Maintain social distancing and always carry a face mask. Linlithgow Palace is the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots and James V. It is also the location for several films and tv shows, including Outlaw King and Outlander. Hiking option #2 is the Kintail Saddle. You could also choose to stay in Melrose for the night, and visit Peebles the following day, or skip it altogether. Edinburgh Castle: Things to Know before you go. The Best North Coast 500 Itinerary, Campsites & Hotels in Scotland. Here's the full itinerary we used, in case you want to steal it to help plan your own trip! Day 7 of this 10 day UK trip itinerary features a drive back to Glasgow, where you can return the hire car. Let’s say you’ve flown in to the capital to keep things simple. Get here early (before 9:30 am) to avoid the worst of the crowds. WhatsApp. 7-day Scotland itinerary: it's road trip time. Where We Stayed in Edinburgh: The four of us stayed at the hub by Premiere Inn Edinburgh Royal Mile. Renting a car isn’t as cheap as it is in the United States, but it ultimately will save you time and money if you’re planning on spending some time here. The Outer Hebrides and the Western Isles are a series of islands consisting of the Isles of Lewis, Harris, Scalpay, Beneray, North Uist, Benbecula, South Uist, Eriskay, Barra and Vatersay. Visit their website here. Day eight of my 10 day Scotland itinerary is more relaxed; you can either tick off some more activities in Inverness in the morning or drive straight to Pitlochry, a charming burgh located at the foot of the Cairngorms National Park. 1. There is a hole in the wall of the castle that is reputed to have been made so a young Mary Queen of Scots could look at the view of Stirling. We can recommend Helen, who planned a custom tour according to our specific requests and interests. Suggested time: Allow at least 5 hours to drive around the Sleat Peninsula and stop off at attractions along the way. Julie Last updated: December 12, 2020 Itinerary, Scotland 55 Comments. Is One Day Enough to Explore Orkney? There is a paved path that goes around the loch, which is a lovely walk. This makes it the perfect campervan road trip for those who don’t have a lot of time in Scotland. Experience classic Scotland on a 10-day itinerary. Another iconic street in Edinburgh, Victoria Street is rumoured to be the inspiration behind Diagon Alley in Harry Potter. High end hotel, double room with two people:  $200+. Bonnie Scotland may be on the small side, but there is plenty to see and do. It surprises me that the Sleat Peninsula is a less visited area on Skye, seeing as it is one of the nicest drives I’ve done in Scotland. It is known for its unusual mix of Romanesque and early Gothic architecture. For more information about driving in Scotland, Visit Scotland has a good guide. Fuel: $1.55 per liter ($5.90 per gallon), Budget Hotel/Dorm:  $15 – $75 This castle is one of Edinburgh’s most important historical sites and provides great views over the city. In my ultimate 10 day Scotland itinerary you will see ancient castles, cathedral and abbey ruins, highland coos, and medieval buildings. Orkney or Shetland Islands. MONEY SAVING TIPA National Trust for Scotland membership or a Historic Scotland membership is a fantastic way to save money if you plan on visiting many of the attractions Scotland has to offer. You can always add anything you’ve missed into a future trip to Scotland. Read more: Glasgow: 24 Hours of Fun for the Whole Family. Along the way visit Pitlochry, the home of Edradour, Scotland’s smallest whisky distillery. Day 5:  Isle of Skye Jannettas Gelateria– known as the ‘home of gelato’ is a must-visit. Be warned, this is a very popular location and the car park does get busy. If you click the star next to the title of the map, this map will be added to your Google Maps account. This location is also the perfect place to watch the sunrise, so you may want to delay visiting until the following day. With a well-crafted route, 10 days in Scotland is just enough time to see most of the major points of interest that beckon millions of travelers each year. Today will be a leisurely drive- there are many lay-bys and car parks you can pull into on your way to Glencoe to take photos and admire the rugged mountains and vast lochs! At whatever point you wish, catch the train to Edinburgh (taking around an hour) and spend the last part of your tour there. There is plenty to see and do in St Andrews and it has an interesting history. Bonnie Prince Charlie visited the castle and is said to have rested there after his defeat at Culloden in 1746. It sits atop a steep crag, which gives it an excellent defensive position. Suggested time: 2 hours [longer if walking around the loch]. For Scotland, you will need to search under ‘Great Britain’, and then you can choose the Scottish city you’d like to pick up from. Also- I’ve created a printable version of my 10 day Scotland itinerary. Today, drive to Glencoe and explore Glencoe, with plans to do the hike tomorrow.Read more about the hike on the Walk Highlands website. WANT TO SAVE TIME?If you’re wanting to save a bit of time and prefer not to visit all four abbeys, I recommend just visiting Jedburgh, Dryburgh and Melrose Abbey- or just the latter two. Not far from the Wee White House the road bends and the Three Sisters will appear. Bed and Breakfast: An-Airidh Bed and Breakfast. Inverness Castle is a more modern Scottish castle, and by modern I mean it was built in 1836! North Coast 500 Map. Several Kings and Queens were crowned at Stirling, including Mary Queen of Scots. You will visit many different cities, towns and villages. For full details on how to do this, read: The Fairy Pools is an extremely popular place to visit on the Isle of Skye. Road trips began to become popular in the United States with the introduction of the famed Route 66. I have heard great things about the Jacobite train. There are many great restaurants to try in this area. Day 1: Arrive in Edinburgh This is a castle you can just marvel at from the outside- which is definitely its most aesthetically pleasing point. Spend most of the day exploring the gorgeous Glencoe Valley and Glen Etive. This is a comprehensive itinerary for a 14 day tour of Scotland’s scenic highlights. Cramond Island in Edinburgh is a tidal island you can walk to at low tide. Glasgow is often an overlooked destination in Scotland. Day 1: Intro to Edinburgh. The local travel experts at Nordic Visitor will make the most out of your 10 days in Scotland with a tour specially tailored to your interests. Castle Menzies is a beautiful 16th-century castle and is actually located a short drive from Aberfeldy, in Weem. If you are willing to make a 50-mile detour, you can also visit Loch Ness. The speed limit isn’t always obvious in Scotland, but on motorways and dual carriageways it’s 70 mph (112 km/h), single carriageways are 60 mph (96 km/h) and generally 30 mph (48 km/h) in areas with street lighting, unless otherwise specified. Prince Henry of Scotland (1114–1152) is buried here, as well as several of the Dukes of Roxburghe. Last two nights it has dropped to 3C in the Highlands. The Grassmarket was the site where the city’s marketplaces were held. But for your kids, it could be a fun thing to add onto your itinerary. Visit the real Tom Riddle’s grave, or just enjoy the fascinating architecture of a Scotland graveyard. Explore the 22 galleries which feature everything from art to Ancient Egypt. When I visited in November, I barely saw one tourist on the road! It was also the site of a bombing during WWI in 1916. Take in the sights and have dinner at one of the many pubs. Located next to Glasgow University is the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum– which is free to enter! Where we Went on Our 10 day Scotland Itinerary. Alexander II of Scotland is buried here, and so is King Robert the Bruce’s heart! Scotland does have a great public transport system, however, to experience the very best of Scotland [and to complete this itinerary] I highly recommend hiring a car. I have wanted to do this forever and Im sure I could spend … Reception is intermittent in the Highlands, so make sure you print a copy and keep it with you. It was surprisingly delicious! I have a 10 yr. old son so everything is very helpful for our upcoming London/Scotland trip. This is another spectacular hike and gives you the option to bag not one but two Munros. Your email address will not be published. For our list of recommendations, visit our Edinburgh Itinerary post. Real Mary Kings Close 3. Scotch Whisky Experience 4. To make it worth the drive, I think that the Isle of Skye needs a full two days and two nights. From Portree, drive clockwise, going against the heaviest tourist traffic. Grand Scenic Tour. It’s quiet, it’s beautiful, and it’s off the beaten path. It has some of the best Gothic church architecture in Scotland. What can you see with 10 days in Scotland? You have a lot to look forward to! It was held briefly by the MacAskills (allies of the MacLeods) but it was recaptured by the MacDonalds sometime in the 15th century. The Royal Mile measures 1.81 kilometres, but this measurement system hasn’t been used since the eighteenth century. For the adventurous looking for a challenge, there is a hike to the summit of the Old Man of Storr. From Edinburgh head north on the A9 towards Inverness, stopping in Pitlochry at the world renowned House of Bruar to stock up on kit- fine sport cloth… Visit museums, explore the parks, and tour the art galleries. How close … The ultimate 10 day Scotland itinerary- created by a local. The road through to the village of Glencoe takes you through the heart of an ancient volcano. At the lower end of the Royal Mile sits the Palace of Holyroodhouse. There is a huge car park where you can park up and walk down to see the huge equine statues. They also have changing exhibitions and displays- so there is bound to be something new to see every visit. View the timetables and purchase your tickets on the Caledonian MacBrayne website. A visit to Edinburgh isn’t complete without exploring Scotland’s most famous castle! See my disclosure page for more info. The map below shows our 10-day driving route for our tour of Scotland. Renting a Campervan in Scotland. Once Scotland’s largest church, St. Andrews Cathedral is the most famous attraction in the town, and perhaps the most famous ruin in Scotland. Bed and Breakfast: JustB, located on the edge of Edinburgh is hands-down the best bed and breakfast I’ve stayed in! We thought the scenery and the hiking, especially if you go to the Isle of Skye and the Highlands, was a little bit better than Ireland. Go for a walk around The Lump and climb the Apothecary’s Tower for views of the town all the way to the Old Man of Storr. If you only have 7 days, drive to the Isle of Skye the afternoon of day 3. Facebook. Hello! Glasgow University is assumed by many to be the inspiration for Hogwarts from Harry Potter. It’s also known as the gateway to the north-west highlands and is the starting point for the popular North Coast 500. Bed and Breakfast: Scotland has a fantastic array of bed and breakfasts. 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