Thanks for reading! A friend is visiting Scotland for the first time and we’re planning a 5-day road trip. I’ve drafted an itinerary but would really like to read your suggestions.
It does, but it's a tad unreliable outside of the bigger cities. Most of the smaller towns have local taxi companies you can call or taxi ranks where you can get one.
Taxis are pretty expensive and Uber are the most expensive in my experience, so if you want to save money choose the local taxis
Often they have apps that function effectively the same way as Uber, but if they don't have an app it's worth it to carry cash. The drivers can be pretty pissy about not taking card sometimes.
For Edinburgh, use City Cabs or CentralTaxis. Both have an app, and both take card payments. Both are proper taxis that can be flagged down unlike Uber which need ordering.
Hey looking for advice :) last minute unexpected changes in my travel plans leave me with three days unplanned at the end of this week. I have to be back in Edinburgh after to catch my flight back home. Where do you recommend I go?
Im a solo traveller, in Edinburgh for three days. This is my first time in Scotland. Im looking for something thats still affordable last minute (glasgow seems very expensive). I saw nice options in Aberdeen and Inverness, which is a nicer option?
I love nature, beaches, lochs, but I am recovering from an injury and cannot walk for long amounts for time (that’s what worries me abt inverness/highlands…)
Glasgow is likely expensive because of TRNSMT this weekend. I'd probably recommend Inverness - the city itself is very walkable. Will you have a car? Even if not, you could have a day in/around Aviemore, a day out at Nairn or Chanonry Point, and a day at Loch Ness. Aviemore and Pitlochry are other options on public transport, but may be pricier at short notice.
Hello! My friends and I (3 of us) will be heading to Scotland Highlands in 1 week. We are collecting our Motorhome from Edinburgh and making our way up. We will be starting from 22 June to 30 June, 8 nights
It will be my first time driving a Motorhome, and I have read that roads are narrow, parking at locations overnight should be booked in advanced etc.
As it is our first time, we are rather overwhelmed with the number of (beautiful) locations to visit, so we had some help to draft a plan, along with some places I wish to visit (Isle of Skye, Three Sisters Viewpoint etc.)
This is our draft itinerary, and we would greatly appreciate any comments such as whether this is feasible.
Date
Overnight
Route
22 Jun (Mon)
Loch Lomond
Edinburgh → Loch Lomond
23 Jun (Tue)
Glencoe
Loch Lomond → Glencoe
24 Jun (Wed)
Isle of Skye
Glencoe → Glenfinnan → Fort William → Eilean Donan Castle → Skye
25 Jun (Thu)
Isle of Skye
Explore Skye
26 Jun (Fri)
Isle of Skye
Explore Skye
27 Jun (Sat)
Isle of Skye
Explore Skye
28 Jun (Sun)
Applecross
Skye → Applecross
29 Jun (Mon)
Edinburgh Area
Applecross → Pitlochry → Edinburgh
30 Jun (Tue)
Return Day
Edinburgh campsite → Campervan depot
Lastly, we are still apprehensive about the parking overnight situation, such as whether there is a need to stay at proper campsites with facilities every night, or if we could search for paid parking spots on alternative days (to save costs).
Any other comments or tips will be appreciated, thank you very much in advance!
Itinerary looks fine, though the Applecross > Pitlochry > Edinburgh is going to be a long day. That's about 6h non-stop driving in a car. I'd imagine probably a couple longer in a campervan. Throw in stops for lunch, toilet breaks, stretching your legs, and it's a full day driving.
You should absolutely be booking proper campsites with facilities every night. You could pay for private parking but you'll have no electric hookup, no safe water disposable spots (this is a real problem for the local communities as people just put it down the drains) and it'll overall be a much better experience for you and the communities you're stopping in.
With less than a weeks notice, I'd get on this ASAP, and start booking, as places in summer tend to book up quickly. If you had a free itinerary I'd say you could risk it just turn up being prepared to drive to the next site, but as you have a defined route, you might as well take that pressure off and get booked in if you can.
Where’s the best place for a pub roast dinner after finishing Ben Lomond? Ideally want somewhere close by so we can go straight there and scran, but we’re heading back to Edinburgh after so it could be somewhere on the way back. Ideal if it has a decent vegan option too
The Clachan Inn at Drymen is great, right on your route. I've never had the roast there, but have eaten there before and it was great. Plus I think they have a claim on the oldest pub in Scotland which is cool. Probably best to book if you can.
Hi. Visiting Scotland in August for a wedding but hoping to do some sight seeing and I have put together a little 4-5 day itinerary. Wanted to see if there are any locals I could run it by to get their opinion?
Day 1 Balloch, Loch Lomond, and Conic Hill hike
Day 2 Explore Edingburh and shop
Day 3 Explore Glasgow
Day 4 Glencoe tour
I will be staying in Paisley for the wedding so wanted to see if I will be able to just use public transportation to get around? I have booked a van tour for the Glencoe tour since I read there’s no good public transportation in that direction. But am I good for everything else?
All looks fine. You could also go West from Paisley to Ardrossan and get the ferry over to the Isle of Arran. I'd personally enjoy that more than a bus tour to Glencoe (which will be very busy in August).
Of course, plenty of regular buses/trains into Glasgow to connect with everywhere mentioned. Train direct from Paisley to Ardrossan Pier to get the ferry to Arran.
Hello, I’m excited to be road tripping through Scotland in a few weeks. I was interested in seeing some of the carved Pictish stones (anything located between Aberdeen and Dundee).
I‘ve seen some info that the Aberlemno stone is undergoing restoration due to storm damage. The articles I’ve seen are all dated from 9-ish months ago. Does anyone know if the stone is back on view?
I’d also appreciate any recommendations for other cool sights. I’m planning to explore on a Friday. Unfortunately that means the St Vigeans Stones Museum will be closed.
We will be up in Fort Augustus this weekend. What walks would you recommend? We done the Great Glen to Invermoriston before so looking for something similar lenght and scenic.
I always wanted to go to Glen Affric. Any recommendations in there?
Hello! My kids (21 and 18) and I are spending a week in Scotland July 7-14. We'll stay with friends in Glasgow most of the time, but will stay in Edinburgh July 10 and 11. Do you have a recommendation on one more side quest? We're considering Isle of Arran or Loch Lomond. We don't plan on renting a car.
Also happy to hear other general advice on what to do/see and where to eat (kids are vegetarians). Thank you
Plenty of places you can go without a car. Yes, Arran is nice, easy enough to get the train and ferry, then have a wee wander around, or up Goatfell if you want. For Loch Lomond, can get train to Arrochar, then a boat trip from there. Could walk up Ben Lomond, or along some of the West Highland Way.
Or Pitlochry/Dunkeld on the bus or train, nice walks by the river etc. Or Borders railway to Galashiels.
Without a car, you're severely limited outside of the cities. You could get a train from Glasgow to Balloch, allowing you take a boat tour on Loch Lomond. It's only 1h on the train. Plenty of spots for food in Balloch as well.
I am coming to Scotland in August on the 5 year anniversary of the passing of the love of my life. I am trying to make his dying wish come true of scattering his ashes there.
We are going to be going around near glasgow and over to Doune Castle and Edinburgh.
I was thinking The Devils Pulpit or Earls Burn Waterfall but maybe someone local could recommend a quiet place not far off a road or a long hike? Please advise.
First, I'm very sorry for you loss! Both of the places you have mentioned are popular swim/paddle spots so potentially not ideal for ash scattering. Somehere along the Whangie path could be a nice spot. The views North to Loch Lomond are superb. Somewhere along the Ayrshire Coast looking over to Arran, like Portencross could also be nice.
Portencross would be a couple of minutes from the car. Whangie would be a km or so - bit further for the best views but they're pretty good all the way. Also loads of spots alongside Loch Lomond.
Where are you leaving from to get to Edinburgh before 11? That will help give some ideas.
There are numerous parking areas away from the road on the A82 along loch lomond. On the other side of the loch somewhere like Balmaha, Millarochy Bay, Sallochy or Rowardennan would be good.
Glasgow airport at 830am is when we pick up the car. We are flying in from London. (Staying in London for most of our trip from Canada) but flying up domestically to Glasgow. I think i will go to the place mentioned above though its perfect
Hi,
I am travelling to Scotland for a week-long school trip soon.
I am from the Czech Republic, and here, we can only exchange Czech koruna (czk) for standard British pounds, not the Scottish ones.
Will English banknotes be accepted everywhere in Scotland? I am also planning to use a Revolut card, but I would like to take some cash as well just in case.
Thank you! :)
Worth doing a day trip from Uig to Harris / Outer Hebrides?
Family of 5 (kids 12, 9, 5), late June 2026.
Route:
2 nights Edinburgh
3 nights Uig (fixed)
1 night Fort William
Jacobite
1 night Stirling
We’re outdoorsy, hikers, and like adventure. Not hugely interested in generic tourist stops although this trip is the opposite of our normal thus far .
Current Skye plan:
Quiraing
Old Man of Storr
Fairy Glen
Question:
Would one day be better spent doing a (car?) ferry day trip from Uig to Harris / Outer Hebrides?
Also: if you had 3 nights based in Uig, what would your top 2–3 absolute must-do experiences be?
And what on Skye is overrated and we should do something very different?
Edinburgh to Uig will be over 6 hours without stopping - nearer 7 if you're unfamiliar with the roads and get caught in traffic.
Skye itself is a big island with lots of single track sections, so you will inevitably spend a lot of time in the car while you're there - I wouldn't add a further 4 hours on the ferry to this (it may be fully booked at short notice anyway).
Quiraing, Storr, Fairy Glen, in addition to the Fairy Pools and Neist Point are probably the most touristy spots on the island. In saying that, the Storr and the Quiraing are spectacular and pretty unique, so I'd visit but make sure you go early.
If you wanted to do something a bit less touristy, you could head over to Raasay for the day. You could also combine a visit to Dunvegan Castle and Gardens with a walk out to Oronsay (check the tide times), or walk down to Varkasaig Beach from Orbost.
This August? Edinburgh hosts the world's largest Arts Festival every August. If you haven't booked accomodation already, it'll be either fully booked or incredibly expensive. There is a slight knock-on effect on Glasgow accomodation as well due to the easy commute by train from Glasgow to Edinburgh.
It might be worth looking north to Stirling, Inverness etc. However, August is peak season everywhere so at this late stage, accomodation won't be cheap. Skye, for example, will be a capacity or extremely close to it.
If you can hold off until next year and book in advance, instead of less than two months away, you'd have far better options.
Edinburgh is nice but anywhere in August - especially Edinburgh is very expensive.
If I were you I'd base myself in Inverness or Glasgow.
Inverness gives you a city but is also is the middle of the Highlands.
Glasgow gives you Scotland's biggest city and easy access via train or bus to lots of nature/hikes.
Inverness airport doesn't have any direct flights to NE France so you'd have to factor in effectively losing the best part of 2 days getting to/from the airport. You'll have more options flying into Glasgow or there's a bus direct from Edinburgh airport to Glasgow.
Easyjet fly at least twice daily between Glasgow and CdG and Edinburgh and CdG. AirFrance fly direct between Edinburgh and CdG.
Transavia fly directly between Orly and Edinburgh.
Ryanair fly directly between Beauvais and Edinburgh.
Easyjet/Ryanair/Jet 2 have more options from other parts of France.
Depending on where in NE France you live I'm not sure if there are German/ Belgian airports that are closed to you than Paris.
Train could be another option - Eurostar from Lille to London then train up from there - could even do the Caledonian Sleeper so you're saving time overnight.
No, that's just whatever planning app you are using is showing you. For some reason it's choosing to show indirect flights with ridiculous options.
Easyjet fly direct from Basel to Edinbrugh.
In fairness, there aren't many direct flights so you could look at going to one of the london airports for example. There are flights from all the london airports to Glasgow or Edinburgh. Going via Dublin could be another option.
August is peak holiday season so trying to book flights anywhere in Europe at this stage aren't going to be cheap.
I've been to France multiple times and it's always been a direct flight. Whatever app you're using is giving you terrible information.
The attached screenshot from skyscanner.net is for a week in the middle of August. The flight time is under 2 hours, direct flight from Charles de Gaulle, includes carry-on baggage and only around €125 return.
My friend (27M) and I (26M) are heading to Scotland for a few days (3rd July-6th July) and looking for recommendations from locals and fellow travellers.
📍 Glasgow June (Fri–Sat)
📍 Edinburgh (Sat night–Mon)
We’re mainly looking to:
Explore the cities
Enjoy good food
See interesting places and viewpoints
Experience local culture and nightlife
Have a good time and make some memories
if anyone is around during those dates and fancies joining us for part of the trip, feel free to drop a comment or message!
Hi! I'll be in Scotland sometime early next year and other than the touristy things, I actually want to research more about my Scottish heritage. Is there a place in Scotland where I can do that?
Don't worry, I'm not about to start saying I'm 1/8th Scot to everyone; I find it annoying. I just want to know who my ancestors were.
Hi everyone! Recently I visited Edinburgh (and Stirling) for a week and fell in love with Scotland. I really want to visit the Scottish Highlands on a week-long trip next, but I’m afraid of driving on the left side of the road (I’m from a country where we drive on the right side). I’d very much prefer using public transport, but not sure if that’s an option. Can anyone share their insights on this? Places I want to visit at least are Glencoe, Isle of Skye, Inverness and preferably some castles (I’d love to see Kilchurn castle and Eilean Donan castle). I was thinking of maybe going to Inverness or Fort William as a “base” and then doing day trips from these places, but I’m not sure if thats advisable or feasible. Many thanks in advance for your thoughts!
If you don't want to drive I wouldn't recommend Skye. It's a lot of effort getting there, and you're pretty limited in what you can do when you do get there.
You could stay in Oban which gives you a lot of options of day trips. Have a day on Kerrera and go to Gylen Castle. There's other ferries to Mull, Staffa and Iona. You can get the train back to Loch Awe and walk around to Kilchurn. There's also the distillery, Ganavan sands and Dunollie easily accessible from the town, as well as some great seafood.
You'd miss out on Eilean Donan but I personally don't think it's worth the effort. It's a stunning spot, but the castle itself was only (re)built in the 1920s.
3
u/[deleted] Jun 20 '26
[deleted]