9 Days in Scotland
Discover all that Scotland has to offer with this nine day luxury adventure! Spend time in Edinburgh and explore the lochs and mountains of the Scottish countryside. Below is a sample itinerary of the cities and sites to take in during your twelve days in England. Old Sod Travel can customize this itinerary based on your own travel needs and desires.
Image courtesy of VisitScotland / Kenny Lam
Scotland in 9 Days: Itinerary Inspiration
Day 1 - Welcome to Scotland: Edinburgh's Royal Mile and Hidden Gems
Welcome to Scotland! Explore Edinburgh by walking the length of the Royal Mile, one of the most beautiful streets in Scotland. This famous street runs downhill between two significant locations in the history of Scotland, namely Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace. Along the way shops, architecture, and men in kilts playing bagpipes will add to the pleasure of being in Edinburgh. Look for alleys off the side of the Royal Mile. Known as "wynds", they're worth wandering up and down to get a feel for the city's medieval street plan.
If you prefer, a hop-on-hop-off bus tour may help you to get oriented while seeing much of the city.
Image courtesy of VisitScotland / Kenny Lam
Day 2 - Uncover the Charm of the Highlands: A Day of History, Culture, and Natural Beauty
Meet your private driver guide and travel to Inverness. Along the way, stop at the Highland Folk Museum, where you can step back in time and experience life in the Highlands from the 1700s to the 1950s. Take a tour of the Cairn Distillery, a modern home for the ancient craft of whisky-making. You will discover awe inspiring views, passionate people and extraordinary tastes and flavors. Check in to your hotel and then enjoy a stroll along the river before dinner.
Image courtesy of VisitScotland / Kenny Lam
Day 3 - Exploring Scotland's Historic Heart: Stirling Castle, Blair Castle, and Pitlochry
Meet your driver and take a trip to Stirling, a town rich in history and known as the ‘Key To Scotland.’ Stirling Castle sits high upon Castle Rock, which is a vast volcanic rock above the River Forth, at the meeting point between Lowlands and Highlands and was once home to Mary, Queen of Scots.
Continue north and stop at Blair Castle, a castle dating back to 1269. Set in the dramatic landscape of Perthshire, Blair Castle has been home to 19 generations of Stewarts and Murrays of Atholl. Enjoy a tasting at Blair Atholl Distillery, one of the oldest in Scotland and home of many famous brands.
Make your way to Pitlochry, a town in the heart of Scotland that offers hospitality, clear sparkling air, beautiful scenery, rich clan history, fine food and plenty of space. There are well-marked trails for walking and cycling.
Day 4 - Experience the Great Outdoors: Salmon Fishing, Cairngorm Mountains, and Historic Landmarks
Experience something new as you embark on a salmon fishing adventure with a ghillie.
After fishing, head north towards Aviemore and the Cairngorm Mountains. The Cairngorm National Park has a magnificent arctic landscape situated on a granite plateau. Cairn Gorm means “blue hill” in Gaelic. Take the funicular up the mountain or board a funicular railroad which will take you the two kilometers to the top where you can take a guided tour of the summit. There is also a steam train, which offers beautiful views of the Scottish landscapes. It runs from Aviemore, through Boat of Garten to Broomhill.
The Cairngorms National Park is also home to the Cairngorm Brewery and six distilleries. Don't forget to visit The Cairngorm Reindeer Herd: Britain’s only free-ranging herd of reindeer found in the Cairngorm mountains in Scotland.
Take a short hour drive north to Inverness where you can visit Cawdor Castle and Clava Cairns, a burial tomb from the Bronze Age. Don't miss the Culloden Battlefield and the Visitors Centre, the site of the last Jacobite Rebellion that forever changed the Highlander way of life.
Day 5 - Exploring Scotland's Iconic Castles and Landscapes: Eilean Donan, Urquhart, and the Isle of Skye
Leave Inverness and head to the spectacular Isle of Skye. Make a quick stop at Urquhart Castle ruins just outside Inverness. Take a boat ride on Loch Ness - keep an eye out for Nessie the monster!
Just before the Skye Bridge, visit Eilean Donan Castle, a popular filming location and one of Scotland’s most iconic castles. Travel to Elgol and take a hike to Spar Cave. This is just a short walk from Glasnakille village. You could also stop in Armadale and visit Clan Donald Skye and walk the lush gardens at Armadale Castle for magnificent views across the Sound of Sleat. The town of Portree is a mere 10-minute walk away, with its colorful harbor and genuine village character, where you can find the perfect handcrafted souvenir for loved ones, or enjoy boat trips out from the harbor across the sound. Head north to Staffin and hike the Quiraing walk where you will see weird and wonderful rock formations.
Day 6 - Exploring the Isle of Skye's Great Outdoors: Hiking, Boat Trips, and Scenic Views
Leave Inverness and head to the spectacular Isle of Skye. Make a quick stop at Urquhart Castle ruins just outside Inverness. Take a boat ride on Loch Ness - keep an eye out for Nessie the monster!
Just before the Skye Bridge, visit Eilean Donan Castle, a popular filming location and one of Scotland’s most iconic castles. Travel to Elgol and take a hike to Spar Cave. This is just a short walk from Glasnakille village. You could also stop in Armadale and visit Clan Donald Skye and walk the lush gardens at Armadale Castle for magnificent views across the Sound of Sleat. The town of Portree is a mere 10-minute walk away, with its colorful harbor and genuine village character, where you can find the perfect handcrafted souvenir for loved ones, or enjoy boat trips out from the harbor across the sound. Head north to Staffin and hike the Quiraing walk where you will see weird and wonderful rock formations.
Day 7 - Discovering the Natural Beauty of Scotland: Ben Nevis, Glencoe, and the Isle of Eriska
Drive to the Isle of Eriska and pass through Fort William and Ben Nevis, the UK's tallest mountain. Pop into the Glencoe Visitor Centre and grab a bite to eat before you go for a wander in the glen.
Day 8 - Experience Scotland from New Heights: Seaplane Ride and Final Destination in Perthshire
Head to Loch Lomond and Cameron House where you can ride a seaplane over the Kintyre peninsula towards The Sound of Jura with the Islands of Jura, Islay and Gigha often in view. Enjoy the area on your drive to your final destination in Perthshire.
Day 9 - Safe Travels: Departing Edinburgh Airport and Heading Home
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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.
