A detailed guide to help you plan an amazing Scotland road trip – including a map, 8 day itinerary, a free travel planner and a ton of helpful tips!
Have a dream of going on a Scotland road trip but have no idea where to start? In this comprehensive guide I will walk you through all of the important things you need to know to plan the best Scotland road trip. Let me help you figure out what to prepare, where to go, how to drive, what to see, things to do and what to pack! Also included is my Scotland road trip map and 8 day itinerary.
Doing a Scotland road trip was one of the most incredible experiences of my life, I’m not even exaggerating a little. This experience is one for the bucket lists, so if you’re even the slightest intrigued – DO IT. I promise you won’t regret it. Its about time you explore Glasgow, Edinburgh and the Scottish highlands on the most epic Scotland road trip of your life.
Now, keep reading for my best tips on making your Scotland road trip the best one ever!
Table Of Contents
- What To Prepare For A Scotland Road Trip
- What To Pack For A Scotland Road Trip
- Tips On Driving In Scotland
- Free Printable Scotland Road Trip Planner
- Our 8 Day Scotland Road Trip Itinerary (w/map)
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What To Prepare For A Scotland Road Trip
Planning a Scotland road trip might seem overwhelming at first, but don’t worry. Let me break it all down for you and show you what and what to prepare for a Scotland road trip.
1. Research & Plan In Advance
There are an unlimited amount of beautiful things to see and do on a Scotland road trip, especially through the Scottish Highlands. Although driving around the highlands with no plan in mind sounds very zen, it’s not the best idea if your travel time or money is in any way limited – as it is for most people. The distances are big, and if you want to spend your time smart on your Scotland road trip you should have a plan.
Do proper research and figure out what things you and your travel companions want to prioritize, and plot it all into Google Maps. Play around with different driving routes and see what you can make time for on your Scotland road trip. Try not to stress, you’re already halfway there by reading this guide.
2. Rent A Car
Unless you’re doing a tour that includes transportation, getting around the outer parts of Scotland is hard without renting a car. There is honestly no way around it: Rent that car. As they may literally run out of cars, I recommend booking a rental car in advance, especially during peak season. I suggest making sure you’re booking one without a stick shift if you’re not used to it from before. Driving on narrow Scottish roads and on the left might be enough for most people, you shouldn’t have to worry about learning to clutch on top of it all.
3. Schedule In Extra Time
… in case something happens. You may get ill, have an accident of some sort, or your car may break down. Our itinerary was pretty full, but we were always within reach of our final destination (driving time wise). We also had an extra buffer since we were planning on s few days in Edinburgh before flying home. You should also get travel insurance, for the same reasons.
4. Book Accommodation In Advance
Although Scotland is a popular destination to visit, accommodation is still limited in the rural areas and I recommend you always book in advance. Not only to make sure you actually have a bed to sleep in, but for your wallets sake as well. It can get very expensive. With websites like Booking.com you can get free cancellation on a bunch of places, which makes it easy to change your mind and book another place if your plans change.
5. Take Prints & Prep Your Phone
Cell service can be very unstable in certain parts of the highlands. Even though there are hotels and restaurants with wifi every now and then, do yourself a favor and do some prep work instead of stressing with getting wifi every time you stop your car. Get prints or screenshots of your driving route, important addresses, hotel names & numbers, nearby restaurants, etc. I also recommend creating a travel map on Google Maps and downloading it on your phone so you can use it offline – game changer! You should also download some playlists on Spotify for the drive.
What To Pack For A Scotland Road Trip
Deciding on what to pack for a Scotland road trip can be tricky. The content of your packing list will obviously vary with what season you’re traveling in and what activities you’ll be doing. I’ll leave the detailed packing list up to you, but here are some general tips on what to pack for a Scotland road trip to get you started:
Clothes
- Pack a selection of everyday outfits depending on season, preferably layers. Beware that similar to Norway and Ireland, the temperatures in Scotland vary a lot even in summer. So make sure to bring some warm layers like a neutral wool cardigan or knitted sweater you can wear over most outfits. Comfort is key for driving and experiencing the highlands, but I would also include a few nicer outfits for city life in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
- Bring sportswear like tights and t-shirts if you’re hiking or doing other outdoor activities during summer. Hiking The Old Man of Storr we saw a young woman wearing a dress and the highest wedges I’ve ever seen.. Needless to say, she didn’t get far.
- A waterproof jacket is a must in all seasons. I brought my favorite yellow raincoat, but although it looks cure in pictures it wasn’t ideal for active days. The lack of ventilation made it unsuitable for hiking, so if I suggest you learn from my mistakes and bring a jacket in a more breathable and windproof material if you’re planning on being active like us. The Arc’teryx Beta SL Hybrid Jacket is a great option. If you’re traveling during winter you should consider bringing a warm parka as well, like the Fjällräven Barents Parka which is both wind- and waterproof.
- Comfortable outdoor trousers is also practical for outdoor activities. An elastic pair like the Fjällräven Abisko Trekking Tights are great for the warmer months, while the Fjällräven Vidda Pro Trousers are better for the colder months.
- Gloves, a scarf and a warm hat are a must for the colder seasons.
- Bring wool thermals in the colder months, or if its a cold summer.
Shoes
- I recommend packing one pair of sneakers or other comfortable shoes that go with most of your outfits. The kind you would wear on a regular basis back home.
- If you like to dress up when in the city you can consider packing one fancier pair, but you could always just use your sneakers for that too.
- Pack one pair of hiking shoes depending on season, weather conditions and your personal preferences. Preferably ones in a breathable and waterproof material, and with a good grip. I know a lot of people prefer hiking boots due to their ankle support, like these waterproof Timberland boots. I personally find hiking boots bulky and heavy to wear and if you’re anything like me I recommend trying lighter shoes, like these waterproof Salomon X Ultra hiking shoes with Gore-Tex.
- Consider bringing warm boots if you’re visiting Scotland in winter. It can be a real struggle to find winter boots which are both warm, waterproof and stylish. The nicest ones I’ve found so far are the Timberland Jayne Waterproof Boots and the Timberland Jayne Waterproof Teddy Fleece Boots.
Electronics & Misc.
- Don’t forget to pack a durable and travel sized umbrella. I mean, it’s Scotland after all.
- A powerful Powerbank is a must for charging your devices on the move.
- A power adapter for UK outlets is always clever to pack.
- Bring a reusable bottle for the road trip and your hiking adventures. Or even better, a Camelbak – my personal favorite hydration system. (PS: The tap water in Scotland is safe to drink).
- A daypack for hiking and day trips is a must. The ever-faithful Fjällräven Kånken will do on day trips, but for hiking I suggest you get a more comfortable daypack like the Osprey Daylite Plus. Especially if you’re bringing heavy camera equipment. Don’t forget to pack a rain cover!
- A camera with extra batteries and memory cards. I recommend a light travel camera with interchangeable lenses and the option of shooting in RAW. My favorite is the Sony a6500 camera with the 30mm 1.4 lens for portraits and detail shots, and the 16mm 1.4 lens for landscapes.
- Waterproof dry bags are great to pack in any season to protect clothes, electronics and other items. A must if you’re bringing camera equipment while hiking in the rain.
Also Read: How To Avoid Overpacking
6 Tips For Driving In Scotland
When our Scotland road trip was getting closer, I remember becoming more and more anxious about how I would handle driving in Scotland. Every travel blog I read warned me about narrow roads and low cell service, but none of that sounded unfamiliar to me. One of the perks of growing up in northern Norway, I guess? But the one thing that stressed the hell out of me about driving in Scotland was the fact that I knew I had to drive on the left. Sounds familiar? Keep reading for my best tips on how to succeed when driving in Scotland.
1. Don’t Stress About Driving On The Left
I’ll admit, driving on the left side was super weird at first. But I swear you get used to it pretty fast! I suggest doing a practice drive when picking up the rental car, it helps a lot. The thing is that the cars are adapted for driving on the left, so as a driver you’ll sit on the right and use your left hand to change the gear. In other words, everything is opposite ‘your normal’, making the process surprisingly logical. (The exception is the pedals, which are located in the same place as you’re used to). Focus a little extra when you have to make a right turn and in roundabouts, and you’ll be fine.
2. Be Attentive Of Your Surroundings
Remember to always be attentive of your surroundings when driving in Scotland. Keep in mind that the weather can change suddenly, and be aware of possible wildlife (I almost hit a deer, eeek). And whatever you do, do NOT hit the breaks and stop for photos in the middle of the road. You should also let other cars pass if you drive slowly.
3. Use The Passing Places
The roads are narrow in the Scottish highlands, which is part of its charm. Wherever the road get sparticularly narrow you’ll see designated passing places (see photo above). Make sure to use them if you meet a car on a narrow road. The general rule of thumb is that whoever is closest to a passing place stops and wait for the other car to pass. If someone stops for you, it’s polite to give them a little wave or turn on the emergency button for a few seconds as a sign of gratitude.
4. Stock Up On Gas & Food
Gas stations and other service stops are few and far between, especially in rural areas like the Isle of Skye. Keep an extra eye on your gas tank indicator and stop to refill waaay before you need to. It might be helpful to mark gas stations off in your offline maps as well. Also make sure you use the correct fuel. For the same reason I also highly recommend you stock up on food, snacks and drinks for the drive. Trust me, running out of food and drinks while driving in a foreign country is no fun at all.
5. Laws & Signs You Should Know About
Laws and signs in Scotland are similar to the ones you’ll find all over Europe. I recommend you have a look here if you’re not used to European or UK signs, it can be quite helpful. Unlike most of Europe, the UK operates with miles instead of kilometers and all speed limits are stated in miles per hour (mph). The speed limit is usually 30 mph (48 km/h) unless signs show otherwise, normally in built-up areas. The limit often increases to 60 or 70 mph once you get out of built-up areas and/or hit larger roads. You should also note that Scotland has a zero tolerance for drinking & driving.
6. Get Insured
In addition to your regular travel insurance, make sure your rental car is insured in the best possible way. I know car rental companies make some serious bucks on this, but for us it was worth it to not worry. Imagine your car breaking down in the highlands. Not only will it get expensive getting it towed and renting a new car, but your plans & schedule will take the hardest hit. NOT worth it. We paid extra so that in case out car broke down in the middle of nowhere, not only would someone pick us up and tow the car – they’d also bring us a new rental car so that we could continue with our road trip! Although this didn’t happen to us, it was still worth every penny.
Free Printable Scotland Road Trip Planner
Places To See – Our 8 Day Scotland Road Trip Itinerary
Since we only 8 days to spend we wanted our Scotland road trip to be as efficient as possible, although without stressing around too much. There were so many places in Scotland we wanted to see, and in order to find a realistic driving route we could all be happy with, we adding everything from our wish list into Google Maps.
First, we set aside a few days each in our first and last locations, Glasgow and Edinburgh. We scheduled in an extra day in Edinburgh since we figured we’d be tired from all the driving in the highlands (we were right about that part), and as a precaution in case something were to happen during our trip (it didn’t, but it was still worth it). Second, we played around with different driving routes, while checking suitable accommodation options, until we found the perfect compromise:
DAY 1-2: Glasgow
DAY 3: Highlands Part I
– Doune Castle
– Loch Lomond
– Glencoe
– Eilean Donan Castle
DAY 4: Highlands Part II – Isle of Skye
– Sligachan
– Old Man of Storr
– Kilt Rock Viewpoint
– Fairy Glen
– Neist Point Lighthouse
– Loch Ness
DAY 5: Highlands Part III
– Loch Ness
– Urquhart Castle
– Inverness
– Culloden Battlefield
– Midhope Castle
DAY 6-8: Edinburgh
Our 8 day Scotland road trip itinerary might be a bit hectic for some people, and I’ll admit, it were three eventful days. But it was AMAZING and I wouldn’t change this adventure for the world. We personally like this way of travel, and although we would all love more time in Scotland it wasn’t possible at this time. Our Scotland road trip itinerary never seemed rushed and we took our time at every stop along the way. If you want a more relaxed trip and have more time on your hands, you could also easily do this road trip in 4 or more days. Heck, not even a month would be enough!
CLICK TO SEE MY SCOTLAND ROAD TRIP ITINERARY MAP
SCOTLAND ROAD TRIP DAY 1-2:
GLASGOW
As mentioned previously, our Scotland road trip adventure started with two days in Glasgow. It rained pretty much the entire time, but it didn’t matter – we still loved every second of it. Impressive street art, delicious food, fun pubs, gorgeous architecture, lovely locals? Check x 6. So if you’re even considering skipping Glasgow on your Scotland trip, just cancel those plans right now.
Read: A Complete Guide To Glasgow
SCOTLAND ROAD TRIP DAY 3:
THE HIGHLANDS PART I
371 km | 5 hours, 21 minutes
Our alarms went off at 5AM our first day of the road trip. We went straight to the airport to pick up our rental car and by 7 AM we were already on our way to our first stop: Doune Castle. The first part of the drive was mainly highways, which don’t even exist in arctic Norway, so I’m sure even martians could hear the sighs of relief coming from Anette and I when native Detroiter Samantha volunteered to drive first. THANK YOU. Sam did great and the drive went surprisingly fast.
DOUNE CASTLE (A.K.A. WINTERFELL & CASTLE LEOCH)
We stopped at Blair Drummond Smiddy Farm Shop for a quick breakfast and some much needed coffee before heading to Doune Castle. Smiddy’s is this adorable café, butchery and farm shop all in one, and their selection of local produce and specialties from Scotland were great. The perfect place to enjoy a meal and get some souvenirs. A couple of minutes more on the road and we arrived Doune Castle. We were so excited – our very first Scottish castle experience!
Doune Castle may look familiar. It’s a famous castle in Scotland that’s been a popular filming location throughout the years. Most people might recognize it as Winterfell from the first season of Game of Thrones, or as Castle Leoch in Outlander. Monty Python and The Holy Grail was also filmed here. In reality, the castle was built as the home of Regent Albany in the 14th century. In other words, there is a lot of interesting history to take in while walking in the footsteps of both fictional and real rulers.
Since we were there when they opened it thankfully wasn’t too crowded. Included in the entrance ticket is an audio tour, which was a very comfortable way of learning about the castle since you get to walk around at your own pace. The audio tour helps you imagine how life must have been like back in medieval times. It was an added bonus that the tour was narrated by Outlander’s own Sam Heughan (aka Jamie Fraser). He must have the most comfortable voice in history. It didn’t take long until the castle started to get crowded, however, so I recommend getting there early in the morning to avoid the worst. Visit their official website for updated prices and opening hours.
LOCH LOMOND & THE TROSSACHS
From Doune we continued driving northwest towards Glencoe. It was my turn to drive and I was grateful our highway days were over and the huge roads were replaced with narrow, rural ones instead. It was just like driving back home in northern Norway. You know, except the part about driving on the left side and nearly peeing in my pants the first few miles. It was the fun type of challenging though, and I quickly adapted to the UK style of driving.
We shortly entered the outer parts of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park and the nature was simply gorgeous. This was our first real encounter with the Scottish nature and we were shocked by how green and lush everything looked. It was a bit foggy but that only made the experience more magical. We pulled over by Loch Lubnaig to stretch our legs and it was so peaceful sitting by the water in complete silence. I wouldn’t mind seeing more of the national park, all the locals we talked to in Glasgow recommended it wholeheartedly.
GLENCOE
After another hour in our cute little Ford, the beauty of Glencoe started to reveal itself. It was pouring rain, a little foggy, but we could still see the mountains and hilltops surrounding us. We couldn’t get over how green everything was! It sounds weird but it was like a different kind of green than we’ve ever seen while traveling. My favorite sights in Glencoe were The Three Sisters and the Skyfall location and I still get goosebumps whenever I think about those places. Once in a while, the sunlight would shine through the heavy clouds and turn the lush green a bit more yellow, before suddenly disappearing.. Leaving everything green and moody again. It felt a bit like magic.
We continued driving until we reached Glencoe Village, where we stopped to grab dinner at Glencoe Gathering. Their food was good and it was next door to cozy Glencoe Inn, which seemed like a great place to stay. The three of us all fell in love with Glencoe in our short stay, and if we had more time this is definitely a place we would spend a few days. There is so much to do in and around Glencoe, making it the perfect hub. We would love to hike The Three Sisters or even Ben Nevis – the highest mountain in the British Isles. Glencoe is a short drive form Fort William and the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct from Harry Potter. You can even catch the Jacobite train, aka the Hogwarts Express! I’m definitely spending more time in Glencoe on my next Scotland trip, preferably staying at lovely Glencoe House – it looks incredible.
EILEAN DONAN CASTLE
Our drive continued a few hours until we arrived Eilean Donan Castle. This is one of the most famous castles in the highlands and have been featured in movies like James Bond – The World is Not Enough, Highlander, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Made of Honor, and many more. Since we got there quite late in the afternoon we almost got the entire place all to ourselves. The only people around were a couple of newlyweds having a photo shoot by the loch, and another couple from Spain who we randomly ran into while hiking the following day (small world, huh). The 13th century castle was such a beauty and we had a lot of fun walking around exploring the area and learning about it’s vivid history.
Since we got there after opening hours we didn’t get the chance to see the inside of the castle or visit the gift shop & café, so make sure you check their opening hours before visiting. We still enjoyed it a lot though, so I would still recommend stopping by even if it’s after they close. The little island the castle is located will be open regardless of their hours, so it’s still a fun experience.
TIP: From Eiliean Donan Castle we drove directly to our hostel in Sligachan on the Isle of Skye, since we wanted to begin our hike to The Old Man of Storr early the next morning. It is also possible to find accommodation a bit closer to Eilean Donan Castle, like in Broadford on the Isle of Skye. Broadford is larger and has a larger selection of places to eat and places to sleep, which is perfect after a long day of driving and exploring.
SCOTLAND ROAD TRIP DAY 4:
HIGHLANDS PART II (Isle Of Skye)
314 km | 5 hours, 25 minutes
SLIGACHAN
Day 2 of our roadtrip we woke up in Sligachan on the Isle of Skye. We stayed at Sligachan Bunkhouse which was right up our alley: Nothing fancy, you get a room with clean beds and shared bathrooms. But that was literally all we needed. The hostel has common areas which makes it social for those who would like to make new friends, and there is a kitchen on site as well.
The bunkhouse is located next to Sligachan Hotel, which has both a restaurant and bar, so we went there to enjoy a Scottish breakfast before heading out. The food was delicious, and they have a good selection og fluten free, vegetarian and vegan options. Sligachan Old Bridge and various hiking routes are right outside their doorstep, and the ultimate whisky legend Talisker Distillery is only 8 miles from the hotel. I would definitely stay here next time I’m in Sligachan.
TIP: If you would like to stay in an area of Skye with more dining options and things to do, you should consider Portree. Such a beautiful village! Broadford, as I mentioned previously, is also a great option.
THE OLD MAN OF STORR
Starting in Sligachan, we drove north on the beautiful Isle of Skye, enjoying the wonderful view until we reached the Old Man of Storr car park after about 30 minutes behind the wheel. There were a ton of parking spaces there, which indicates how popular this hike really is. We instantly recognized the magnificent rock formations that Storr is known for from the car park and it was very easy to spot the trail. The main trail quickly spreads into a large number of different pathways you can choose from, so we never felt like we were walking in a queue despite crowds growing with every hour.
The hike was incredible, and the rain and clouds didn’t hurt. Frankly, they set the perfect moody tone Scotland does better than any other place. We walked around exploring for hours, enjoying ourselves completely. The hike isn’t too hard and it should be within reach for people in any shape – just take your time if it gets hard. You can do it. Remember to bring water and some snacks or food if you plan on spending some time up there like us.
Wear suitable clothes for the weather and maybe bring an extra shift so that you can change at the top if you get sweaty, as it can get quite windy up there. Unless it’s super slippery there isn’t necessary to bring hiking boots for this trip in our opinion, if you have sneakers with a good grip you should be fine. However, if you’re an inexperienced hiker it might be a good idea to wear hiking boots for extra balance and grip. We ran into a few people that couldn’t make it up there due to wearing high heels, so please be smarter haha.
KILT ROCK VIEWPOINT
After our hike we continued driving north until we arrived Kilt Rock Viewpoint. From this observation point you get to see two major sights on the Isle of Skye: Beautiful Mealt waterfall and Kilt Rock (a rock that resemble a kilt). There were a lot of other tourists there when we visited so we didn’t stay long, but it was a wonderful sight nonetheless. Ohh and there was a man in a kilt playing the bagpipe when we were there, which was fun.
A short drive from the viewpoint we reached Staffin, a community with some restaurants and accommodation options. We were pretty hungry from our adventurous day, so we stopped at the first place we saw that served food. Turns out we got lucky – Columba 1400 is number one on TripAdvisor in this area. They had good and filling food, highly recommended after an active day outdoors.
TIP: There is a lot more to see & do in this area. For instance, you can check out real dinosaur foot prints not far from Kilt Rock Viewpoint (as long as you time it with the tide, which we did not). The Quiaraing, a popular hiking destination, is also in this area.
THE FAIRY GLEN | CASTLE EWAN
After dinner we continued driving north towards Uig. Although you can reach Uig by driving through The Quiaraing, we continued driving the A855 around the top of Isle of Skye. Although I hear the Quiaraing is supposed to be breathtaking, the drive around was insaaane as well. There’s just something about the rock formations by the Scottish coast, it’s so beautiful.
Once we reached the western side of Isle of Skye we headed towards The Fairy Glen – a strange and unique landscape in the middle of nowhere. It’s hard to explain exactly what it is. I would say it’s like a miniature Scotland within one area; you’ve got lush green grass, sheep, a glen, and loads of tiny hills you can climb and trails you can follow. We walked around there for an hour or so, climbing Castle Ewan (the most popular little top) and it was a really lovely place to visit. There weren’t too many other visitors at the time, but I hear it can get very busy at times. Maybe we did something right by arriving in late afternoon? Who knows.
NEIST POINT LIGHTHOUSE
After The Fairy Glen we continued further west on Skye until we arrived Neist Point Lighthouse. In addition to The Old Man of Storr, Neist Point Lighthouse is probably the Scottish landmark I’ve seen the most on Instagram. And I completely get why. The landscape is incredible with it’s dramatic cliffs rising straight from the wavy turquoise ocean, with an iconic lighthouse at the very outer cliff. There is also loads of adorable sheep running around eating and playing.. YOU GUYS THERE WERE SO MANY CUTE SHEEP!
It’s approximately a 15 minute walk from the parking area to the lighthouse, but with all the wonderful sights around I can almost guarantee the walk will take a larger toll on your schedule. Be aware that there is a steep staircase down the first part of the trail, which can be a challenge for people with walking disabilities, FYI. You can still see quite a lot from ‘above’, though!
Although I wish we got to experience more of the western part of Skye, we had to drive straight to our hostel by Loch Ness after visiting Neist Point Lighthouse. But before we left Skye we had the most amaazing drive in the sunset along the B884 road towards Sligachan. I can’t even begin to describe how beautiful it was! The perfect end to our Isle of Skye visit.
TIP: The western part of Skye has a lot more to offer than we had time for, like loads of amazing nature and lovely villages. If you have more time than us you should consider visiting Dunvegan Castle & Gardens which looks amazing! Or the The Talisker Distillery which is also located here.
SCOTLAND ROAD TRIP DAY 5:
HIGHLANDS PART III (Loch Ness & Beyond)
308 km | 4 hours, 11 minutes
LOCH NESS & URQUHART CASTLE
Loch Ness was literally the first thing I saw when I opened my eyes the morning of day five. I had to enjoy the view for a while, try to take it all in. We stayed at The Lochside Hostel, which is the perfect option if you’re on a budget or if you want to socialize with other travelers on your trip. The common areas were super cozy, and you can even take a swim in Loch Ness if you want – the Lochside has it’s private beach. If you value more comfort and privacy, the Tigh Na Bruach B&B might be a better fit for you.
A short drive from our hostel was Urquhart Castle; One of Scotland’s largest castles once upon a time. It served as a medieval fortress for 500 years and played a vital role in many conflicts during this time. The government troops blew up the castle at the end of the Jacobite Risings, and only Urquhart’s ruins remains. The castle is still a beautiful sight, especially since it’s marvellous location – overlooking the Loch Ness. You have to purchase a ticket to enjoy the castle up close, but it is really worth every cent. The gift shop was also really cool! It’s a very popular destination so I recommend arriving slightly before they open to hopefully avoid the worst crowds.
If you want to really experience Loch Ness up close I suggest you take a cruise for the very best view of the loch and the castle. Who knows, maybe you’ll get to see Nessie? You can also combine a Loch Ness cruise with a visit to Urquhart Castle – the perfect combo.
INVERNESS
From Urquhart Castle it only took us roughly 30 minutes in our tiny Ford to get to Inverness. It was the most charming town we’d seen in ages so we spent most of our day here exploring and wandering the lovely streets of the town.
Our first stop was Leakey’s Second-hand Bookshop in Church Street. Oh my gosh, I can’t even begin to describe how much we loved this place. The bookshop is enormous and is located in an old church, creating a special atmosphere not only book lovers like ourselves will appreciate. We browsed around and hung out in their comfortable couch before buying a few ones each. Worth a visit, even if you just want to have a quick look. Inverness has plenty of other stores too; something for everyone for sure.
Inverness also has a castle and we got a great view of it while crossing Ness Bridge, towards Columba Hotel. If you want the best view of River Ness and the town from above, you can visit Inverness Castle Viewpoint right by the castle. Check out The Castle Tavern for food when you’re in the area. We enjoyed some coffee and dessert at SO COCO, but they recently closed permanently, what a shame.
CULLODEN BATTLEFIELD
It’s impossible to visit Scotland without learning a little about the dark and interesting history of this beautiful country. One of the most important battles of Scottish history took place at Culloden Moor, a mere 20 minute drive outside of Inverness. The Battle of Culloden took place on April 16th 1746 and was the final confrontation of the Jacobite rising. Although the battle only lasted one hour, it was a violent and bloody one, leaving 1,500 – 2,000 Jacobites wounded or dead. The conflict was the end of the Jacobite rising, leaving Great Britain with the power, and was actually the last pitched battle that was fought on British soil.
Honestly, I probably would never have visited Culloden Battlefield if it wasn’t for Outlander’s role in making me interested in the history of Scotland. And I’m very grateful it did, because the history is really interesting. The battlefield itself is free of charge to visit, but if you want to put what you see into context there is an award winning visitor centre with both a museum, café and a shop at the grounds too. Tickets are only £11 and they include an audio tour (available in six languages).
TIP: We drove the A9 south from Culloden Battlefield towards Edinburgh, following the outer parts of Cairngorms National Park. And it was such a wonderful area! I recommend you explore more of this park if you have the chance.
MIDHOPE CASTLE (A.K.A. “LALLYBROCH”)
Any Outlander fans who regognize this castle?? That’s right, it’s Lallybroch! When we saw it was only a 40 minute drive from Edinburgh we had to stop by before returning our rental car in Edinburgh. It was late afternoon and we got the entire place to ourselves. It felt so surreal walking around the property with no one else around.
From Midhope Castle it’s only a 15 minute drive to Blackness Castle, another Outlander location. This 15th century fortress was used to represent Fort William in Outlander (remember where Jamie was punished by Black Jack Randall in season one?).
It’s definitely possible to visit these Outlander locations without renting a car, but it’s significantly cheaper to book a tour than to order a taxi between the locations (and to/from Glasgow or Edinburgh). This one day tour offers visits to both Midhope Castle, Blackness Castle, Doune Castle (mentioned earlier in this post) and a few more. The price is really good, too!
SCOTLAND ROAD TRIP DAY 6-8:
EDINBURGH
After three amazing days on the road we returned our rental car and replaced nature life with city life in Edinburgh. We spent three lovely days here sightseeing, shopping, enjoying ourselves in wonderful Edinburgh before heading home. The city of Edinburgh was very different from Glasgow, and it was charming in a completely different way. There were a lot of beautiful buildings and fun things to do, and we truly enjoyed it. A perfect way to end our Scotland road trip adventure!
Read: The Ultimate Guide To Edinburgh
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AAAAH what an epic trip we had!! Thank you, Scotland. I hope you found this Scotland road trip guide helpful, and that you’ll trip will be just as amazing as ours were. Don’t forget to enjoy the scenery while driving!
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How To Spend A Perfect Weekend In Manchester, England
Hi, I’m Tina! The chubby fingers behind this travel blog are attached to my body, so I guess that makes me a travel blogger? I enjoy exploring the corners of the world as often as I can, including my own ‘backyard’ in arctic Norway. And I hope you’ll join me on my adventures.
Great detailed post for anyone planning a trip to Scotland. I lived in Scotland for close to three years and broke up my highlands visits into 4 trips over that time. I think the highlands are magical, I particularly love Glencoe and Isle of Skye. Definitely saving this one!
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Thank you so much, Dee! Living in Scotland for 3 years sounds like a dream come true!
I’ve been obsessed with the Scottish Highlands as long as I can remember! The castles are a DREAM and I also love all the sheep haha. And your photos are STUNNING. Need to plan a trip back there ASAP…
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Yaaay another sheep lover! 😁🐑 hahah. Thank you so much Kelsey, I truly recommend this trip, not to be missed ✈️ Hope you get to visit Scotland soon 🌼
Love your sheep obsession 😉 I really love sheep as well. Thank you for all these great tips. You’ve seen so many things in three days! We always love to take our time while traveling, but of course, if you don’t have much time you can see so many things if you just plan it out. I’m extra excited to make it to Scotland one day!
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Thank you, Roxanne! And I’m glad to hear I’m not the only traveler with a sheep obsession hahah 😂🙈
Yeah I like to take my time while traveling as well, but with school & work it’s not always easy and I sometimes choose to take advantage of every minute ☺️ Really glad we did that on this trip as we got to see so much. The next trip was way more chill though 😄 I love the balance! Thanks for stopping by ❤️
Great post, very descriptive and your photos are stunning! Love all the fluffy sheep ❤️ I went trekking in the Scottish Highlands while back and even though it was raining and moody most of the time it was one of my favorite holidays. Thank you for reminding me!
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Thank you so much, Helena! Yes the sheep are so darn cute 😍 Sounds like you had an amazing trip to Scotland too. I found the moodiness an added bonus really, it wouldn’t feel as ‘authentic’ if it was sunny the entire week in Scotland 😄
I am just in the process of planning my trip to Scotland, so glad to come across this post. I loved all the details you have mentioned, made it so easy to plan my trip! Thank you
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That’s great, fun to hear its helpful! Hope you’lk have an amazing trip 😄❤️
I need to go back. I’ve only been into the highlands once and didn’t have nearly enough time there. I love Scotland and grew up right on the border but on the England side. Your pics inspired me to want to visit again, hopefully soon
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Awe I hope you get to go back asap 😍 such a beautiful place
I want to cry because I want to go here so bad! Your photos look incredible and I’m loving all the nature. This is literally my dream place! Looks like you visited the best spots.
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I think that is the nicest compliment I’ve ever heard! Thank you so much 😌🌼 it’s even prettier in person, hope you get to go soon!
I’ve been wanting to visit Scotland for the longest time! This area seems amazing. I really love all your photos :D. Thank you for sharing this post 😀
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Thank you! It’s even more beautiful in real life 😍
My hubby and I want to do a road trip in Scottland in 2020 or 2010, I thought this post was very helpful in giving me some idea of what to look forward to!
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Thats great, hope you get a great trip 😄😄
I love your blog! I cant wait to visit Scotland–its my #1 bucket list “to-do”
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Thank you so much! Scotland was incredible, you’re gonna have such an amazing time!
Your pictures were amazing, my boyfriend and I are planning a trip to Scotland in March and I would love to know the camera and lens you shot these photos with?
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Thank you so much Kaila! Most of these were taken with my Canon 6D camera and a Tamron 24-70mm f2.8 in RAW. Edited with my own presets in Lightroom 😊☺️
You’re gonna have so much fun! What are you planning on seeing? 😄
Oh Scotland! My dream location. I had a trip booked and had to cancel it due to illness. Need a redo stat! Loooove your photos! So dreamy!
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Thank you so much 😄 ohh I’m so sorry you had to cancel, hope you get to go soon ☺️ it was an incredible trip, will never forget it!
Hey Tina! Great article and your photography is gorgeous. I recently came back from Scotland where I opted to do a tour because I was nervous about driving on the other side of the road. Some of the roads in the Isle of Skye seemed damn near impossible. Did you ever get in trouble over there? I really want to go back and explore at my own pace but the driving looks super iffy. Thanks so much,
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Hi you! Thank you so much, that means the world to me! Honestly, the roads on the Isle of Skye were not that crazy to me due to growing up with similar ones in northern Norway. I was more nervous driving in the cities. But it all went super smooth, no trouble at all! Got used to driving on the left pretty fast, and on the iffy & narrow roads everyone drive pretty slowly and it never felt unsafe or anything like that. I would probably feel more stressed in the winter months, though. It was an incredible experience and you should try it! I’m 100% sure you can do it too 🙂
Thank you so much for taking the time to do this and for including such stunning shots! I am in the middle of planning a trip and your itinerary and advice have been helpful.
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Thank you so much, Ariane, it means so much ☺️ I’m glad it could be helpful!
Love seeing people explore my home! Your photos are beautiful!
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Awe thank you 🌸 You’re lucky to come from such a beautiful country 😍
Great post! Your pictures from your trip are great.
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Thank you <3 <3
I’ve been meaning to visit Scotland for ages! Lovely pictures and lots of good info, will save this for when I actually start planning a Scotland trip!
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Thanks Greta, glad you found it helpful 😄
I loved Scotland! It quickly became one of my favourite countries. I love your advice to leave extra time because there are always places you want to stop in at spontaneously during a Scottish road trip.
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Right?? We wanted to pull over every other second 😂
I would love to visit Scotland one day although I’m a little bit intimidated by the potentially harsh weather! But the scenery looks just so incredible that it would probably be worth it regardless of the weather haha! PS your photos are amazing.
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Ohh don’t be! I swear, it is so charming in any weather! 😄
Wow! This is such a useful guide! We want to go in the summer and will definitely save this for our trip!
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Yayy! I hope your trip is amazing 😍😍
Seriously bookmarking this for my future trip there – really great post! You told us everything we need to know. My hubby and I have wanted to do this trip for a LONG time!
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Happy to help, thanks for reading Andi 😄❤️ Can’t wait to hear about your take on Scotland once you go 😄
Wow I love how detailed this post is ! So much good information and the photos are gorgeous 🙂
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Thank you so much Lauren 😄🌸
I did a Scotland road trip few years ago and I can’t tell you how many fond memories reading this has brought back. I love how detailed this guide is as there are definitely some spots that I overlooked and now feel like I need to go again to fully explore the region.
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Thank you so much, Charu ☺️
I love both Scotland and reading your post on it especially with the beautiful photos! Great tips and an excellent road trip itinerary. I have driven about 1/3 of that and would love to go back and do this route! 🙂
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Thanks Vanessa! I wanna go back too 😍🌸
This is such an awesome + comprehensive guide! I went to Scotland for the first time back in 2016 and we went to a number of the same places you did, but I’d love to go back again for a more in-depth visit someday. There was so much to explore there and it was so pretty! :] I love the fluffy sheep!
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Awe thank you so much! Scotland is breathtaking, can’t wait to go back either 😍
Many years ago, I lived in Scotland for some time. Now a lot has changed! But still, this is the perfect place for me! I plan to be there after quarantine! Thanks for sharing!
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for this! Amazing. Planning my trip now as I sit at home during quarantine!
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Your comment made my day! So happy you found it helpful, I hope you have a wonderful trip once quarantine life is over 😀
Thank you!! Looking forward to your Edinburgh blog!!!
This is such a comprehensive guide. I never really had Scotland in my priority list of places to visit but your guide makes me want to visit it soon!
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Thank you so much for your lovely comment, Jes. Glad you liked it & that it inspired you!
I stumbled upon this post when planning a road trip to Scotland myself this autumn. Your post was very elaborate and helpful 😊! Thanks so much! Also the photos are simply stunning! I can’t wait now!
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Thank you so much, Marjolein! Glad it was helpful 🙂 I’m sure you’ll have an amaaazing trip to Scotland
At what month did you travel to Scotland? Great blog by the way! Will definitely visit Scotland soon
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Thank you so much! We visited in June!
loved your trip! we plan to go this year too! may i ask what travel camera setup you use? I have a few lenses to choose from but can’t decide 😀 also, these colors :O did u use a preset for these?
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Thank you so much, I’m glad you found my Scotland road trip guide helpful. If I remember correctly, I used a Canon 6D with a Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 lens on this trip. Since then I’ve made the switch to Sony and I find choosing lenses sooo difficult – so I feel you! I love a low aperture, and having a zoom lens while traveling is ace in my opinion. I shot the images in raw, and then used my own presets to edit them in Lightroom 🙂 I hope you have an amazing trip!!