JANUARY 2023
I wrote this blogpost specifically for people who want to see as much as possible of Scotland, but who are short on time. Scotland is a big, but you can see quite a lot of it if you follow the right itinerary. The highlights in this blogpost are located closely to each other, limiting the amount of driving, while still providing epic views along the way! The landscapes in Scotland are so incredibly beautiful, that journey to your next destination will be part of the fun.
Day 1-2 Edinburgh
Edinburgh is a good start of your Scotland trip. Before you will fully immerse yourself in the beautiful nature of Scotland, you can enjoy culture in Edinburgh. Most of the sights of Edinburgh are within walking distance, but there is a lot to do so two days would be ideal. Don’t miss out on Victoria Street (Harry Potter inspiration), the iconic Vennel viewpoint and quiet Circus Lane. I wrote a full blogpost on Edinburgh, which you can find here.
Day 3-5 Isle of Skye
On your way to Isle of Skye you can make a quick stop at Calowrie Castle, you cannot visit inside, but the exterior is spectacular.
Isle of Skye is a good stop to get a feel of Scotland when you are under time pressure, because the sights are located very close to each other. We were lucky to have good weather and were able to do all things that we really wanted to see in three days. Just before you enter Isle of Skye you will pass Eilean Donan Castle, which is a good pit stop for that ultimate Scottish picture. We were able to hike to the Old man of Storr, swim in the Fairy Pools, see the interesting landscapes of Fairy Glen, drive to Neist Point Lighthouse and dine in Portree in three days. You can discover more in my Isle of Skye activity guide.
Day 6-8 Glencoe & Glenfinnan
If you think it cannot get prettier than Isle of Skye, you are wrong. We did the prettiest hike ever to the Lost Valley in Glencoe. This is definitely the right highlight for ending your Scotland trip. On our way to Glencoe, we drove by the Glenfinnan Viaduct to see the Jacobite Steam train pass by (also famous because of Harry Potter), definitely a fun activity that you should not miss out on!