Hello friends. We are 2 couples planning an itinerary for September 5, 2025. I would like those of you familiar with Scotland to offer comments & suggestions with the proposed plan.We have driven Ireland many times so we are looking at renting a car. Our interests are more in the beauty & people of Scotland. We are not scotch or whiskey drinkers, not really interested in museums. We enjoy listening to music & meeting locals in a pub after a day of driving and seeing beautiful sights.


First question: renting a car. After our stay in Edinburgh where should we look for a car rental company? I would rather not go back to the airport.

Our Itinerary:

• Edinburgh 2 nights
• Drive to St. Andrews so the guys can see this iconic course. Have lunch. Continue to drive to Balater. Explore Cairngorms National Park, Balmoral Castle. Overnight in Balaster
• Drive to Inverness area, Culloden, Loch Ness for a boat ride, Urquhart Castle. Overnight Inverness area
• Drive to Isle of Skye. Stop at Eilean Donan Castle. Proceed to Skye Bridge. 2 or 3 nights on Isle of Skye. Stay in Portree or other areas/suggestions?
• Best way to exit Isle of Skye as we head toward Ft. William/Glencoe/Oban??? Glen Etive Road/waterfall. 2 or 3 nights in the Glencoe area. Loch Lomond
• Drive back to Edinburgh via Stirling Castle. Return rental car
• Back to USA

If we were not to drive ourselves would anyone recommend a driver for us?
I would love to know your MUST SEE/DO places, restaurants, places to stay.

Thank you for any input you may have,

From Inverness I'd drive west towards Torridon, Shieldag and spend a night in Applecross (pull one night from Glencoe). Next day drive Bealach Na Ba to Kyle Lochlash (quick detour to Eilean Castle for photo) to arrive Skye. Leave Skye from Amadale, car ferry to Mallaig and arrive Fort William or Glen Coe vicinity.
Rabbie's provide multi day tours, you can choose your own lodging along the way. If four of you can take turn and drive, it's cheaper and allow lot more flexibility.
Glencoe to Edinburgh is a long drive, stay overnight before Intl flight.
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How many total days do you have on the ground? In general your plan is very rushed. Much of it seems to be box ticking. But -- driving is really your only realistic option -- hiring a driver for this including paying for his food and accommodation for what looks like 6 to 8 days would cost a fortune. Are you flying in long haul? If so you will only have one likely jet lagged day in Edinburgh.

" . . . After our stay in Edinburgh where should we look for a car rental company? I would rather not go back to the airport."

Why? It is MUCH easier to get a car and drive from EDI than from central Edinburgh. Plus EDI is on the direct route out to Fife/St Andrews.

"Drive to St. Andrews so the guys can see this iconic course. Have lunch. Continue to drive to Balater. Explore Cairngorms National Park, Balmoral Castle. Overnight in Balaster"

It seems you mean this all in one day? That is crazy rushed. If you go to St Andrews you'll likely get to Balmoral after closing time.

"Drive to Inverness area, Culloden, Loch Ness for a boat ride, Urquhart Castle. Overnight Inverness area". Maybe sit down with a map -- you will see that Urquhart Castle is right on the drive to Skye. Trying to squeeze it in the same day as Culloden simply does not make sense.

Two nights/one full day on Skye is pretty much useless because the driving is very slow and the sites/scenic bits are spread so far apart. I'd stay 3 nights or not at all.

Honestly IMO/IME the only part of your whole plan that isn't too rushed is the time you've set aside for Gencoe/Glen Etive.


I truly think you need to re-think things. Like maybe stay longer in Edinburgh and one day the guys could take a day tour to St Andrews. Like one of these with Rabbies

https://www.rabbies.com/en/scotland-...-fife-day-tour
https://www.rabbies.com/en/scotland-...-fife-day-tour

Then skip going north and just concentrate on Skye and Glencoe/Gle Etive. This would still be rushed but a bit better.

I didn't see your post -- Torridon/Shieldag/Applecross are great but they don't have nearly enough time for what they already want to cram in let alone even more