Scotland
About Scotland
Scotland is a road trip country. Edinburgh is the easy part; the reason to come is the Highlands and the Isle of Skye, where the landscape changes every half hour and the weather decides how much of it you actually get to see. The hikes are short and easy on a good day — rain and wind are what make them hard.
Best experience: the Quiraing on the Isle of Skye on a clear day — it felt like being on a different planet.
- The Quiraing, the Old Man of Storr and Neist Point on the Isle of Skye
- Glencoe and the Hidden Valley hike
- The Glenfinnan Viaduct from the viewpoint behind the bridge
- Edinburgh's Royal Mile, Victoria Street and the walk up Arthur's Seat
- Driving the Road to the Isles and the single-track roads of the Highlands
Travel Tips
- Best time to visit: May to September for the longest days; I went in mid-September and still lost a few viewpoints to rain and cloud
- Currency: Pound Sterling (GBP)
- Language: English, Scottish Gaelic, Scots
- Transportation: Rent a car — the Highlands and Skye are not realistically doable without one, Much of the Highlands is single-track road with passing places; pull in to let faster cars by, You don't need a car in Edinburgh; pick it up on the day you leave the city
Latest Articles
8 Days in Scotland: Edinburgh, Loch Ness, Skye and Glencoe by Car
An 8-day Scotland road trip itinerary — Edinburgh, Loch Ness, three nights on the Isle of Skye, Fort William and Glencoe — with what it cost, which stops were worth it, and why I skipped every castle after Edinburgh.
3 Days on the Isle of Skye: Every Stop, Ranked Honestly
How to spend three days on the Isle of Skye — the Quiraing, Old Man of Storr, Fairy Pools, Neist Point, Kilt Rock and the smaller stops — with which ones are worth it, how weather changes everything, and where you can fly a drone.
Fort William and Glencoe: 2 Days Around the Western Highlands
Two days based in Fort William — the Glenfinnan Viaduct (and the viewpoint you should actually use), the Road to the Isles to Camusdarach Beach, the Hidden Valley hike in Glencoe, and Glen Etive.
Quick Facts
- Capital: Edinburgh
- Time Zone: GMT (UTC+0), BST (UTC+1 in summer)
- Visa Requirements: Part of the UK, not the Schengen Area — a separate UK visa or ETA is required for many visitors
Cultural Notes
- Not in the Schengen Area — check UK entry requirements separately from the EU
- Pounds sterling, not euros
- Castles are expensive for what you get — after Edinburgh Castle I skipped the rest
- Hostels are everywhere in the Highlands and on Skye, and they're the easiest way to keep costs down