Seven Day Scotland Road Trip Itinerary
Are you planning a trip to Scotland? Not sure what to see or do? I recently planned a seven day Scotland road trip for my family in May 2023. I spent months researching, printing out maps of the country to plan the perfect route, and learning about my family history so we could hit the spots important to our heritage.
Yes, this trip was to learn more about my mom’s side of the family – the Campbell side – and explore a key part of our family lineage. Given this, not every location on this itinerary may be a hot spot or tourist destination. However, I’m confident this itinerary will give you a starting point to plan your trip and encourage you to personalize it for yourself.
Without further ado, here’s my seven day Scotland road trip itinerary including hotels, hikes, timelines, and even things as little as where we got our rental car.
Day 1: Arrive in Edinburgh
We started our Scotland trip in Edinburgh. Upon landing, we walked to Edinburgh Airport National Car Rental to grab our rental car. We drove to the city center, found parking near our hotel, and explored the city by foot for the two days we spent there. For convenient exploring of the city center, we stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh City Centre. (If you’re looking for a great view of Edinburgh Castle, this is the place to be for a reasonable price!)
Once we dropped our luggage off at the hotel, we freshened up from the overnight flight and did a light afternoon and evening of exploring. On day one, we walked the Royal Mile and hit the following spots:
St. Giles’ Cathedral
Founded in 1124 by King David I, St. Giles’ Cathedral has been a working church for almost 900 years.
Hours:
Monday-Friday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sunday: 1 - 5 p.m.
Cost: Run by donation. I encourage you to give if you are able. The recommended donation is £6.
Grassmarket
Nestled in the heart of Edinburgh's historic Old Town, with stunning views of Edinburgh Castle, the Grassmarket is one of the most picturesque and lively areas of the city.
Victoria Street
Victoria Street, a picturesque and winding cobblestone lane, is one of Edinburgh’s most iconic streets. (If you’ve seen a picture of colorful, charming buildings in Edinburgh on social media, it was this street. For a crowd free photo, we went back the next morning at 6 a.m.)
Dunbar’s Close
Dunbar’s Close is a garden set back from the Royal Mile and is known as a hidden garden in the city. It was inspired by formal 17th century garden design and is the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of the Royal Mile.
Address: 137 Canongate, Edinburgh EH8 8BW, United Kingdom
Between Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe and Holyrood Souvenirs
Hours:
Opens at 7 a.m.
Closing times vary by time of year:
3:30 p.m.: January 1-March 26, October 30-December 31
4:30 p.m.: March 27-April 23, September 25-October 29
5:30 p.m.: April 24-May 28, August 8-September 24
7:30 p.m.: May 29-August 27
Cost: Free
We ended the evening by grabbing an early dinner at The Holyrood 9A and stopping for dessert at Mary’s Cafe Bistro. Then we returned to the hotel for a full night’s rest ahead of an early day of exploring for day two.
Day 2: Explore Edinburgh
Day two got off to an early start and kicked off with a big breakfast and coffee at our hotel. Once we felt fueled for the day, we did a self-guided walking tour across the city. We visited the following spots:
The view from atop Arthur’s Seat.
Arthur’s Seat
We hiked Arthur’s Seat, an ancient volcano which is the main peak of the group of hills in Edinburgh, Scotland, which form most of Holyrood Park. Arthur’s Seat offers a great view of the city.
Miles: Just over 1.5 miles
Time: 1.5 hours
Calton Hill
After our hike, we walked about 17 minutes (0.8 miles) to Calton Hill. Calton Hill is a volcanic hill beyond Princes Street. The hill boasts a collection of some of Edinburgh’s most important monuments and offers a fantastic view of the city. The monuments include the National Monument, the City Observatory, the Dugald Stewart Monument, and the Nelson Monument.
Address: A1, Edinburgh EH1 3BQ, United Kingdom
Cost: Free
Hours: Open 24 hours
The Balmoral Hotel
After Calton Hill, we continued down Princes Street to see the architecture of the historic Balmoral Hotel. Even if you’re not staying there, the hotel hosts many restaurants and bars. While we explored the architecture and the clock tower outside, you could grab a cup of coffee, afternoon tea, or eat at one of the restaurants inside. (Just a note, if it’s in The Balmoral Hotel, expect it to be on the pricier side and prepare to dress smart casual.)
Address: 1 Princes Street; EH2 2EQ
East Princes Street Gardens
Separating the Old Town from the New Town, the gardens are more than 37 acres and perfect for a quiet stroll.
Address: Princes St, Edinburgh EH2 2DG, United Kingdom
Cost: Free
Hours: Open 24 hours
Scott Monument
In Princes Street Gardens stands the Scott Monument. The Scott Monument kept standing out to us every time we saw the skyline of Edinburgh. A Victorian Gothic monument to Scottish author Sir Walter Scott, you can climb the 287 steps to the top for more views of the city.
Address: E. Princes St Gardens, Edinburgh EH2 2EJ, UK
Cost: £8 per adult
Hours: 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Waterstones Cafe
This bookstore, nearby Princes Street Gardens, has the best hot chocolate I’ve ever had in my life. Its main appeal is its stunning view of Edinburgh Castle as you cozy up with a coffee, tea, or hot chocolate and a good book.
Address: 128 Princes St, Edinburgh EH2 4AD, United Kingdom
Hours:
Monday-Saturday: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Edinburgh Castle
We ended our day with tickets to explore Edinburgh Castle. Edinburgh Castle stands on Castle Rock and has a long history as a royal residence, military garrison, prison, and fortress. I recommend booking on their website in advance so you can plan your day around your booked entry time.
Address: Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NG, UK
Hours: 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Still feeling jet lagged and knowing tomorrow kicked off our road trip with a long day of driving, we ordered delivery (or takeaway, a phrase we’re now obsessed with and brought back with us to the States) to pack and get a good night’s sleep.
Day 3: Road trip to Isle of Skye and the Highlands
On day three, we took off to the Isle of Skye with some fun stops and hikes along the way. In planning, Isle of Skye clearly stood out as a must visit due to its beautiful scenery, stunning hikes, and picturesque villages.
We stayed at an Airbnb on the Isle of Skye near Portree. Staying at an Airbnb allowed for us to stop at the grocery store, buy groceries for breakfast and to make lunches for hiking days, and do laundry if needed. Not only was the Airbnb cute, but the hosts were very accommodating. Here’s a link to the Airbnb we stayed at: Indigo - Traditional Croft House in Edinbane.
From Edinburgh, it was nearly 5 and a half hours of driving. We broke up the drive with the following stops:
Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park
We drove to Conic Hill, an hour and a half from our Edinburgh hotel, to hike the 2.5 mile route. Half of our family wanted to hike, but the other half wanted to walk the loch and relax. So we split up and met at the local cafe for a quick coffee and snack after. I would schedule in 1.5-2.5 hours for the hike and to grab a bite to eat.
Address: Conic Hill Carpark, Stirling, Balmaha, Glasgow G63 0JQ, United Kingdom
A photo of Clachaig Gully.
Glencoe
Our next stop was Glencoe, an hour and 20 minutes from Conic Hill. I have to say, the time in the car wasn’t wasted as the views were breathtaking. Keep your camera at the ready, even while driving!
In Glencoe, we visited the location of Hagrid’s Hut (IYKYK). Hagrid’s Hut is located above Torren Lochan in Clachaig Gully.
It was a bit tricky to find, but here are the instructions we followed.
Map to Clachaig Inn
Park at the hotel
Head up the road until you see a path on your right
10 minutes into the path is the location
If you’re going to visit and park at Clachaig Inn, definitely stop in for dinner and a pint. The food was really good and the location is peaceful with beautiful views of the mountains of the Scottish Highlands.
After visiting Glencoe, we drove the rest of the way to Portree (two and a half hours). We stopped at the grocery store, Co-op Food - Portree, to stock up on snacks, breakfast, and lunch items for our big day of hiking (day four). Once we grabbed our groceries, we drove 18 minutes from downtown Portree to our Airbnb.
Day Four: Explore the Isle of Skye
We spent day four exploring Isle of Skye and some of its best views and hikes. Below is the breakdown of our day.
Fairy Pools
In our research, we found the Fairy Pools to be a popular tourist destination. We read the parking lot is typically full by 8:30 a.m. We left around 7 a.m. to beat the rush and drive the hour from our Airbnb outside of Portree. Overall, this is an easy, family friendly hike with rewarding views of the pools and mountains, and perfect for a quick swim in the warmer months.
Distance: 1.5 miles
Time: 1-2 hours
Address: Glenbrittle, Isle of Skye IV47 8TA, United Kingdom
Forestry Commision gravel carpark signposted ‘Glumagan Na Sithichean’
Don’t forget to bring your credit card so you can pay to park
Old Man of Storr
After hiking the Fairy Pools, we drove nearly 35 minutes to Old Man of Storr. Old Man of Storr is one of the most breathtaking views I’ve seen in my life. On the Trotternish peninsula, Old Man of Storr overlooks the Sound of Raasay with grassy slopes to the west. I would classify the hike as moderately challenging. After the hike, we took time to refuel and eat the lunch we had packed the night before.
Address: Portree IV51 9HX, United Kingdom
Don’t forget to bring your credit card so you can pay to park
Distance: 1.5 miles
Time: 1-2 hours
The breathtaking view from Quiraing Viewpoint.
Brother’s Point
Five minutes from Old Man of Storr is Brother’s Point – my favorite hike of the trip. Brother’s Point has a bit of everything. As a headland, you get glimpses of the shoreline the whole hike. Early on, you’ll be greeted by sheep before approaching a pebbly beach. If you’re lucky, you’ll get a glimpse of the dinosaur footprints on the beach too! You’ll then walk through a marshy area as you continue heading up to Brother’s Point and the trail that leads to the top of it. I would classify this hike as moderately challenging, but the shoreline views make the trek worth it!
Address: Culnaknock, Portree IV51 9JH, United Kingdom
Just past the above address on the left is the car park.
Distance: 2.25 miles
Time: 2 hours
Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls
A four-minute drive from Brother's Point is Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls. While the area was under construction while we were visiting, we were planning for a quick stop at the viewpoint.
Address: A855, Portree IV51 9JE, United Kingdom
Park in car park on A855 and walk to the viewpoint
Time: 15-30 minutes
Quiraing Viewpoint
We then drove 12 minutes to Quiraing Viewpoint. There are options to hike in the area, but given the heavy hiking day we had, we opted to enjoy the view from the lookout. The view offers stunning mountains, rock formations, and lochs.
Address: Quiraing lookout, Unnamed Road, Portree IV51 9LB, United Kingdom
Time: 30 minutes
Explore Portree
After a long day of hiking, we headed to downtown Portree for dinner and to walk the quaint downtown. I recommend heading down to the water and enjoying the colorful buildings that make Portree special.
Day Five: Road Trip to Explore Argyll
Day five was the day we customized our trip to explore our family lineage. We left our Isle of Skye Airbnb at 6:30 a.m. to start the day at Glenfinnan Viaduct, made famous for the Hogwarts Express crossing, and ended it in Argyll with personalized stops along the way.
The Hogwarts Express passing at Glenfinnan Viaduct.
Glenfinnan Viaduct
Nearly three hours from our Portree Airbnb, we started our day experiencing the Hogwarts Express crossing at Glenfinnan Viaduct. While we were there, the train crossed around 10:45 a.m. (You can view train time tables HERE.) We arrived at 9:30 a.m. to get parking, use the restroom from the three-hour drive, and grab coffee. A short walk from the parking lot, the viewing area was very crowded when we got there about 30 minutes before crossing. If you want a prime position for pictures, I recommend arriving an hour or more in advance.
Cost: Free
Inveraray Castle
Just more than two hours from Glenfinnan Viaduct sits Inveraray Castle. Inveraray Castle is in the county of Argyll on the shore of Loch Fyne, Scotland's longest sea loch. It has been the seat of the Dukes of Argyll, chiefs of Clan Campbell, since the 18th century. I recommend buying tickets in advance to tour the castle and grounds. We also arrived early and had the opportunity to see the town of Inveraray and grab lunch. Looking back, I underestimated how much I was going to enjoy Inveraray and wished we had skipped Oban and stayed in Inveraray longer.
Address: Inveraray PA32 8XE, United Kingdom
Cost: Adult General Admission: £16.50
Hours:
March 28-September 30: Thursday-Monday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
October 1-28, 2024: Thursday-Monday: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Kilchurn Castle
20 minutes from Inveraray is Kilchurn Castle, a ruined structure on a rocky peninsula at the northeastern end of Loch Awe, in Argyll and Bute. It was first constructed in the mid-15th century as the base of the Campbells of Glenorchy. While the castle is currently closed due to conservation efforts, you can take a short walk to the ruins.
Address: Lochawe, Dalmally PA33 1AF
Grid reference - NN 133 276
Cost: Free
Explore Oban
We stayed in an Airbnb in Oban. I’m not linking out to it as I wouldn’t recommend it. However, Oban was a cute, resort town to explore. This coastal town is known for its seafood and whisky-making as it’s home to one of Scotland’s oldest distilleries. I recommend walking the Oban Promenade, visiting Oban Distillery, and shopping on George Street.
Day Six: Road Trip to Explore Glasgow
We slept in on day six and then drove nearly two and a half hours to Glasgow. Since our trip was in May, day six was actually Mother’s Day, so we surprised my mom with afternoon tea at Mackintosh at the Willow and then walked around Glasgow.
Mackintosh at the Willow
I can’t recommend an afternoon tea experience while in Scotland enough. Mackintosh at the Willow is the Original Willow Tea Rooms Building designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh and is his last surviving tea rooms, originally opened in 1903. We booked the Salon de Luxe experience, which included the hosts guiding us through the history of the original Willow Tea Rooms building. Afterwards, we enjoyed afternoon tea with a glass of champagne. We also got access to the interactive exhibition, where we learned more about Glasgow in the late 1890s and early 1900s.
Address: 215–217 Sauchiehall St, Glasgow, G2 3EX
Cost: Prices start at £39 per person (with additional cost for champagne)
Hours: Thursday – Sunday: 2 - 5 p.m.
Walking Tour of Glasgow
We ended our time in Glasgow by exploring the city by foot. We followed the below route, courtesy of Wandering Wheatleys:
Walk and shop Buchanan Street
Walk south from the Buchanan Galleries, by Glasgow Central Station on your left before meeting St George’s Tron Church in the center of Nelson Mandela Place.
Take a detour here, and walk along W George Street to George Square, Glasgow’s most important public square surrounded by Victorian architecture, including the City Chambers and statues of Sir Walter Scott, Robert Burns, and Queen Victoria.
Follow Queen Street south of George Square, and you’ll find yourself in Royal Exchange Square, home to some of Glasgow’s grandest public buildings, the Gallery of Modern Art, and a famous statue of the Duke of Wellington. If you’re lucky, a stolen traffic cone will grace the statue, courtesy of the college students who have been out at the bars all night!
We also explored Merchant City, home to stylish cafes, restaurants, and shops.
If you find yourself with extra time in Glasgow, in my research I also found the Glasgow Cathedral and Necropolis as an interesting option to further explore.
After spending the day in Glasgow, we drove the hour back to Edinburgh so we could catch our flight the next morning, stay near the airport, and return our rental car.
Day Seven: Flight Out
Day seven was a short day for our group with early flights out, but if your flight is later in the afternoon, you could further explore Edinburgh. Since we had early flights, we stayed at the Hampton by Hilton Edinburgh Airport. This was within walking distance to the airport and to return the rental car. The hotel also had traveler-friendly breakfast times for those of us getting to the airport in the early morning hours.
And that’s that. Ihope my seven day Scotland road trip itinerary supports your travel planning!
