10 Day Scotland Itinerary
This is an itinerary based on my trip to Scotland in December 2016. Below, you will find a 9 day itinerary, so you have room for travel days if necessary.
Day 1: Arrive Edinburgh. Walk the Royal Mile from Edinburgh Castle to Palace of Holyroodhouse. Visit the shops, including the Tartan Weaving Mill. Dinner at the Scotch Whisky Experience for an introduction into Scottish cuisine and whisky.
Day 2: Enjoy a full Scottish breakfast and explore Dean Village in the morning. Walk through Princes Street Gardens to the George IV Bridge to Greyfriars Bobby, then along Candlemaker Row to the Grassmarket for a bite to eat. Visit the interesting shops along Victoria Street. Next, in December, we headed to the Christmas Markets in East Princes Street Gardens. Visit the Street of Lights on George Street before heading to the Standing Order for dinner.
Day 3: Explore Holyrood Park and climb to Arthurs Seat in the morning. Visit the National Museum of Scotland in the afternoon to learn about Scottish History. For a candlelit dinner, head to the Outsider for dinner.
Day 4: Rent a car in Edinburgh, driving north to Stirling to visit Stirling Castle and the National Wallace Monument. Drive southwest, heading to the Trossachs. We stayed in Helensburgh along the Firth of Clyde. Dinner at the Cattle & Creel for the best surf & turf meal for two.
Day 5: Drive north to Luss and explore the village along Loch Lomond (a great place for the Highland Games I was told). Head south to Balloch Castle Gardens for a quiet afternoon walk. Take the scenic route around Aberfoyle and Callander, stopping at Loch Katrine. See a few Highland Cows along the way! Dinner at the Riverhill Courtyard in Helensburgh.
Day 6: Drive north, passing Glencoe, Ben Nevis, Ft. William, detouring to Glenfinnan to see the viaduct and the Jacobite Steam Train. Next, pass Ft. Augustus and Loch Ness to head to Inverness. We stayed in Tulloch Castle in Dingwall, a haunted site, having dinner at their bar before joining in on the free ghost tour.
Day 7: Drive the scenic route around Loch Ness, stopping at Inverfarigaig for a scenic hike, Foyers Falls, Urquhart Castle, and Drumnadrochit for the Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition.
Day 8: Spend the day driving through Cairngorms National Park, stopping in Dalwhinnie for Scotland’s highest and coldest whisky distillery. Then, drive back to Edinburgh and return rental.
Day 9: Visit Edinburgh Castle in the morning, staying for the One O’Clock Gun. Check out other sites near the Mile, having your final dinner at The Witchery.
Hope you found my Scotland itinerary helpful!
