Our Epic 10-Day Road Trip Adventure in Scotland
Old Man of Storr at sunrise and quite possibly my favorite photo from the entire trip
My husband, Tim, and I got married in May 2021. It was the busiest year for weddings and an even crazier time in our lives. So it wasn’t until August 2022, nearly a year and a half later, that we embarked on our belated honeymoon. And given the delay, we knew we had to make it EPIC.
As our plane descended into Glasgow, the clouds gently parted to reveal verdant hills and mountains illuminated by rays of light. I couldn’t resist putting on my headphones and listening to the Skye Boat Song made popular by the TV show Outlander — you know the one — and maybe it was the ultimate cliche, but I’ll be honest…it fit the vibes perfectly.
My eyes glued to the window, watching the sun set from the plane, I felt a sense of magic exuding from this ancient landscape. It was the land of kings and queens, of folklore and legend, of battles and castles. It wasn’t exactly a relaxing beach resort honeymoon, but I don’t think a trip like that would’ve filled us with the same sense of adventure, anyway.
Without further ado, let me take you on our journey. I’ll share our entire 10-day road trip itinerary, including where we ate, where we stayed and what we would’ve done differently so that you can really make the most out of your own trip to beautiful Scotland!
Itinerary Overview
This itinerary will cover 10 total days in Scotland, not including travel days. We rented a car and stayed in hotels and Airbnbs throughout Scotland.
Here is what we covered at-a-glance:
1 night in Glasgow
3 nights in Fort William
3 nights on the Isle of Skye
1 night in Aviemore
3 nights in Edinburgh
Car Rental in Scotland
We rented through Sixt — located at the Glasgow airport — and the pickup was fast and convenient. I recommend planning to travel to a hotel fairly close to the car rental pickup to give yourself some time to get used to driving on the opposite side of the road. It felt a little funny at first and my husband did all the driving. But, I would NOT recommend driving into any busy areas right off the bat — there are a lot of roundabouts in Scotland and the road signs and rules are a bit different from the U.S. so just give yourself a bit of leeway especially after a long and tiring overnight flight.
What to Wear
We went in mid-August which meant temperatures were fairly mild and pleasant although slightly rainy (but rain is to be expected on any given day). Our trip was focused on a variety of activities, including a mix of hikes in the Scottish Highlands as well as a few days in towns and cities. So, I brought a mix of hiking outfits such as leggings, fleeces, athletic tank tops and long sleeve shirts as well as a simple black skirt, linen dress, black jeans and a few tops to mix and match for nice dinners, sightseeing, museums, and touring castles. The overall vibe in Scotland is very chill and I never felt underdressed or out of place with what I wore.
One absolute must is to bring 1-2 rain jackets that you’ve properly waterproofed ahead of the trip. It rained nearly every day of our trip. I’d also recommend boots that are waterproof or weather resistant. I also brought a pair of water resistant hiking pants that came in handy.
Finally, if you’re planning on scaling some of the bigger mountains such as the infamous Ben Nevis, you’ll need a puffy jacket and a beanie because the mountaintops get quite chilly. I was in full blown winter gear on top of the Ben!
Overall, for the majority of the trip, my uniform was leggings, a fleece, and a rain coat (either on me or close at hand). Once we got to Edinburgh, the weather was milder and sunnier and I got away with short sleeves and skirts in the daytime.
Day 0: Arrival
🏨 Gleddoch Golf & Spa Resort
Gleddoch Golf & Spa Resort
Today was our arrival day! Our flight was delayed so instead of arriving in the afternoon, we missed our connecting flight from London to Glasgow and got to our hotel in the evening. We were deliriously tired and jet lagged, so to be honest with you, we passed right out.
Therefore, Glasgow was a mere overnight stay before setting off on our adventure. Typically on these kinds of trips, I allow one day of simply traveling and anticipating potential delays like this, so I’m officially considering this day zero!
We stayed at the lovely Gleddoch Golf & Spa Resort due to its proximity to the airport (just a 10 minute drive) so that Tim could ease into driving on the opposite side of the road (he did so beautifully with only one or two sleep-deprived moments of panic). Furthermore, this hotel was near Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, for which we wanted an early start the next morning.
Day 1: Glasgow to Fort William
🏨 Clan Macduff Hotel
We woke up early in the morning and had some breakfast at the quirky Vault 94 Atomic Diner. It was our first official Scottish breakfast and we were not disappointed one bit.
Dumbarton Castle
From there, we walked over to check out Dumbarton Castle, which is situated en route to Loch Lomond and we therefore decided to quickly stop by. It has over 1,500 years of recorded history and is known for being a royal residence in the Middle Ages. Notably, it was used to imprison William Wallace (ahem…Braveheart!) during the Wars of Independence, and was once a refuge for Mary Queen of Scots in 1548. It also sits on top of a 350 million-year-old volcanic rock.
Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park
Hiking Conic Hill in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park
Next up, we went to Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park to do one of its most iconic hikes — Conic Hill. It’s a 3.5 mile loop with 1,174 feet of elevation gain and has stunning views of the countryside all around.
Luss
Village of Luss
On the western shore of Loch Lomond, we found ourselves in the picturesque village of Luss for some delicious fish and chips (Tim’s favorite). Luss has a ton of rich history dating back to the medieval times, with the current buildings dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries.
Kilchurn Castle
Kilchurn Castle
Along our route, we also stopped by Kilchurn Castle, which is one of the most photographed castles in Scotland. Built in the mid-1400s but abandoned in the 1700s, it almost totally deserted and some very feisty cows seemed unpleased by our arrival! However, be sure you keep driving to view the castle with the lake in the foreground — I made the mistake of jumping out to view it from the walkway versus the more popular vantage point.
Fort William
Finally, we were off to Fort William which would be our home base for the next three nights. Many of the hotels in Scotland, especially near the countryside or the highlands will have a restaurant within — and it’s often quite good! So for dinner this evening, we tucked into some delicious seafood at the Clan Macduff hotel in Fort William.
Day 2: Fort William
🏨 Clan Macduff Hotel
If you love adventuring in nature, Fort William will be your jam as it’s often referred to as the outdoor capital of the UK.
Steall Waterfall
Steall Waterfall
Our first day in Fort William began with an epic hike to Steall Waterfall. If you have more time, you can do a longer version called Ring of Steall. Hiking in this area gave us our first taste of the infamous biting midge, which I’ve since learned are at their worst in July and August. Nevertheless, the hike was gorgeous and not too strenuous, and the landscape absolutely blew us away. Steall Falls is also a Harry Potter film location, so if you’re a fan, I’d highly recommend rewatching the Goblet of Fire before going ;)
After our hike, we stopped for lunch at a Michelin-star cafe in Fort William that was aptly named Rain. The soup, baked goods, and tea really hit the spot after a day of rainy weather hiking!
Glencoe Valley
Three Sisters of Glencoe
We then set off on our next hike, located in the incredibly beautiful Glencoe Valley. Coire Gabhail or The Lost Valley is about 3.9 miles with 1,115 feet of elevation gain. If there’s rain in the forecast (and there probably will be rain, whether it’s in the forecast or not) mind the slippery rocks and be sure to wear grippy, waterproof boots. It can definitely be a little bit treacherous in the rain. Despite that, this was easily one of the most incredible hikes of my life, so I’d encourage you to mark it as non-negotiable on your itinerary!
We ended our evening with a dinner in downtown Fort William, but because everywhere was super busy we ate at a pub that was kind of mediocre so I won’t recommend it here. Just make sure you’ve booked your dinner reservations at least a few days in advance during Scotland’s busier seasons!
Corpach Shipwreck
After dinner, we had a bit of energy left for a stroll so we went to check out the Corpach shipwreck — also called the Old Boat of Cool — about 5 minutes outside of Fort William. On a clear day, you can see Ben Nevis, the tallest mountain in the United Kingdom, looming in the distance. It felt like an intriguing hidden gem, not to mention a great spot for some photos.
Day 3: Fort William
🏨 Clan Macduff Hotel
After giving ourselves a little time to get over the jet lag, it was time for sh*t to get real. My husband is an avid mountain biker and he decided to go mountain biking at the Nevis Range Mountain Resort. Meanwhile, I had my sights set on the highest peak in the UK — Ben Nevis.
Hiking Ben Nevis
The route I took was the Ben Nevis Mountain Track, which is the most straightforward and accessible route that you can take. Since I was doing an incredibly difficult solo hike in a foreign country, I felt like this version would still be quite the accomplishment!
A few notes on the Ben:
This route was about 10 miles and 4,402 feet of elevation gain and it took me about 5 hours to complete.
I did this hike in mid-August, and the top was cold, wet, and windy. At the start of the hike I was wearing a tank top and light pants, and at the top I was wearing every layer imaginable (base layer, puffy jacket, rain coat, and hat). Bring your layers, especially waterproof gear, to stay safe and warm in these conditions.
It’s important to check the Mountain Forecast website or Mountain Weather Information Service to make sure it’s safe to go or pick the best weather window if you have that flexibility. When I went, the chance of cloud free munros (aka mountains above 3,000 ft) was only 30%. It’s possible and fine to do it despite having no visibility at the top (as you’ll see in the photos), but if you’re able to pick a day with better visibility, I’d opt for that!
Finally, please bring a backpack with plenty of room to pack out your trash. Remember that organic waste like banana and orange peels are still trash and won’t just go away on their own, and there was an obscene amount of this on this trail. Ben Nevis is extremely popular among tourists visiting Scotland, so it’s more important than ever for all of us to keep it looking beautiful.
After that, we were both starving so we went to The Tavern Restaurant in downtown Fort William and got some absolutely delicious haggis, neeps, and tatties as well as Shephard’s pie and our very first tasting of the UK’s infamous sticky toffee pudding. It was easily one of my favorite meals. I still think about it to this day…
Day 4: Fort William to Isle of Skye
🏨 Airbnb near Portree
Today, we had to say goodbye to Fort William and head to the Isle of Skye.
Jacobite Steam Train aka Hogwarts Express
Jacobite Steam Train
As we set off on the next leg of our road trip, our first stop was to see the real-life Harry Potter train in the Scottish Highlands! The Jacobite Steam Train departs near Fort William twice daily. You can take a scenic train ride or simply visit the Glenfinnan Viaduct to watch it pass.
If you want to ride the train, be sure to book your tickets in advance because they will sell out! The train will take you to the fishing port of Mallaig where you’ll have time to explore for 2 hours before heading back to Fort William.
If you’re looking to get the epic shot of the train passing, do a bit of research to see exactly what time the train will be visible knowing that it only passes here twice a day! Allocate PLENTY of time for parking and hiking up to the viewpoint (which is a relatively easy hike unless you are sprinting while carrying all of your camera gear…spoken from personal experience).
When visiting the Glenfinnan Viaduct, be sure to walk around and also check out the Glenfinnan Monument dedicated to the Highlanders that fought in the 1745 Jacobite Rising.
Then we headed off on our drive to Skye, and on the way we stopped by Invegarry Castle for a picnic lunch.
Loch Ness
Because it was a very short detour, we visited Fort Augustus, a settlement at the south-west end of Loch Ness. Spoiler alert: we did not see the Loch Ness monster but we didn’t stay too long to look, so maybe you’ll have better odds!
We were pooped by the time we got to Skye and hadn’t gotten lucky with dinner reservations, so we hit up the Co-op grocery store for some cold potato salad, cooked chicken, tomatoes and cheese and…that was our cozy little meal as we settled into our Airbnb.
Day 5: Isle of Skye
🏨 Airbnb near Portree
The next morning, our first order of business was to try and find breakfast. Now, one thing we learned was that places simply don’t open very early on Skye and due to staffing issues, even though a place might look open on Google or TripAdvisor, it might be closed anyways. We managed to find a random food truck near our Airbnb that served really yummy tomato soup and simple turkey and cheese sandwiches and coffee so that was our breakfast this morning. However! It was fuel enough for our first adventure.
Kilt Rock
Kilt Rock from the drone’s perspective
Our first stop was Kilt Rock, which is a famous geological formation that looks like a Scottish kilt given that it cascades from the top of the cliffs and into the sea below. It was absolutely gorgeous and is a simple, quick pullover to a walkable viewpoint.
Duntulm Castle
We then visited Duntulm Castle, which was built during a time of intense feuds between the MacLeod and MacDonald clans. The castle has a bloody history and is said to be one of the most haunted places on the Isle of Skye!
Skye Museum of Island Life
Skye Museum of Island Life
Given that it was a bit rainy that morning, we decided to find something more or less indoors. We therefore headed to the Skye Museum of Island Life, which depicted over 100 years of history of life on Skye. It has seven thatched cottages that you can explore, four of which are furnished similar to how they would have been at that time. It was also here that I officially met face-to-face with my very first hairy highland coo!
When visiting, you cannot miss the Kilmuir cemetery where you can visit the grave of Flora MacDonald. This incredible woman was known for helping Charles Edward Stuart evade government troops after the Battle of Culloden in April 1746. I later learned that The Skye Boat Song is actually about Bonnie Prince Charlie’s escape and the role that Flora MacDonald played, and listening to it took on a whole new meaning when I realized it was portraying real historic events!
The Quiraing
The Quiraing
Next up, we decided to brave the rainy weather to visit a major bucket list place on Skye.
The Quiraing is one of the most beautiful and iconic hikes located on the Isle of Skye, the second largest island in Scotland. In old Norse, its name translated to "misty isle" or "cloud island" and you can see why.
The Quiraing Circuit is a 4.3 mile hike with 1,354 feet of elevation gain. The trail is relatively easy to navigate until the last section, where it follows along the edge of a cliff and down through a marshy swamp land. However, overall we didn't find it to be particularly challenging despite the "hard" rating on AllTrails.
The Quiraing was rumoured to be a meeting place of fairies and home to dragons who defended this land from invaders. Dinosaurs once roamed this place as evident by their footprints in the nearby beaches, and islanders hid their cattle from Vikings who came raiding long ago. As the mist ebbed and flowed among the blackened, craggy peaks I definitely felt like some fantastic beast would come swooping down at any moment. Alas, the only creatures we saw thriving throughout this land were — you guessed it — midges.
Not fun and completely boring fact: my dentist called me when we had reached the top of the ridge and jerked me back to the reality that someday this magical trip would come to an end. I nearly threw my phone off the mountain.
We were absolutely and completely beat after this day! Thankfully, we had made reservations at the lovely Chargrill Restaurant in Portree and we had a well-deserved, delicious meal to end our day.
Day 6: Isle of Skye
🏨 Airbnb near Portree
Old Man of Storr
Old Man of Storr
One of the highlights was the absolutely magical hike to see the Old Man of Storr illuminated by the first rays of sun. Said to be the most dramatic landscape in Britain, the Trotternish Ridge stretches on for 19 miles across the Isle of Skye. The Old Man of Storr’s three jagged pinnacles were created by ancient volcanic activity, and it’s considered a landmark of the Trotternish Ridge.
We weren’t having a ton of luck with the weather on Skye, and I saw a brief bit of sunshine forecasted right around sunrise. While Tim snoozed, I got in the car and drove myself about 15 minutes to the trailhead from our Airbnb for one of the most mind blowing hikes during our time in Scotland. Once I got to the gorgeous viewpoint (pictured above), I turned around as the rain and clouds began to settle in for the afternoon.
While this may seem or look remote, I felt completely safe doing this alone (and truly, Scotland would be a fantastic place overall for solo travelers). The trail was well-marked and plenty of other hikers and tourists began to trickle in as it got later in the morning. I also had cell reception and access to my AllTrails map the entire way.
Castle Ewen and the Fairy Glen
Fairy Glen
Once Tim was awake, we headed to an otherworldly and unusual little place called Castle Ewen — which isn’t a castle at all, but a rock formation shaped like one. It’s located within a Fairy Glen, with small hills and dips covered by greenery.
We struggled to find lunch today as most places were either closed due to staffing issues or not quite open yet — so, we stopped by a coffee shop near the Dunvegan Castle (our next destination) and had some coffee and cake.
Dunvegan Castle
Dunvegan Castle
Dunvegan Castle is the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland, having served as the home to the Chiefs of Clan Macleod for over 800 years! The relics from this castle were truly incredible, including family heirlooms like the Dunvegan Cup, Fairy Flag, and Sir Rory Mor’s Horn. There were also tons of relics that used to belong to Prince Charles and Flora MacDonald which were fascinating to see now that we knew so much of their history.
Fairy Pools
Another bucket list hike on the Isle of Skye — the Fairy Pools. It’s a 2.6 mile out-and-back trail that I thought was fairly easy. It was rainy and the visibility was rather low, but the views were still stunning. If you’re lucky and have better weather, the water in the pools should be a beautiful blue color.
Portree
Portree Harbour
We finished our day by walking around the colorful capitol town of the Isle of Skye — Portree. It has a beautiful picturesque harbor and is a popular home base for most people visiting Skye. We had dinner at an incredible restaurant called Dulse and Brose. My favorite was their soup of the day, which was a pea and leek soup as well as a bruschetta with wild mushrooms. We both couldn’t resist another fish and chips meal at this point in the trip, and it was absolutely fantastic here.
Our last evening at the Isle of Skye was coming to an end. There were several things we simply ran out of time but I would highly recommend you try to squeeze in, maybe with an extra day:
Catch sunset at the Neist Point Lighthouse
Visit Skye Weavers for some handmade woolen goods
Tour and whiskey tasting at Talker Distillery
Go on a boat tour to spot wildlife
Day 7: Isle of Skye to Aviemore
🏨 Cairngorm Hotel
Today, we left the Isle of Skye and continued to Aviemore, which was a perfect home base to explore Cairngorms National Park.
Our original plan was to drive along the Bealach na Bà into Applecross and then drive to Torridon to explore. However, driving around Skye for the past few days left us feeling a bit tired so we essentially made a beeline to our destination. So, if you allow yourself a bit more time then you may be more keen to do this on your trip!
Eilean Donan Castle
Eilean Donan Castle
Not long after leaving Skye, we stopped by one of the most beautiful castles that we had visited — the Eilean Donan Castle. While it was first inhabited around the 6th century, the first fortified castle was built in the mid-13th. Its primarily associated with the Mackenzie clan and was nearly destroyed during the Jacobite uprising of 1719.
A pro-tip: make sure you pull over at the overlook before actually crossing the bridge to the castle in order to get epic photos of it from afar!
Culloden Battlefield
Culloden
Driving past Inverness, we couldn’t pass this monumental site on our trip without stopping to pay homage. The Battle of Culloden was fought on April 16, 1746 and its outcome — the defeat of the Jacobite army by the British —changed the course of history. In less than one hour, around 1,300 men were killed. It led to a period of suppression and the dismantling of the clan system. It felt incredibly somber to wander the battlefield, which is marked by flags that represent the front lines of both armies. There are also markers indicating graves of those who had fallen, and you can also visit the graves of soldiers beside a memorial cairn in the center. I would highly recommend a visit.
Cairngorms National Park
Loch an Eilein Castle
After arriving in Aviemore, we went on a short, easy evening stroll in Cairngorms National Park. The trail was called Loch an Eilein Loop — it circled around this lovely little lake with the ruins of a castle in the middle.
Finally, we checked into our gorgeous hotel and tucked into a warm meal before some much needed rest.
Day 8: Aviemore to Edinburgh
🏨 Best Western King's Manor
After having a delightful breakfast at our hotel, we set off for Dunkeld — this is a little town en route to Edinburgh (our final stop) that’s known for excellent mountain biking. If you *don’t* have a husband who insisted on heading out early to go mountain biking that morning, I would recommend sticking around and visiting the Cairngorm reindeer herd. It’s Britain’s only free-ranging herd of reindeer. You need to make reservations for a hill walk to see the reindeer in advance at the linked website.
Dunkeld
Dunkfeld
While Tim mountain biked, I explored the historic little town of Dunkeld and discovered many of its hidden gems. I walked around its main street and perused the many local art shops, bakeries, a community orchard and an old cathedral. ARAN Bakery was positively charming and had incredible pastries, quiche, coffee and tea.
The Birnam Oak
The Birnam Oak
I also visited some of the oldest, biggest trees I’ve ever seen — the Birnam Oak and Birnam Sycamore. The Birnam Oak is at least 600 years old and is the last remaining tree from the Birnam Wood, which was featured in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. In fact, the tree was thought to be matured by the time Shakespeare visited this area in 1589. It truly felt like I was among ancient, magical, medieval trees.
Then, Tim and I met back up to grab sandwiches at a delicious Dunkeld deli and shortly afterwards we set off for Edinburgh.
Arrival in Edinburgh
Victoria Street (Photo taken November 2024)
We arrived in beautiful Edinburgh in the early evening and had a few hours of daylight to explore. We instantly overwhelmed by all of the incredible gothic architecture, lively sounds of playing bagpipes, and the looming Edinburgh Castle in the distance. After spending so much time in the quaint and relatively quiet countryside, being back in a big city was like a culture shock!
We grabbed a super quick meal at a place called Oink which served super good pulled pork rolls. We strolled the Royal Mile, visited the Greyfriars Kirkyard Cemetery and walked down Victoria Street which inspired J.K. Rowling’s Diagon Alley from Harry Potter. After that, we headed back to the hotel to crash.
Day 9: Edinburgh
🏨 Best Western King's Manor
We started our first full day in Edinburgh with an incredible breakfast at the Southern Cross Cafe on Cockburn Street. I’d also highly recommend popping by the Milkman, especially if you’re able to grab a set inside its cozy interior for a specialty coffee. This street has a ton of cute shops with various knick knacks to bring home. We also strategically picked this area for breakfast due to its proximity to our first attraction…
The Real Mary King’s Close
One of the quintessential features of Edinburgh are its closes: short, narrow alleys that often lead to courtyards or individual buildings where people live. These date back to Medieval Scotland and served as access points for residents who lived off of the Royal Mile. There are many closes to explore, but one of the most iconic is The Real Mary King’s Close, which is actually located underground.
You need to book a guided tour to visit this close, but the historic reenactment and storytelling by our guide really helped paint a picture of life in 17th century Edinburgh, from the living conditions to the spread of plague.
Museum of Edinburgh
This free museum is located right on the historic Royal Mile and has a ton of historic artifacts that are part of Edinburgh’s long storied history, including the collar and bowl of Greyfriars Bobby. While here, don’t miss Bakehouse Close which is featured in Season 3 of Outlander!
Holyrood Palace
Holyrood Palace
A designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, Holyrood Palace is the official Scottish residence of the British monarch and has been a royal residence for over 500 years.
Dean Village and the Water of Leith
Dean Village
The Water of Leith Walkway is one of the most idyllic places to get some peace and quiet in the bustling city of Edinburgh. The amount of peace you feel wandering around here is mind boggling.
While Tim and I just stopped by briefly to see the iconic overlook from the bridge, I had a chance to return to Edinburgh in November 2024 where I did this little stroll. I started at Dean Village, where I felt like I was transported into a little fairytale town full of brightly colored buildings.
I walked across the bridge and to the left, down Dean Path, where I could see the village from below, or down Hawthornbank Lane. There are so many beautiful perspectives from below. Then, I walked back and made my way down Miller Row towards St. Bernard’s Well. This is a stunning circular temple with a statue of Hygeia, the goddess of health, and is said to be a natural spring that has healing powers. It was discovered in 1760. This well was also mentioned in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, who wrote the following when describing the character of Dr. Victor Frankenstein: “The beauty and regularity of the new town of Edinburgh, its romantic castle and its environs, the most delightful in the world, Arthur’s Seat, St. Bernard’s Well, and the Pentland Hills…filled him with cheerfulness and admiration.” If you’re not in absolute awe of how cool Scotland is at this point, then I don’t know what to tell you!
For dinner near Dean Village or Stockbridge area, I recommend Nok’s Kitchen, which had absolutely delicious Thai food (recommend making reservations in advance).
Day 10: Edinburgh
🏨 Best Western King's Manor
We started our last day in Edinburgh with a breakfast at the Painted Rooster and it was absolutely delicious!
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle
We dedicated a few hours to touring the absolutely epic Edinburgh Castle! This is a must see when visiting Edinburgh as it’s one of the oldest fortified places in Europe. It’s home to Scotland’s crown jewels and used to be a royal residence, military garrison, prison and fortress. Tickets for entry can be purchased online and it’s recommended to buy them ahead of time. The tickets also have timed entry within half hour increments starting at 9:30am, so if you have a specific time AND day that you want to visit, definitely book in advance.
Afterwards, we stopped by Thomas J Walls Coffee for some afternoon tea and cake.
Explore the City
The rest of the day we spent exploring! We visited the Scott Monument, walked around Princes Street Gardens, popped into an old antique shop, perused a cozy bookstore, and simply soaked up the sights of being in this old, gorgeous city. Edinburgh is incredibly walkable and I felt like we covered a lot of ground in a short amount of time.
We finished our day with a delightful dinner at Auld Hundred, where I couldn’t resist my last (at least, for now) serving of haggis, neeps, and tatties.
If you have a bit of extra time, don’t miss these additional activities and attractions in Edinburgh! I was able to squeeze in a few of these on my second trip to Edinburgh:
Hike Arthur’s Seat, a 2.7 mile loop with incredible views of the city that sits on top of an extinct volcano
Watch the sun set from Conic Hill
Eat at Sheep Heid Inn, one of Scotland’s oldest pubs
Visit Elephant House, considered the birthplace of Harry Potter
Tour the National Museum of Scotland, a free-entry museum
Visit the free Writers’ Museum
Things I Would Do Differently
If you follow this entire itinerary, I guarantee that you will have an absolutely incredible time — I often think about our adventures in Scotland with a sense of deep nostalgia and can honestly say that I left part of my heart there. There are honestly very few things I would change considering the amount of time we had to work with. However, there were certainly a few things I wish I could’ve done differently or just advise you to keep in mind!
Hairy coos near the Skye Museum of Island Life
This trip was definitely a lot of driving and it was somewhat exhausting to constantly pull over and let other cars pass by when driving around the highlands. I definitely wish we would’ve spent more time on the Isle of Skye — it was my favorite in terms of hiking and landscapes — to give ourselves a bit of a break from the drive.
To contradict the prior statement, I do wish we would’ve driven the Bealach Na Bà but we skipped it because…well…we were tired of driving! There are apparently many more free-roaming Highland cows (aka the hairy coos) along this drive. On that note, I was surprised we saw so few hairy coos and wish we could’ve seen more!
Again, if we had more time, I do wish we made time to explore more of the islands. Harris and Lewis, Iona, Islay, Staffa, the Outer Hebrides, and the Orkney Islands were all places we simply did not have time for, but perhaps next time!
Be more careful planning meals. The Isle of Skye, for instance, had few breakfast and lunch options. For one, I would recommend booking a hotel with breakfast provided versus an Airbnb. There were also a lot of times when we needed a reservation for dinners, and places were closed for lunch due to staffing issues. Fast food doesn’t really exist in some areas, so to avoid being hangry I would recommend packing snacks or sandwiches for the drives or hikes.
It rained quite a bit, so part of me was kicking myself for planning a trip that was nearly completely spent outdoors! But, that’s unavoidable in Scotland and kind of just comes with the territory. My biggest mistake was not properly re-waterproofing some of my rain gear before the trip. Try to have a backup plan for some indoor activities and again, give yourself more time to some areas in case your window of good weather to do certain hikes is small.
I hope you found this itinerary helpful! Leave a comment and share your thoughts or shoot me a DM on Instagram @dashaslens if you have questions. Happy adventuring!
