How to spend one week in Scotland
You can fit so many popular attractions into a one-week trip to Scotland! You can experience both the historic charms of Edinburgh, the capital city, and the rugged beauty of the Scottish Highlands. For the best way to travel around Scotland in a week, we recommend an itinerary that starts and ends in Edinburgh and includes overnights in Highland locations such as Inverness, Fort William and the Loch Lomond area. On such a route you can experience top attractions such as Loch Ness, the picturesque valley of Glen Coe, ancient standing stones, Eilean Donan Castle, the Glenfinnan Viaduct (the “Harry Potter Bridge”) and some filming locations from the popular Outlander TV series.
Another possibility is to spend a night in the Fife area, nearby the historic golf and university city of St Andrews, in addition to a drive through the Highlands. On a 1-week itinerary in Scotland it’s also possible to spend a night on the Isle of Skye, though we highly recommend a giving yourself at least 8 days to take in all the wondrous highlights both on the island itself and on the drive there. All of Nordic Visitor’s Scotland tour packages can be tailored by our local experts with extra nights at select locations, alternative arrivals or departures from Glasgow, day tours in Edinburgh and more.
Touring Scotland by car for one week
Want to do the driving in Scotland and explore at your own pace? A one-week road trip of Scotland is the way to go if you want to take your time at popular photography sites or enjoy a bit of hiking on your route. With a week in Scotland by car, you’ll have the freedom to enjoy Scotland’s top attractions on your own terms -- even in wintertime! This is also a great option if you’re spending 1 week in Scotland with kids.
Nordic Visitor’s self-drive tour packages include a rental car of your choice and everything else you need for the best Scotland road trip experience. Take comfort in the fact that all accommodations on your 1-week self-drive tour in Scotland have been pre-arranged by your dedicated Nordic Visitor travel consultant in Edinburgh. And know exactly where you’re driving each day — and which optional attractions you can visit — with a personalised itinerary and Scotland travel guide booklet. We’ll also provide you with a hand-marked map of Scotland and our own 24/7 helpline.
One week in Scotland without a car
Don’t want to do the driving on your week-long tour of Scotland? Nordic Visitor’s privately-guided tours offer the flexibility of a self-drive tour but with the ease of riding in a premium 4x4 vehicle driven by a professional local guide. Private tours are a great option for those who are tracing Scottish roots, have a specific interest in Scotland’s historical sites or want an Outlander-themed trip, for example. What’s more, all guided tours operated by Nordic Visitor include quality accommodations and opportunities to taste Scotch whisky at renowned distilleries.
If you’re flexible with your length of stay in Scotland, another great option is a guided small group tour by Nordic Visitor. Unlike a standard bus tour, our tour groups are limited to 16 travellers so that you can enjoy more personal interactions with your local driver-guide and fellow adventurers while travelling in a comfy mini-coach. Extra nights in Edinburgh can be added to these tours to give you extra time for exploring the city’s landmarks, like The Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle, on your own.
