Picture yourself behind the wheel of a car, winding your way through the Scottish Highlands with incredible views at every turn. You can stop to visit historic castles, learn how whisky is made and take strolls through scenic landscapes. This and more awaits you on this 2-week tour of Scotland! A Scotland expert has crafted this itinerary so you can travel at a relaxed pace and make the most of each region you visit.
Just a few of the majestic sights you’ll take in during your trip.
A day-by-day plan to guide your journey.
Upon your arrival in Scotland, make your way into Edinburgh city centre where you’ll find your accommodation. You might decide to take a taxi or hop on public transport, but for a more direct and comfortable ride, we can organise a private airport transfer for you.
If you’re arriving early in the day, we recommend starting to explore the city today. You’ll find plenty of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, museums and shop-lined streets to discover within walking distance of your accommodation.
Spend the night in Edinburgh.
You have a whole day to explore Edinburgh, the Scottish capital, at your leisure. You’re sure to find the rich history and background of the city fascinating. You can learn more about it by visiting Edinburgh Castle and strolling through the Old Town.
Don’t miss the Royal Mile and Holyrood Palace, the official Scottish residence of the British Royal Family. You could walk down to Grassmarket to visit a local pub. Or discover Stockbridge and Dean Village, which will make you feel as if you’ve stepped back in time. For excellent views of the city, take the short stroll up Calton Hill.
Spend another night in Edinburgh.
Today, you start your road trip, so pick up your rental car and set off! You’ll cross into Fife and your first stop will be the quaint village of Falkland, where you can explore a Renaissance palace. From there, drive east to the town of St Andrews, famous for being the home of golf and of the oldest university in Scotland.
Later, continue north passing by Dundee, a UNESCO City of Design. You can then drive directly to Aberdeen or take the coastal scenic route. This will take you past the St. Cyrus National Nature Reserve and the spectacular Dunnottar Castle, near Stonehaven.
Spend the night in the Aberdeen area.
Average driving distance: 235 km / 135 miles
You have the whole day to explore the highlights of Aberdeenshire, an area home to over 300 castles. This will be your intro into the Scottish Highlands, for which we recommend taking the “Deeside Tourist Route”. This is an enchanting drive through the towering splendour of the Cairngorms National Park.
Along the way, you can visit 13th-century Drum Castle or the 16th-century Crathes Castle. You could also stop at the Royal Lochnagar whisky distillery, located near the famous Balmoral Castle, the home of the Royal Family in the Highlands.
Spend another night in the Aberdeen area.
Average driving distance: 160 km / 100 miles
Make your way from Aberdeen, on the east coast, to Inverness, in the heart of the Highlands. Arriving near the city, you could choose to stop at 3 significant sites.
Don’t miss Cawdor, a castle with over 600 years of history and intriguing gardens. Then you could visit the famous Battlefield of Culloden Moor. Finally, make sure to stroll through the Bronze-age cemetery at Clava Cairns.
Spend the night in the Inverness area.
Average driving distance: 175 km / 108 miles
Today you choose your own adventure. You could explore and relax in Inverness or get a taste of the North Coast 500, one of Scotland’s most scenic driving routes.
If you opt to discover part of the North Coast 500, we recommend visiting the breathtaking Corrieshalloch Gorge and the Falls of Measach. Explore the Inverewe Garden, a botanical garden which boasts over 2,500 exotic plants and flowers. You can also drive through the imperious landscape of the Torridon Hills before returning to Inverness.
Spend another night in the Inverness area.
Average driving distance along the west coast: 255 km / 160 miles
You’ll experience some of the top highlights of Scotland today. Drive along the shores of Loch Ness, where you can visit the Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition. You might also wish to take a boat tour to admire the views of the loch and try to catch a glimpse of the Loch Ness monster. Or go explore the nearby Urquhart Castle ruins.
From here, continue your drive west toward the breathtaking Isle of Skye. On the way, you may want to make a photo stop at the iconic Eilean Donan Castle, a sight you will surely recognise from many films and TV shows.
Spend the night on the Isle of Skye or nearby.
Average driving distance: 185 km / 115 miles
This western isle is a haven for nature lovers and today you’ll see some of the best-known spots. Prepare for enchanting and majestic landscapes.
First, you can visit the village of Portree, with its colourful buildings and boutiques. Then head to the northern part of the island, the breathtaking Trotternish Peninsula. Here you can enjoy a walk up to the Fairy Glen or the Old Man of Storr rock pinnacle. You could also see the beautiful Kilt Rock Waterfall, the intriguing Quiraing and the An Corran Beach at Staffin, where you may spot ancient dinosaur footprints.
Spend another night on the Isle of Skye or nearby.
Average driving distance: 70 km / 45 miles
For today, we recommend driving to the western side of Skye. Here you could visit the romantic Dunvegan Castle, home to the Chief of Clan MacLeod. On a sunny day, you won’t want to miss the Claigan Coral Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches of Skye. Another spot worthy of a detour is Neist Point, the most westerly point on Skye and which offers stunning sea views.
Spend another night on the Isle of Skye or nearby.
Average driving distance: 130 km / 80 miles
Head south to the Sleat Peninsula, admiring the beautiful beaches, lochs, and glens of the region. Before heading south, you could stop at Talisker Distillery or to enjoy a walk to the crystal-clear Fairy Pools at the foot of the Black Cuillin Hills.
In the afternoon, catch a ferry from Armadale to Mallaig on the mainland. On your journey, we recommend a stop at Camusdarach Beach. You’ll journey towards Fort William and on the way make sure to stop at Glenfinnan. You can visit the Glenfinnan Monument and admire the Viaduct, which featured in many films, such as Harry Potter.
Spend the night in the Fort William area.
Ferry duration: 30 minutes
Average driving distance: 135 km / 85 miles
Spend a day visiting what excites you most in the Fort William area. For a more leisurely day, we recommend staying around Fort William. You could board the “Harry Potter train”, the Jacobite Steam Train, which passes by the Glenfinnan Viaduct and is considered one of the most beautiful railway journeys in the world. Hikers will love the area and could discover the beautiful Ben Nevis or Glen Nevis where you can view the Steall Falls, Scotland's second highest waterfall.
Or to head further afield, discover the Ardnamurchan peninsula. This is the westernmost point of mainland Britain and is known for its glittering bays and white sand beaches. On a sunny day, you could stop by Sanna Bay or Bay MacNeil Beach. Or take the walk to the Ardnamurchan Lighthouse, a scenic spot known for its wildlife sightings.
Spend another night in the Fort William area.
Average driving distance to the peninsula: 142 km / 88 miles
Travel down from Fort William, passing by Scotland’s most famous valley, Glen Coe, which offers world-famous scenery. Further on, you could stop at the grave of Rob Roy at Balquidder and at the beautiful Falls of Dochart in the village of Killin.
Alternatively, you could travel the longer scenic route via the seaside town of Oban, onto the historical valley of Kilmartin Glen and past the charming village of Inveraray. This region is considered to have one of the most important concentrations of Neolithic and Bronze Age remains in Scotland, including cairns and standing stones.
Spend the night in the Trossachs National Park area.
Average distance via Glen Coe: 130 km / 80 miles
Average distance via Inveraray: 285 km / 180 miles
Today’s drive will bring you back to Edinburgh (you can choose to end your trip in Glasgow in the optional activities below). Drive through the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, where you could stop to take a stroll in nature, enjoy an optional steamship tour on Loch Katrine, or visit a local whisky distillery. For a fun photo opportunity, don’t miss Doune Castle, featured in many films and TV series. If time allows, you could also stop by Stirling Castle, one of Scotland’s top attractions, or at the Kelpies, two impressive horse-head sculptures.
Spend the night in Edinburgh.
Average driving distance: 130 km / 80 miles
It’s time to say goodbye to Scotland. When you need to head to the airport, take the Airlink bus, the tram or a taxi. If you would like to add any additional nights to your trip or to arrange a private transfer, you can do so during the booking process.
If your flight is in the afternoon, you may have time for some last-minute shopping, to visit one of Edinburgh’s museums, or to take one last stroll through the charming city centre.
Customise your adventure with these Optional Extras.
We recommend adding your extra activities to the tour now for the best booking experience and to secure your spot, as activities are likely to sell out.
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Here’s a map of your travel route, to help put things in perspective.
Don’t worry, we’ve got this covered.
We recommend that you read carefully through the following information before booking this self-drive tour in Scotland. We’ve answered the most frequently asked questions here so you know what to expect. You’ll also find more practical advice and attraction recommendations in our online Scotland Travel Guide.
On a self-drive tour, Nordic Visitor supplies you with a quality rental car and a detailed personal itinerary. You act as your own tour guide and driver, and you get to pick the road trip music!
All your services will be pre-booked by your personal travel consultant at Nordic Visitor. This includes your rental car and accommodation in Scotland, along with planned activities, as specified in the itinerary.
As this is a self-guided tour, you’re welcome to stop whenever and wherever you wish along the way. Except for accommodation and booked activities, other highlights we’ve listed in the itinerary are suggestions based on Nordic Visitor favourites.
And rest assured that we’re with you every step of the way. Upon your arrival, you’ll receive personalised information, including an itinerary, hand-annotated map and our very own Scotland Travel Guide. Plus, you’ll have access to our 24/7 helpline during your trip should you need to contact us.
While there is no minimum age to hire a car in the UK, please note that if you are 25 or younger, extra conditions apply.
All drivers under 25 will be subject to a young driver surcharge. You'll pay this upon collection of your rental vehicle.
Anyone who wants to rent a car in the UK will need to present a full driving licence that has been valid for at least 1 year. If you are under 23, you will need to have held your licence for at least 4 years.
There are also some restrictions on the type of vehicle you can rent if you are under 25. Please get in touch with one of our travel consultants for more information.
Scotland is beautiful all year long. That said, it’s good to be aware that the summer is the high travelling season, with July and August being peak months.
This means many of the highlights, such as the Isle of Skye and Edinburgh, will be extremely popular and might have limited availability. This could impact your booking of attractions, accommodation, restaurants, excursions and more.
For a more relaxing experience, we recommend booking your tour, plus any extra excursions, activities or entrance tickets, well in advance. You also might prefer to arrive during the shoulder season, which is during April–June and September–October.
If you do wish to travel in July or August, we will be happy to help you plan your trip to make it as smooth as possible.
During your Scotland tour, you’ll stay in accommodation hand-picked by our local travel experts. We’ve partnered with local businesses and selected hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses based on excellent ratings, comfort and our personal experience.
In Scotland, you can choose from single or double rooms. Twin, triple and family rooms are not commonly available. Please also note that in Scotland room types are based on European standard sizes, which means they are smaller than in North America.
For example, a double room often consists of 2 single beds pushed together. And single rooms are often smaller than the standard double.
Due to the historic nature of the properties we usually select, most of the rooms are only accessible by stairs. Lifts are not common in Scottish hotels. Please let us know as soon as possible if you are not able to walk up stairs.
Travelling with your kids? No problem! Just let your travel consultant know during the booking process. We’ll arrange any cots needed at your accommodation.
If you need multiple rooms, please note that we can't guarantee family rooms or interconnecting rooms at all accommodation. You may even have rooms on different floors.
If you'd like us to arrange for a car seat to be provided for your trip, please let us know ahead of time. This will incur a small extra cost.
The roads in Scotland are usually in good condition all year long and are renowned for their road trip worthiness. In winter, though, storms, rain, snow and ice can cause adverse conditions. We recommend checking weather forecasts daily and not taking any risks when it comes to driving.
Please be aware that in the UK motorists drive on the left side of the road (and on the right side of the car). If you are not used to driving on the left, we highly recommend choosing a vehicle with automatic transmission for your self-drive tour.
If you want a manual transmission vehicle, keep in mind that you will need to shift gears with your left hand (floor pedals are the same).
Drivers will need to get used to the narrower roads of the UK as well as the rural single-track roads. If you meet another driver on one of these single-track roads, one of you needs to tuck into a passing place, which might be behind you. In these areas, you should also be careful of animals on the road.
It’s also a good idea to plan how you will navigate around Scotland ahead of time. Your travel consultant will prepare a detailed hand-annotated map of your route to help you stay on track.
We also recommend using navigation apps on your phone, such as Google Maps. Make sure to download the route ahead of time, in case you don’t have signal in the more rural areas.
For inexperienced drivers who still want to explore and discover Scotland, we recommend one of our guided small group tours or privately guided tours. On these tours you’ll have a local, experienced driver at the wheel.
This itinerary includes a ferry crossing. To board, you’ll need to arrive at the port marked in your voucher and on your map. You will need to arrive a certain amount of time ahead of your departure, and this time will be noted on your voucher. Simply drive your car in the queue to board the ferry at the right time.
Summer in Scotland might be warmer than you expect! While temperatures are unlikely to reach higher than 20°C (68 °F), heatwaves in Scotland are usually humid. This means it can feel hotter than it is, especially in Edinburgh or Glasgow.
That said, the weather is also very changeable, so you’ll want to come prepared for anything. Rain is always a possibility, and when the sun sets a warm jumper or jacket is a must. We’ve prepared a useful packing guide to help you decide what to bring with you.
Please note that sightseeing is dependent on weather and road conditions. This means that your itinerary might need to be altered if these conditions are not favourable during your visit. If something unexpected occurs, you can call our 24/7 helpline to speak directly with a Nordic Visitor staff member.
Whatever time of year you’re in Scotland, you’re likely to see lots of different types of weather. As you’ll be spending a lot of time outdoors it’s a good idea to come prepared for a combination of weather conditions.
Here is a recommended packing list for a summer trip:
In some areas of Scotland, such as the Highlands and islands, you might notice small, pesky insects called midges. They’re most active on summer evenings and tend to swarm near still water. You can avoid bites by wearing long-sleeves and trousers and by packing an insect repellent.
And here’s our recommendations for a winter getaway:
For more information, check this packing list suggestion.
There are limited laundry facilities in Scotland’s countryside, though you’ll find laundrettes in the cities like Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Inverness. Some hotels do offer dry cleaning for an additional cost.
On your Scotland road trip, you should budget for petrol costs of around £1.60–£2 per litre.
As for meals, your breakfast is included at all your accommodation in Scotland. For the rest of your food, your spending money will depend on the standard of restaurants you decide to go to.
Budget between £15–£20 per person for each day’s lunch. Dinners at casual restaurants might cost between £20–£25. Meanwhile at upscale restaurants, you can expect to pay £40–£50 or more. This does not include the cost of alcoholic beverages.
Whether or not you need a visa to visit Scotland depends on your nationality.
From 2025, you need either a visa or an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter the UK. This also applies to visitors from countries such as the USA, Canada, Australia and the EU.
You can check if you need a visa or an ETA on the UK government website.
Your passport needs to be valid for the entirety of your stay in the UK. It’s a good idea to check your passport expiry date early, in case you need to renew it.
By booking with Nordic Visitor, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that there’s always someone there for you throughout your trip.
For support and advice during the day, you can call our office. And if anything unexpected happens outside working hours, you can reach us on our 24/7 helpline.
During your tour, there will always be an Edinburgh-based travel expert on call to handle any unforeseen situations, such as unusual weather or events.
Yes, you can customise this tour online. During the booking process, you can easily add extra nights to your itinerary as well as optional day trips, excursions and upgrades.
It’s best to book as soon as you can to secure your preferred travel dates. Once you have picked your tour, check the availability calendar to see which months are open for booking. Then, select the date you want and complete your booking.
Nordic Visitor offers 10–20% deposits so you can reserve your trip as early as it’s convenient for you. The remaining balance is due 30 days before you travel.
Many tours are also open for the following year if you like to plan well ahead. And if you have any questions or need advice, you can always contact us.
After booking your tour package online, you will be contacted within 2 business days by your own dedicated travel consultant. They will be your point of contact for all your travel needs before, during and even after your trip.
At that time, they’ll confirm the availability of your tour. Then the booking process starts, which may take a few weeks. Once this is done, your travel consultant will provide you with all the details of your trip. You will also receive more information about what to expect during your trip.
No need! Nordic Visitor is already working on offsetting the estimated carbon footprint of your package. We’ve partnered with an environmental fund in Iceland to carbon offset all our tours.
Carbon offsetting your international flights is not included, but we highly recommend you look into possibilities with your airline or directly through a local environment fund.
You can get in touch with our Scotland travel experts ahead of your trip if you have any questions. The live chat option is useful for getting a quick reply as someone answers live every day during office opening hours.
Once you’ve booked, we’ll provide you with a travel guide packed full of local tips and top attractions for your visit. You can also check out our online Scotland Travel Guide where we’ve compiled useful information about topics, including:
After you have booked your tour, it will only take a few days to confirm its availability. But it may take a few weeks to create your itinerary and book everything. Once your trip details are finalised, we’ll send you e-copies of your travel documents.
Upon your arrival in Scotland, you’ll receive a welcome bag with hard copies of your itinerary, attraction and tour vouchers, the Nordic Visitor Scotland Travel Guide and more.
So when do you check in? And what can you expect upon landing in Scotland?
After picking up your luggage, make your way to your accommodation in the Edinburgh city centre. If you’ve come from another airport, such as Glasgow, you can take the train or book a private transfer.
Check-in times vary between hotels and guesthouses, but it normally starts between 2–4 PM.
You are welcome to request an early check-in for an additional fee. Although this isn’t always available, you’ll be able to store your luggage at the hotel if you have to wait. Please contact your travel consultant well in advance of your arrival if you’d like an early check-in.
When you depart may depend on the time of your return flight. Check out early if you’re heading to the airport for a morning flight. On the other hand, if you’re flying home later in the day, you might like to enjoy a leisurely day or visit one more attraction.
You will need to check out from your room, but will be able to store your luggage at the hotel reception. Simply return later to collect your bags before catching public transport or a taxi to the airport.
All bookings are billed in British Pounds (GBP), the local currency in Scotland and the UK.
Prices displayed in other currencies are indicative only and based on the daily exchange rate. This means conversions from GBP to other currencies will fluctuate from day to day.
These should tide you over until you’re in Scotland to take your own pictures.
Sleep soundly, in the accommodation type of your choice, and wake up ready to enjoy another day of exploration.
Enjoy your road trip with 2 authorised drivers and Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) to reduce liability.
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Whether you have a single question or a special request, we're here for you.
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