Previous Article
• Next Article

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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.

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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!

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• Grand Tour of Scotland

Scottish Highlands & North Coast 500

(17 days / 16 nights).

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Discover the Scottish Highlands and Islands' way of life

This 17-day self-drive tour has been designed for those who want a complete experience of Scotland. If you want beautiful scenic drives, the chance to explore mythical ruins and learn more about Scotland's rich history, this itinerary is for you. During this tour you get all the exciting adventures and highlights of our Complete Scotland tour, which goes from Edinburgh into Highlands, to the Orkney Islands, then west to the Isle of Harris and Lewis and down to the Isle of Skye, plus the chance to discover the stunning Isle of Mull.

17 days / 16 nights

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— why book with nordic visitor.

• Seamless travel experience
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• Comprehensive itinerary, personalised map & travel guide
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Tour Highlights

• Explore some of Scotland’s  top sights  on the famous and breathtaking  Isle of Skye
• Explore the mysterious and ancient “ Heart of Neolithic Orkney ”
• See the rugged hills of the  Isle of Mull  and beautiful beaches of  Iona
• Visit the spectacular  Callanish Standing Stones
• Walk along the mysterious  Loch Ness  and visit the  castle  on its shores
• See the striking natural beauty of the  Scottish Highlands
• Enjoy island-hopping between Orkney , Harris , Lewis  and  Skye
• Drive along the famous  North Coast 500
• Discover Scotland's historic capital Edinburgh and stroll up the Royal Mile
• Enjoy a road trip with peace of mind with your  personal itinerary  from a  local travel expert

Travel style

Active i , best seller i , castles and royalty i , classic i , countryside and natural scenery i , heritage i , highlands i , hiking i , honeymoon & romance i , isles i , off the beaten path i, driving distance, 2580 / 1610 km/mi, attractions.

Just a few of the majestic sights you’ll take in during your trip.

Isle of Skye

Isle of mull, butt of lewis, orkney islands, the callanish standing stones, cairngorms national park, doune castle, stirling & stirling castle.

Eilean Donan Castle

Trossachs National Park

Dunnottar Castle

Loch Lomond

Ring of Brodgar

North Coast 500

Fort william.

A day-by-day plan to guide your journey.

Day 1: ARRIVAL IN EDINBURGH

Make your way into Edinburgh city centre where your hotel will be located. Many travellers opt to take a taxi or use public transport, but for a more direct and comfortable ride, we will be happy to organise a private airport transfer for you. For those arriving early in the day, we recommend spending the afternoon walking through the city, strolling along the Royal Mile and exploring the Old Town and New Town , a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are also plenty of museums and landmarks to visit within the city centre, including the majestic Edinburgh Castle .

Spend the night in Edinburgh. 

Day 2: SCOTLAND'S DRAMATIC EAST COAST

Today, start your road trip driving up to Fife. Your first stop will be the quaint village of Falkland , where you can explore its Renaissance palace. From there, drive east to the town of St Andrews , famous for being the home of golf and of the oldest university in Scotland. As you continue north, pass by Dundee, a UNESCO City of Design. You can then take the direct route to Aberdeen , or take the coastal scenic route, which will take you past the St. Cyrus National Nature Reserve and the spectacular Dunnottar Castle , near Stonehaven.

Spend the night in the Aberdeen area.

Average driving distance: 235 km / 145 miles

Day 3: ROYAL DEESIDE, CASTLES & WHISKY

Today will take you into the Scottish Highlands. First drive along the “ Deeside Tourist Route ”, an enchanting route through the Cairngorms National Park . On the way, there is a plethora of castles you could visit, including 16th-century Crathes Castle , and of course, the Scottish residence of the Royal Family, Balmoral Castle , which you can visit from April to July. You will then continue to Speyside , which is famous for its whiskies. You may want to visit one of the many distilleries (there are over 40 to choose from!), such as Glenfiddich or Aberlour.

Spend the night in the Inverness area.

Average driving distance:  240 km  / 150 miles

Day 4: JOURNEY TO ORKNEY

Today your drive will take you north, across the Black Isle Peninsula , all the way to the seaside village of Scrabster. We recommend making a stop on the way at the fairytale Dunrobin Castle . In the early afternoon, you‘ll catch a ferry to Stromness on Orkney , a beautiful 1.5-hour journey across the Pentland Firth with spectacular views of the Old Man of Hoy. Once you‘ve reached mainland Orkney, drive to the capital, Kirkwall , a former Viking stronghold. Here you can explore the city centre and the magnificent 12th-century St Magnus Cathedral. 

Spend the night in the Kirkwall area. 

Ferry from Scrabster to Orkney: 1.5 hours

Average driving distance:  205 km / 130 miles

Day 5: THE WONDERS OF ORKNEY

You have the whole day to explore the gems of Orkney, admire its stunning scenery and ruins dating back millennia to the Stone Ages. The highlight of Orkney‘s wonders is the “Heart of Neolithic Orkney”, a UNESCO World Heritage Site area that comprises a group of Neolithic monuments. This includes the 5,000 year-old prehistoric village of Skara Brae , the mysterious Ring of Brodgar stone circle, the huge megaliths at the Standing Stones of Stenness and the chambered cairn of Maeshowe , where 12th-century Vikings left one of the largest collections of Norse runic inscriptions. 

Spend another night in the Kirkwall area.

Average driving distance:  56 km  / 35 miles 

Day 6: THE NORTH COAST 500 ROUTE

Today you journey back to the mainland by ferry before taking on part of the famous North Coast 500 route. Scotland‘s version of Route 66 stretches around the northern coast of Scotland, and is known for its incredible vistas of rocky cliffs, mountains, and gold sand beaches. We recommend stopping along the way to visit the beautiful Smoo Cave , the largest and most dramatic sea cave in Britain, the pristine beaches and turquoise waters of Durness , and the 15th-century ruins of Ardvreck Castle before arriving at the charming village of Ullapool . 

Spend the night in the Ullapool area. 

Ferry from Orkney to Scrabster: 1.5 hours 

Average driving distance:  250 km / 150 miles 

Day 7: GAELIC CULTURE & NEHOLITHIC MEGALITHS OF LEWIS

This morning, catch the ferry from Ullapool to Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis , where the Gaelic culture and language still thrives. In Stornoway, you could visit the Stornoway Museum located within Lews Castle, which houses exhibits about the island including six of the famous Lewis Chessmen. You will want to make the detour toward the west side of the island to see the spectacular Callanish Standing Stones , an impressive collection of Neolithic stone circles and megaliths. We also recommend visiting the Black Arnol Museum to learn about the history of the island life.

Spend the night on Lewis or Harris.

Ferry from Ullapool to Stornoway: 2.5 hours

Average driving distance:  165 km / 100 miles 

Day 8: HARRIS & THE GOLDEN ROAD

Today enjoy the beauty of the Isle of Harris . You can explore the small village of Tarbert and then take in the striking scenery on a drive along “ The Golden Road ” towards Rodel. We recommend exploring the beautiful medieval St. Clement’s Church and going for a walk on Luskentyre Beach , one of the most spectacular in Scotland, boasting miles of white sands and dazzling turquoise waters. You can also visit the Harris Tweed outlets for a genuine souvenir, as this tweed is still woven by hand in the Outer Hebrides.

Spend another night on Lewis or Harris.

Average driving distance:  70 km / 45 miles

Day 9: ISLAND HOPPING TO SKYE

Today you’ll catch the ferry from Tarbert to Uig on the Isle of Skye . Upon your arrival on Skye, we recommend a drive around the northern part of the island via the breathtaking Trotternish Peninsula . There you can enjoy a walk up to “ The Old Man of Storr ” rock pinnacle and see the beautiful Kilt Rock waterfall. Other highlights include the Quiraing , the An Corran Beach at Staffin, where you may spot ancient dinosaur footprints, and the mystical Fairy Glen.

Spend the night on the Isle of Skye or nearby.

Ferry from Tarbert to Uig: 1 hour and 40 min

Average driving distance:  80 km / 50 miles

Day 10: DUNVEGAN CASTLE & CORAL BEACH

Spend a full day taking in the magic of Skye, a paradise for nature lovers and history enthusiasts. Wander around the scenic village of Portree , with its colourful buildings and local shops selling handicrafts and souvenirs. Drive to the western of the island to visit the romantic Dunvegan Castle , home to the Chief of Clan MacLeod. We also recommend going for a walk along Claigan Coral Beach , one of the most beautiful beaches of Skye. You can also visit Neist Point , the most westerly point on Skye that offers stunning sea views.

Spend another night on the Isle of Skye or nearby.

Average driving distance:  130 km / 80 miles

Day 11: THE MAGIC OF SKYE

Enjoy another full day at your leisure in the mesmerizing surroundings of Skye. The island is perfect for those who love hiking as there are great areas and mountains all over, including to the mystical Fairy Pools and taking in the beauty of the Cuillin Mountains . You could also take part in a sailing tour to get a different perspective. For the whisky enthusiasts, or for those who want to taste the true flavor of Scotland, visit the Talisker Distillery to sample some genuine single malt Scotch whisky.

Average driving distance:  160 km / 100 miles

Day 12: THE BEAUTY OF LOCH NESS

Today’s journey will bring you back to the Scottish mainland. Make sure to stop at the picturesque Eilean Donan Castle , a sight you will surely recognise from many photographs, films and TV shows. Drive all the way to the shores of the mysterious Loch Ness , where you can visit the Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition. You might also wish to take a boat tour on Loch Ness in search of its notorious and elusive monster, or go explore the nearby Urquhart Castle ruins on the shores of the loch.

Spend the night in the Fort William area.

Average driving distance:  260 km / 160 miles

Day 13: FORT WILLIAM TO THE ISLE OF MULL

Start your day with a scenic ferry ride over to Craignure on the Isle of Mull , a place characterised by white sandy beaches, rugged mountains and thriving wildlife. Your first stop will be Duart Castle , standing proudly by the sea cliffs of the island. We then recommend taking the scenic route along the west coast, past the highest peak Ben More. Stop on the way at one of the most beautiful beaches in Scotland, Calgary Bay . Continue on to the charming village of Tobermory , the largest settlement of the island.

Spend the night on the Isle of Mull or in the Oban area.

Ferry from Oban to Craignure:  45 minutes

Average driving distance:  180 km / 115 miles

Day 14: BEAUTIFUL ISLES OF IONA & STAFFA

Today you have a full day at your leisure on Mull. You have the option to head to the west coast of the island, from where you can take a ferry ride from Fionnphort over to the Isle of Iona , home of dazzling beaches and sacred sites such as Iona Abbey . From Iona you can join a boat trip to the uninhabited Isle of Staffa , where you can admire Fingal’s Cave, a natural arched sea cave with impressive basalt columns. While on the boat tour, you might come across dolphins, porpoises and minke whales. 

Spend another night on the Isle of Mull or in the Oban area.

Average driving distance:  180 km / 115 miles

Day 15: KILMARTIN GLEN, LUSS & LOCH LOMOND

Today, take the ferry back to the mainland and continue your drive along the scenic route to the historical valley of Kilmartin Glen. This area is considered to have one of the most important concentrations of Neolithic and Bronze Age remains in Scotland, including standing stones and circles as well as forts and castles. On the way we recommend a stop at Inveraray on the shores of Loch Fyne, where you could visit Inveraray Castle. Continue on to the shores of the beautiful Loch Lomond and visit the charming conservation village of Luss .

Spend the night in the Trossachs National Park area.

Ferry from Craignure to Oban: 45 minutes

Average driving distance:  245 km / 150 miles

Day 16: TROSSACHS NATIONAL PARK TO EDINBURGH

Today’s drive will bring you back to Edinburgh (you can choose to end your trip in Glasgow in the optional activities below). Drive through the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park , where you could stop to take a walk in nature, enjoy an optional steamship tour on Loch Katrine , or visit a local whisky distillery. For a fun photo opportunity, don’t miss Doune Castle , featured in Monty Python & the Holy Grail and Outlander. If time allows, you could also stop by Stirling Castle , one of Scotland’s top attractions, or at the Kelpies , two impressive horse-head sculptures.

Day 17: DEPARTURE FROM SCOTLAND

On your day of departure, we recommend taking the Airlink bus or a taxi directly from your hotel to reach the airport. If you would like to add any additional nights to your trip or to arrange a private transfer, you can do so during the booking process. If your flight is in the afternoon, you may have time for some last-minute shopping, to visit one of Edinburgh’s museums, or take one last stroll through the charming city centre.

If you wish to spend more time in Edinburgh or Glasgow before or after the tour, ask your travel consultant about adding extra nights or services, such as private airport transfers. We can also extend your trip with other destinations in the Nordic region such as Iceland or Norway. Contact us for details about tailoring your itinerary.

Optional extras

Customise your adventure with these Optional Extras.

We recommend adding your extra activities to the tour now for the best booking experience and to secure your spot, as activities are likely to sell out.

Private Airport Transfer: Edinburgh Airport to Edinburgh

Private airport transfer: glasgow airport to edinburgh, classic afternoon tea, champagne afternoon tea, admissions to the royal yacht britannia, johnnie walker distillery – the journey of flavour, johnnie walker distillery – whisky makers’ cellar, ghostly underground vaults walking tour, underground vaults historical walking tour, edinburgh old & new town food tour, the scotch whisky experience – gold tour, the scotch whisky experience – silver tour, cardhu distillery – flavour journey, royal lochnagar distillery - warehouse tasting, deconstructed whisky tasting at aberlour distillery, glenfiddich distillery tour & tasting, the original glenlivet distillery tour, talisker distillery – distillery tour, loch ness cruise, day fourteen, boat tour to the isle of staffa, day fifteen, oban distillery tour, day sixteen, switch your last night to glasgow, steamship cruise on loch katrine, deanston distillery – warehouse 4 experience, day seventeen, private airport transfer: edinburgh to edinburgh airport, private airport transfer: edinburgh to glasgow airport, private airport transfer: glasgow to edinburgh airport, private airport transfer: glasgow to glasgow airport.

Here’s a map of your travel route, to help put things in perspective.

What's included

Don’t worry, we’ve got this covered.

• Accommodation (Comfort Plus/Superior) for 16 nights
• Daily Breakfast
• Rental car of your choice with unlimited mileage, CDW insurance and a second driver for 15 days
• Collision damage waiver (CDW) insurance for the duration of the vehicle rental period
• All ferry crossings, as per itinerary
• Carbon offsetting of your tour
• Map of Scotland and detailed personal itinerary
• Nordic Visitor's Scotland Travel Guide
• 24/7 helpline
• Taxes & service fees

Not included

• Flights to/from Scotland
• Transfers to/from airports (can be arranged on request)
• Transfers to/from car rental pickup/drop-off locations
• Meals & drinks (unless otherwise stated)
• Entrance fees to attractions (unless otherwise stated)
• Driving-related fees and expenses
• Personal travel insurance

Optional Extras

• Cancellation Protection

Essential information

We recommend that you read carefully through the following information before booking this self-drive tour in Scotland. We’ve answered the most frequently asked questions here so you know what to expect. You’ll also find more practical advice and attraction recommendations in our online Scotland Travel Guide .

On a self-drive tour, Nordic Visitor supplies you with a quality rental car and a detailed personal itinerary. You act as your own tour guide and driver, and you get to pick the road trip music!

All your services will be pre-booked by your personal travel consultant at Nordic Visitor. This includes your rental car and accommodation in Scotland, along with planned activities, as specified in the itinerary.

As this is a self-guided tour, you’re welcome to stop whenever and wherever you wish along the way. Except for accommodation and booked activities, other highlights we’ve listed in the itinerary are suggestions based on Nordic Visitor favourites.

And rest assured that we’re with you every step of the way. Upon your arrival, you’ll receive personalised information, including an itinerary, hand-annotated map and our very own Scotland Travel Guide. Plus, you’ll have access to our 24/7 helpline during your trip should you need to contact us.

While there is no minimum age to hire a car in the UK, please note that if you are 25 or younger, extra conditions apply.

All drivers under 25 will be subject to a young driver surcharge. You'll pay this upon collection of your rental vehicle.

Anyone who wants to rent a car in the UK will need to present a full driving licence that has been valid for at least 1 year. If you are under 23, you will need to have held your licence for at least 4 years.

There are also some restrictions on the type of vehicle you can rent if you are under 25. Please get in touch with one of our travel consultants for more information.

Scotland is beautiful all year long. That said, it’s good to be aware that the summer is the high travelling season, with July and August being peak months.

This means many of the highlights, such as the Isle of Skye and Edinburgh, will be extremely popular and might have limited availability. This could impact your booking of attractions, accommodation, restaurants, excursions and more.

For a more relaxing experience, we recommend booking your tour, plus any extra excursions, activities or entrance tickets, well in advance. You also might prefer to arrive during the shoulder season, which is during April–June and September–October.

If you do wish to travel in July or August, we will be happy to help you plan your trip to make it as smooth as possible.

During your Scotland tour, you’ll stay in accommodation hand-picked by our local travel experts. We’ve partnered with local businesses and selected hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses based on excellent ratings, comfort and our personal experience.

In Scotland, you can choose from single or double rooms. Twin, triple and family rooms are not commonly available. Please also note that in Scotland room types are based on European standard sizes, which means they are smaller than in North America.

For example, a double room often consists of 2 single beds pushed together. And single rooms are often smaller than the standard double.

Due to the historic nature of the properties we usually select, most of the rooms are only accessible by stairs. Lifts are not common in Scottish hotels. Please let us know as soon as possible if you are not able to walk up stairs.

Travelling with your kids? No problem! Just let your travel consultant know during the booking process. We’ll arrange any cots needed at your accommodation.

If you need multiple rooms, please note that we can't guarantee family rooms or interconnecting rooms at all accommodation. You may even have rooms on different floors.

If you'd like us to arrange for a car seat to be provided for your trip, please let us know ahead of time. This will incur a small extra cost.

The roads in Scotland are usually in good condition all year long and are renowned for their road trip worthiness. In winter, though, storms, rain, snow and ice can cause adverse conditions. We recommend checking weather forecasts daily and not taking any risks when it comes to driving.

Please be aware that in the UK motorists drive on the left side of the road (and on the right side of the car). If you are not used to driving on the left, we highly recommend choosing a vehicle with automatic transmission for your self-drive tour.

If you want a manual transmission vehicle, keep in mind that you will need to shift gears with your left hand (floor pedals are the same).

Drivers will need to get used to the narrower roads of the UK as well as the rural single-track roads. If you meet another driver on one of these single-track roads, one of you needs to tuck into a passing place, which might be behind you. In these areas, you should also be careful of animals on the road.

It’s also a good idea to plan how you will navigate around Scotland ahead of time. Your travel consultant will prepare a detailed hand-annotated map of your route to help you stay on track.

We also recommend using navigation apps on your phone, such as Google Maps. Make sure to download the route ahead of time, in case you don’t have signal in the more rural areas.

For inexperienced drivers who still want to explore and discover Scotland, we recommend one of our guided small group tours or privately guided tours . On these tours you’ll have a local, experienced driver at the wheel.

This itinerary includes a ferry crossing. To board, you’ll need to arrive at the port marked in your voucher and on your map. You will need to arrive a certain amount of time ahead of your departure, and this time will be noted on your voucher. Simply drive your car in the queue to board the ferry at the right time.

Summer in Scotland might be warmer than you expect! While temperatures are unlikely to reach higher than 20°C (68 °F), heatwaves in Scotland are usually humid. This means it can feel hotter than it is, especially in Edinburgh or Glasgow.

That said, the weather is also very changeable, so you’ll want to come prepared for anything. Rain is always a possibility, and when the sun sets a warm jumper or jacket is a must. We’ve prepared a useful packing guide to help you decide what to bring with you.

Please note that sightseeing is dependent on weather and road conditions. This means that your itinerary might need to be altered if these conditions are not favourable during your visit. If something unexpected occurs, you can call our 24/7 helpline to speak directly with a Nordic Visitor staff member.

Whatever time of year you’re in Scotland, you’re likely to see lots of different types of weather. As you’ll be spending a lot of time outdoors it’s a good idea to come prepared for a combination of weather conditions.

Here is a recommended packing list for a summer trip:

• A warm jumper or fleece
• A waterproof jacket
• Good walking shoes or boots (especially if you intend to hike and go on nature walks)
• Light scarf or thin sweater
• Reusable water bottle
• Sunglasses, sunscreen and a sunhat

In some areas of Scotland, such as the Highlands and islands, you might notice small, pesky insects called midges. They’re most active on summer evenings and tend to swarm near still water. You can avoid bites by wearing long-sleeves and trousers and by packing an insect repellent.

And here’s our recommendations for a winter getaway:

• A warm, windproof and waterproof jacket
• Thermal base layers and cosy jumpers
• A scarf, gloves and hat
• Sturdy boots and some woollen socks

For more information, check this packing list suggestion .

There are limited laundry facilities in Scotland’s countryside, though you’ll find laundrettes in the cities like Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Inverness. Some hotels do offer dry cleaning for an additional cost.

On your Scotland road trip, you should budget for petrol costs of around £1.60–£2 per litre.

As for meals, your breakfast is included at all your accommodation in Scotland. For the rest of your food, your spending money will depend on the standard of restaurants you decide to go to.

Budget between £15–£20 per person for each day’s lunch. Dinners at casual restaurants might cost between £20–£25. Meanwhile at upscale restaurants, you can expect to pay £40–£50 or more. This does not include the cost of alcoholic beverages.

If you’re arriving from Canada, the United States, Australia or the European Union, you won’t need a visa to visit Scotland.

Visiting from another country? You can find the complete list of countries whose nationals require a visa to enter Scotland on the website of the UK government .

Your passport must also be valid during the entirety of your stay in Scotland. It’s a good idea to check your passport expiry date early in case you need to renew it.

By booking with Nordic Visitor, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that there’s always someone there for you throughout your trip.

For support and advice during the day, you can call our office. And if anything unexpected happens outside working hours, you can reach us on our 24/7 helpline.

During your tour, there will always be an Edinburgh-based travel expert on call to handle any unforeseen situations, such as unusual weather or events.

Yes, you can customise this tour online. During the booking process, you can easily add extra nights to your itinerary as well as optional day trips, excursions and upgrades.

It’s best to book as soon as you can to secure your preferred travel dates. Once you have picked your tour, check the availability calendar to see which months are open for booking. Then, select the date you want and complete your booking. 

Nordic Visitor offers 10–20% deposits so you can reserve your trip as early as it’s convenient for you. The remaining balance is due 30 days before you travel. 

Many tours are also open for the following year if you like to plan well ahead. And if you have any questions or need advice, you can always contact us . 

After booking your tour package online, you will be contacted within 2 business days by your own dedicated travel consultant. They will be your point of contact for all your travel needs before, during and even after your trip. 

At that time, they’ll confirm the availability of your tour. Then the booking process starts, which may take a few weeks. Once this is done, your travel consultant will provide you with all the details of your trip. You will also receive more information about what to expect during your trip.

You can get in touch with our Scotland travel experts ahead of your trip if you have any questions. The live chat option is useful for getting a quick reply as someone answers live every day during office opening hours.

Once you’ve booked, we’ll provide you with a travel guide packed full of local tips and top attractions for your visit. You can also check out our online Scotland Travel Guide where we’ve compiled useful information about topics, including:

• Which credit cards are widely accepted in Scotland
• What kind of electric adapters or converters you’ll need
• The native languages of Scotland that you might hear alongside English
• As well as tipping, local news sources and other useful information

After you have booked your tour, it will only take a few days to confirm its availability. But it may take a few weeks to create your itinerary and book everything. Once your trip details are finalised, we’ll send you e-copies of your travel documents.

Upon your arrival in Scotland, you’ll receive a welcome bag with hard copies of your itinerary, attraction and tour vouchers, the Nordic Visitor Scotland Travel Guide and more.

So when do you check in? And what can you expect upon landing in Scotland?

After picking up your luggage, make your way to your accommodation in the Edinburgh city centre. If you’ve come from another airport, such as Glasgow, you can take the train or book a private transfer.

Check-in times vary between hotels and guesthouses, but it normally starts between 2–4 PM.

You are welcome to request an early check-in for an additional fee. Although this isn’t always available, you’ll be able to store your luggage at the hotel if you have to wait. Please contact your travel consultant well in advance of your arrival if you’d like an early check-in.

When you depart may depend on the time of your return flight. Check out early if you’re heading to the airport for a morning flight. On the other hand, if you’re flying home later in the day, you might like to enjoy a leisurely day or visit one more attraction.

You will need to check out from your room, but will be able to store your luggage at the hotel reception. Simply return later to collect your bags before catching public transport or a taxi to the airport.

All bookings are billed in British Pounds (GBP), the local currency in Scotland and the UK.

Prices displayed in other currencies are indicative only and based on the daily exchange rate. This means conversions from GBP to other currencies will fluctuate from day to day.

These should tide you over until you’re in Scotland to take your own pictures.

Fairy Pools on the Isle of Skye

Kilt Rock on the Isle of Skye

Colourful houses on the Isle of Mull

Urquhart Castle over Loch Ness

+14 more from this tour

Ardvreck Castle

Durness Beach

The Old Man of Storr on the Isle of Skye

Quiraing on the Isle of Skye

Beaches on the Isle of Harris

Iona Island

Loch Morlich

Edinburgh Old Town

St Andrews Golf Course - VisitScotland

Inveraray Castle

Stirling Castle

We don’t like to brag, so we’ll let our happy customers do it for us.

Very pleased

We are very pleased with the service provided by Nordic Visitor. All the arrangements were excellent and very comfortable. Our agent also provided us with great ideas as we travelled through Scotland. Each day's itinerary was comfortable allowing ample time for sightseeing stops as we moved to our next accommodation. We highly recommend Nordic Visitor should your travel plans include any of their destinations.

Gregory, United States

Grand tour of scotland, october 2023, great experience with nordic visitor.

Our experience with Nordic Visitor was great. We received all our documents and everything ran smoothly. We ran into an issue with a ferry being cancelled and Rebecca from Nordic Visitor was right on top of it with a solution. We had a wonderful time following the very well planned out itinerary.

Lise, Canada

Easy and relaxed planning experience.

Duncan's communication with us was excellent and also prompt when answering emails which made the planning experience really easy and relaxed.

Stephen, Australia

We will use nordic visitor again.

Eve did an excellent job of planning our itinerary as well as the hotels, rental car, ferries and suggestions for a few meals as well as activities. The travel documents were very clear and the map was exceptional with travel routes marked and hotels listed. We were provided with the Historic Environment Scotland Explorer Pass but we found very few opportunities to use it. We have travelled with Nordic Visitor in Iceland and now Scotland and found the services to be exceptional. We will use Nordic Visitor again in the future.

Strader, United States

Grand tour of scotland, august 2023, all the logistics were handled for us.

It was so nice to have all of the logistics handled for us so we just went day to day and always knew where we were staying that night.

John, United States

Nordic visitor took care of us.

Nordic Visitor had a good provider of the car. They took care of a flat tire, a major problem in the remote north of Scotland.

Stephen, United States

Accommodation.

Sleep soundly, in the accommodation type of your choice, and wake up ready to enjoy another day of exploration.

Comfort Plus

In this category, you can expect standard rooms in good quality 3-star guesthouses or country hotels.

In this category, you can expect standard rooms in 4-star hotels or boutique guesthouses.

Enjoy your road trip with 2 authorised drivers and Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) to reduce liability.

Vauxhall Astra (manual) or similar

• Description: Compact
• Passengers: 5
• Transmission: Manual

Toyota Auris (automatic) or similar

• Description: Economy
• Transmission: Automatic

Ford Mondeo (automatic) or similar

• Description: Standard

BMW 520 (automatic) or similar limited availability

• Limited availability between 1 June - 30 June 2024
• Description: Premium

Vauxhall Grandland (automatic) or similar

• Description: Intermediate SUV

Mercedes Vito (automatic) or similar

• Description: Premium Passenger Van
• Passengers: 8
• Transmission: Automatic*
• *manual option available upon request

Price per person from

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Home » Scotland Tour Itineraries » 3 Day Tour

3 Day Private Tour of Scotland Itinerary

Private Tours of Scotland tailored To Suit You

The itineraries we offer on our site are a template, where we hope you can find out more about what you’d like to do and see in Scotland, before getting in touch with our expert travel planners to design you a fully customized and truly unforgettable private tour!

• Edinburgh Day Tour

The Kelpies

Stirling castle.

• Wallace Monument
• St Andrews Tour
• Risk-free booking guarantee: Full refunds up to 7 days before the start date
• Certified driver-guides with 15+ years of experience, passionate about sharing their love of Scotland
• Exclusive experiences that others without our local insight will not include
• Travel in style in our luxury air-conditioned Mercedes vehicles
• Fully customizable bespoke and complimentary itinerary for your vacation

Day 1: Full Day Edinburgh Tour

Your Braw Tour of Scotland begins as you are collected in Edinburgh, Capital of Scotland by your driver-guide.

Edinburgh lies on the East coast of Scotland, built upon a group of hills, and has a medieval old town and exquisite Georgian new town with gardens and neoclassical buildings that loom over the city.

You can choose to do 1 or 2 of the following.

Edinburgh Castle

Proudly overlooking the nation’s capital city, we will visit Edinburgh Castle, one of the oldest, attractive and interesting fortified places in Europe. Alongside hosting the Scottish Crown Jewels and the Stone of Destiny, each section of the Castle has an exciting tale to tell, whether that’s as a Royal residence, military garrison, or more ominously, as a prison and fortress. 

Palace of Holyroodhouse

Next on our Edinburgh tour, we can visit the glorious Holyrood Palace – the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland, Queen Elizabeth II. 

We’ll spend an hour or so exploring the palace – including the 16th-century historic apartments of Mary, Queen of Scots – and its impressive surrounding grounds.

Royal Yacht Britannia

Continuing our Edinburgh adventure, we’ll visit perhaps one of the most famous (unsunk) ships in the world: The Royal Yacht Britannia. 

This former floating palace spent 43 years traveling more than a million nautical miles around the globe in service of Her Majesty The Queen before (thankfully for us) being permanently berthed in Edinburgh – allowing the public to tour and explore this magnificent piece of engineering history. 

Next, we can take a stroll along the winding paths and cobbled streets of the Royal Mile the main thoroughfare of the Old Town.

Arthur's Seat

Finally, we can visit Arthur’s Seat: an extinct volcano and is the main peak of the group of hills in Edinburgh. We can drive straight over the top of this hill (or you may enjoy a short hike instead) where we shall have wonderful views of the city.

After a long day exploring many of Edinburgh’s sites, we head back to your accommodation for the evening. 

Day 2: Day Trip From Edinburgh to Falkirk & Stirling

Your second day we will depart Edinburgh and have a day trip to Stirling, stopping at some attractions along the way and in the town.

As we depart Edinburgh we can stop for some photographs at the Kelpies (shape-shifting water spirits) – the largest equine sculptures in the world standing at 30-meter-high horse head sculptures which are a true feat of engineering.

Falkirk Wheel Visitor Centre

Moving on we will visit the Falkirk Wheel is the world’s first and only rotating boat lift, designed and built to connect the Forth & Clyde Canal and the Union Canal which allows coast to coast navigation across central Scotland. 

The magnificent structure stands 115ft tall and requires only the power of eight domestic kettles to sailboats through the air and transfer them between the two canals. The Falkirk Wheel has not only been described as a feat of engineering but as a work of art and is now an iconic Scottish landmark attracting over 500,000 visitors a year.

Next, we’ll head to Stirling Castle: one of Scotland’s most historically important sites which was once a favored residence of the Stewart kings and queens who held grand celebrations at the castle. 

In its grandeur with its superb sculptures and beautiful gardens. You can meet the costumed characters in the roles of bodyguards, court officials, maids of honor, and servants who will welcome you into 16th-century life. If you want you can also dress in a period costume and play medieval instruments. 

Other highlights include the Great Hall, Chapel Royal, Castle Exhibition, Regimental Museum, Great Kitchens, Tapestry Studio, and the nearby Argyll’s Lodging, a 17th-century townhouse.

National Wallace Monument

Above the fields where the famous martyr led his Scottish troops to victory against the English forces at The Battle of Stirling Bridge stands the William Wallace Monument built in 1869.

While many will be familiar with Wallace’s exploits from the Hollywood movie, “Braveheart”, inside the monument you can find out all about Wallace’s real-life tales intertwined, of course, with the story of the struggle for Scottish Independence.

You will also be able to examine the Wallace sword said to have been used by the man himself in battle. If you make it all the way up the 246 steps of the spiral stairs to the top of the Monument, you will be rewarded with fantastic views over Stirling.

You will then be escorted back to Edinburgh for the evening.

Day 3: St Andrews Day Tour

Your final day we will have a trip to the historic town of St Andrews.

The Queensferry Crossing

As we depart Edinburgh we’ll cross over the newly built Queensferry Crossing where we will see 3 magnificent bridges which span the river Forth. Each of these bridges was built in a different century!

Next is Pittenweem: a fishing village that oozes charm. The harbor is a magnet for visitors. Photographers can take their pick between the brightly hulled fishing boats, or the jumble of red pantiled or grey slatted houses.

Next, we will pass through Anstruther, a busy, seaside village which is most famous for its award-winning fish and chips which taste even better eaten in the fresh air overlooking the lovely harbor.

St Andrews is a charming and historic town that attracts visitors from all over the world. St Andrews is known worldwide as The Home of Golf, and also boasts Scotland’s oldest university.

St Andrews University, founded in 1410, dominates the center of town. The elegant, ivy-clad buildings and delightful quadrangles and gardens have seen a procession of famous graduates such as Prince William. One of the top universities in Britain, St Andrews is often compared to Oxford and Cambridge for its defining presence and the collegiate feel it gives to the town.

The Medieval center of St Andrews consists of a series of narrow alleys and cobbled streets with shops, restaurants, and cafés. Explore the castle, the now ruined cathedral, and the adjacent church of St Regulus, where you can climb the spiral staircase to the top of the 108 ft tower for magnificent views of the town and its surroundings.

Finally, after your explorations of the town are complete we will return to Edinburgh where alas, all good things must come to an end as we say our goodbyes until the next adventure.

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Perth: Guided Food Walking Tour

The Perth Guided Food Walking Tour offers an exceptional culinary adventure for foodies. Over three hours, you will embark on a journey through the city’s vibrant food scene , discovering traditional Scottish dishes and local specialties. With a maximum group size of 8, this intimate experience promises a personalized touch as knowledgeable guides share insights into Perth’s rich history and gastronomic heritage. Equivalent to a 3-course lunch, the tour features 7 distinct tastings that will tantalize the taste buds of those aged 12 and older. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, this tour promises to unveil the hidden gems and notable landmarks that make Perth’s food scene so captivating.

• Immersive 3-hour food walking tour showcasing traditional Scottish dishes and local specialties in Perth, with 7 distinct food and drink tastings.
• Small group size of up to 8 participants for an intimate, personalized experience exploring Perth’s vibrant culinary scene and hidden gastronomic gems.
• Tour includes insights into local history and landmarks, blending cultural and culinary discoveries for a comprehensive understanding of Perth’s gastronomic heritage.
• Flexibility for participants to choose between alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink options, catering to diverse preferences.
• Wheelchair-accessible tour suitable for adults aged 12 and older, operating rain or shine with a free cancellation policy up to 24 hours in advance.

Tour Overview

Guided by local experts, this 3-hour food walking tour in Perth showcases the city’s vibrant culinary scene.

With a maximum group size of 8 participants, the tour offers an intimate and personalized experience. Priced from $85.90 per person, the tour is wheelchair accessible and includes 7 distinct food and drink tastings, equivalent to a 3-course lunch.

Participants can choose between alcoholic or soft drink options. The tour explores local history and landmarks, uncovering hidden culinary gems.

Suitable for adults aged 12 and older, the tour operates rain or shine, and weather-appropriate clothing is recommended.

With 5-star reviews , this guided food walking tour is a must-do for anyone seeking an authentic taste of Perth.

Experience Highlights

Tasting 7 distinct food and drink offerings, guests on this guided food walking tour in Perth can expect the equivalent of a 3-course lunch during their 3-hour experience.

Participants will explore local history and landmarks as they discover hidden culinary gems. The tour offers a choice of alcoholic or soft drink options, allowing guests to tailor the experience to their preferences.

Whether seeking a taste of traditional Scottish dishes or local specialties, this tour promises to delight the senses and provide a comprehensive introduction to Perth’s vibrant food scene .

With a focus on showcasing the city’s unique flavors, the experience highlights the diversity and quality of the local cuisine.

Booking Information

Customers have the option to reserve the guided food walking tour in Perth and pay later. The tours are subject to availability , so checking the schedule for start times is advised.

The meeting point is at Cafe 80 next to the Perth Art Gallery, and participants are asked to arrive 5 minutes early. The tour is suitable for adults aged 12 and older, but it’s not suitable for vegans.

Regardless of the weather, the tours operate rain or shine, so dressing appropriately with an umbrella or waterproof jacket is recommended. The tours are wheelchair accessible , and there’s a free cancellation policy up to 24 hours in advance.

Important Details

The food walking tour in Perth is suitable for adults aged 12 and older, though it’s not recommended for vegans.

Weather-appropriate clothing is advised, as the tours operate rain or shine. Participants should come prepared with an umbrella or waterproof jacket if inclement weather is expected.

The tour is wheelchair accessible , ensuring it’s inclusive for all participants.

While the specific food offerings may not cater to vegan diets, the tour still promises a delightful culinary experience , with seven distinct food and drink tastings equivalent to a three-course lunch.

Regardless of dietary restrictions, the guided walking tour offers a great way to explore Perth’s local history , landmarks, and hidden culinary gems.

Customer Feedback

Overwhelmingly positive reviews from past participants paint a glowing picture of the food walking tour in Perth.

With an impressive 5-star rating based on two reviews, the tour has clearly resonated with those who’ve experienced it:

Participants highlight the guide’s friendliness and deep knowledge of the local food scene and history.

The traditional Scottish dishes and local specialties sampled throughout the tour were widely enjoyed.

Guests appreciated the variety of food and drink offerings, with the tour being the equivalent of a 3-course lunch.

The small group size of 8 or fewer was noted as contributing to an intimate and personalized experience .

Tasting Diverse Cuisines

Tasting a diverse array of cuisines is a highlight of the food walking tour in Perth. Participants can expect to sample seven distinct food and drink offerings, equivalent to a three-course lunch.

From traditional Scottish dishes to local specialties, the tour provides a comprehensive culinary experience. Guests can choose between alcoholic or soft drink options, allowing them to tailor the experience to their preferences.

The tour explores hidden culinary gems , giving participants a chance to discover the vibrant food scene of Perth. With knowledgeable guides leading the way, the walking tour offers a delightful opportunity to take in the city’s rich gastronomic heritage.

Exploring Local History

As the tour explores the various food offerings, it also provides insights into Perth’s local history and landmarks. The guide expertly weaves in fascinating anecdotes about the city’s past, bringing the streets to life.

Participants learn about:

The heritage-listed Perth Town Hall , a grand 19th-century building that once served as the center of civic life

The bustling Hay Street , home to many of Perth’s pioneering businesses and storefronts from the early 20th century

The significance of the Swan River , which has been integral to the city’s development and Indigenous culture

The changing architecture and urban design that reflect Perth’s evolution over the decades

Through these historical tidbits, the food tour offers a well-rounded experience that goes beyond just sampling delectable dishes.

Discovering Hidden Gems

Several of the tour’s highlights involve discovering hidden culinary gems that even locals may not know about.

The guide leads participants to lesser-known cafes , bakeries, and specialty food shops tucked away on side streets. Visitors uncover artisanal treats like delicate flaky pastries, handcrafted chocolates, and small-batch jams and preserves.

The tour also explores vibrant international influences in Perth’s diverse food scene, from authentic Malaysian curries to classic Scottish meat pies.

With the guide’s expertise, participants gain an insider’s perspective on the city’s thriving but sometimes obscure food culture, unearthing flavors and stories that provide a unique taste of Perth .

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Tour Suitable for Individuals With Dietary Restrictions?

The tour is not suitable for individuals with dietary restrictions, as it is not designed to accommodate vegans. However, guests may be able to substitute certain items if they have other dietary needs, so they should check with the tour operator.

Can the Tour Be Customized for Private Groups?

Yes, the tour can be customized for private groups. The tour operator offers private tours that can be tailored to the group’s preferences and dietary requirements. This provides a more personalized experience for the participants.

Are There Any Discounts Available for Students or Seniors?

The tour operator offers discounts for students and seniors. Customers aged 12 and older are welcome, and there’s a 5% discount for students and 10% discount for seniors with valid ID presented upon booking.

Is Parking Available Near the Meeting Point?

Parking is available near the meeting point, Cafe 80 next to the Perth Art Gallery. There are several public parking lots within a short walking distance that can accommodate participants before the start of the food walking tour.

How Often Do the Tours Run During the Week?

The tours run daily, with multiple start times available. Participants can check the schedule and book their preferred tour time when making their reservation through the tour provider’s website or by contacting them directly.

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The Perth Guided Food Walking Tour offers an immersive culinary experience , showcasing the city’s vibrant food scene. With knowledgeable guides leading the way, visitors can savor a diverse array of traditional Scottish dishes and local specialties while exploring notable landmarks and hidden gems. This intimate tour, limited to 8 participants, provides a delightful journey for foodies seeking to discover Perth’s rich gastronomic heritage .

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Spaceport’s ‘floating road’ over peat bog nearly finished ahead of test launch

Orbex aims to carry out its first launch from the ‘carbon neutral’ spaceport in northern scotland next year..

A “floating road” being built over a peat bog near the north coast of Scotland is nearly complete, as work to transform the site into a spaceport for satellite launches continues.

The Forres-based company Orbex aims to carry out its first launch from the “carbon neutral” spaceport next year, using a 19-metre-long rocket powered by liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

Journalists were shown progress on the Sutherland Spaceport site last week, with the company emphasising the steps they are taking to minimise the impact on the environment.

However, next month, Highland Council is to issue a planning decision on a key part of the spaceport’s design: two radio antennae on the summit of the nearby mountain, Ben Loyal.

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Much of the spaceport site on the A’Mhoine peninsula is protected peatland and the access road has been built by gradually placing a mesh frame and stone on top of the wet peat until it forms a firm enough surface, becoming a so-called “floating road”.

This allows the hydrology of the peat bog to continue underneath the road.

Work to carry out the UK’s first satellite launch continues at the rival SaxaVord Spaceport in Shetland, where German company RFA is testing its rocket engines.

Last month, an explosion led to the destruction of the lower stage of RFA’s first rocket, meaning they are waiting for a replacement to arrive.

But despite the incident at SaxaVord, staff at Orbex played down suggestions there is a race to carry out the first successful space launch from UK soil.

Lesley Still, chief of spaceport operations, said they hope to carry out a test launch next year and excitement is building within the team.

She said: “No race for us, I think we’ll be ready when we’re ready.

“If that happens to be first, then great – but it is not something that we’re striving for. Rushing doesn’t help.”

If the first two test launches go well, she said their frequency would build in 2026, with Orbex ultimately aiming to do 12 launches each year.

She said: “We’re the only company that owns both a spaceport and the launch vehicle, we need all the capacity that we have here for our own business.

“We’re not concerned about competition out there – there’s a huge market.

“We wish the others well.”

She said it is “exciting” that Scottish satellites could soon be launching on rockets made in Forres from a spaceport in the Highlands.

John May, spaceport programme manager at Orbex, said the one-and-a-half-mile stretch of floating road is 90% finished.

Next, the company will begin work on the integration hangar, where satellites are mated with the assembled rocket, as well as the launch pad.

Building on the peatland near several protected sites of scientific interest (SSIs) has led to many challenges and the company will have to halt operations if rare birds are found nesting on site.

Mr May said locals referred to part of the peninsula as “death valley” because it is so boggy sheep would get stuck there while grazing.

Mr May said the road is a “moving, breathing beast” – after vehicles go across the causeway it can sink several inches.

In order to reduce wear and tear on the surface, Orbex pauses traffic for 30 minutes each time a truck uses the road.