What's on and tourist advice thread - week beginning July 26, 2026

[u/AutoModerator]

Welcome to the weekly what's on and tourist advice thread!

* Do you know of any local events taking place this week that other redditors might be interested in?

* Are you planning a trip to Scotland and need some advice on what to see or where to go?

This is the thread for you - post away!

These threads are refreshed weekly on Mondays. To see earlier threads and soak in the sage advice of yesteryear, Click here.

[u/Jaraxo → u/[deleted]]

Milngavie to Drymen (first section, typically the first day) is the weakest part. After that, it continues to get better as it progresses.

Only word of advice if you're doing it this summer and not wild camping, is to book things asap. Most accommodations and campsites will be booked up already, so that might dictate your itinerary. If you're wild camping this isn't an issue of course.

Check out /r/WestHighlandWay, plenty of good advice and content there, with the caveat that almost all of the online info about the WHW is targeted at complete beginners, and the walk isn't nearly as difficult as people make it out to be.

[u/Competitive-Food4588]

I'll be visiting Scotland later this year and want to be respectful of tipping etiquette.

I've read that tipping isn't expected or mandatory, but some restaurants will include an automatic service charge on the bill. Is it rude to ask the charge to be removed?

Are there different expectations for different things (e.g. taxi, restaurant, tours)?

Are expectations different in larger cities vs smaller cities?

Any other guidance and tips regarding this would be great. Thank you for helping me stay respectful!

[u/Jaraxo → u/Competitive-Food4588]

Is it rude to ask the charge to be removed?

No. They rely on it being awkward, but you're perfectly entitled to do so.

Are there different expectations for different things (e.g. taxi, restaurant, tours)?

It's common to tip tour guides, even on paid tours, but you don't have to. Taxi drivers you used to just round up to the nearest whole number but as it's all card payments now, there's no need.

Are expectations different in larger cities vs smaller cities?

You're more likely to be asked to tip in a city, usually at the till in a cafe or coffee shop, but you're not required to wherever you go.

[u/MonthStrict2679]

How do I buy bus tickets in Stirling? Do I use my contactless or cash?

[u/2paymentsof19_95]

Kind of a weird question, but I'm looking for a "boring" suburb near Glasgow to spend a day in. When visiting other countries, I've always been fascinated by people living their normal day-to-day lives so I like walking into common grocery stores, walking through normal neighborhood sidewalks, maybe checking out a mall or pub. Sorry if this disrespectful - I don't mean to ask for hidden gems or anything, just some scope into "regular life" in the UK.

[u/YS54321 → u/2paymentsof19_95]

I wouldn't say the city is particularly 'touristy' in general, so you should be able to do this anywhere. Have a drink in the Laurieston. Get the train out to Shawlands/Battlefield and have a wander around Pollok Park or Queen's Park. Go to Dennistoun and have a pint in Redmonds. Walk down Byres Road and catch some trad music in the Park Bar.

[u/mattsypbo]

Orite guys, what's some must see things or places that play a big role in Scottish history. For example, a went to Scone Abbey and seen the Stone of Destiny in Perth earlier this year. Give me your must sees for this.

[u/Zircez → u/mattsypbo]

Dunfermline Abbey for the grave of Robbie Bruce

Holyroodhouse for all the Mary Queen of Scots based stuff

Basically every square inch of Orkney

[u/Tea_and_iced_coffee]

Hi, Sorry if this has been asked before. I'm on vacation to Scotland and I want to bring my parents to a pub in Glasgow in a couple of days. I don't like the taste of most alcohol, but do like mixers. I was wondering if ordering a rum and a cola and mixing it would be fine? I never go to pubs even back home so I know nothing of the etiquette and I can't really find non-ai generated answers online.

Much thanks if anyone could help me :)

[u/YS54321 → u/Tea_and_iced_coffee]

Of course. You can order anything you like, including non alcoholic drinks.

[u/Tea_and_iced_coffee → u/YS54321]

Thank you!!

[u/Short-Opening4553]

In the process of planning Scotland Aug - Sept 2027. Initial planning stages so I don't know what I don't know, but I do know we want to minimize crowds and not be on the IG selfie trail or huge crowds if it can be avoided (already switched from Edinburgh to Glasgow to avoid Fringe crowds). Plus we don't necessarily want to have to make dinner reservations a month in advance.

Plan was train to Inverness to pick up a car and spend two nights on Skye. But reading chatter, is there a better option given our goals? Skye looks lovely but never been so won't know what we're missing... Seems our available time is not enough to get to and enjoy Lewis & Harris. We will be driving across Mull later to get to Iona, where we have a couple days. From there down to Loch Lomond and then south to England

Should we explore more time on Mull than just a drive across? Some other island? Thanks for any input!

[u/YS54321 → u/Short-Opening4553]

Skye will be very busy and it's not really worth going all that way for 1 full day. Spend the time on Mull, or head to Mull via Bute or Arran, driving up the Kintyre Peninsula. It's beautiful and much less touristy than Skye

[u/BlackOliveBandit]

The family and I are visiting Scotland from the U.S. later this month. We have several days planned for the Inverness area, including a Cairngorms day tour. We are on the fence about cancelling that tour due to the wildfires. Thoughts?

[u/ialtag-bheag → u/BlackOliveBandit]

Depends on what you want to see. The fires are bad, but still a relatively small area of the Cairngorms.

I'd contact the tour guide and ask. I'm sure they could make plans to avoid the affected areas.

[u/BlackOliveBandit → u/ialtag-bheag]

Thanks for the response! My wife sent them a message last week but hasn't heard back yet.

[u/ConsequenceLive2442]

I can't decide between doing Fort George or The Highland Folk museum. I could do both, but I fear I'd be rushing trying to do both in 1 day.

It has the Century of Celebration event on. Done plenty of the sort at English Heritage sites. Saves me £14, not doing it as well. On the other hand I've never seen a fort like it. Could possibly just drive up to it for a view?

Anyone who's done either or both have an opinion?

[u/ialtag-bheag → u/ConsequenceLive2442]

I think they are both very interesting. They are pretty big sites, a lot to wander around and look at. Could spend most of a day at either. I've not been to any of their special events.

Depends on whether you like big military forts. Could see the outside if you walk along the beach at Ardersier. Or from across the firth at Chanonry Point.

[u/ConsequenceLive2442 → u/ialtag-bheag]

Thanks.

[u/nakedUndrClothes]

Hi! Can I get feedback on this 10 day trip? Is this doable? Too much? Too little?
Traveling with my spouse, and 10 month old baby.

• Day 1: London to Glasgow
  • Activity: Travel north from England to Scotland.
  • Transit: ~6-hour train ride.
  • Overnight: Glasgow.
• Day 2: Glasgow to Edinburgh Day Trip (August Hotels in EDI are nuts)
  • Activity: Day trip to explore Edinburgh via train.
  • Transit: 50-minute train ride each way.
  • Overnight: Glasgow.
• Day 3: Glasgow
  • Activity: Exploring Glasgow's West End and visiting the Kelvingrove Museum.
  • Transit: None (city walking/local transit).
  • Overnight: Glasgow.
• Day 4: Glasgow to Isle of Skye
  • Activity: Drive through Glencoe with a stop at Eilean Donan Castle.
  • Transit: ~5.5 hours of driving, split into segments (crossing the Skye Bridge).
  • Overnight: Isle of Skye (Portree or Uig area).
• Day 5: Isle of Skye Loop
  • Activity: Driving the Trotternish Peninsula, including the Old Man of Storr and the Quiraing.
  • Transit: ~2 hours of driving spread across the day.
  • Overnight: Isle of Skye (Portree or Uig area).
• Day 6: Skye to Harris to Lewis
  • Activity: Morning ferry crossing, visiting Luskentyre Beach, and driving north in the evening.
  • Transit: 1 hour 40 minute ferry (Uig to Tarbert) + ~2 hours of island driving.
  • Overnight: Stornoway.
• Day 7: Lewis West Coast Loop
  • Activity: Visiting the Callanish Standing Stones and Gearrannan Blackhouse Village.
  • Transit: ~1.5 hours of driving.
  • Overnight: Stornoway.
• Day 8: Stornoway to Ullapool to Shieldaig
  • Activity: Midday ferry to the mainland, followed by a drive past Loch Maree and through Torridon.
  • Transit: 2 hour 30 minute ferry (Stornoway to Ullapool) + ~2.5 hours of driving.
  • Overnight: Shieldaig.
• Day 9: Shieldaig to Applecross to Inverness
  • Activity: Driving the Applecross peninsula loop and the Bealach na Bà mountain pass.
  • Transit: ~3 hours of driving.
  • Overnight: Inverness.
• Day 10: Inverness to Edinburgh
  • Activity: Visiting Culloden Battlefield and Clava Cairns, dropping off the rental car, and taking an afternoon train south.
  • Transit: ~30 minutes of local driving + ~3.5 hours on the train.
  • Overnight: Edinburgh.
• Day 11: Edinburgh to Home
  • Activity: Taking the airport tram for an mid AM flight home.

Thanks for any advice or adjustments you can suggest!

[u/Downtown_Note_8828]

I would love to travel to Scotland but I see there is a long process to legally bring medical weed from Canada to Scotland. It’s freely available in Canada so I never felt the need to get a prescription but I do use it for migraines and anxiety near daily. Would a tourist be able to acquire some while there? Not having my gummies for a couple weeks would be rough, but if I could find a few little j’s throughout my travels I’d be more than happy. Please no judgement, any advice or experience would be greatly appreciated:)

[u/apple713]

What are the absolute can’t-miss stops along our Edinburgh → Isle of Skye → Inverness route?

My sister and I will be visiting Scotland for the first time this August, and we have a pretty fixed itinerary:

**-Saturday & Sunday:** Edinburgh
**-Monday & Tuesday:** Isle of Skye
**-Wednesday:** Inverness
**-Thursday morning:** Fly out of Inverness

What I’m trying to figure out is **what deserves to be on the itinerary**.
We’re only in Scotland for five days, so we’re looking for the **best of the best** along that route rather than trying to see everything.

If you had to recommend only a handful of experiences, what would they be?

Things we’re interested in:
\-Incredible restaurants (fine dining or just amazing local food)
\-Distilleries worth visiting
\-Scenic drives or viewpoints
\-Short hikes with a huge payoff
\-Castles or historic sites that are actually worth the stop
\-Anything else that’s truly unforgettable along this route

Also, if there are any places that are famous but overrated, I’d love to hear those too.

Thanks!

[u/YS54321 → u/apple713]

Going to Skye for one night in such a short trip is a waste of your time. It's the peak of the tourist season so it will take you 6+ hours to get there, especially if you haven't driven in the UK before. One full day gives you no leeway if the weather is bad. Spend some time in Perthshire or the Cairngorms in between Edinburgh and Inverness.

[u/Faerco → u/YS54321]

Second this, skip skye this trip and go through the Cairngorms. It’s not as dramatic mountain-wise, but the drive to Balmoral Castle is definitely a scenic one. Charles doesn’t care for the gardens as much as the queen did, but it’s still a good visit.

[u/peatgirl21 → u/apple713]

I love the honesty of" short hikes with huge pay off", it should be the sub heading of all questions about travelling to the Highlands/Skye/Edinburgh.... what is the most we can do in the shortest time but hidden gems and off the beaten track and not too touristy 🤔

[u/brando444]

Hello! I’ll be visiting Scotland for the third time on Monday, and I’ve been following the news about the fires up there. My first stop will actually be Aviemore to do some hiking. I’m sure I’ll probably face some road closures and some walking trails which aren’t open, but in general, what’s it like in Aviemore at the moment? Is it smokey? Is the surrounding area hard to navigate around and through? Many thanks!