Experience Scotland in 15 Days.
Spend 15 days immersing yourself in Scottish culture. Taste local cuisine, explore historic castles, get a breath of fresh air while in the beautiful countryside and national parks. Discover the unexpected, the hidden gems, and enjoy the well-known, must-see attractions such as the Royal Edinburgh Tattoo. Old Sod Travel can customize this itinerary based on your own travel needs and desires.
Image Courtesy of VisitScotland / Kenny Lam
Scotland in 15 Days: Itinerary Inspiration
Day 1 - Journey to Scotland!
Welcome to Scotland. Upon arrival, grab a cab to the city centre. Check into your hotel and begin exploring Edinburgh. Perhaps stretch your legs with a hike up Arthur's Seat (an extinct volcano) for incredible views of the city. Stroll down the Royal Mile. Enjoy a late afternoon tour of the Blair Street Underground Vaults. After a long day of travel, enjoy some dinner and live music at a restaurant we recommend.
Day 2 - Edinburgh
After a good night's rest, enjoy your second day in Edinburgh. Make your way to Mercat Cross for a walking tour of Scotland’s capital. Hear about royalty, writers, philosophers and everyday folk living in Edinburgh through the ages and walk right past the queues into Edinburgh Castle. This tours last about 2-2.5hrs. Tonight, enjoy the Royal Edinburgh Tattoo. Set against the backdrop of Edinburgh's imposing castle, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is one of the most iconic events in Edinburgh's calendar. The Edinburgh Tattoo celebrates the skills and talents of military bands and display teams from throughout the world.
Day 3 - Edinburgh
Continue exploring Edinburgh at your own pace today- there is much to explore! A visit to the National Museum of Scotland is highly recommended. For art enthusiasts, the National Portrait Museum and/or the Scottish National Gallery are both worthy of consideration. And of course, don't forget the Palace of Holyrood House if you're a real Outlander fan.
Day 4 - Pitlochry
This morning, make your way from Edinburgh in the direction of Pitlochry. You could go via Stirling or St Andrews:
If you choose St. Andrews, visit the University, St. Andrew's Castle & Cathedral and the British Museum of Golf, or explore the charming villages of Culross and Falkland, which were used in Outlander seasons 1, 2 and 4.
If you choose Stirling, we would suggest driving via Blackness Castle, Linlithgow and Sterling and Blackwatch Museum in Perth.
Day 5 - Pitlochry
Today you could stay in and around the hotel and use the leisure facilities, or let us arrange a Highland safari, fishing or cycling. Explore some of the Cairngorms National Park: If you did not get time to visit Blair Castle yesterday, do so today. If a whisky tour is a preference then you are in the right place - Blair Athol Speyside and Dalwhinnie Distilleries are great options.
Day 6 - Culloden, Inverness, and the Cairngorms
After breakfast and check out, journey through the Cairngorms. Opt to ride the Funicular Railway up Cairngorm Mountain for breathtaking panoramic views. Continue to the Inverness area to explore the town, visit the Cathedral, Botanic Gardens, and Leakey's book shop. Enjoy the sunny shores of Loch Morlich beach, the UK’s highest beach near Aviemore, surrounded by pine forest and mountains. Discover more of the Cairngorms with activities like horseback riding, hairy coo safaris, red deer feeding, and quad biking.
Day 7 - Culloden, Inverness, and the Cairngorms
There are many options for today! Maybe a Culloden Battlefield Tour including a visit to Clava Cairns, an ancient burial site. To the west of Inverness, tour Cawdor Castle, which was built as a private fortress by the Thanes of Cawdor, a family made famous by Shakespeare's play Macbeth. End your day by strolling around Nairn, a pretty coastal village and perhaps visit Benromach Distillery for some more tastings!
Day 8 - Isle of Skye
Head from Inverness to Isle of Skye, with its lush hills and coastal tracks. On the way you have the option of a slow Loch Ness Cruise or a high-speed RIB. Admire Kyle of Lochalsh - the gateway to Skye, stop enroute at Eilean Donan Castle, and continue into the small village of Portree.
Day 9 - Isle of Skye
Today, head out to explore the Fairy Pools, Old Man of Storr, Neist Lighthouse, Portree Harbor, or Dunvegan Castle and Gardens. Fairy Glen is an enchanting natural landscape of miniature conical hills, rocky towers and a tiny loch. If the weather is good, look for Claigan Coral Beaches.
Day 10 - Mallaig
Leave Skye early to make the most of the day . Take the ferry from Skye to Mallaig and continue on to Fort William.
Day 11 - Mallaig
Today you have return tickets for the Jacobite Steam Train from Fort William to Mallaig. View a beautiful 41-mile ride passing along Loch Eil, Glenfinnan Viaduct, and Arisaig, which is the same route filmed in the Harry Potter movies. You could stroll the Mallaig Circuit walk which has great views over Mallaig Harbour and across Loch Nevis to Knoydart, or wander in the Mallaig Heritage Centre nearby which offers stories, films, collections and displays telling the history of West Lochaber people and the area.
Day 12 - Glasgow
Depart Ardrhu House for Glasgow today. On the way, stop in Glencoe to see the Glencoe Folk Museum, and Loch Lomond for Trossaachs National Park.
Day 13 - Glasgow
Today enjoy the city of Glasgow. Options include Glasgow Cathedral, Glasgow Necropolis (great at sunrise or sunset), George Square, Glasgow city Chambers, The Lighthouse, Gallery of Modern Art, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, The Riverside Museum and Tall ship, Glasgow Botanic Gardens, and Peoples Palace.
Day 14 - Return to Edinburgh
This morning, make your way from Glasgow back to Edinburgh. You could visit Rosslyn Chapel on your way there. Check into the hotel and head out to get some last minute gifts for your return home.
Day 15 - Fly Home
Fly home out of Edinburgh Airport. Make sure to give yourselves plenty of time to drop back the car and clear customs, etc. Bon voyage!
Image Courtesy of VisitScotland / Stuart Brunton
Inspired? Let's Plan Your Adventure
Start planning your trip-of-a-lifetime, today. Our expert travel consultants will help bring your dreams to life. Call us at 443.229.8300 or contact us:
Who Is Old Sod Travel?
We are a small, independent business specializing in planning luxurious trips to Ireland, Scotland, and England. We work with you to create a tailor-made Ireland tour filled with the amazing scenery, singular experiences, and lifelong memories you’ve been dreaming of.
Our focus is solely on highly customized travel to Ireland and the British Isles. This allows us to identify the best hotels and guesthouses, and to know the owners personally. We know the best hiking trails, golf courses, and fishing guides. The best restaurants, pubs, and scenic vistas.
We know where the good seats are at the Edinburgh Tattoo and how to get tickets for Wimbledon, Premier League Soccer games or a Hurling match at Croke Park. We know which sites and attractions are truly worth seeing and where you’ll want to spend extra time.
