Road Trip Scotland in 15 days: Best Itinerary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Best](\"https:\/\/touristear.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/scotland-15-days-road-trip-400x600.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nTraveling through Scotland by car or by van is undoubtedly a must and is on the wish list of many travelers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is a country we fell in love with, from the kindness of its people to the stunning landscapes and castles scattered throughout the Scottish landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Itinerary Across Scotland by Car in 15 days<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Edinburgh,](\"https:\/\/touristear.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/royal-mile-1-800x533.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nFirst of all, in this post, you will find the itinerary to tour Scotland on your own. However, below are some tips to get you started in planning your trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s a very intense route to know as many places as possible. It is a route through nature, castles, and some of the most important cities of Scotland. We left Glasgow for another time, however.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Day 1. Arrival at Edinburgh<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"what](\"https:\/\/touristear.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Edimburgo-800x533.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nLet\u2019s get started with this trip around Scotland in Edinburgh. Why? Because there are often more flights and at a better price than other destinations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On your arrival, depending on the time your flight arrives, you will be able to see more or fewer things in the capital of Scotland. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We arrived at about 4.30 pm to tell you what to do in Edinburgh in the afternoon<\/strong>.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\nTip: <\/strong>Look for a hotel with parking; I recommend staying out of downtown if you have a car.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAt the airport, take advantage of picking up a rental car.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nDay 2. Best To Do in Edinburgh in 1 day<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Your second day of the route through Scotland is about getting to know more about Edinburgh. This magnificent city has a lot of places to discover and things to do. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s why we\u2019ve prepared these two posts, which we think you will be interested in; I\u2019ll leave both links for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- What to see in a day in Edinburgh<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 50 things to see and do in Edinburgh<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Day 3. From Edinburgh\nto Stirling, the Door of the Highlands<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
We started the road trip through Scotland. Our first stretch runs from Edinburgh to Stirling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the way, you’ll pass by very picturesque places like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Midhope Castle, <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Blackness Castle, <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Kirkgate, <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Falkirk.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
![\"Period](\"https:\/\/touristear.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/castillo-stirling-800x533.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nIn the latter, we saw and climbed the Falkirk Wheel, and then we saw the Kelpies. We ended our day in Stirling with a visit to the castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Curiosity<\/strong>: on this day, we were too motivated, and we lost our heads a little, hehe, but I\u2019ll tell you in case you are interested. First, we visited The Falkirk Wheel and the Kelpies, and from there, we went to Stirling to visit the castle and the village. <\/p>\n\n\n\nBut, at dusk, we went back to the Kelpies because it was super cool at that hour, and the weather was great that day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this post, you can see this stretch from Edinburgh to Stirling<\/strong><\/a> detailed. And, in this one, you’ll find the best accommodations to stay in Stirling<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDay 4. Highland\nGames (depends on the date of your trip)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"Highland](\"https:\/\/touristear.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Highland-Games-tronco-1-800x533.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nOne of the must-haves on your trip to Scotland is watching the Highland Games. To do this, we took a detour of 80 kilometers and went to Peebles to spend the day and enjoy these traditional Scottish celebrations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the way, we visited the Rosslyn Chapel. It will sound familiar to you if you have read or seen the film The Da Vinci Code.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To plan your visit to watch the Games, you have to visit their website http:\/\/www.shga.co.uk\/events.php<\/a> to see the dates and, if you like the idea, fit it into your travel plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDay 5. From Stirling to Glencoe, The road trip through the Highlands starts <\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"Photograph](\"https:\/\/touristear.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Stalker-Castle.-Escocia-800x533.jpg\")
Stalker Castle. Scotland<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nWe continue the tour through Scotland. Today, we will go through one of Scotland\u2019s most important nature parks and one of the most beautiful and most visited. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So much so that it is the only place where you won\u2019t have the freedom of making wild camping: the Loch Lomond National Park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you have more days for your trip, you can split this stretch in two. We loved this area and would have liked to have more time to enjoy it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You will find this detailed section from Stirling to Glencoe in this post.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nDay 6. From Glencoe to Loch Ness and Inverness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"Urquhart](\"https:\/\/touristear.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Urquhart-Castle-Lago-Ness-800x533.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFrom Glencoe, we head for Inverness, the Highland Capital, but we\u2019ll make a few stops on the way. Among them: are Fort William, the Glenfinnan viaduct, Dalwhinnie Distillery, Loch Ness, and finally, Inverness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You will find this detailed section from Glencoe to Inverness in this post.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nDay 7. Inverness\nand its surroundings: Loch Ness, Culloden, Cardhu<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"culloden](\"https:\/\/touristear.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Culloden-Battlefield-800x533.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nOn this day, take the Loch Ness cruise in the morning and then visit Urquhart Castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Visit Culloden, the place where a crucial battle unfolded between Scots and Englishmen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Scots lost, and after this battle, the English banned the Scottish traditions like using the kilt, the tartans of the clans, or speaking Gaelic. Culloden is a place that will give you goosebumps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After this visit, to cheer us up, we went to visit Cardhu for a whisky tasting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this post, you will find the detailed stretch of Inverness and its surroundings.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nDay 8. From\nInverness to the Island of Skye. Stage 1 of NC 500<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Here, we begin the first stage of the North Coast 500<\/strong><\/a> (NC500). We made the last visits to Inverness, Beauly, Rogie Falls, Loch Carron, and Attadale Garden. <\/p>\n\n\n\nWe made a detour from NC 500 and went to Eilean Donan Castle, then Plockton, and slept on the Isle of Skye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here’s the detailed post with the Inverness to the Isle of Skye<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nDay 9. What to see in\nIsle of Skye in 1 day<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"Island](\"https:\/\/touristear.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Barcaza-Island-of-skye-800x533.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nThe Isle of Skye is one of Scotland\u2019s most famous islands, and it certainly deserves a visit of at least one day, but the more time you have, the better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The landscapes are spectacular; you\u2019re going to drive down very narrow roads, and you\u2019re going to feel so overwhelmed that you will need to stop every two minutes to admire the landscapes or take a picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some of the must-see places on the Island of Skye are Armadale, the Fairy Pools, the Talisker Distillery, Dunvegan Castle, Quiraing Trail, and the Old Man of Storr.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I leave you this link to a post dedicated to Visit the Isle of Skye, with a lot of information and recommendations to make your trip successful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Day 10. From the\nIsle of Skye to Stoer. Stage 2 of NC 500<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
After our North Coast 500<\/strong><\/a> detour, we follow the route again to go to Stoer.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIf you go by van, with a tent or motorhome, you can eat at Lake Maree to observe the monoliths and go on a hiking trail called \u201cBen Eighe Mountain Trail,\u201d but you will have to be prepared for the occasion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this stretch of the route through Scotland, you\u2019ll have to stop (mandatory) in Red Point, Ullapool, the ruins of Ardvreck Castle, and enjoy the landscapes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We slept at Hill Cottage<\/a><\/strong> in Stoer and loved it.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDay 11. From Stoer\nto Durness in the NC 500<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"Scotland](\"https:\/\/touristear.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/scotland-15-best-days-400x600.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nThe North Coast 500 is a circular route, and right now, you\u2019d be driving in the north of Scotland. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Among the long list of beautiful places to stop, the Drumbeg Viewpoint, Durness (if you go in July, you can see puffins there), the Smoo Cave, and Cape Wrath are on our must-haves on a road trip across Scotland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Day 12. From\nDurness to John O’Groats<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"John](\"https:\/\/touristear.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/John-OGroats-North-Coast-500-800x533.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nAt this stage, there are places that I loved, like Talmine Bay. A beach of icy water with the skeleton of a ship stranded on the beach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another must-see for me is the Betty Hill Museum, where we learned a lot about Gaelic culture and the Clearances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Dunnet, you\u2019ll find the northernmost point of the Island of Great Britain. From here, you can watch Orkney and enjoy a wonderful sunset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Day 13. From John\nO’Groats to Inverness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
In the last stretch of the NC500, we stopped at Wick for breakfast and visited Hill O\u2019Many Stanes, a hill with many Neolithic menhirs. After that, we kept driving and visited the Broch of Carn Liath and the Dunrobin Castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We slept\nin Inverness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Day 14. From\nInverness to Aberdeen, a route down the Speyside<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"What](\"https:\/\/touristear.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/que-ver-en-aberdeen-mercat-cross-800x533.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nThis is one of the longer stretches of the road trip through Scotland. We visited the Aberlour distillery, but before this visit, in the village of Charlestown of Aberlour, we tried one of the best breakfasts of Scotland. It was in a little caf\u00e9 called The Byre. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Totally recommended. We were taken care of really well, and everything was very tasteful and of very good quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you have a soft spot for whiskey, in this stretch, you\u2019re going to come across a lot of very famous distilleries and The Cooperage Speyside, an exciting visit where you will learn a lot about whiskeys and the barrels where they are kept.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You will also see very nice castles: Brodie Castle, Craigievar Castle, and Castle Fraser.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nTake advantage and visit Aberdeen<\/strong><\/a> in the afternoon-night and the next day. In this post, you have detailed everything you can do in one day in Aberdeen.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDay 15 From\nAberdeen to Falkland and Edinburgh<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
On your return to Edinburgh, there are some very interesting stops. The first and most essential is Dunnottar Castle, one of my favorites of Scotland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then, you can stop in Kirriemuir, the town where Peter Pan writer J.M. Barry was born. and Bon Scott, the first singer of AC\/DC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We ate wonderfully, especially because of the friendliness of the owner of Three Bellies Bar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then, I visited Glamis Castle and the Discovery RSS in Dundee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also, you can stop at Falkland<\/strong>,<\/a> a beautiful little village, which was also the setting of the Outlander TV show.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDay 16. Stroll a while\nin Edinburgh and then back home<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This last day depends on your flight time, try to take advantage of it to visit the places you have been left out of Edinburgh or just rest. It’s up to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As you can see, it\u2019s a complete route, where you\u2019re going to see many things, you\u2019ll get to know some exciting places, and you\u2019ll learn a lot about Scottish culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Below, you\u2019ll find practical information to organize your road trip through Scotland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Where To Get to Scotland?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
One of the most important subjects is how to get to Scotland. You can do what we did and go by car, especially if you plan to go wild camping to bring your camping equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But what most people do is buy a flight to Edinburgh and then rent a car there. This way is usually cheaper than driving from Spain, especially if you have no intention of sleeping in a tent, lol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are flights to Edinburgh, Glasgow, and the north of England for excellent prices. So it’s best to take a look here<\/strong><\/a> to see which destination you get the best price for.<\/p>\n\n\n\nCar Rental in Scotland<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Renting a car in Scotland is not expensive. Obviously, it varies depending on the company and the season. We recommend that you book it with enough advance, especially if you travel in the high season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And pick it up at the airport you arrive at, as it is usually the most comfortable and cheapest option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To rent a car, we leave you this link<\/strong>,<\/a> so you can take a look at the prices on the date of your trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTravel Insurance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
We recommend that you buy travel insurance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are outside of the European Union, you have to take out insurance, or else you can have a prohibitive cost for any issue related to health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our recommendation is always to travel with travel insurance. We offer our readers a 5% discount <\/strong><\/a>if you hire it through this link.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhere to Sleep in Scotland<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In Scotland, you have a variety of places to stay, from wild camping to B&B, hotels, and castles. It all depends on your budget and preferences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wild Camping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Wild camping means you can camp almost anywhere. Obviously, there are places where you can\u2019t. You have to be careful and not get into private property or ask for permission if you think you have to. You can\u2019t camp at Loch Lomond either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But, for example, we camped in front of Castle Stalker. It\u2019s a wonderful place, and we had a fabulous day. The sunset there was magical, and we definitely enjoyed it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are also places to sleep that are no campsites but which have bathrooms, showers, and electricity. They are usually cheap, about 6 pounds per car per night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bed and Breakfast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
B&Bs are a great way to stay in the UK, in general, and in Scotland in particular. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As you know, the weather in Scotland is very variable, and it rains quite a bit so we mixed the wild camping with B&B and we were very lucky with the places where we slept because they took very good care of us, were friendlier than others, but we loved all of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our recommendation is that you book your accommodation in time. We had the experience of not finding any place to sleep at a reasonable price (less than 100 pounds a night) on the Island of Skye. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That day it was pouring rain, and we didn\u2019t feel like going wild camping, and it was impossible to find a B&B with a room available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Check out Booking<\/a><\/strong> for your travel dates and make reservations.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHotels and Castles\nto sleep in Scotland<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
In Scotland, there are hotels and castles to stay at. Hotels are normal and expensive; we were only at a hotel once, and that was in Edinburgh. If your budget allows you, staying in a castle is like a fairytale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To get good prices, you have to make the reservation with time. Depending on the castle and the room, there are pretty reasonable prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Check out Booking<\/strong><\/a> for your travel dates and make reservations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n7 Essentials\nof Scotland<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
You always ask what the must-sees of the places that we visit are. Doing this with Scotland is very difficult, but I leave you these 7 Essentials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Edinburgh, visiting the Scottish capital,<\/a> is a must, no doubt.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Tour Loch Lomond<\/a>.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Visit the Isle of Skye<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Drive the North Coast 500<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Visit as many castles in Scotland as you can<\/a>.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Have a whiskey tasting at one of the Scottish distilleries.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Make Wild Camping and sleep on a lake in front of a castle.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Scotland Map Itinerary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nTraveling through Scotland by car or by van is undoubtedly a must and is on the wish list of many travelers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is a country we fell in love with, from the kindness of its people to the stunning landscapes and castles scattered throughout the Scottish landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Itinerary Across Scotland by Car in 15 days<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nFirst of all, in this post, you will find the itinerary to tour Scotland on your own. However, below are some tips to get you started in planning your trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s a very intense route to know as many places as possible. It is a route through nature, castles, and some of the most important cities of Scotland. We left Glasgow for another time, however.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Day 1. Arrival at Edinburgh<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nLet\u2019s get started with this trip around Scotland in Edinburgh. Why? Because there are often more flights and at a better price than other destinations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On your arrival, depending on the time your flight arrives, you will be able to see more or fewer things in the capital of Scotland. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We arrived at about 4.30 pm to tell you what to do in Edinburgh in the afternoon<\/strong>.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\nTip: <\/strong>Look for a hotel with parking; I recommend staying out of downtown if you have a car.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAt the airport, take advantage of picking up a rental car.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nDay 2. Best To Do in Edinburgh in 1 day<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Your second day of the route through Scotland is about getting to know more about Edinburgh. This magnificent city has a lot of places to discover and things to do. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s why we\u2019ve prepared these two posts, which we think you will be interested in; I\u2019ll leave both links for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- What to see in a day in Edinburgh<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 50 things to see and do in Edinburgh<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Day 3. From Edinburgh\nto Stirling, the Door of the Highlands<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
We started the road trip through Scotland. Our first stretch runs from Edinburgh to Stirling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the way, you’ll pass by very picturesque places like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Midhope Castle, <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Blackness Castle, <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Kirkgate, <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Falkirk.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nIn the latter, we saw and climbed the Falkirk Wheel, and then we saw the Kelpies. We ended our day in Stirling with a visit to the castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Curiosity<\/strong>: on this day, we were too motivated, and we lost our heads a little, hehe, but I\u2019ll tell you in case you are interested. First, we visited The Falkirk Wheel and the Kelpies, and from there, we went to Stirling to visit the castle and the village. <\/p>\n\n\n\nBut, at dusk, we went back to the Kelpies because it was super cool at that hour, and the weather was great that day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this post, you can see this stretch from Edinburgh to Stirling<\/strong><\/a> detailed. And, in this one, you’ll find the best accommodations to stay in Stirling<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDay 4. Highland\nGames (depends on the date of your trip)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nOne of the must-haves on your trip to Scotland is watching the Highland Games. To do this, we took a detour of 80 kilometers and went to Peebles to spend the day and enjoy these traditional Scottish celebrations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the way, we visited the Rosslyn Chapel. It will sound familiar to you if you have read or seen the film The Da Vinci Code.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To plan your visit to watch the Games, you have to visit their website http:\/\/www.shga.co.uk\/events.php<\/a> to see the dates and, if you like the idea, fit it into your travel plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDay 5. From Stirling to Glencoe, The road trip through the Highlands starts <\/h3>\n\n\n\nStalker Castle. Scotland<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nWe continue the tour through Scotland. Today, we will go through one of Scotland\u2019s most important nature parks and one of the most beautiful and most visited. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So much so that it is the only place where you won\u2019t have the freedom of making wild camping: the Loch Lomond National Park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you have more days for your trip, you can split this stretch in two. We loved this area and would have liked to have more time to enjoy it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You will find this detailed section from Stirling to Glencoe in this post.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nDay 6. From Glencoe to Loch Ness and Inverness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFrom Glencoe, we head for Inverness, the Highland Capital, but we\u2019ll make a few stops on the way. Among them: are Fort William, the Glenfinnan viaduct, Dalwhinnie Distillery, Loch Ness, and finally, Inverness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You will find this detailed section from Glencoe to Inverness in this post.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nDay 7. Inverness\nand its surroundings: Loch Ness, Culloden, Cardhu<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nOn this day, take the Loch Ness cruise in the morning and then visit Urquhart Castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Visit Culloden, the place where a crucial battle unfolded between Scots and Englishmen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Scots lost, and after this battle, the English banned the Scottish traditions like using the kilt, the tartans of the clans, or speaking Gaelic. Culloden is a place that will give you goosebumps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After this visit, to cheer us up, we went to visit Cardhu for a whisky tasting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this post, you will find the detailed stretch of Inverness and its surroundings.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nDay 8. From\nInverness to the Island of Skye. Stage 1 of NC 500<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Here, we begin the first stage of the North Coast 500<\/strong><\/a> (NC500). We made the last visits to Inverness, Beauly, Rogie Falls, Loch Carron, and Attadale Garden. <\/p>\n\n\n\nWe made a detour from NC 500 and went to Eilean Donan Castle, then Plockton, and slept on the Isle of Skye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here’s the detailed post with the Inverness to the Isle of Skye<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nDay 9. What to see in\nIsle of Skye in 1 day<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nThe Isle of Skye is one of Scotland\u2019s most famous islands, and it certainly deserves a visit of at least one day, but the more time you have, the better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The landscapes are spectacular; you\u2019re going to drive down very narrow roads, and you\u2019re going to feel so overwhelmed that you will need to stop every two minutes to admire the landscapes or take a picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some of the must-see places on the Island of Skye are Armadale, the Fairy Pools, the Talisker Distillery, Dunvegan Castle, Quiraing Trail, and the Old Man of Storr.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I leave you this link to a post dedicated to Visit the Isle of Skye, with a lot of information and recommendations to make your trip successful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Day 10. From the\nIsle of Skye to Stoer. Stage 2 of NC 500<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
After our North Coast 500<\/strong><\/a> detour, we follow the route again to go to Stoer.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIf you go by van, with a tent or motorhome, you can eat at Lake Maree to observe the monoliths and go on a hiking trail called \u201cBen Eighe Mountain Trail,\u201d but you will have to be prepared for the occasion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this stretch of the route through Scotland, you\u2019ll have to stop (mandatory) in Red Point, Ullapool, the ruins of Ardvreck Castle, and enjoy the landscapes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We slept at Hill Cottage<\/a><\/strong> in Stoer and loved it.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDay 11. From Stoer\nto Durness in the NC 500<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nThe North Coast 500 is a circular route, and right now, you\u2019d be driving in the north of Scotland. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Among the long list of beautiful places to stop, the Drumbeg Viewpoint, Durness (if you go in July, you can see puffins there), the Smoo Cave, and Cape Wrath are on our must-haves on a road trip across Scotland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Day 12. From\nDurness to John O’Groats<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nAt this stage, there are places that I loved, like Talmine Bay. A beach of icy water with the skeleton of a ship stranded on the beach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another must-see for me is the Betty Hill Museum, where we learned a lot about Gaelic culture and the Clearances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Dunnet, you\u2019ll find the northernmost point of the Island of Great Britain. From here, you can watch Orkney and enjoy a wonderful sunset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Day 13. From John\nO’Groats to Inverness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
In the last stretch of the NC500, we stopped at Wick for breakfast and visited Hill O\u2019Many Stanes, a hill with many Neolithic menhirs. After that, we kept driving and visited the Broch of Carn Liath and the Dunrobin Castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We slept\nin Inverness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Day 14. From\nInverness to Aberdeen, a route down the Speyside<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nThis is one of the longer stretches of the road trip through Scotland. We visited the Aberlour distillery, but before this visit, in the village of Charlestown of Aberlour, we tried one of the best breakfasts of Scotland. It was in a little caf\u00e9 called The Byre. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Totally recommended. We were taken care of really well, and everything was very tasteful and of very good quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you have a soft spot for whiskey, in this stretch, you\u2019re going to come across a lot of very famous distilleries and The Cooperage Speyside, an exciting visit where you will learn a lot about whiskeys and the barrels where they are kept.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You will also see very nice castles: Brodie Castle, Craigievar Castle, and Castle Fraser.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nTake advantage and visit Aberdeen<\/strong><\/a> in the afternoon-night and the next day. In this post, you have detailed everything you can do in one day in Aberdeen.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDay 15 From\nAberdeen to Falkland and Edinburgh<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
On your return to Edinburgh, there are some very interesting stops. The first and most essential is Dunnottar Castle, one of my favorites of Scotland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then, you can stop in Kirriemuir, the town where Peter Pan writer J.M. Barry was born. and Bon Scott, the first singer of AC\/DC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We ate wonderfully, especially because of the friendliness of the owner of Three Bellies Bar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then, I visited Glamis Castle and the Discovery RSS in Dundee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also, you can stop at Falkland<\/strong>,<\/a> a beautiful little village, which was also the setting of the Outlander TV show.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDay 16. Stroll a while\nin Edinburgh and then back home<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This last day depends on your flight time, try to take advantage of it to visit the places you have been left out of Edinburgh or just rest. It’s up to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As you can see, it\u2019s a complete route, where you\u2019re going to see many things, you\u2019ll get to know some exciting places, and you\u2019ll learn a lot about Scottish culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Below, you\u2019ll find practical information to organize your road trip through Scotland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Where To Get to Scotland?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
One of the most important subjects is how to get to Scotland. You can do what we did and go by car, especially if you plan to go wild camping to bring your camping equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But what most people do is buy a flight to Edinburgh and then rent a car there. This way is usually cheaper than driving from Spain, especially if you have no intention of sleeping in a tent, lol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are flights to Edinburgh, Glasgow, and the north of England for excellent prices. So it’s best to take a look here<\/strong><\/a> to see which destination you get the best price for.<\/p>\n\n\n\nCar Rental in Scotland<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Renting a car in Scotland is not expensive. Obviously, it varies depending on the company and the season. We recommend that you book it with enough advance, especially if you travel in the high season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And pick it up at the airport you arrive at, as it is usually the most comfortable and cheapest option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To rent a car, we leave you this link<\/strong>,<\/a> so you can take a look at the prices on the date of your trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTravel Insurance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
We recommend that you buy travel insurance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are outside of the European Union, you have to take out insurance, or else you can have a prohibitive cost for any issue related to health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our recommendation is always to travel with travel insurance. We offer our readers a 5% discount <\/strong><\/a>if you hire it through this link.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhere to Sleep in Scotland<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In Scotland, you have a variety of places to stay, from wild camping to B&B, hotels, and castles. It all depends on your budget and preferences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wild Camping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Wild camping means you can camp almost anywhere. Obviously, there are places where you can\u2019t. You have to be careful and not get into private property or ask for permission if you think you have to. You can\u2019t camp at Loch Lomond either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But, for example, we camped in front of Castle Stalker. It\u2019s a wonderful place, and we had a fabulous day. The sunset there was magical, and we definitely enjoyed it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are also places to sleep that are no campsites but which have bathrooms, showers, and electricity. They are usually cheap, about 6 pounds per car per night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bed and Breakfast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
B&Bs are a great way to stay in the UK, in general, and in Scotland in particular. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As you know, the weather in Scotland is very variable, and it rains quite a bit so we mixed the wild camping with B&B and we were very lucky with the places where we slept because they took very good care of us, were friendlier than others, but we loved all of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our recommendation is that you book your accommodation in time. We had the experience of not finding any place to sleep at a reasonable price (less than 100 pounds a night) on the Island of Skye. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That day it was pouring rain, and we didn\u2019t feel like going wild camping, and it was impossible to find a B&B with a room available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Check out Booking<\/a><\/strong> for your travel dates and make reservations.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHotels and Castles\nto sleep in Scotland<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
In Scotland, there are hotels and castles to stay at. Hotels are normal and expensive; we were only at a hotel once, and that was in Edinburgh. If your budget allows you, staying in a castle is like a fairytale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To get good prices, you have to make the reservation with time. Depending on the castle and the room, there are pretty reasonable prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Check out Booking<\/strong><\/a> for your travel dates and make reservations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n7 Essentials\nof Scotland<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
You always ask what the must-sees of the places that we visit are. Doing this with Scotland is very difficult, but I leave you these 7 Essentials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Edinburgh, visiting the Scottish capital,<\/a> is a must, no doubt.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Tour Loch Lomond<\/a>.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Visit the Isle of Skye<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Drive the North Coast 500<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Visit as many castles in Scotland as you can<\/a>.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Have a whiskey tasting at one of the Scottish distilleries.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Make Wild Camping and sleep on a lake in front of a castle.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Scotland Map Itinerary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nFirst of all, in this post, you will find the itinerary to tour Scotland on your own. However, below are some tips to get you started in planning your trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s a very intense route to know as many places as possible. It is a route through nature, castles, and some of the most important cities of Scotland. We left Glasgow for another time, however.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Day 1. Arrival at Edinburgh<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nLet\u2019s get started with this trip around Scotland in Edinburgh. Why? Because there are often more flights and at a better price than other destinations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On your arrival, depending on the time your flight arrives, you will be able to see more or fewer things in the capital of Scotland. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We arrived at about 4.30 pm to tell you what to do in Edinburgh in the afternoon<\/strong>.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\nTip: <\/strong>Look for a hotel with parking; I recommend staying out of downtown if you have a car.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAt the airport, take advantage of picking up a rental car.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nDay 2. Best To Do in Edinburgh in 1 day<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Your second day of the route through Scotland is about getting to know more about Edinburgh. This magnificent city has a lot of places to discover and things to do. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s why we\u2019ve prepared these two posts, which we think you will be interested in; I\u2019ll leave both links for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- What to see in a day in Edinburgh<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 50 things to see and do in Edinburgh<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Day 3. From Edinburgh\nto Stirling, the Door of the Highlands<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
We started the road trip through Scotland. Our first stretch runs from Edinburgh to Stirling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the way, you’ll pass by very picturesque places like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Midhope Castle, <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Blackness Castle, <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Kirkgate, <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Falkirk.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nIn the latter, we saw and climbed the Falkirk Wheel, and then we saw the Kelpies. We ended our day in Stirling with a visit to the castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Curiosity<\/strong>: on this day, we were too motivated, and we lost our heads a little, hehe, but I\u2019ll tell you in case you are interested. First, we visited The Falkirk Wheel and the Kelpies, and from there, we went to Stirling to visit the castle and the village. <\/p>\n\n\n\nBut, at dusk, we went back to the Kelpies because it was super cool at that hour, and the weather was great that day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this post, you can see this stretch from Edinburgh to Stirling<\/strong><\/a> detailed. And, in this one, you’ll find the best accommodations to stay in Stirling<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDay 4. Highland\nGames (depends on the date of your trip)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nOne of the must-haves on your trip to Scotland is watching the Highland Games. To do this, we took a detour of 80 kilometers and went to Peebles to spend the day and enjoy these traditional Scottish celebrations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the way, we visited the Rosslyn Chapel. It will sound familiar to you if you have read or seen the film The Da Vinci Code.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To plan your visit to watch the Games, you have to visit their website http:\/\/www.shga.co.uk\/events.php<\/a> to see the dates and, if you like the idea, fit it into your travel plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDay 5. From Stirling to Glencoe, The road trip through the Highlands starts <\/h3>\n\n\n\nStalker Castle. Scotland<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nWe continue the tour through Scotland. Today, we will go through one of Scotland\u2019s most important nature parks and one of the most beautiful and most visited. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So much so that it is the only place where you won\u2019t have the freedom of making wild camping: the Loch Lomond National Park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you have more days for your trip, you can split this stretch in two. We loved this area and would have liked to have more time to enjoy it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You will find this detailed section from Stirling to Glencoe in this post.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nDay 6. From Glencoe to Loch Ness and Inverness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFrom Glencoe, we head for Inverness, the Highland Capital, but we\u2019ll make a few stops on the way. Among them: are Fort William, the Glenfinnan viaduct, Dalwhinnie Distillery, Loch Ness, and finally, Inverness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You will find this detailed section from Glencoe to Inverness in this post.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nDay 7. Inverness\nand its surroundings: Loch Ness, Culloden, Cardhu<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nOn this day, take the Loch Ness cruise in the morning and then visit Urquhart Castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Visit Culloden, the place where a crucial battle unfolded between Scots and Englishmen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Scots lost, and after this battle, the English banned the Scottish traditions like using the kilt, the tartans of the clans, or speaking Gaelic. Culloden is a place that will give you goosebumps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After this visit, to cheer us up, we went to visit Cardhu for a whisky tasting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this post, you will find the detailed stretch of Inverness and its surroundings.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nDay 8. From\nInverness to the Island of Skye. Stage 1 of NC 500<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Here, we begin the first stage of the North Coast 500<\/strong><\/a> (NC500). We made the last visits to Inverness, Beauly, Rogie Falls, Loch Carron, and Attadale Garden. <\/p>\n\n\n\nWe made a detour from NC 500 and went to Eilean Donan Castle, then Plockton, and slept on the Isle of Skye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here’s the detailed post with the Inverness to the Isle of Skye<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nDay 9. What to see in\nIsle of Skye in 1 day<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nThe Isle of Skye is one of Scotland\u2019s most famous islands, and it certainly deserves a visit of at least one day, but the more time you have, the better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The landscapes are spectacular; you\u2019re going to drive down very narrow roads, and you\u2019re going to feel so overwhelmed that you will need to stop every two minutes to admire the landscapes or take a picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some of the must-see places on the Island of Skye are Armadale, the Fairy Pools, the Talisker Distillery, Dunvegan Castle, Quiraing Trail, and the Old Man of Storr.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I leave you this link to a post dedicated to Visit the Isle of Skye, with a lot of information and recommendations to make your trip successful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Day 10. From the\nIsle of Skye to Stoer. Stage 2 of NC 500<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
After our North Coast 500<\/strong><\/a> detour, we follow the route again to go to Stoer.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIf you go by van, with a tent or motorhome, you can eat at Lake Maree to observe the monoliths and go on a hiking trail called \u201cBen Eighe Mountain Trail,\u201d but you will have to be prepared for the occasion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this stretch of the route through Scotland, you\u2019ll have to stop (mandatory) in Red Point, Ullapool, the ruins of Ardvreck Castle, and enjoy the landscapes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We slept at Hill Cottage<\/a><\/strong> in Stoer and loved it.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDay 11. From Stoer\nto Durness in the NC 500<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nThe North Coast 500 is a circular route, and right now, you\u2019d be driving in the north of Scotland. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Among the long list of beautiful places to stop, the Drumbeg Viewpoint, Durness (if you go in July, you can see puffins there), the Smoo Cave, and Cape Wrath are on our must-haves on a road trip across Scotland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Day 12. From\nDurness to John O’Groats<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nAt this stage, there are places that I loved, like Talmine Bay. A beach of icy water with the skeleton of a ship stranded on the beach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another must-see for me is the Betty Hill Museum, where we learned a lot about Gaelic culture and the Clearances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Dunnet, you\u2019ll find the northernmost point of the Island of Great Britain. From here, you can watch Orkney and enjoy a wonderful sunset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Day 13. From John\nO’Groats to Inverness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
In the last stretch of the NC500, we stopped at Wick for breakfast and visited Hill O\u2019Many Stanes, a hill with many Neolithic menhirs. After that, we kept driving and visited the Broch of Carn Liath and the Dunrobin Castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We slept\nin Inverness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Day 14. From\nInverness to Aberdeen, a route down the Speyside<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nThis is one of the longer stretches of the road trip through Scotland. We visited the Aberlour distillery, but before this visit, in the village of Charlestown of Aberlour, we tried one of the best breakfasts of Scotland. It was in a little caf\u00e9 called The Byre. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Totally recommended. We were taken care of really well, and everything was very tasteful and of very good quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you have a soft spot for whiskey, in this stretch, you\u2019re going to come across a lot of very famous distilleries and The Cooperage Speyside, an exciting visit where you will learn a lot about whiskeys and the barrels where they are kept.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You will also see very nice castles: Brodie Castle, Craigievar Castle, and Castle Fraser.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nTake advantage and visit Aberdeen<\/strong><\/a> in the afternoon-night and the next day. In this post, you have detailed everything you can do in one day in Aberdeen.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDay 15 From\nAberdeen to Falkland and Edinburgh<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
On your return to Edinburgh, there are some very interesting stops. The first and most essential is Dunnottar Castle, one of my favorites of Scotland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then, you can stop in Kirriemuir, the town where Peter Pan writer J.M. Barry was born. and Bon Scott, the first singer of AC\/DC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We ate wonderfully, especially because of the friendliness of the owner of Three Bellies Bar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then, I visited Glamis Castle and the Discovery RSS in Dundee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also, you can stop at Falkland<\/strong>,<\/a> a beautiful little village, which was also the setting of the Outlander TV show.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDay 16. Stroll a while\nin Edinburgh and then back home<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This last day depends on your flight time, try to take advantage of it to visit the places you have been left out of Edinburgh or just rest. It’s up to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As you can see, it\u2019s a complete route, where you\u2019re going to see many things, you\u2019ll get to know some exciting places, and you\u2019ll learn a lot about Scottish culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Below, you\u2019ll find practical information to organize your road trip through Scotland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Where To Get to Scotland?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
One of the most important subjects is how to get to Scotland. You can do what we did and go by car, especially if you plan to go wild camping to bring your camping equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But what most people do is buy a flight to Edinburgh and then rent a car there. This way is usually cheaper than driving from Spain, especially if you have no intention of sleeping in a tent, lol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are flights to Edinburgh, Glasgow, and the north of England for excellent prices. So it’s best to take a look here<\/strong><\/a> to see which destination you get the best price for.<\/p>\n\n\n\nCar Rental in Scotland<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Renting a car in Scotland is not expensive. Obviously, it varies depending on the company and the season. We recommend that you book it with enough advance, especially if you travel in the high season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And pick it up at the airport you arrive at, as it is usually the most comfortable and cheapest option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To rent a car, we leave you this link<\/strong>,<\/a> so you can take a look at the prices on the date of your trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTravel Insurance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
We recommend that you buy travel insurance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are outside of the European Union, you have to take out insurance, or else you can have a prohibitive cost for any issue related to health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our recommendation is always to travel with travel insurance. We offer our readers a 5% discount <\/strong><\/a>if you hire it through this link.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhere to Sleep in Scotland<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In Scotland, you have a variety of places to stay, from wild camping to B&B, hotels, and castles. It all depends on your budget and preferences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wild Camping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Wild camping means you can camp almost anywhere. Obviously, there are places where you can\u2019t. You have to be careful and not get into private property or ask for permission if you think you have to. You can\u2019t camp at Loch Lomond either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But, for example, we camped in front of Castle Stalker. It\u2019s a wonderful place, and we had a fabulous day. The sunset there was magical, and we definitely enjoyed it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are also places to sleep that are no campsites but which have bathrooms, showers, and electricity. They are usually cheap, about 6 pounds per car per night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bed and Breakfast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
B&Bs are a great way to stay in the UK, in general, and in Scotland in particular. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As you know, the weather in Scotland is very variable, and it rains quite a bit so we mixed the wild camping with B&B and we were very lucky with the places where we slept because they took very good care of us, were friendlier than others, but we loved all of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our recommendation is that you book your accommodation in time. We had the experience of not finding any place to sleep at a reasonable price (less than 100 pounds a night) on the Island of Skye. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That day it was pouring rain, and we didn\u2019t feel like going wild camping, and it was impossible to find a B&B with a room available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Check out Booking<\/a><\/strong> for your travel dates and make reservations.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHotels and Castles\nto sleep in Scotland<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
In Scotland, there are hotels and castles to stay at. Hotels are normal and expensive; we were only at a hotel once, and that was in Edinburgh. If your budget allows you, staying in a castle is like a fairytale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To get good prices, you have to make the reservation with time. Depending on the castle and the room, there are pretty reasonable prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Check out Booking<\/strong><\/a> for your travel dates and make reservations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n7 Essentials\nof Scotland<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
You always ask what the must-sees of the places that we visit are. Doing this with Scotland is very difficult, but I leave you these 7 Essentials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Edinburgh, visiting the Scottish capital,<\/a> is a must, no doubt.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Tour Loch Lomond<\/a>.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Visit the Isle of Skye<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Drive the North Coast 500<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Visit as many castles in Scotland as you can<\/a>.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Have a whiskey tasting at one of the Scottish distilleries.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Make Wild Camping and sleep on a lake in front of a castle.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Scotland Map Itinerary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nLet\u2019s get started with this trip around Scotland in Edinburgh. Why? Because there are often more flights and at a better price than other destinations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On your arrival, depending on the time your flight arrives, you will be able to see more or fewer things in the capital of Scotland. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We arrived at about 4.30 pm to tell you what to do in Edinburgh in the afternoon<\/strong>.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Tip: <\/strong>Look for a hotel with parking; I recommend staying out of downtown if you have a car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the airport, take advantage of picking up a rental car.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Your second day of the route through Scotland is about getting to know more about Edinburgh. This magnificent city has a lot of places to discover and things to do. <\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s why we\u2019ve prepared these two posts, which we think you will be interested in; I\u2019ll leave both links for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We started the road trip through Scotland. Our first stretch runs from Edinburgh to Stirling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the way, you’ll pass by very picturesque places like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the latter, we saw and climbed the Falkirk Wheel, and then we saw the Kelpies. We ended our day in Stirling with a visit to the castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Curiosity<\/strong>: on this day, we were too motivated, and we lost our heads a little, hehe, but I\u2019ll tell you in case you are interested. First, we visited The Falkirk Wheel and the Kelpies, and from there, we went to Stirling to visit the castle and the village. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But, at dusk, we went back to the Kelpies because it was super cool at that hour, and the weather was great that day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this post, you can see this stretch from Edinburgh to Stirling<\/strong><\/a> detailed. And, in this one, you’ll find the best accommodations to stay in Stirling<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the must-haves on your trip to Scotland is watching the Highland Games. To do this, we took a detour of 80 kilometers and went to Peebles to spend the day and enjoy these traditional Scottish celebrations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n On the way, we visited the Rosslyn Chapel. It will sound familiar to you if you have read or seen the film The Da Vinci Code.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To plan your visit to watch the Games, you have to visit their website http:\/\/www.shga.co.uk\/events.php<\/a> to see the dates and, if you like the idea, fit it into your travel plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We continue the tour through Scotland. Today, we will go through one of Scotland\u2019s most important nature parks and one of the most beautiful and most visited. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So much so that it is the only place where you won\u2019t have the freedom of making wild camping: the Loch Lomond National Park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have more days for your trip, you can split this stretch in two. We loved this area and would have liked to have more time to enjoy it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You will find this detailed section from Stirling to Glencoe in this post.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n From Glencoe, we head for Inverness, the Highland Capital, but we\u2019ll make a few stops on the way. Among them: are Fort William, the Glenfinnan viaduct, Dalwhinnie Distillery, Loch Ness, and finally, Inverness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You will find this detailed section from Glencoe to Inverness in this post.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n On this day, take the Loch Ness cruise in the morning and then visit Urquhart Castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visit Culloden, the place where a crucial battle unfolded between Scots and Englishmen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Scots lost, and after this battle, the English banned the Scottish traditions like using the kilt, the tartans of the clans, or speaking Gaelic. Culloden is a place that will give you goosebumps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After this visit, to cheer us up, we went to visit Cardhu for a whisky tasting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this post, you will find the detailed stretch of Inverness and its surroundings.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Here, we begin the first stage of the North Coast 500<\/strong><\/a> (NC500). We made the last visits to Inverness, Beauly, Rogie Falls, Loch Carron, and Attadale Garden. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We made a detour from NC 500 and went to Eilean Donan Castle, then Plockton, and slept on the Isle of Skye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here’s the detailed post with the Inverness to the Isle of Skye<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Isle of Skye is one of Scotland\u2019s most famous islands, and it certainly deserves a visit of at least one day, but the more time you have, the better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The landscapes are spectacular; you\u2019re going to drive down very narrow roads, and you\u2019re going to feel so overwhelmed that you will need to stop every two minutes to admire the landscapes or take a picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some of the must-see places on the Island of Skye are Armadale, the Fairy Pools, the Talisker Distillery, Dunvegan Castle, Quiraing Trail, and the Old Man of Storr.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I leave you this link to a post dedicated to Visit the Isle of Skye, with a lot of information and recommendations to make your trip successful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After our North Coast 500<\/strong><\/a> detour, we follow the route again to go to Stoer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you go by van, with a tent or motorhome, you can eat at Lake Maree to observe the monoliths and go on a hiking trail called \u201cBen Eighe Mountain Trail,\u201d but you will have to be prepared for the occasion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this stretch of the route through Scotland, you\u2019ll have to stop (mandatory) in Red Point, Ullapool, the ruins of Ardvreck Castle, and enjoy the landscapes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We slept at Hill Cottage<\/a><\/strong> in Stoer and loved it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The North Coast 500 is a circular route, and right now, you\u2019d be driving in the north of Scotland. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Among the long list of beautiful places to stop, the Drumbeg Viewpoint, Durness (if you go in July, you can see puffins there), the Smoo Cave, and Cape Wrath are on our must-haves on a road trip across Scotland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At this stage, there are places that I loved, like Talmine Bay. A beach of icy water with the skeleton of a ship stranded on the beach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another must-see for me is the Betty Hill Museum, where we learned a lot about Gaelic culture and the Clearances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Dunnet, you\u2019ll find the northernmost point of the Island of Great Britain. From here, you can watch Orkney and enjoy a wonderful sunset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the last stretch of the NC500, we stopped at Wick for breakfast and visited Hill O\u2019Many Stanes, a hill with many Neolithic menhirs. After that, we kept driving and visited the Broch of Carn Liath and the Dunrobin Castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We slept\nin Inverness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is one of the longer stretches of the road trip through Scotland. We visited the Aberlour distillery, but before this visit, in the village of Charlestown of Aberlour, we tried one of the best breakfasts of Scotland. It was in a little caf\u00e9 called The Byre. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Totally recommended. We were taken care of really well, and everything was very tasteful and of very good quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have a soft spot for whiskey, in this stretch, you\u2019re going to come across a lot of very famous distilleries and The Cooperage Speyside, an exciting visit where you will learn a lot about whiskeys and the barrels where they are kept.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You will also see very nice castles: Brodie Castle, Craigievar Castle, and Castle Fraser.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Take advantage and visit Aberdeen<\/strong><\/a> in the afternoon-night and the next day. In this post, you have detailed everything you can do in one day in Aberdeen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On your return to Edinburgh, there are some very interesting stops. The first and most essential is Dunnottar Castle, one of my favorites of Scotland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then, you can stop in Kirriemuir, the town where Peter Pan writer J.M. Barry was born. and Bon Scott, the first singer of AC\/DC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We ate wonderfully, especially because of the friendliness of the owner of Three Bellies Bar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then, I visited Glamis Castle and the Discovery RSS in Dundee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, you can stop at Falkland<\/strong>,<\/a> a beautiful little village, which was also the setting of the Outlander TV show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This last day depends on your flight time, try to take advantage of it to visit the places you have been left out of Edinburgh or just rest. It’s up to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you can see, it\u2019s a complete route, where you\u2019re going to see many things, you\u2019ll get to know some exciting places, and you\u2019ll learn a lot about Scottish culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Below, you\u2019ll find practical information to organize your road trip through Scotland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the most important subjects is how to get to Scotland. You can do what we did and go by car, especially if you plan to go wild camping to bring your camping equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But what most people do is buy a flight to Edinburgh and then rent a car there. This way is usually cheaper than driving from Spain, especially if you have no intention of sleeping in a tent, lol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are flights to Edinburgh, Glasgow, and the north of England for excellent prices. So it’s best to take a look here<\/strong><\/a> to see which destination you get the best price for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Renting a car in Scotland is not expensive. Obviously, it varies depending on the company and the season. We recommend that you book it with enough advance, especially if you travel in the high season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n And pick it up at the airport you arrive at, as it is usually the most comfortable and cheapest option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To rent a car, we leave you this link<\/strong>,<\/a> so you can take a look at the prices on the date of your trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We recommend that you buy travel insurance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are outside of the European Union, you have to take out insurance, or else you can have a prohibitive cost for any issue related to health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our recommendation is always to travel with travel insurance. We offer our readers a 5% discount <\/strong><\/a>if you hire it through this link.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Scotland, you have a variety of places to stay, from wild camping to B&B, hotels, and castles. It all depends on your budget and preferences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wild camping means you can camp almost anywhere. Obviously, there are places where you can\u2019t. You have to be careful and not get into private property or ask for permission if you think you have to. You can\u2019t camp at Loch Lomond either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But, for example, we camped in front of Castle Stalker. It\u2019s a wonderful place, and we had a fabulous day. The sunset there was magical, and we definitely enjoyed it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are also places to sleep that are no campsites but which have bathrooms, showers, and electricity. They are usually cheap, about 6 pounds per car per night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n B&Bs are a great way to stay in the UK, in general, and in Scotland in particular. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As you know, the weather in Scotland is very variable, and it rains quite a bit so we mixed the wild camping with B&B and we were very lucky with the places where we slept because they took very good care of us, were friendlier than others, but we loved all of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our recommendation is that you book your accommodation in time. We had the experience of not finding any place to sleep at a reasonable price (less than 100 pounds a night) on the Island of Skye. <\/p>\n\n\n\n That day it was pouring rain, and we didn\u2019t feel like going wild camping, and it was impossible to find a B&B with a room available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Check out Booking<\/a><\/strong> for your travel dates and make reservations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Scotland, there are hotels and castles to stay at. Hotels are normal and expensive; we were only at a hotel once, and that was in Edinburgh. If your budget allows you, staying in a castle is like a fairytale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To get good prices, you have to make the reservation with time. Depending on the castle and the room, there are pretty reasonable prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Check out Booking<\/strong><\/a> for your travel dates and make reservations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You always ask what the must-sees of the places that we visit are. Doing this with Scotland is very difficult, but I leave you these 7 Essentials.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDay 2. Best To Do in Edinburgh in 1 day<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Day 3. From Edinburgh\nto Stirling, the Door of the Highlands<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nDay 4. Highland\nGames (depends on the date of your trip)<\/h3>\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nDay 5. From Stirling to Glencoe, The road trip through the Highlands starts <\/h3>\n\n\n
Day 6. From Glencoe to Loch Ness and Inverness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nDay 7. Inverness\nand its surroundings: Loch Ness, Culloden, Cardhu<\/h3>\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nDay 8. From\nInverness to the Island of Skye. Stage 1 of NC 500<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Day 9. What to see in\nIsle of Skye in 1 day<\/h3>\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nDay 10. From the\nIsle of Skye to Stoer. Stage 2 of NC 500<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Day 11. From Stoer\nto Durness in the NC 500<\/h3>\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nDay 12. From\nDurness to John O’Groats<\/h3>\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nDay 13. From John\nO’Groats to Inverness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Day 14. From\nInverness to Aberdeen, a route down the Speyside<\/h3>\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nDay 15 From\nAberdeen to Falkland and Edinburgh<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Day 16. Stroll a while\nin Edinburgh and then back home<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Where To Get to Scotland?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Car Rental in Scotland<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Travel Insurance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Where to Sleep in Scotland<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Wild Camping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Bed and Breakfast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Hotels and Castles\nto sleep in Scotland<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
7 Essentials\nof Scotland<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Scotland Map Itinerary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n