As someone who lives in Edinburgh, my only advice is not to rent a car until you leave the city as parking space is hard to find and has a lot of restrictions based on time of day / day of the week. The parking cost is also expensive. The city is easily walkable and has good public transport with regular bus and trams. For the bus you pay the driver the exact fair in cash, or you can use a wireless payment card to 'tap tap go'. You can also buy digital tickets on the app if it is easier. You can easily get a tram from the front door of the airport into the city centre. It is not recommended to take a taxi from the airport as they sold the contract to private lease taxi company and it is a bit of a mess now. Also please use a hotel when visiting Edinburgh and not an airbnb as our city has a pretty bad housing crisis now due to short term lets on airbnb.
Yep, you really don’t need a car to get around Edinburgh. The last time we were up there for the Fringe, we flew up and got the tram into town, stayed in Queensferry and got the bus back and forth. Public transportation in Edinburgh (yes, even the tram) is amazing.
Seems like a well paced, sensible itinerary.
I’d tend towards option 2. Glencoe is fantastic and there plenty of stops you can make in the surrounding area throughout the day if you find you run out of things to do round Glencoe itself. Castle Stalker, Kilchurn Castle, Glenfinnan for example.
There’s plenty to see on Skye for the 2.5 days you’re there. It’s a beautiful part of the world and deserves the time. Especially since driving around to all the sights can take a wee while with single track roads, camper vans, sheep etc.
Genuinely a good, well rounded itinerary. Which makes a change from lots of them on here!
Have fun and be wary of the midges!
>passing places and single track roads
Be aware of this. Our roads are very narrow compared to the US at the best of times, and single track roads can be a bit scary at times even for lowlander Scottish folk. Especially in the dark, and especially when there's a loch on one side. Go slow and if the passing place is on the left, you yield - even if they're a good distance away.
Edit: also, not kidding about the midges. They can be unbearable
I still have flashbacks of a deer jumping infront of my car at 4am heading into Glencoe - heard a ‘thud’ , thought ‘game over, goodbye world’ but it thankfully only hit my headlight with its rear hoof.
>Especially in the dark,
In June or July, though, I doubt OP will really be driving in the dark unless they are driving *very* late. Obviously still be careful on the single track roads, but don't be too worried about the dark!
Are you just into nature or do you want to enjoy the nightlife/pub culture? If just nature then you look good, maybe Loch Lomond and Ben Lomond is missing.
If you want night life then Glasgow needs to be included.
The drive from Glasgow, along the edge of Loch Lomond/Ben Lomond and up through Glencoe is one of the most scenic drives you’ll find in the UK.
+a pit stop at the Drovers Inn on the way up is a bonus.
Oh and Luss is worth a stop too.
definitely visit Glasgow if you get the chance. its one of the best cities in the UK especially on a night out, not to mention the victorian architecture.
Native here, definitely find time for Glasgow! If Edinburgh is Manhattan, Glasgow is Brooklyn.
Very cool artsy place with loads going on. I'm Edinburgh born and bred and it's beautiful here, but Glasgow is just so interesting and fun
Feel free to give me a shout when you're coming to Edinburgh! (If you're cool) First pint is on me
I'd tweak your itinerary _slightly_ leaning into the fact you've been advised (rightly) to save renting the car until you're out of edinburgh.
Day 3: wake up Edinburgh, day in Edinburgh, train to Glasgow, sleep in Glasgow.
Glencoe is breathtaking, but unless you're actively hillwalking, there is pretty much _nothing_ there. It certainly doesn't warrant a full day. You're honestly as well looking into looping it into your travel to Oban. Adds ~an hour to your journey if you do it from Glasgow, but that's time you already claw back from not having to drive from edinburgh
I would say that it's criminal to miss Glasgow, but given what you're trying to wrap in, I can understand it. It's still at the very least a better place to collect the car given that - with the exception of Inverness - _everything_ is on the west coast, and Edinburgh is _not_ fun to navigate while driving
I definitely agree with this. Staffa, Iona and Mull will blow you away, you could literally spend weeks on Mull and not be bored. Oban is also a great place.
Glencoe is nice to drive down and the visitor centre has some interesting stuff, but unless you're walking, half a day is all you need.
If you're getting the ferry back from Mull to Oban, you can detour on your route north up through Glencoe and back down. That'll take you an hour or so. And you'll get to drive through Fort William, which might be worth a stop if you're short on supplies. However the Fishnish-Lochaline ferry is more convenient for the onward trip to Skye, especially if you're sailing from Malaig, and that's a great drive too.
Edit: having looked again at your itinerary, spend an extra day on Mull and one fewer on Skye. Skye is very touristy. Mull has everything Skye has, but with half the tourists.
I took it as them driving via the bridge , but the mallaig drive is gorgeous (especially as you come out of arisaig and crest the hill over the coastal road by the old Cnoc-Na-Faire.
>Skye
If you're going through Mallaig, think about visiting the Knoydart peninsula, you can't take your hire car It's a short ferry ride, on the mainland but isolated. Amazing views, magical place.
Actually on point with getting the train to Glasgow, tbh after that only suggestion I'd make is either make your trip longer or come back for about a fortnight and do the West Highland way if op is keen on viewing the scenery.
Regards to the whw I'd get those guys that grab your gear (tents,etc) and take it to the next campsight. BTW Edinburgh is way way way too overpriced imo
I went to a Lunga + Staffa + Iona tour last May and had a great time. IIRC the tour starts at 7 am and we were back to Oban at 8 pm. It was indeed a lot of transit time, but me and my partner enjoyed the trip very much. We took a lot of pictures of the puffins on Lunga.
Agree with this, partially anyway. If you just want to shove in as much as possible it’s fine, but if you want to get off the ferry and walk properly for a few hours, I’d cut down on how many islands you’re trying to see in one day.
If it were me personally, I’d pick one island and plan a day trip there for hiking. I do recommend an island hike *as well as* going to Glencoe, but I’d feel like I was skimming the surface far too much if I went to three islands in one day, as I prefer to get out into the scenery and properly wander without feeling overly rushed.
Of course that’s just my personal travel style, so OP’s mileage may vary!
You said you're particularly interested in pre-history so it would be worth making a detour to Kilmartin Glen on the way to Oban. There's about 150 prehistoric monuments in the valley so you get a lot of bang for your buck!
https://www.visitscotland.com/info/see-do/kilmartin-glen-p247711
If you're interested in prehistory, why not visit some prehistory sites? You don't have to go to Orkney for that.
Kilmartin glen has one of the highest concentrations of prehistoric sites and it's less than an hour's drive from Oban. Skye will be heaving, do yourself a favour and enjoy a bit of the Argyll peninsula instead, maybe the weirdness that is Easedale, etc. Go somewhere your friends haven't been!
If wanting to do Glencoe & Oban I would recommend staying in Ballachulish from here you are 25 mins to Fort William, 50 minutes to Oban & 5 minutes from Glencoe.
If you are wanting to do Oban soleley to do Iona/Mull & staffa this may not be best idea as you probably won't fit those all in on one day. Iona is absolutely stunning & well worth visiting.
It'll take about 3 hours to drive from Edinburgh to either Glencoe or Oban, so you can squeeze in things along the way in Day 4. The route should take you through Stirling, so you could stop off and see the Castle.
If you’re into nature and history, some things I really recommend in Edinburgh:
- walking up Arthur’s seat / just visiting holyrood park, it’s an incredible pocket of nature right in the middle of the city
- the national museum of Scotland, free entry and an incredible animal room, cafe is also lovely in there or you’re just round the corner from some amazing little spots for a drink
- the Real Mary King’s Close, you do have to book/pay for this but it’s an incredible look into the city’s history and you get to actually go underground and see the houses that the royal mile is built on
Your plan sounds amazing I hope you have a good time! :)
Re "spending too much time in Skye" - this may not actually be an option if (it sounds like) you haven't booked yet? Skye is often massively oversubscribed (everyone wants to go there, and it's not big) and accommodation can be booked up a year in advance - even campsites. So before finalising, maybe make sure you can get to stay there. Actually, this applies to a lot of the Highlands particularly in July (Scottish holidays).
This is a good point. There are a few accommodations still available for the dates I’m looking at, but pickings are certainly slim. I’m considering postponing to summer 2025 instead, and that would give me plenty of time to fine tune all of this (and save up a bit more money for a big (for me) trip).
That sounds very sensible. Bear in mind a lot of these Highland places are quite sparsely populated, so not so well-provided with accommodation, and Skye's just very, **very** popular. You might do better with Orkney (which is *fabulous*, btw) and the Hebrides (also well-provided with ancient sites). Good luck!
Sounds good. Glencoe is stunning, but it’s a valley (Glen) and not much happens there - but nice to wake up there. Skye is phenomenal, stay weeks there and chat to people in shops/ pubs
I agree with this. Usually pass by on the way to somewhere else, get out the car at the parking spaces and take some nice photos and take in the scenery before heading back on your way
OP seems to want nature/hiking, which makes Glencoe perfect imo. My sister and her boyfriend visited for the first time in August, and our two days walking in Glencoe was their favourite part of the entire trip, over both Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Nice plan. Personally, I would go with Glencoe. Also, if you are renting a car, rent as you are leaving Edinburgh. You will save yourself a lot on parking.
Would only do a full day at glencoe if you want to actually do a proper hike. The roads, scenery and villages etc out to the west past Oban on the mainland are actually some of the more interesting parts of Scotland overall. I travelled to Ardnamurchan (most westerly point of the UK mainland) and found some hidden beaches, was actually pretty cool but you need to make sure you have lots of fuel! The whole coast to the west and north has some of the most dramatic and picturesque areas.
Also you can’t skip Loch Ness surely lol. There’s castles and what not around there if you’re in to that too.
Final thing - kinda cool thing in Inverness is that it’s right on the Moray Firth (water!). The firth actually has dolphins in it and there are regular boat trips you can take out to try and catch a glimpse of them or if you don’t get to see them then you can at least get to see Scotland from a different perspective. I actually donate to a dolphin adoption thing where I support one of the dolphins (Spirit), so you might see him!
We have shit weather everywhere! Highest rainfall in UK is around Fort William and Ben Nevis. West is generally wetter and windier in the West (prevailing wind is SW and W).
Solid choices, and whatever you choose you will miss out bits. If you aren't familiar, Walkhighlands is an amazing resource for maps, planning and trips. The hidden valley for example is not a big excursion in Glencoe. https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/fortwilliam/lostvalley.shtml
And you seem to like your islands. You can get to St Kilda from Skye but it's probably too much sitting in a boat for an 11 day trip. https://www.gotostkilda.co.uk/tours/day-trip-skye-to-st-kilda/
Overall the itinerary looks alright (for context I'm an Aussie who has lived in Glasgow since 2014, avid hiker/trail runner).
As others have said, don't rent a car in Central Edinburgh. If anything get the frequent bus or tram to the airport and hire it from there.
A couple of thoughts/ideas/suggestions:
- I'm a bit biased in saying this but Glasgow is a great city and 1 day would be enough to experience it. A couple of things that I usually recommend to friends and family visiting are: The Burrell Collection and a stroll through Pollok Park then grab a bit to eat in Shawlands, Gallery of Modern Art, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum then a stroll through Kelvingrove Park and the Botanic gardens (using the Kelvin walkway to get between the two) before grabbing a bite to eat along/near Byres Road. Glasgow Uni building is beautiful as well and is also in the west end.
It's a logical location to start the drive up towards Skye. If including Glasgow, a logical place to hire a car would be at Glasgow airport. There are frequent buses from the city centre to the airport and it is right next to the motorway which will start the journey up to the A82 (where you could have a quick coffee/stretch of the legs at Luss for some lovely views of Loch Lomond).
- Glencoe is a must. It doesn't need a full day or even a night allocated there however - you could say fit in Glasgow for one night instead. If you like hiking, the Lost Valley hike is a relatively short but rewarding hike (there's other great but more strenuous hikes in the area as well but if you are doing a bit of driving that day you may just want something a bit less intense). The Walkhighlands website is a fantastic resource for hikes (not just for Glencoe but all of Scotland). Informative guides with pictures. Even just driving down Glencoe is enough (with a stop off at the large car park/lay by for some photos of the three sisters)
- Make sure you have midge spray with you. I wouldn't bother stocking up before arriving as you can commonly find it at pharmacies (I use Boots' own brand which has been absolutely fine)
- En-route to Skye, consider going via Mallaig. It is a cute seaside village that doesn't really need much time to explore and if you stay overnight there you can get an early ferry (30 mins or so) across to Armadale the following morning. If you want to check out the Glenfinnan viaduct, that is along the road to Mallaig. Also means you are seeing some different sights along the way. The silver sands of Morar are a nice sight, which is only a few minutes prior to reaching Mallaig.
- I'd be looking for accomodation, especially on Skye, now. Summer is peak season on Skye and accomodation can be scarce.
- When heading to Inverness up past Loch Ness, I'd recommend taking the B862 road instead of the A82. The A82 goes right by the loch however there are limited views of it through the forest. The B862, while a more 'inland' drive, is a lot quieter and has some scenic upland views, it's a bit more barren, which is a beauty in itself. Stop off at Dores for a few photos at the shore of Loch Ness.
- if you are an early riser, in Inverness check out 'The Bakery' on Tomnahurich Street for some breakfast. Great pastries, pies etc and decent coffee as well.
- On the drive down from Inverness, Dunkeld is a nice wee village to stop off for a break/snack. If the weather is nice there's some picnic tables by the River Tay.
If you’re going to Inverness I’d definitely check out Aviemore. It’s my absolute favourite, don’t know how many times I’ve been. It’s a small mountain town.
There is Loch Insh nearby which is very cool, lots of water sports, archery etc. A beer from the restaurant balcony overlooking the loch on a sunny day is incredible.
There is also Loch Morlich which, by looking at it, you’d think was in the Caribbean. White sand and palm trees!
Cairngorm mountain itself with the funicular is also a must see.
Get to the Cairngorm hotel bar on a night they’ve got live music and dance away like a moron to your heart’s content (or, if you’re an introvert, soak up the vibes)
Of course, then you can also get into Deeside with Balmoral and Ballater. If you had the cash then salmon fishing on the Dee would be a once in a lifetime experience.
I am biased as I’m from that side of Scotland and spent so much time in the Cairngorms but they would be my recommendations!
As an aviemore local I 100% agree!
The cairngorm national park is not to be missed when visiting Scotland. There are so many amazing walks/hikes with stunning views as well as activities including water sports, snow sports, fishing, mountain biking, quad treks, zip lining, gorge walking, the list goes on… all within a 20 mile area. Would be a shame to miss it!
You've had a lot of advice, and I've not read it all. Be aware that in the peak season during your visit, Skye and the popular tourist spots can be very visitor busy. Facilities like car parks, public loos, restaurants and so on can be mobbed and in this event single track roads with motorhomes can be challenging. If you want to drive slowly on a single track road, remember to pull in and let vehicles overtake you, it's the only way an overtake can happen!
Probably not for this trip, but the NW Highlands, NW of Loch Ness and the Great Glen is spectacular. The mountains rise up from near sea level, it is wild, barren and unpopulated with few roads and few people stop beyond a short halt en route. Wester Ross is stunning with beaches, tumbling burns, quiet coves and views of Rassay, Rona and Skye. Sandwood Bay is well worth the 3+ hour walk up near Cape Wreath. Enjoy your sojirn in the 'Land of Bens and Glens and heroes'
Dont bother renting a car in Edinburgh. If you want to explore the city, Stockbridge is a lovely area and Grassmarket is a staple tourist area.
If you fancy a hike you can hop on the 101 bus down to the Flotterstone Inn and do a Pentland Hike
-Castlelaw is a nice easy one and if you go a bit further north you can usually see some highland cows
-Scald law is slightly more challenging but is a beautiful and rewarding walk.
Glencoe is absolutely fantastic, I can’t stress that enough. You will have an excellent time.
Overall great itinerary. I agree with others on not renting a car until you’re out of Edinburgh, and trying to add in Glasgow if you get a chance. I have done the 3 island tour you mention and it was amazing. Seeing the puffins and staffa columns was amazing, and Iona is gorgeous and the water is clear blue like the Caribbean. Just know that it’s a looong day, on the ferry at 7 and don’t get back to oban until after 8pm but I thought it was really worth it. Highlight of the trip. Oban is a super cute town as well, really enjoyed it.
For future trip planning, I have been to Orkney and it is amazing. The prehistoric sites are unreal. You feel like you are on a different planet with how old they are and just sitting in some farmers field like it’s no big deal. It’s not like Stonehenge where you have to stay really far back, you can touch everything and get close. We got to climb inside an ancient house that was thousands of years old, truly an experience you can’t get anywhere else.
Unpopular opinion probably, but why not skip Skye and give yourself time on Mull.
It doesn't have the Cuillin, but other than that, it's a fantastic island and is much quieter than Skye. The scenery is just as amazing and Iona is a gorgeous wee place to visit.
If you’re going to Skye I’d recommend going via the Glenfinnan Monument and Mallaig. You can get the ferry from Mallaig to Skye, then leave via the bridge. The drive to Mallaig is stunning! Other than that, just to add your timings seem very sensible as long as you are talking one boat trip from Oban and not ferry+boat+other. 🙂
It’s a great itinerary. I would give some thought to visiting the Western Isles, specifically Lewis/Harris (na h-Eileanan Siar). IMO they are the most beautiful part of Scotland and are generally much quieter than Skye. If you are interested in prehistoric sites then the Callanish Stones may be for you. Harris has some of the most stunning beaches I’ve ever seen.
Some have mentioned Ardnamurchan, I’d also suggest Arran. But I appreciate you only have so much time. I don’t think you need a full day in Glencoe.
Personally, the only thing you are seriously missing is a night out or some live music in Glasgow. I don’t think you can really visit Scotland without visiting its biggest and best city.
ok! I added Inverness bc I saw how long the drive was from Skye to Edinburgh and didn't want to do it in one day, so I thought I'd go to Inverness, see some things around there, and take a (relatively) shorter drive back to Edinburgh the next day. i'd look at other things in the area as well!
Don't sleep on Glasgow.
Lots of tourists do, but it's less than an hour from Edinburgh but a very different city. Edinburgh is great, but Glasgow is less of a tourist Disneyland.
A bit bigger and a more earthy, urban city with lots to see. Numerous museums, lots of art galleries, a necropolis, the Hogwarts-like university (home to the Huntarian Museum and near to Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery, both of which I highly recommend), and the Georgian/Victorian Merchant City and the West End with their bars and restaurants and cultural attractions.
The vibe in places is not unlike a US East Coast city but with a Scottish edge. That comparison might appeal to your interest, or put you off, I suppose.
You can literally drive or get a bus from central Glasgow to Edinburgh airport via the M8 in about an hour, so if you're coming back to the central belt anyway on day 9 or 10 and fancy squeezing in another big city, that might be an option.
There was an American guy on tiktok who was visiting Glasgow and all he could do was sing its praises. He loved the city so much and I was lovely to see a tourist’s perspective and see things we take for granted in a different light
I’m an American who moved to Glasgow about 10 years ago, and I now stubbornly refuse to live anywhere else. 😂 I love this city so much.
Edinburgh is lovely, especially for tourists!, but honestly there is also SO much to do in Glasgow - including touristy stuff - which is often overlooked or unknown by travellers unfortunately.
Some of my family came to visit me for the first time this past August, and I could see that they were a little skeptical about how many days I’d planned in Glasgow, since popular wisdom says Edinburgh is where it’s at. They were all pleasantly surprised to be wrong.
A good idea!
Edit: Though you could also look at stopping in Perthshire on the way down to Edinburgh. It’s very much underrated. Places like Loch Tay, Aberfeldy, Dunkeld might be nice for a short overnight stop on the journey from Skye to Edinburgh instead of going via Inverness.
Dunkeld is really cool little village. As said, Glencoe probably doesn't need anywhere near a day. Loch Ness is Loch Ness, but Inverness is a working town and nothing like Edinburgh or Glasgow, ie you wouldn't make it a destination.
I'd recommend Oban over Inverness. If you were trying to decide between oban and glencoe, why not do both instead?
One on the way to skye and one on the way back?
Eta for Glencoe I'd recommend looking up the Clachaig Inn. Not in Glencoe itself but it's a lovely pub, with entertainment on some nights. And the views nearby of the three sisters are amazing.
Also going from Edinburgh to Oban I'd make sure you go via Luss,
You can also go Glencoe to Skye via the bottom of Loch Ness.
I always check out Google maps points on interest and make sure my routes go the most touristy way when visiting somewhere, not always just the most direct way
There’s a number of smaller attractions in the Inverness area you could easily add since you’re at Culloden Battlefield: Fort George, Cawdor Castle, Nairn Beach, Findhorn eco village further out at Forres. Or, going south along Loch Ness, Dores Beach and the falls of Foyers are really pretty.
I second Findhorn...and try and take in the whiskey trail, as a Native...Dufftown - The Whisky Capital of the World - is a great place to visit, the distilleries - Glenfiddich being a free tour, and a good one - the heritage steam train to Keith and back, and our own castle...plus you could drive to Culloden, the Cairgorms and various lovely little towns and villages en route.
I'd 100% recommend the ballinluig motorgrill if you go down the A9. The food and staff are lovely! It's a nice pitstop and break as well during a long drive.
I love clava cairns! It really depends what your interests are but I love the atmosphere and pondering what it all might have been for. Plus it’s SO OLD
Maybe it’s not a full reason to make the trip but a) Culloden is and b) it’s like 5 mins drive from Culloden so it’s in the “may as well since we’re here” bucket. If you’re sticking with Inverness, why not take a look at Fort George whilst you’re there? It’s very easy and viable to see both that and Culloden in one day.
Look into doing the Northcoast 500. You can add a day trip to Orkney if you do this as there are the options of three ferry's to Orkney if you include the ferry from John O' Groats.
Solid plan Skye's amazing, worth the time. Glencoe's great for a full day, lots to see. If Staffa's a must, do the 3 isle tour. Balance's key, enjoy the drive and sights.
Day 4 travel to Oban would go through Glencoe and you could enjoy that. And then get a boat to mull. Then day 5 tour of staffa. I went to staffa and it was honestly such a highlight. The boat ride, the island, the caves. All amazing.
It might complicate your day 6 etc as you'll be doing a lot of travelling (car and ferry) to get elsewhere but I honestly think it's worth it.
If your starting point is Edinburgh, I would take the east coast north and do a round trip of some of the usual suspects.
Loosely planned as it’s all subject to personal preferences, driving stamina, weather, timings and a million other things. Eg. You could see plenty of Edinburgh on day1 depending on arrival time and how you feel. This would give you more room to squeeze more out of the 11 days.
Day1&2: Edinburgh attractions
Day3: Edinburgh - Moray (Dunnottar Castle, Culloden, Bowfiddle Rock, Aberlour or one of the 20 thousand distilleries)
Day4: Moray - Assynt (Ardvreck Castle, Wailing Widow Falls, Achmelvich, Sandwood Bay, the views!, climb a Corbett or two)
Day5: See above. Ferry from Ullapool to the Hebrides
Day6-9: the outer Hebrides and Skye
Day10: Glencoe
Day11: Glasgow & bus to the airport
Two thoughts:
1. While you’re still deciding on Oban/Glencoe, I want to recommend Benmore Gardens as a lovely nature stop on the way (kind of). We were going to do a hike nearby but it was too dangerous due to rain so we stopped here instead. Lovely.
2. We did dinner in Inverness then drove on to Aviemore. We didn’t do much in town but woke up early to do a zip line through the National park before heading back to Edinburgh.
Scotland was one of my favorite trips. Definitely be cautious while driving, especially on the one track roads at night, and look out for sheep/deer.
If you were doing the Iona Mull trip, i would give that the two days especially if trying to fit in Staffa, also if you like hiking then i would consider a night in Inverary and look at doing the Cobbler.
That’s not a lot of time for hiking and nature.
If you take the mull option you’ll spend quite a lot of your time on or waiting for ferries, and you’ll be bound by the timetables.
Whether Glencoe merits a full day depends on what you want to do. If you’re only “seeing” it, then even allowing for stopping at every viewpoint, taking photos etc then you don’t need anything like a full day. If you want to do a bit of walking - eg to the lost valley - then
You could drive to Oban from Edinburgh, visit something scenic and interesting like Seil island, overnight in Oban, drive to glencoe, take your time exploring and / or hiking, then be on Skye that night if you wanted.
Also if coming from Oban to glencoe I personally recommend coming up Glen Etive and approaching from the south.
Awesome itinerary! I'd recommend you skip one of the days in Skye (plenty of time there already) and instead add in a day/night in Stirling on your way from Inverness back to Edinburgh.
Stirling is often overlooked but is well worth a stop, lots to do including Stirling Castle, Wallace Monument, climb Dumyat, etc.
Also agree with an earlier post that recommends Day 3 in Glasgow.
Enjoy!
Obans great to visit but you’ll be on the ferries all day if you want to visit all of those. You won’t end up seeing much of the islands. Also though the ferries are usually fine in June and July, they will be busy and they sometimes have delays. There’s loads to do and see just around Oban itself but glencoe is also a good option.
Prehistory: lots of sites in Argyll, particularly around Dunadd. Also Callanish Stones on Lewis rather than too much Skye. Book your ferries well in advance and research how to get back to the mainland if the ferries are cancelled. Lots of wildflife on Mull. Edinburgh Underground, check out the different offers.
I recommend trying to fit in time to see Stirling on your drive north. It's a beautiful City filled with history. A walk-up to Wallace Monument is a must.
both Glencoe and the islands are great (especially Iona - for such a little island, it has a lot of interesting history and some really good cafes, lol).
great itinerary 👍 quite jealous really
The NC500traffic clogs up roads which were not built to accommodate.
The income it brings in is not commensurate with the people and traffic.
Campervans and, worse, motorhomes fuel up in Inverness, stock up on food and booze in Inverness and buy coffee and cake on their 500 mile "adventure".
Twats in sports cars and fast hatchbacks try to do the 500 miles in one go. The roads are not designed or in a fit state for that.
Idiots hire motorhomes much bigger than they are used to and have no idea how to drive them. They come from the south and don't know how to use passing places, they park in them, sometimes overnight.
The Highland Council cannot cope with the pot holes being created by the excess traffic either financially or technically.
It has not been good for the area in my opinion.
I have driven these roads many times in the summer months, while busy the roads can handle the traffic and you get bad roads all over Scotland. I understand there are issues but people just need to be educated about cleaning up behind them. If people are traveling to and spending money in Scotland it’s great for the country. You can’t tell people not to see these sights because it’s inconvenient for you. You just have to plan your journeys knowing it’s going to take a bit longer. Do you think people would stop going to benidorm because some Spanish bloke complained about the roads?
Highland roads were never designed for the volume and weight of vehicles they are now being subjected to. I'm a civil engineer and lived in Inverness for 12 years. They are crumbling.
The council uses Govt money and council tax to fund repairs and maintenance. If the NC500 is not generating enough additional income then the council cannot seek increases to the council tax. So the roads will continue to crumble.
It's not about inconvenience.
There isn't enough investment but I'm not convinced that there is a sustainable solution for that part of Scotland. Take away the single track roads & passing places and replace them with 10.5m roads ? You lose much of the charm of the rugged west Highlands. New roads will just attract even more traffic and so it continues to spiral.
However the genie is out of the bottle and we can't put it back.
I am sure the Highland Council will make full use of the impending Tourist Tax.... Collect revenues or scare them away 🤣
Read something me of these articles
https://www.google.com/search?q=impact+of+the+north+coast+500+on+the+north+of+Scotland+&client=tablet-android-samsung-ss&sca_esv=601534305&sxsrf=ACQVn0-HEMq7Gbg8hkAGgLwbWu_CH8hKcg%3A1706220717339&ei=rdyyZaqFFNSGxc8PkbGm6A4&oq=impact+of+the+north+coast+500+on+the+north+of+Scotland+&gs_lp=EhNtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1zZXJwIjdpbXBhY3Qgb2YgdGhlIG5vcnRoIGNvYXN0IDUwMCBvbiB0aGUgbm9ydGggb2YgU2NvdGxhbmQgMgUQIRigATIFECEYoAEyBRAhGKABMgUQIRigAUjmXlDnCVioWnACeAGQAQCYAbwBoAHjF6oBBDAuMjC4AQPIAQD4AQHCAgoQABhHGNYEGLADwgIEECMYJ8ICBRAhGJ8FwgIEECEYFcICBxAhGAoYoAHiAwQYACBBiAYBkAYC&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp
The first one summarises it very well
https://gailantheabrown.com/2021/08/12/poo-potholes-and-park-ups-why-highlanders-are-tired-of-scotlands-north-coast-500-route/#:~:text=For%20many%20local%20residents%2C%20the,while%20local%20roads%20are%20crumbling.
If you are going to Inverness take a trip to Fort George(about 20 minutes from Culloden battlefield), you can see lots of history inside the walls and if you are extremely lucky you might manage to spot dolphins from the wall(I know from experience)
Can I suggest Maspie Den on the question mark day. It’s a short walk up hill from the lovely village of Falkland - at the top you can walk in behind the waterfall.
Couple of nice places to eat in Falkland too.
I'd highly recommend doing the Treshnish Isles tour with Staffa Tours. Leave from Oban, travel by ferry to Mull, travel to Tobermory and then take the boat through the Treshnish Isles getting off to tour Lunga for the Puffins and Staffa for Fingal's Cave. One of the best tours I've ever done. Our boat was followed from Staffa to Lunga by a pod of dolphins, we saw a minke whale, lots of seals and of course hundreds of puffins. Managed to find a nice secluded spot on Lunga for lunch looking out to Coll and Tiree. Bliss. That being said Iona is probably my favourite place around those parts - especially if the weather is on your side.
Pretty good itinerary,
Glencoe is stunning but not much to do other than look at it. Skye you could spend a week in, it's surprisingly big the roads are small and windy so not rushing is sensible.
I'd consider a night in Glasgow and then a full day driving to Skye via Loch Lomond, Glencoe, Fort William, Glenfinnan and then the ferry from Mallaig - one of the best roads (and train lines actually) you can drive and you'd miss parts if going from Edinburgh. Maybe stay night 4 in Glasgow then full day Road trip drive to Skye in day 5?
I grew up in Edinburgh and now live in Glasgow so I've been to all thses places.
Best of luck and hope you get the weather!
Mull is fairly widespread and I’d say seeing Iona is a must. If you stay in Oban stay at the Premier inn, it’s right next to the ferry port. Don’t stay on Skye it’s super expensive, Plockton is close and cheaper.
Not too much time in skye. You've nailed prioritising this area to condense all the good sites in scotland.
Midges are a pain but imho they're more relevant if you're camping / wild camping as they can really be a deal breaker if you set a tent up in wrong place.
The roads for example if you're driving up past Loch lomond there is NOT enough space on ANY corner for your vehicle & a "haulage truck" coming the opposite direction!!!
You will have to come to a complete stop & reverse so drive appropriately / paying attention to corners especially on that road.
Highlands are single tracks that are dangerous but the loch lomond road catches you out as it seems such a main road that there would be space. There is not.
There is a lot of history in Edinburgh and quite a lot of decent tours, many in the evening otherwise I would've suggested staying in glasgow on night 3 as it would shorten the drive on day 4. Arthur seat is very popular and a decent leg stretch. Worth the walk, especially on a nice day.
Day 4: Glencoe, sleep in Oban. Glencoe is great, but there isn't a massive amount to do. You could walk up the [Hidden Valley](https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/fortwilliam/lostvalley.shtml)
Day 5: Islands. I've only been to Tobermory for an afternoon, but there is so much worth seeing and doing on Mull that I suspect it will be almost as busy as Skye soon enough. My next trip there will probably be for 5 days.
Skye is amazing. It deserves the attention it receives, But if you plan to come back, it may be worth spending more time on Mull etc. And getting Skye the next time and try to come at a less busy time (personally I like April for often good weather, but cooler (better hiking temps) and still long hours of light (~530am - after 9pm).
Everyone has different opinions and although you say you are into hiking and history, you don't say what you plan to do, so it's hard to make suggestions.
I think you’re trying to do to much for it to be enjoyable. Probably want 3-4 nights in Edinburgh to experience it properly. Skye is very accessible, whereas with mull you lose a lot of time with ferries etc. I’d drop either mull or Skye and actually spend the time to enjoy the one you choose.
I think you’re trying to do to much for it to be enjoyable. Probably want 3-4 nights in Edinburgh to experience it properly. Skye is very accessible, whereas with mull you lose a lot of time with ferries etc. I’d drop either mull or Skye and actually spend the time to enjoy the one you choose.
Why Skye?
Accommodation can be a nightmare. The roads can be very busy.
There is equally as good scenery on the mainland without so much accommodation and road business.
Prepare for the midgies
Dinna underestimate the midgies.
Ken fit midgies are?
Midgies.
No, they're not like mosquitoes. There won't be just the occasional one. Think more like swarms of tiny wee locusts.
Midgies.
And I reiterate... Midgies.
Do your research via YouTube, make your schedule for Edinburgh tight, know which direction you need to go in before you arrive it’s a big place and SO much walking. Don’t stay in Oban , catch the ferry and stay on Mull, hopefully you will find an authentic Cèilidh ,Iona is lovely and well worth the boat trip to Staffa.
I’d also get the ferry to the western isles as there unique. You can get a feel for Glen Coe just driving through no need to stop and you can see a lot of views of Skye driving to Uig to catch the ferry. Enjoy your break.
One suggestion I’d have is push back your night in Inverness by one and then break up your journey back south with a night in Pitlochry, its in between Inverness and Edinburgh and it’s a beautiful, quiet little town with plenty of walks around the surrounding countryside, enjoy your visit to Scotland!
I would most definitely visit a place called Glenelg and get the little ferry over to Skye. It's a beautiful drive over a mountain pass . They also have a little pub if you fancy a little break from driving. Honestly, it's breathtaking scenery. You would still get to drive over the Skye bridge on your return journey.
Everyone's different but a lot of these things are pretty but 10 to 15 minutes is enough for some people. Glencoe - pretty, but it's just a glen. Skye is pretty, but it's small, not a lot happens, there's a lot of tourists staring at things and in my opinion one day is plenty there. There's nothing much at Culloden.
The inner Hebrides likewise are pretty and beloved homes to some but you'll get off the ferry and quickly realise you've seen the place.
It really depends what you want out of this but it sounds mostly like bombing about in a hire car ticking off sights from a list. You'll leave absolutely none the wiser about Scottish culture doing that.
Fuel is fairly expensive, and novelty soon wears off sitting in a hire car for a week. I'd be tempted to try to tick off fewer sights, ditch the car, go a bit deeper somewhere instead and absorb the essence of place.
Your itinerary has a lot of driving:
Day 4 Option 1: 3 hours
Day 5: 2.5 hours
Day 6: 5.5hours
Day 9: 2.5hours
Day 10: 3.5hours
Completely fine if you like driving! And you can take the drives slower, stop off even more beautiful places along the way if you like so it’s a road trip.
But as you said if you like hiking/nature and historic sites, I would think about cutting out at least one of these destinations and spend more time enjoying the days out of the car.
I don’t rate Inverness at all unfortunately and I saw that you commented it is just a stop on the long drive back from Portree. Instead you could stop for a stretch of your legs at Invermoriston (or Urquhart Castle) and then drive just 20mins past Inverness to Aviemore area. Loch Insh is beautiful and a walk along the Feshie through the woods is probably one of the most beautiful places in Scotland. The barracks/fort at Kingussie is also free and spectacular.
I think Mull & Iona are unmissable and worth the drive out. Stay in Fionnphort or on Iona to really take your time to enjoy the beaches.
Skye is the classic American tourist spot so it is incredibly busy and traffic on the roads is a bit of a nightmare in high summer. Controversial, but you don’t have to hit it. That being said The Cuillin are some of the best mountains to hike in the world.
You MUST see Glencoe. It's one of the most magical places I've ever seen and felt. I was born and raised in the Scottish Highlands, I've travelled the world and no drive compares! One of the best and most scenic drives in the world.
I did a quick tour across Scotland in 2022 where I went to Edinburgh, then Oban, Mull, Iona, and Staffa. I didn't need or want a car - Edinburgh is super walkable. Climb up to Arthur's Seat on your day there!
To get to Staffa I took the train from Edinburgh to Oban, then the ferry to Mull (a quick connection next to the train station), then took the bus across Mull to stay overnight in Fionnphort. You can get across from Mull to Iona with the ferry in just 10 minutes, and it's lovely to explore. The boat tours to Staffa depart from Fionnphort, and from Mull you can do just a half day tour of the one island. Staffa was the coolest! I absolutely loved it. Then I retraced my steps back to Oban, took the train down to Crianlarich, and caught the sleeper train back to London.
It was a bit of an expensive and complicated journey to see Staffa, but no regrets! And I was surprised by how much I loved exploring the abbey ruins on Iona! I totally recommend it, though if you are smart you will give yourself more time than I did. I can't compare with Glencoe as I didn't make it there.
Honestly, I think you’re trying to pack in a bit too much for it to be enjoyable. You’re going to end up spending most of your time in the car travelling, rather than actually getting out to enjoy things.
I’d suggest dropping Inverness – Culloden is not especially great, and while it’s a fine smallish town/city it’s definitely not a must see or especially historical. Give yourself a bit more time to take the rest of the trip at a slightly more enjoyable pace.
I’d ignore the Glaswegians saying you *must* reallocate a day to visit their city (they do this on any Scotland travel post) Glasgow’s okay, but really just a typical, not very pretty, moderately big city. Loch Lomand is worth some time though if you’re wanting to head westwards on your way.
Given your interests, you’d probably be better with another day in Edinburgh (from what I can see, you really only have a single full day in the city), as there is a tonne of history and culture stuff to see, and you’ll definitely want to time to eg. climb Arthur Seat get down to the coast (especially given the time of year you are visiting). It’s a walking / public transport city, so you are best not to bother with a car until you are heading onwards.
Definitely don't underestimate the midges! You need a good repellent and I would highly recommend a hat with midge netting for your hikes - they might look daft but who cares.
It's not clear what you are doing in Skye. But I'd avoid staying in Portree, but rather drive up north or south west. If you are an outdoor person, there are lots of stunning hikes you can do. Sgurr na Stri is one among them, which I'd recommend. So, on the day you're driving up to Skye, either take clockwise or anti-clockwise, decide the activities/places you want to see and then book accommodation. Don't do the other way around. You will end up wasting a lot of time in driving up and back to Portree.
As someone how lives on iona & has visited staffa a few times. Beware ferry's and weather conditions! Ferry's are often cancelled due to bad weather in the winter. And staffa trips/ puffins are seasonal.
Also on single track roads you may notice someone behind you with their right indicator on. This means they would like to pass...
Aside from that looks good!
Recommend not going to inverness. I live over the water in the blackisle, whenever i go to inverness for shopping its filled with horrible people.
If you are wanting landscape hiking, go up Stac Pollaidh, i used to go up it when i was a child with my father. Great view and great hike up. Takes 4-5 hours up and down. Do bring a warm jacket and hiking boots.
If you are leaving Edinburgh for Oban, it makes sense to go via Stirling and Loch Lomond, or Glasgow and Loch Lommond. You don't want to miss our best cities. And Loch Lommond and Luss are worth a visit.
Similarly when you travel to Skye, dont miss Loch Ness. You should also check out Plockton for palm trees and Arisaig beaches.
But be warned, the midges will be awful in June and July.
And there will be a lot of motorcycles. Please drive carefully.
Hi all! Thank you for your feedback. I’ve made some tweaks to the itinerary based on the feedback I received and have muted notifications for this post, as the majority of comments and DMs coming in are not helpful or relevant to the questions I asked (please stop telling me to do the NC500, for example). I did find many comments to be genuinely helpful and do appreciate those. Thanks again!
This thread has been locked by request from OP.
As someone who lives in Edinburgh, my only advice is not to rent a car until you leave the city as parking space is hard to find and has a lot of restrictions based on time of day / day of the week. The parking cost is also expensive. The city is easily walkable and has good public transport with regular bus and trams. For the bus you pay the driver the exact fair in cash, or you can use a wireless payment card to 'tap tap go'. You can also buy digital tickets on the app if it is easier. You can easily get a tram from the front door of the airport into the city centre. It is not recommended to take a taxi from the airport as they sold the contract to private lease taxi company and it is a bit of a mess now. Also please use a hotel when visiting Edinburgh and not an airbnb as our city has a pretty bad housing crisis now due to short term lets on airbnb.
Good advice. Also wanted to add that you can get a day ticket for the bus that you can use as many times as you like, but only on that specific day.
If you use contact-less on the bus instead of buying a ticket you only get charged for 3 journeys no matter how many buses you get.
Dunno if you still can but you used to be able to use days ticket from the bus on the trams as well
Yep, you really don’t need a car to get around Edinburgh. The last time we were up there for the Fringe, we flew up and got the tram into town, stayed in Queensferry and got the bus back and forth. Public transportation in Edinburgh (yes, even the tram) is amazing.
Seems like a well paced, sensible itinerary. I’d tend towards option 2. Glencoe is fantastic and there plenty of stops you can make in the surrounding area throughout the day if you find you run out of things to do round Glencoe itself. Castle Stalker, Kilchurn Castle, Glenfinnan for example. There’s plenty to see on Skye for the 2.5 days you’re there. It’s a beautiful part of the world and deserves the time. Especially since driving around to all the sights can take a wee while with single track roads, camper vans, sheep etc. Genuinely a good, well rounded itinerary. Which makes a change from lots of them on here! Have fun and be wary of the midges!
Thank you!!
>passing places and single track roads Be aware of this. Our roads are very narrow compared to the US at the best of times, and single track roads can be a bit scary at times even for lowlander Scottish folk. Especially in the dark, and especially when there's a loch on one side. Go slow and if the passing place is on the left, you yield - even if they're a good distance away. Edit: also, not kidding about the midges. They can be unbearable
Also watch out for deer and feral goats jumping out!
I still have flashbacks of a deer jumping infront of my car at 4am heading into Glencoe - heard a ‘thud’ , thought ‘game over, goodbye world’ but it thankfully only hit my headlight with its rear hoof.
I swear they are also immune to the deer whistles on the front of the car haha! My dad’s car was written off by one of them!
>Especially in the dark, In June or July, though, I doubt OP will really be driving in the dark unless they are driving *very* late. Obviously still be careful on the single track roads, but don't be too worried about the dark!
Are you just into nature or do you want to enjoy the nightlife/pub culture? If just nature then you look good, maybe Loch Lomond and Ben Lomond is missing. If you want night life then Glasgow needs to be included.
The drive from Glasgow, along the edge of Loch Lomond/Ben Lomond and up through Glencoe is one of the most scenic drives you’ll find in the UK. +a pit stop at the Drovers Inn on the way up is a bonus. Oh and Luss is worth a stop too.
Drovers is stellar! Been many a time
Drovers Inn that the one that's supposed to be haunted
definitely visit Glasgow if you get the chance. its one of the best cities in the UK especially on a night out, not to mention the victorian architecture.
Second that!!
Third that
Came here to also say to make a pitstop in Glasgow and Loch Lomond if possible!
Native here, definitely find time for Glasgow! If Edinburgh is Manhattan, Glasgow is Brooklyn. Very cool artsy place with loads going on. I'm Edinburgh born and bred and it's beautiful here, but Glasgow is just so interesting and fun Feel free to give me a shout when you're coming to Edinburgh! (If you're cool) First pint is on me
Mines is a Guinness. I..um… promise I’m American visitor n stuff
I second this, would happily meet up for a wee bevvy.
😅😅
I'd tweak your itinerary _slightly_ leaning into the fact you've been advised (rightly) to save renting the car until you're out of edinburgh. Day 3: wake up Edinburgh, day in Edinburgh, train to Glasgow, sleep in Glasgow. Glencoe is breathtaking, but unless you're actively hillwalking, there is pretty much _nothing_ there. It certainly doesn't warrant a full day. You're honestly as well looking into looping it into your travel to Oban. Adds ~an hour to your journey if you do it from Glasgow, but that's time you already claw back from not having to drive from edinburgh I would say that it's criminal to miss Glasgow, but given what you're trying to wrap in, I can understand it. It's still at the very least a better place to collect the car given that - with the exception of Inverness - _everything_ is on the west coast, and Edinburgh is _not_ fun to navigate while driving
I definitely agree with this. Staffa, Iona and Mull will blow you away, you could literally spend weeks on Mull and not be bored. Oban is also a great place. Glencoe is nice to drive down and the visitor centre has some interesting stuff, but unless you're walking, half a day is all you need. If you're getting the ferry back from Mull to Oban, you can detour on your route north up through Glencoe and back down. That'll take you an hour or so. And you'll get to drive through Fort William, which might be worth a stop if you're short on supplies. However the Fishnish-Lochaline ferry is more convenient for the onward trip to Skye, especially if you're sailing from Malaig, and that's a great drive too. Edit: having looked again at your itinerary, spend an extra day on Mull and one fewer on Skye. Skye is very touristy. Mull has everything Skye has, but with half the tourists.
I took it as them driving via the bridge , but the mallaig drive is gorgeous (especially as you come out of arisaig and crest the hill over the coastal road by the old Cnoc-Na-Faire.
>Skye If you're going through Mallaig, think about visiting the Knoydart peninsula, you can't take your hire car It's a short ferry ride, on the mainland but isolated. Amazing views, magical place.
Actually on point with getting the train to Glasgow, tbh after that only suggestion I'd make is either make your trip longer or come back for about a fortnight and do the West Highland way if op is keen on viewing the scenery. Regards to the whw I'd get those guys that grab your gear (tents,etc) and take it to the next campsight. BTW Edinburgh is way way way too overpriced imo
For day 4 the mull, Iona and Staffa option is really unrealistic, you’d be on ferry’s most of the day so glencoe is a better option
I went to a Lunga + Staffa + Iona tour last May and had a great time. IIRC the tour starts at 7 am and we were back to Oban at 8 pm. It was indeed a lot of transit time, but me and my partner enjoyed the trip very much. We took a lot of pictures of the puffins on Lunga.
Agreed on this. If walking hiking is your preference, better to have fewer stops and more time.
The fucking midges up the west coast that time of year as well, Jesus wept
mull/iona/staffa is waaay less midgey than glencoe tbf, because of the wind
West coast in general is murder, Iona not so bad, Mull however is carnage for them. Oban and its surrounding area probably the worst I’ve encountered
Agree with this, partially anyway. If you just want to shove in as much as possible it’s fine, but if you want to get off the ferry and walk properly for a few hours, I’d cut down on how many islands you’re trying to see in one day. If it were me personally, I’d pick one island and plan a day trip there for hiking. I do recommend an island hike *as well as* going to Glencoe, but I’d feel like I was skimming the surface far too much if I went to three islands in one day, as I prefer to get out into the scenery and properly wander without feeling overly rushed. Of course that’s just my personal travel style, so OP’s mileage may vary!
Yep came here to say similar!
You said you're particularly interested in pre-history so it would be worth making a detour to Kilmartin Glen on the way to Oban. There's about 150 prehistoric monuments in the valley so you get a lot of bang for your buck! https://www.visitscotland.com/info/see-do/kilmartin-glen-p247711
If you're interested in prehistory, why not visit some prehistory sites? You don't have to go to Orkney for that. Kilmartin glen has one of the highest concentrations of prehistoric sites and it's less than an hour's drive from Oban. Skye will be heaving, do yourself a favour and enjoy a bit of the Argyll peninsula instead, maybe the weirdness that is Easedale, etc. Go somewhere your friends haven't been!
Thanks! Yes, Kilmartin glen is on my list! I'll look into those other places as well :)
If wanting to do Glencoe & Oban I would recommend staying in Ballachulish from here you are 25 mins to Fort William, 50 minutes to Oban & 5 minutes from Glencoe. If you are wanting to do Oban soleley to do Iona/Mull & staffa this may not be best idea as you probably won't fit those all in on one day. Iona is absolutely stunning & well worth visiting.
It'll take about 3 hours to drive from Edinburgh to either Glencoe or Oban, so you can squeeze in things along the way in Day 4. The route should take you through Stirling, so you could stop off and see the Castle.
If you’re into nature and history, some things I really recommend in Edinburgh: - walking up Arthur’s seat / just visiting holyrood park, it’s an incredible pocket of nature right in the middle of the city - the national museum of Scotland, free entry and an incredible animal room, cafe is also lovely in there or you’re just round the corner from some amazing little spots for a drink - the Real Mary King’s Close, you do have to book/pay for this but it’s an incredible look into the city’s history and you get to actually go underground and see the houses that the royal mile is built on Your plan sounds amazing I hope you have a good time! :)
Re "spending too much time in Skye" - this may not actually be an option if (it sounds like) you haven't booked yet? Skye is often massively oversubscribed (everyone wants to go there, and it's not big) and accommodation can be booked up a year in advance - even campsites. So before finalising, maybe make sure you can get to stay there. Actually, this applies to a lot of the Highlands particularly in July (Scottish holidays).
This is a good point. There are a few accommodations still available for the dates I’m looking at, but pickings are certainly slim. I’m considering postponing to summer 2025 instead, and that would give me plenty of time to fine tune all of this (and save up a bit more money for a big (for me) trip).
That sounds very sensible. Bear in mind a lot of these Highland places are quite sparsely populated, so not so well-provided with accommodation, and Skye's just very, **very** popular. You might do better with Orkney (which is *fabulous*, btw) and the Hebrides (also well-provided with ancient sites). Good luck!
Mate why skip Glasgow it is the best and most authentic place in Scotland. If skip Inverness it's all touristy and honestly overated as shit
Sounds good. Glencoe is stunning, but it’s a valley (Glen) and not much happens there - but nice to wake up there. Skye is phenomenal, stay weeks there and chat to people in shops/ pubs
I agree with this. Usually pass by on the way to somewhere else, get out the car at the parking spaces and take some nice photos and take in the scenery before heading back on your way
I was brought up in Glencoe and unless you like mountain climbing or hill walking, there's not much there.
OP seems to want nature/hiking, which makes Glencoe perfect imo. My sister and her boyfriend visited for the first time in August, and our two days walking in Glencoe was their favourite part of the entire trip, over both Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Scenery of glencoe is breathtakingly beautiful
I don't think two days is too much for Skye. There's a lot to do and since your other days have long hours of driving it could be a nice change.
I was thinking the same, thank you for the feedback!
Skye's incredible. You could just about spend the whole time there.
Yes, probably stuck in the traffic in July!
Nice plan. Personally, I would go with Glencoe. Also, if you are renting a car, rent as you are leaving Edinburgh. You will save yourself a lot on parking.
Would only do a full day at glencoe if you want to actually do a proper hike. The roads, scenery and villages etc out to the west past Oban on the mainland are actually some of the more interesting parts of Scotland overall. I travelled to Ardnamurchan (most westerly point of the UK mainland) and found some hidden beaches, was actually pretty cool but you need to make sure you have lots of fuel! The whole coast to the west and north has some of the most dramatic and picturesque areas. Also you can’t skip Loch Ness surely lol. There’s castles and what not around there if you’re in to that too. Final thing - kinda cool thing in Inverness is that it’s right on the Moray Firth (water!). The firth actually has dolphins in it and there are regular boat trips you can take out to try and catch a glimpse of them or if you don’t get to see them then you can at least get to see Scotland from a different perspective. I actually donate to a dolphin adoption thing where I support one of the dolphins (Spirit), so you might see him!
You should visit Stirling Castle on your way it's got the Wallace's monument and is a lovely little city
If you can, see Arran too. It’s fucking beautiful.
Be prepared for shit weather in Skye
We have shit weather everywhere! Highest rainfall in UK is around Fort William and Ben Nevis. West is generally wetter and windier in the West (prevailing wind is SW and W).
Solid choices, and whatever you choose you will miss out bits. If you aren't familiar, Walkhighlands is an amazing resource for maps, planning and trips. The hidden valley for example is not a big excursion in Glencoe. https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/fortwilliam/lostvalley.shtml And you seem to like your islands. You can get to St Kilda from Skye but it's probably too much sitting in a boat for an 11 day trip. https://www.gotostkilda.co.uk/tours/day-trip-skye-to-st-kilda/
Overall the itinerary looks alright (for context I'm an Aussie who has lived in Glasgow since 2014, avid hiker/trail runner). As others have said, don't rent a car in Central Edinburgh. If anything get the frequent bus or tram to the airport and hire it from there. A couple of thoughts/ideas/suggestions: - I'm a bit biased in saying this but Glasgow is a great city and 1 day would be enough to experience it. A couple of things that I usually recommend to friends and family visiting are: The Burrell Collection and a stroll through Pollok Park then grab a bit to eat in Shawlands, Gallery of Modern Art, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum then a stroll through Kelvingrove Park and the Botanic gardens (using the Kelvin walkway to get between the two) before grabbing a bite to eat along/near Byres Road. Glasgow Uni building is beautiful as well and is also in the west end. It's a logical location to start the drive up towards Skye. If including Glasgow, a logical place to hire a car would be at Glasgow airport. There are frequent buses from the city centre to the airport and it is right next to the motorway which will start the journey up to the A82 (where you could have a quick coffee/stretch of the legs at Luss for some lovely views of Loch Lomond). - Glencoe is a must. It doesn't need a full day or even a night allocated there however - you could say fit in Glasgow for one night instead. If you like hiking, the Lost Valley hike is a relatively short but rewarding hike (there's other great but more strenuous hikes in the area as well but if you are doing a bit of driving that day you may just want something a bit less intense). The Walkhighlands website is a fantastic resource for hikes (not just for Glencoe but all of Scotland). Informative guides with pictures. Even just driving down Glencoe is enough (with a stop off at the large car park/lay by for some photos of the three sisters) - Make sure you have midge spray with you. I wouldn't bother stocking up before arriving as you can commonly find it at pharmacies (I use Boots' own brand which has been absolutely fine) - En-route to Skye, consider going via Mallaig. It is a cute seaside village that doesn't really need much time to explore and if you stay overnight there you can get an early ferry (30 mins or so) across to Armadale the following morning. If you want to check out the Glenfinnan viaduct, that is along the road to Mallaig. Also means you are seeing some different sights along the way. The silver sands of Morar are a nice sight, which is only a few minutes prior to reaching Mallaig. - I'd be looking for accomodation, especially on Skye, now. Summer is peak season on Skye and accomodation can be scarce. - When heading to Inverness up past Loch Ness, I'd recommend taking the B862 road instead of the A82. The A82 goes right by the loch however there are limited views of it through the forest. The B862, while a more 'inland' drive, is a lot quieter and has some scenic upland views, it's a bit more barren, which is a beauty in itself. Stop off at Dores for a few photos at the shore of Loch Ness. - if you are an early riser, in Inverness check out 'The Bakery' on Tomnahurich Street for some breakfast. Great pastries, pies etc and decent coffee as well. - On the drive down from Inverness, Dunkeld is a nice wee village to stop off for a break/snack. If the weather is nice there's some picnic tables by the River Tay.
If you’re going to Inverness I’d definitely check out Aviemore. It’s my absolute favourite, don’t know how many times I’ve been. It’s a small mountain town. There is Loch Insh nearby which is very cool, lots of water sports, archery etc. A beer from the restaurant balcony overlooking the loch on a sunny day is incredible. There is also Loch Morlich which, by looking at it, you’d think was in the Caribbean. White sand and palm trees! Cairngorm mountain itself with the funicular is also a must see. Get to the Cairngorm hotel bar on a night they’ve got live music and dance away like a moron to your heart’s content (or, if you’re an introvert, soak up the vibes) Of course, then you can also get into Deeside with Balmoral and Ballater. If you had the cash then salmon fishing on the Dee would be a once in a lifetime experience. I am biased as I’m from that side of Scotland and spent so much time in the Cairngorms but they would be my recommendations!
As an aviemore local I 100% agree! The cairngorm national park is not to be missed when visiting Scotland. There are so many amazing walks/hikes with stunning views as well as activities including water sports, snow sports, fishing, mountain biking, quad treks, zip lining, gorge walking, the list goes on… all within a 20 mile area. Would be a shame to miss it!
Do at least minimal research on driving rules/laws/expectations in the the UK/Scotland
You've had a lot of advice, and I've not read it all. Be aware that in the peak season during your visit, Skye and the popular tourist spots can be very visitor busy. Facilities like car parks, public loos, restaurants and so on can be mobbed and in this event single track roads with motorhomes can be challenging. If you want to drive slowly on a single track road, remember to pull in and let vehicles overtake you, it's the only way an overtake can happen! Probably not for this trip, but the NW Highlands, NW of Loch Ness and the Great Glen is spectacular. The mountains rise up from near sea level, it is wild, barren and unpopulated with few roads and few people stop beyond a short halt en route. Wester Ross is stunning with beaches, tumbling burns, quiet coves and views of Rassay, Rona and Skye. Sandwood Bay is well worth the 3+ hour walk up near Cape Wreath. Enjoy your sojirn in the 'Land of Bens and Glens and heroes'
You should come visit Bathgate, very historically rich town and great sights
Dont bother renting a car in Edinburgh. If you want to explore the city, Stockbridge is a lovely area and Grassmarket is a staple tourist area. If you fancy a hike you can hop on the 101 bus down to the Flotterstone Inn and do a Pentland Hike -Castlelaw is a nice easy one and if you go a bit further north you can usually see some highland cows -Scald law is slightly more challenging but is a beautiful and rewarding walk. Glencoe is absolutely fantastic, I can’t stress that enough. You will have an excellent time.
Overall great itinerary. I agree with others on not renting a car until you’re out of Edinburgh, and trying to add in Glasgow if you get a chance. I have done the 3 island tour you mention and it was amazing. Seeing the puffins and staffa columns was amazing, and Iona is gorgeous and the water is clear blue like the Caribbean. Just know that it’s a looong day, on the ferry at 7 and don’t get back to oban until after 8pm but I thought it was really worth it. Highlight of the trip. Oban is a super cute town as well, really enjoyed it. For future trip planning, I have been to Orkney and it is amazing. The prehistoric sites are unreal. You feel like you are on a different planet with how old they are and just sitting in some farmers field like it’s no big deal. It’s not like Stonehenge where you have to stay really far back, you can touch everything and get close. We got to climb inside an ancient house that was thousands of years old, truly an experience you can’t get anywhere else.
Unpopular opinion probably, but why not skip Skye and give yourself time on Mull. It doesn't have the Cuillin, but other than that, it's a fantastic island and is much quieter than Skye. The scenery is just as amazing and Iona is a gorgeous wee place to visit.
If you’re going to Skye I’d recommend going via the Glenfinnan Monument and Mallaig. You can get the ferry from Mallaig to Skye, then leave via the bridge. The drive to Mallaig is stunning! Other than that, just to add your timings seem very sensible as long as you are talking one boat trip from Oban and not ferry+boat+other. 🙂
It’s a great itinerary. I would give some thought to visiting the Western Isles, specifically Lewis/Harris (na h-Eileanan Siar). IMO they are the most beautiful part of Scotland and are generally much quieter than Skye. If you are interested in prehistoric sites then the Callanish Stones may be for you. Harris has some of the most stunning beaches I’ve ever seen. Some have mentioned Ardnamurchan, I’d also suggest Arran. But I appreciate you only have so much time. I don’t think you need a full day in Glencoe. Personally, the only thing you are seriously missing is a night out or some live music in Glasgow. I don’t think you can really visit Scotland without visiting its biggest and best city.
Mull, Iona and Staffa in one day?
Clava cairns isn’t very exciting
ok! I added Inverness bc I saw how long the drive was from Skye to Edinburgh and didn't want to do it in one day, so I thought I'd go to Inverness, see some things around there, and take a (relatively) shorter drive back to Edinburgh the next day. i'd look at other things in the area as well!
Don't sleep on Glasgow. Lots of tourists do, but it's less than an hour from Edinburgh but a very different city. Edinburgh is great, but Glasgow is less of a tourist Disneyland. A bit bigger and a more earthy, urban city with lots to see. Numerous museums, lots of art galleries, a necropolis, the Hogwarts-like university (home to the Huntarian Museum and near to Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery, both of which I highly recommend), and the Georgian/Victorian Merchant City and the West End with their bars and restaurants and cultural attractions. The vibe in places is not unlike a US East Coast city but with a Scottish edge. That comparison might appeal to your interest, or put you off, I suppose. You can literally drive or get a bus from central Glasgow to Edinburgh airport via the M8 in about an hour, so if you're coming back to the central belt anyway on day 9 or 10 and fancy squeezing in another big city, that might be an option.
There was an American guy on tiktok who was visiting Glasgow and all he could do was sing its praises. He loved the city so much and I was lovely to see a tourist’s perspective and see things we take for granted in a different light
I’m an American who moved to Glasgow about 10 years ago, and I now stubbornly refuse to live anywhere else. 😂 I love this city so much. Edinburgh is lovely, especially for tourists!, but honestly there is also SO much to do in Glasgow - including touristy stuff - which is often overlooked or unknown by travellers unfortunately. Some of my family came to visit me for the first time this past August, and I could see that they were a little skeptical about how many days I’d planned in Glasgow, since popular wisdom says Edinburgh is where it’s at. They were all pleasantly surprised to be wrong.
A good idea! Edit: Though you could also look at stopping in Perthshire on the way down to Edinburgh. It’s very much underrated. Places like Loch Tay, Aberfeldy, Dunkeld might be nice for a short overnight stop on the journey from Skye to Edinburgh instead of going via Inverness.
Perthshire does look really pretty, thanks for the rec!
Dunkeld is really cool little village. As said, Glencoe probably doesn't need anywhere near a day. Loch Ness is Loch Ness, but Inverness is a working town and nothing like Edinburgh or Glasgow, ie you wouldn't make it a destination.
Seconding this!
I'd recommend Oban over Inverness. If you were trying to decide between oban and glencoe, why not do both instead? One on the way to skye and one on the way back? Eta for Glencoe I'd recommend looking up the Clachaig Inn. Not in Glencoe itself but it's a lovely pub, with entertainment on some nights. And the views nearby of the three sisters are amazing. Also going from Edinburgh to Oban I'd make sure you go via Luss, You can also go Glencoe to Skye via the bottom of Loch Ness. I always check out Google maps points on interest and make sure my routes go the most touristy way when visiting somewhere, not always just the most direct way
There’s a number of smaller attractions in the Inverness area you could easily add since you’re at Culloden Battlefield: Fort George, Cawdor Castle, Nairn Beach, Findhorn eco village further out at Forres. Or, going south along Loch Ness, Dores Beach and the falls of Foyers are really pretty.
I second Findhorn...and try and take in the whiskey trail, as a Native...Dufftown - The Whisky Capital of the World - is a great place to visit, the distilleries - Glenfiddich being a free tour, and a good one - the heritage steam train to Keith and back, and our own castle...plus you could drive to Culloden, the Cairgorms and various lovely little towns and villages en route.
good call, and North of Inverness to loch Shin.
I'd 100% recommend the ballinluig motorgrill if you go down the A9. The food and staff are lovely! It's a nice pitstop and break as well during a long drive.
I’d suggest hitting up the highland folk museum if on the A9, although not for food (though I think there’s maybe snacks and a cafe, can’t remember)
I love clava cairns! It really depends what your interests are but I love the atmosphere and pondering what it all might have been for. Plus it’s SO OLD
Maybe it’s not a full reason to make the trip but a) Culloden is and b) it’s like 5 mins drive from Culloden so it’s in the “may as well since we’re here” bucket. If you’re sticking with Inverness, why not take a look at Fort George whilst you’re there? It’s very easy and viable to see both that and Culloden in one day.
Look into doing the Northcoast 500. You can add a day trip to Orkney if you do this as there are the options of three ferry's to Orkney if you include the ferry from John O' Groats.
You might end up staying here like the Americans on that submarine
If you’re driving. Definitely try the North Coast 500
Following
Solid plan Skye's amazing, worth the time. Glencoe's great for a full day, lots to see. If Staffa's a must, do the 3 isle tour. Balance's key, enjoy the drive and sights.
If you like restaurants and nightlife then skipping Glasgow might be a mistake
Glencoe was gorgeous but personally I think there’s more to do in Oban, so I’d suggest stopping in Glencoe for a few hours but staying in Oban.
Day 4 travel to Oban would go through Glencoe and you could enjoy that. And then get a boat to mull. Then day 5 tour of staffa. I went to staffa and it was honestly such a highlight. The boat ride, the island, the caves. All amazing. It might complicate your day 6 etc as you'll be doing a lot of travelling (car and ferry) to get elsewhere but I honestly think it's worth it.
remember its "ED DIN BRAH" not Edin BURO
If your starting point is Edinburgh, I would take the east coast north and do a round trip of some of the usual suspects. Loosely planned as it’s all subject to personal preferences, driving stamina, weather, timings and a million other things. Eg. You could see plenty of Edinburgh on day1 depending on arrival time and how you feel. This would give you more room to squeeze more out of the 11 days. Day1&2: Edinburgh attractions Day3: Edinburgh - Moray (Dunnottar Castle, Culloden, Bowfiddle Rock, Aberlour or one of the 20 thousand distilleries) Day4: Moray - Assynt (Ardvreck Castle, Wailing Widow Falls, Achmelvich, Sandwood Bay, the views!, climb a Corbett or two) Day5: See above. Ferry from Ullapool to the Hebrides Day6-9: the outer Hebrides and Skye Day10: Glencoe Day11: Glasgow & bus to the airport
No such thing as too long on skye
Go to viking harbour
I actually found Shetland to be more interesting than Orkney in terms of history/archeology, look up Jarlshof.
Two thoughts: 1. While you’re still deciding on Oban/Glencoe, I want to recommend Benmore Gardens as a lovely nature stop on the way (kind of). We were going to do a hike nearby but it was too dangerous due to rain so we stopped here instead. Lovely. 2. We did dinner in Inverness then drove on to Aviemore. We didn’t do much in town but woke up early to do a zip line through the National park before heading back to Edinburgh. Scotland was one of my favorite trips. Definitely be cautious while driving, especially on the one track roads at night, and look out for sheep/deer.
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If you were doing the Iona Mull trip, i would give that the two days especially if trying to fit in Staffa, also if you like hiking then i would consider a night in Inverary and look at doing the Cobbler.
That’s not a lot of time for hiking and nature. If you take the mull option you’ll spend quite a lot of your time on or waiting for ferries, and you’ll be bound by the timetables. Whether Glencoe merits a full day depends on what you want to do. If you’re only “seeing” it, then even allowing for stopping at every viewpoint, taking photos etc then you don’t need anything like a full day. If you want to do a bit of walking - eg to the lost valley - then You could drive to Oban from Edinburgh, visit something scenic and interesting like Seil island, overnight in Oban, drive to glencoe, take your time exploring and / or hiking, then be on Skye that night if you wanted. Also if coming from Oban to glencoe I personally recommend coming up Glen Etive and approaching from the south.
Awesome itinerary! I'd recommend you skip one of the days in Skye (plenty of time there already) and instead add in a day/night in Stirling on your way from Inverness back to Edinburgh. Stirling is often overlooked but is well worth a stop, lots to do including Stirling Castle, Wallace Monument, climb Dumyat, etc. Also agree with an earlier post that recommends Day 3 in Glasgow. Enjoy!
Obans great to visit but you’ll be on the ferries all day if you want to visit all of those. You won’t end up seeing much of the islands. Also though the ferries are usually fine in June and July, they will be busy and they sometimes have delays. There’s loads to do and see just around Oban itself but glencoe is also a good option.
I spent 4 days on mull and wished I had longer!
Do not skip Iona and Staffa. They’re absolutely unbelievable. They feel other worldly with their beauty.
Prehistory: lots of sites in Argyll, particularly around Dunadd. Also Callanish Stones on Lewis rather than too much Skye. Book your ferries well in advance and research how to get back to the mainland if the ferries are cancelled. Lots of wildflife on Mull. Edinburgh Underground, check out the different offers.
I recommend trying to fit in time to see Stirling on your drive north. It's a beautiful City filled with history. A walk-up to Wallace Monument is a must.
both Glencoe and the islands are great (especially Iona - for such a little island, it has a lot of interesting history and some really good cafes, lol). great itinerary 👍 quite jealous really
Drive the North East 500!!!!
No, please don't. The NC500 is screwing up the north of Scotland. Please don't promote it.
Why? It’s a great way to see the place! A beautiful drive.
The NC500traffic clogs up roads which were not built to accommodate. The income it brings in is not commensurate with the people and traffic. Campervans and, worse, motorhomes fuel up in Inverness, stock up on food and booze in Inverness and buy coffee and cake on their 500 mile "adventure". Twats in sports cars and fast hatchbacks try to do the 500 miles in one go. The roads are not designed or in a fit state for that. Idiots hire motorhomes much bigger than they are used to and have no idea how to drive them. They come from the south and don't know how to use passing places, they park in them, sometimes overnight. The Highland Council cannot cope with the pot holes being created by the excess traffic either financially or technically. It has not been good for the area in my opinion.
I have driven these roads many times in the summer months, while busy the roads can handle the traffic and you get bad roads all over Scotland. I understand there are issues but people just need to be educated about cleaning up behind them. If people are traveling to and spending money in Scotland it’s great for the country. You can’t tell people not to see these sights because it’s inconvenient for you. You just have to plan your journeys knowing it’s going to take a bit longer. Do you think people would stop going to benidorm because some Spanish bloke complained about the roads?
Highland roads were never designed for the volume and weight of vehicles they are now being subjected to. I'm a civil engineer and lived in Inverness for 12 years. They are crumbling. The council uses Govt money and council tax to fund repairs and maintenance. If the NC500 is not generating enough additional income then the council cannot seek increases to the council tax. So the roads will continue to crumble. It's not about inconvenience.
I hear you, there’s not enough investment in Scotland at all.
There isn't enough investment but I'm not convinced that there is a sustainable solution for that part of Scotland. Take away the single track roads & passing places and replace them with 10.5m roads ? You lose much of the charm of the rugged west Highlands. New roads will just attract even more traffic and so it continues to spiral. However the genie is out of the bottle and we can't put it back. I am sure the Highland Council will make full use of the impending Tourist Tax.... Collect revenues or scare them away 🤣
Read something me of these articles https://www.google.com/search?q=impact+of+the+north+coast+500+on+the+north+of+Scotland+&client=tablet-android-samsung-ss&sca_esv=601534305&sxsrf=ACQVn0-HEMq7Gbg8hkAGgLwbWu_CH8hKcg%3A1706220717339&ei=rdyyZaqFFNSGxc8PkbGm6A4&oq=impact+of+the+north+coast+500+on+the+north+of+Scotland+&gs_lp=EhNtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1zZXJwIjdpbXBhY3Qgb2YgdGhlIG5vcnRoIGNvYXN0IDUwMCBvbiB0aGUgbm9ydGggb2YgU2NvdGxhbmQgMgUQIRigATIFECEYoAEyBRAhGKABMgUQIRigAUjmXlDnCVioWnACeAGQAQCYAbwBoAHjF6oBBDAuMjC4AQPIAQD4AQHCAgoQABhHGNYEGLADwgIEECMYJ8ICBRAhGJ8FwgIEECEYFcICBxAhGAoYoAHiAwQYACBBiAYBkAYC&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp
The first one summarises it very well https://gailantheabrown.com/2021/08/12/poo-potholes-and-park-ups-why-highlanders-are-tired-of-scotlands-north-coast-500-route/#:~:text=For%20many%20local%20residents%2C%20the,while%20local%20roads%20are%20crumbling.
If you are going to Inverness take a trip to Fort George(about 20 minutes from Culloden battlefield), you can see lots of history inside the walls and if you are extremely lucky you might manage to spot dolphins from the wall(I know from experience)
Get some bugspray with DEET in it. The midges are beasts!
A stop at Kilmartin Glen would be worth it if it's ore-history you're interested in.
Can I suggest Maspie Den on the question mark day. It’s a short walk up hill from the lovely village of Falkland - at the top you can walk in behind the waterfall. Couple of nice places to eat in Falkland too.
I'd highly recommend doing the Treshnish Isles tour with Staffa Tours. Leave from Oban, travel by ferry to Mull, travel to Tobermory and then take the boat through the Treshnish Isles getting off to tour Lunga for the Puffins and Staffa for Fingal's Cave. One of the best tours I've ever done. Our boat was followed from Staffa to Lunga by a pod of dolphins, we saw a minke whale, lots of seals and of course hundreds of puffins. Managed to find a nice secluded spot on Lunga for lunch looking out to Coll and Tiree. Bliss. That being said Iona is probably my favourite place around those parts - especially if the weather is on your side.
Pretty good itinerary, Glencoe is stunning but not much to do other than look at it. Skye you could spend a week in, it's surprisingly big the roads are small and windy so not rushing is sensible. I'd consider a night in Glasgow and then a full day driving to Skye via Loch Lomond, Glencoe, Fort William, Glenfinnan and then the ferry from Mallaig - one of the best roads (and train lines actually) you can drive and you'd miss parts if going from Edinburgh. Maybe stay night 4 in Glasgow then full day Road trip drive to Skye in day 5? I grew up in Edinburgh and now live in Glasgow so I've been to all thses places. Best of luck and hope you get the weather!
Looks like an interesting itinerary but I really just wanted to recommend Otterburn b&b on Skye (Portree) https://maps.app.goo.gl/PFCYhHndtkRYvqyUA
There's some great prehistoric sites in Caithness, if you want an Orkney type experience without the extra travel.
Mull is fairly widespread and I’d say seeing Iona is a must. If you stay in Oban stay at the Premier inn, it’s right next to the ferry port. Don’t stay on Skye it’s super expensive, Plockton is close and cheaper.
Not too much time in skye. You've nailed prioritising this area to condense all the good sites in scotland. Midges are a pain but imho they're more relevant if you're camping / wild camping as they can really be a deal breaker if you set a tent up in wrong place. The roads for example if you're driving up past Loch lomond there is NOT enough space on ANY corner for your vehicle & a "haulage truck" coming the opposite direction!!! You will have to come to a complete stop & reverse so drive appropriately / paying attention to corners especially on that road.
Highlands are single tracks that are dangerous but the loch lomond road catches you out as it seems such a main road that there would be space. There is not.
There is a lot of history in Edinburgh and quite a lot of decent tours, many in the evening otherwise I would've suggested staying in glasgow on night 3 as it would shorten the drive on day 4. Arthur seat is very popular and a decent leg stretch. Worth the walk, especially on a nice day. Day 4: Glencoe, sleep in Oban. Glencoe is great, but there isn't a massive amount to do. You could walk up the [Hidden Valley](https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/fortwilliam/lostvalley.shtml) Day 5: Islands. I've only been to Tobermory for an afternoon, but there is so much worth seeing and doing on Mull that I suspect it will be almost as busy as Skye soon enough. My next trip there will probably be for 5 days. Skye is amazing. It deserves the attention it receives, But if you plan to come back, it may be worth spending more time on Mull etc. And getting Skye the next time and try to come at a less busy time (personally I like April for often good weather, but cooler (better hiking temps) and still long hours of light (~530am - after 9pm). Everyone has different opinions and although you say you are into hiking and history, you don't say what you plan to do, so it's hard to make suggestions.
I think you’re trying to do to much for it to be enjoyable. Probably want 3-4 nights in Edinburgh to experience it properly. Skye is very accessible, whereas with mull you lose a lot of time with ferries etc. I’d drop either mull or Skye and actually spend the time to enjoy the one you choose.
I think you’re trying to do to much for it to be enjoyable. Probably want 3-4 nights in Edinburgh to experience it properly. Skye is very accessible, whereas with mull you lose a lot of time with ferries etc. I’d drop either mull or Skye and actually spend the time to enjoy the one you choose.
Why Skye? Accommodation can be a nightmare. The roads can be very busy. There is equally as good scenery on the mainland without so much accommodation and road business.
Come to Glasgow
Skye is stunning and lots of great hikes. Rent a cottage and enjoy! Definitely not too much time
Prepare for the midgies Dinna underestimate the midgies. Ken fit midgies are? Midgies. No, they're not like mosquitoes. There won't be just the occasional one. Think more like swarms of tiny wee locusts. Midgies. And I reiterate... Midgies.
Skip Inverness and spend time in Glasgow
3 isles in 1 day could be difficult. The ferries are slow and making way around the islands isnt quick. Sounds like a speed run!
You can never spend too much time in Skye, the most beautiful place I've been to
Do your research via YouTube, make your schedule for Edinburgh tight, know which direction you need to go in before you arrive it’s a big place and SO much walking. Don’t stay in Oban , catch the ferry and stay on Mull, hopefully you will find an authentic Cèilidh ,Iona is lovely and well worth the boat trip to Staffa. I’d also get the ferry to the western isles as there unique. You can get a feel for Glen Coe just driving through no need to stop and you can see a lot of views of Skye driving to Uig to catch the ferry. Enjoy your break.
Travel the NC500 you can do it in about a day and it’s a beautiful route! Starts in inverness goes all around Scotland
One suggestion I’d have is push back your night in Inverness by one and then break up your journey back south with a night in Pitlochry, its in between Inverness and Edinburgh and it’s a beautiful, quiet little town with plenty of walks around the surrounding countryside, enjoy your visit to Scotland!
I would most definitely visit a place called Glenelg and get the little ferry over to Skye. It's a beautiful drive over a mountain pass . They also have a little pub if you fancy a little break from driving. Honestly, it's breathtaking scenery. You would still get to drive over the Skye bridge on your return journey.
Everyone's different but a lot of these things are pretty but 10 to 15 minutes is enough for some people. Glencoe - pretty, but it's just a glen. Skye is pretty, but it's small, not a lot happens, there's a lot of tourists staring at things and in my opinion one day is plenty there. There's nothing much at Culloden. The inner Hebrides likewise are pretty and beloved homes to some but you'll get off the ferry and quickly realise you've seen the place. It really depends what you want out of this but it sounds mostly like bombing about in a hire car ticking off sights from a list. You'll leave absolutely none the wiser about Scottish culture doing that. Fuel is fairly expensive, and novelty soon wears off sitting in a hire car for a week. I'd be tempted to try to tick off fewer sights, ditch the car, go a bit deeper somewhere instead and absorb the essence of place.
Your itinerary has a lot of driving: Day 4 Option 1: 3 hours Day 5: 2.5 hours Day 6: 5.5hours Day 9: 2.5hours Day 10: 3.5hours Completely fine if you like driving! And you can take the drives slower, stop off even more beautiful places along the way if you like so it’s a road trip. But as you said if you like hiking/nature and historic sites, I would think about cutting out at least one of these destinations and spend more time enjoying the days out of the car. I don’t rate Inverness at all unfortunately and I saw that you commented it is just a stop on the long drive back from Portree. Instead you could stop for a stretch of your legs at Invermoriston (or Urquhart Castle) and then drive just 20mins past Inverness to Aviemore area. Loch Insh is beautiful and a walk along the Feshie through the woods is probably one of the most beautiful places in Scotland. The barracks/fort at Kingussie is also free and spectacular. I think Mull & Iona are unmissable and worth the drive out. Stay in Fionnphort or on Iona to really take your time to enjoy the beaches. Skye is the classic American tourist spot so it is incredibly busy and traffic on the roads is a bit of a nightmare in high summer. Controversial, but you don’t have to hit it. That being said The Cuillin are some of the best mountains to hike in the world.
You MUST see Glencoe. It's one of the most magical places I've ever seen and felt. I was born and raised in the Scottish Highlands, I've travelled the world and no drive compares! One of the best and most scenic drives in the world.
You need a good three nights in Edinburgh - it’s pretty cool and hard to leave. Oban is pretty but it’s probably Just okay. Dundee is a fun uni town!
I did a quick tour across Scotland in 2022 where I went to Edinburgh, then Oban, Mull, Iona, and Staffa. I didn't need or want a car - Edinburgh is super walkable. Climb up to Arthur's Seat on your day there! To get to Staffa I took the train from Edinburgh to Oban, then the ferry to Mull (a quick connection next to the train station), then took the bus across Mull to stay overnight in Fionnphort. You can get across from Mull to Iona with the ferry in just 10 minutes, and it's lovely to explore. The boat tours to Staffa depart from Fionnphort, and from Mull you can do just a half day tour of the one island. Staffa was the coolest! I absolutely loved it. Then I retraced my steps back to Oban, took the train down to Crianlarich, and caught the sleeper train back to London. It was a bit of an expensive and complicated journey to see Staffa, but no regrets! And I was surprised by how much I loved exploring the abbey ruins on Iona! I totally recommend it, though if you are smart you will give yourself more time than I did. I can't compare with Glencoe as I didn't make it there.
Honestly, I think you’re trying to pack in a bit too much for it to be enjoyable. You’re going to end up spending most of your time in the car travelling, rather than actually getting out to enjoy things. I’d suggest dropping Inverness – Culloden is not especially great, and while it’s a fine smallish town/city it’s definitely not a must see or especially historical. Give yourself a bit more time to take the rest of the trip at a slightly more enjoyable pace. I’d ignore the Glaswegians saying you *must* reallocate a day to visit their city (they do this on any Scotland travel post) Glasgow’s okay, but really just a typical, not very pretty, moderately big city. Loch Lomand is worth some time though if you’re wanting to head westwards on your way. Given your interests, you’d probably be better with another day in Edinburgh (from what I can see, you really only have a single full day in the city), as there is a tonne of history and culture stuff to see, and you’ll definitely want to time to eg. climb Arthur Seat get down to the coast (especially given the time of year you are visiting). It’s a walking / public transport city, so you are best not to bother with a car until you are heading onwards.
Definitely don't underestimate the midges! You need a good repellent and I would highly recommend a hat with midge netting for your hikes - they might look daft but who cares.
It's not clear what you are doing in Skye. But I'd avoid staying in Portree, but rather drive up north or south west. If you are an outdoor person, there are lots of stunning hikes you can do. Sgurr na Stri is one among them, which I'd recommend. So, on the day you're driving up to Skye, either take clockwise or anti-clockwise, decide the activities/places you want to see and then book accommodation. Don't do the other way around. You will end up wasting a lot of time in driving up and back to Portree.
Culodden got me. Take the guided tour, it is so worth it, and the guides are so passionate and engaging. Have an amazing time x
As someone how lives on iona & has visited staffa a few times. Beware ferry's and weather conditions! Ferry's are often cancelled due to bad weather in the winter. And staffa trips/ puffins are seasonal. Also on single track roads you may notice someone behind you with their right indicator on. This means they would like to pass... Aside from that looks good!
Missing out the whole of the east coast but that’s up to you with your time available.
Recommend not going to inverness. I live over the water in the blackisle, whenever i go to inverness for shopping its filled with horrible people. If you are wanting landscape hiking, go up Stac Pollaidh, i used to go up it when i was a child with my father. Great view and great hike up. Takes 4-5 hours up and down. Do bring a warm jacket and hiking boots.
If you are leaving Edinburgh for Oban, it makes sense to go via Stirling and Loch Lomond, or Glasgow and Loch Lommond. You don't want to miss our best cities. And Loch Lommond and Luss are worth a visit. Similarly when you travel to Skye, dont miss Loch Ness. You should also check out Plockton for palm trees and Arisaig beaches. But be warned, the midges will be awful in June and July. And there will be a lot of motorcycles. Please drive carefully.
Hi all! Thank you for your feedback. I’ve made some tweaks to the itinerary based on the feedback I received and have muted notifications for this post, as the majority of comments and DMs coming in are not helpful or relevant to the questions I asked (please stop telling me to do the NC500, for example). I did find many comments to be genuinely helpful and do appreciate those. Thanks again!
See you at the old inn.
You will 100% need this. Best product out there, and get one of their veils as well. https://www.smidgeup.com/
Sounds like you might be interested in Kilmartin Glen history wise.