SCOTLAND - TOP PLACES TO VISIT AND 7-DAY ITINERARY IDEAS
Scotland is one of the countries that I have had the chance to visit several times, thus being able to check off some wonderful places and at the same time to get an idea of what this country can offer from a tourist point of view.
Many tourists compare Scotland to Iceland and characterize it as the younger sister of it. I haven't been to Iceland to confirm this theory, but I can say that from the photos, it would seem so. Only green land as far as the eye can see and few inhabited areas. You have the impression that you are in a boundless wilderness.
Unfortunately, there is only one way to visit this country without missing many tourist attractions and wild places. Namely: by car. Any other option you choose, it will limit your ability to explore and will not be able to see too many beautiful places. After all, Scotland is defined by remote places, nature and wilderness, and a visit here is usually characterized by spending a lot of time in the car.
Obviously, you can also visit beautiful places without a car, but you are limited to visiting big cities, which are not many and are not the most beautiful places you can see (with the exception of the capital, Edinburgh). However, at the end of the article, I have left some places that you can see without a car.
In this article I present the way I would spend 7 days in Scotland, in other words, a 7 day itinerary, to which you can add, if you have more time, some locations in the north of England. I have written articles about gorgeous locations there, such as the Farne Islands or Whitby.
USEFUL INFORMATION ABOUT SCOTLAND (AND THE UNITED KINGDOM IN GENERAL):
Starting April 1, 2024, in addition to a passport, to enter the country you need to apply for a permit, details here;
The local currencies are the Scottish pound and the British pound and you can pay everywhere with your card, including at parking meters or local stores;
The sockets in the United Kingdom are type G, so don't forget to buy an adapter;
Driving is on the left side of the road, and cars have the steering wheel on the right;
The Scots are known for being a bit stingy, so be prepared to skimp on the warmth you receive in your accommodation. It is best to pack a pair of thick pajamas, especially in the summer!
Prepare yourself with the right clothes and mentally for the unpredictable weather. Contrary to popular belief, it is not rain that can be the greatest enemy of a person eager to explore, but strong winds. If it comes with rain, even more so;
If you arrive in Scotland between November and March, you have a chance (small, indeed, but it exists) of seeing the aurora borealis in areas without light pollution;
Scotland is a fairly large country, and the distances between tourist attractions are large. After a few days in this country, you may feel like you've spent far too much time in the car;
Tap water is drinkable;
Scotland itinerary by car (Scotland tour in 7 days):
DAY 1 AND 2 - EDINBURGH
Visiting Edinburgh would be the way I would start exploring Scotland. Two days are enough to visit the most beautiful places and enjoy the vibe of the city. If you don't have enough time, one full day will be ok as well. I wrote a different post about Edinburgh.
After the two days spent in Edinburgh, I recommend renting a car. To find the best deal on renting a car, I recommend doing a price simulation on Skyscanner. If you want to spend only one day in Edinburgh, you can reserve the other day to visit Bass Rock Island, which is a paradise for birds. Can be reached by boat from North Berwick.
DAY 3 - FROM THE EAST COAST TO INVERNESS
On the third day we leave for Dunnottar Castle. This castle is, in fact, a ruin of a fortress from the medieval period, located on a rock by the sea. The star of this location is the absolutely gorgeous view, which can be admired both from the beach and from some viewpoints near the fortress.
After visiting this location, we make a stop in Aberdeen, at Torry Battery to admire the dolphins. Also in this city, you can serve the lunch. I have written a separate article about Aberdeen, there you will find more information about the exact location of the dolphin watching point.
The next stop of the day is New Slains Castle, which is a castle ruin. At the time of our visit, there was nothing set up there and you could enter for free. As in the case of Dunnottar, the view of the rocks falling into the sea is the star of the location. The last stop, for accommodation and dinner, and if you still have time and energy, for visiting the city of Inverness. It is a small town, which can be visited on foot in an hour, maximum two.
DAY 4- INVERNESS, LOCH GLASS AND ISLE OF SKYE
The fourth day starts with visiting the city of Inverness, if you don't manage to visit it on day 3.
The next tourist attraction is Loch Glass. It can be reached by car only until you meet a barrier/gate to a forest road. If you set the navigator, it will direct you to a private road. If you've reached the private road (you'll know it's private because there's a gate), you have to turn around and park your car at the barrier area and enjoy a one-mile walk through the forest. We were lucky enough to see both wild pigs and deer on our hike to the lake.
At the end of the day, we head to one of the most beautiful areas of Scotland, the Isle of Skye. I would choose the middle area of the island, as a base camp, such as Portree, to reach the tourist locations more easily.
DAY 5 - ISLE OF SKYE
I would dedicate the fifth day entirely to exploring the Isle of Skye, considered the most romantic island in Scotland. Although it is a very popular place and full of tourists, there are still quite a few deserted places, where you have the impression that no man has ever been. Depending on what appeals to you, you can choose what to see, my main recommendation being walking or hiking. If you have more days available, you can spend two days here.
What you can see on the Isle of Skye: - Old Man Storr; - Kilt Rock; - Quiraing walk; - Fairy Glen; - Ewen Castle; - Fairy Pool; - Dunvegan Castle; - Neist Point Lighthouse; - Talisker Beach; - Talisker Distillery; - Brother's Point;
Where to stay on the Isle of Skye:
Croft4 - two-bedroom apartment accommodation unit, which can accommodate up to 4 people. The location has parking, terrace, washing machine and barbecue area;
Home Farm Apartments - accommodation unit located in Portree, which has two-bedroom apartments that can accommodate up to 4 people;
Broadford Lodges Skye - accommodation unit located in Broadford, which has apartments that can accommodate between two and four people. It has a terrace, parking and accepts pets.
DAY 6 - LOCH NESS, GLEFINNAN VIADUCT AND OTHER PLACES
On the sixth day, you can visit Loch Ness, one of the most famous tourist destinations in Scotland. Near this lake, there is another lake, called Loch Tarff, which is worth seeing because it is a few minutes' drive away. The next stop can be at the Glefinnan Viaduct, a place that gained popularity and became a renowned tourist destination, especially after it was used as a filming location and appeared in the famous Harry Potter film series, thus attracting numerous visitors eager to see the place where some of the most memorable scenes took place. The day ends in the picturesque area of Fort William, where tourists can explore local attractions, admiring the spectacular landscapes of the Grampian Mountains. After that, the route continues with a stop at the famous shipwreck at Corpach, a place steeped in history and mystery, which offers excellent opportunities for memorable photos and a unique experience for lovers of adventure and seafaring stories.
This area will also be where you will find accommodation. If you have a larger budget for accommodation and want a unique experience, you can consider staying overnight in a Scottish castle, namely at Inverlochy Castle Hotel.
DAY 7 - TOUR TO THE SOUTH ON A 82 (NAMED THE A66 OF SCOTLAND)
Following the A82 road, we go south, towards Edinburgh. On the way, you can make a few stops to walk and explore on foot. You can leave your car in one of the car parks and take a short hike on one of the trails in Glencoe.
In the descent to the south, you can also visit Loch Lomod and/or Kilchurn Castle. Once you arrive back in Edinburgh, you can return the car and to stay more comfortable and worry-free, book your stay at one of the airport hotels.
2. Scotland itinerary without a car:
If for various reasons you cannot rent a car, there is also the option of visiting Scotland as part of organized tours. The only disadvantage is that you don't exactly choose what to visit. Obviously, the advantage is that you don't have to stress about changing accommodations or planning an itinerary.
For major cities, such as Edinburgh and Inverness, you don't need a car and can travel between them by public transport, either train or bus. After the two days spent in Edinburgh, you can go to Inverness and visit the city. From both cities you can book organized trips to various locations in the Highlands. Below are some of the options I found, but you can browse and search for more offers directly on the site:
- From Inverness: Isle of Skye and Eilean Donan Castle, tickets here;
- From Inverness: two days on Isle of skye and more locations, tickets here.
From Edinburgh, there are several options to visit:
- Loch Ness, Glencoe and other locations in the Highlands, tickets here.
- Glefinnan, Fort William, Glencoe, tickets here.
- Hogwards Express trip to Highlands, tickets here.
CONCLUSION ABOUT SCOTLAND:
This itinerary is a strictly personal choice, depending on what I liked, and from what I think, I have chosen some of the most beautiful places to visit in Scotland. There are many other places that I saw, but for strictly subjective reasons, I chose not to recommend them. I also didn't put Glasgow on the list. It is one of the cities that I did not get to visit, but if you have more time, you can put it on the list. Obviously, there are a lot of other places to see and visit, but I don't think a few months would be enough to see them all.
To be up to date with the latest posts, I invite you to subscribe to the newsletter, only your email address is required.
For more travel destinations and photos, you can follow me on Instagram.
Thank you for reading!
The photos and text are protected by copyright law. This article contains affiliate links! The author of this article is not responsible for the reader's choices, regardless of the negative or positive consequences of the actions taken by him after reading any page on this website!
コメント