Scotland Itineraries
Highlights of Scotland in 10 Days
Scotland isn't large, but its most famous cities and most iconic landscapes take time to explore. This itinerary packs in many national icons: Edinburgh's enormous charm and Glasgow's excellent museums; a castle or two; lochs, mountains, and an island. It's a busy pace, but you'll still be able to fit in a whisky distillery visit and even a round of golf. You can do parts of this trip by public transportation, but beyond the cities, a car allows more flexibility.
Days 1 and 2: Edinburgh
The capital of Scotland is loaded with iconic sights in its Old Town and New Town. Visit Edinburgh Castle and the National Gallery of Scotland, and take tours of the National Museum of Scotland and the modern Scottish Parliament building. Walk along Old Town's Royal Mile and New Town's George Street for some fresh air and retail therapy. Later on, seek out a traditional pub with live music.
Logistics: Fly into Edinburgh Airport if you're flying via London. If you're flying directly into Glasgow from overseas, make your way from Glasgow Airport to Queen Street station via taxi or bus. It takes an hour to travel from Glasgow to Edinburgh by car or bus, about 45 minutes to an hour by train. Explore on foot or by public transportation.
Day 3: Stirling to St. Andrews
Rent a car in Edinburgh and drive to the historic city of Stirling. Spend the day visiting Stirling Castle and the National Wallace Monument. If you're eager to tour a distillery, make time for a stop at the Glenturret Distillery in Crieff. For your overnight stay, drive to the seaside town of St. Andrews, famous for golf.
Logistics: It's 35 miles or a one-hour drive to Stirling from Edinburgh, and 50 miles and 90 minutes from Stirling to St. Andrews. You can easily take a train or bus to these destinations.
Day 4: St. Andrews to Aviemore
Spend the morning exploring St. Andrews, known for its castle and the country's oldest university as well as its golf courses. If you've booked well in advance, play a round of golf. After lunch, drive to Aviemore. Along the way, either make a detour to Dundee and its spectacular new V&A Dundee design museum or Blair Castle (just off the A9 and 10 miles north of Pitlochry). Head to Aviemore, gateway to the Cairngorm Mountains and Britain's largest national park, for two nights. The town is a center for outdoor activities and has many choices for accommodations, dining, and shopping, but you can also consider the more attractive surrounding villages and towns such as Kingussie for your stay.
Logistics: It's 120 miles from St. Andrews to Aviemore via the A9, a drive that will take 2½ hours. You can also take a train or bus.
Day 5: The Cairngorms
For anyone who enjoys outdoor pursuits or dramatic scenery, the arctic plateau of the Cairngorms is a must. Hiking, biking, and climbing are options (Glenmore Lodge is a renowned outdoor-sports center), but so is visiting attractions such as the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre and Highland Folk Museum.
Day 6: The Isle of Skye
Leave Aviemore early and head to Inverness, which has a busy center suited for a wander. Inverness Castle and the Inverness Museum and Art Gallery are worth seeing. The drive southwest to Skye is peaceful, full of raw landscapes and big, open horizons. Stop at Eilean Donan Castle on the way. Set on an island among three lochs, the castle is the stuff postcards are made of from the outside, although the interiors are comically underwhelming. Explore Skye: Glen Brittle is the perfect place to enjoy mountain scenery including the crystal clear Fairy Pools at the foot of the Black Cuillins; and Armadale is a good place to go crafts shopping. End up in Portree for dinner and the night.
Logistics: It's 30 miles (a 40-minute drive) via the A9 from Aviemore to Inverness, and then it's 80 miles (a two-hour drive) from Inverness to Skye. Public transportation is possible but a car is best.
Day 7: Oban via Ben Nevis
Leave Skye no later than 9 am and head for Fort William. The town isn't worth stopping for, but the view of Britain's highest mountain, the 4,406-foot Ben Nevis, is. If time permits, take a hike in Glen Nevis. Continue on to Oban, a traditional Scottish resort town on the water, to overnight. Outside Oban, stop by the Ocean Explorer Centre. At night, feast on fish-and-chips in a local pub.
Logistics: It's nearly 100 miles from Skye to Oban; the drive is 3½ hours without stopping. Public transportation is challenging.
Days 8 and 9: Loch Lomond and Glasgow
Enjoy a waterfront stroll in Oban. Midmorning set off for Glasgow via Loch Lomond. Arrive in Glasgow in time for dinner; take in a play or concert, or just relax in a pub on the first of your two nights in this rejuvenated city. Spend the next day visiting the sights: Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Charles Rennie Mackintosh's iconic buildings, and the Riverside Museum are a few highlights.
Logistics: It's 127 miles (a three-hour drive) from Oban to Glasgow via Balloch. Traveling by train is a possibility, but you won't be able to go via Balloch. Return your rental car in Glasgow.
Day 10: Glasgow and Home
On your final day, stow your suitcases at your hotel and hit Buchanan and Sauchiehall streets for some of Britain's best shopping. Clothes, whisky, and tartan items are good things to look for.
Logistics: It's less than 10 miles (15 minutes) by taxi to Glasgow's international airport in Paisley but more than 30 miles (40 minutes) to the international airport in Prestwick.
