A 9 Day Scotland Road Trip Itinerary - Edinburgh, Inverness & Isle of Skye

Begin your Scottish adventure in the capital and historic wonder of Edinburgh. After arriving either by air or maybe by train from London, check into your hotel to relax and decompress. I recommend the Balmoral Hotel, Waldorf Astoria — The Caledonian or Kimpton Charlotte Square. After settling in, take a cab up to Calton Hill to explore. Even better if you can get there a little while before sunset for the amazing views. Head back down the hill for dinner at Dishoom to enjoy some delicious Indian cuisine.

If you are an early riser, you will want to head to Arthur’s Seat for a spectacular hike. About 2 and a half miles long in total, the crest of this hike will give you another incredible viewpoint of Edinburgh. After, you may want to check out the National Museum of Scotland, the Writer’s Museum or if you are traveling with kids, Camera Obscura - an interactive journey through optical illusions and mind-bending exhibits. You could also take a Harry Potter Walking Tour through the city or explore Greyfriar’s Kirkyard dating back to the late 1500s. Try dinner at Scran & Scallie in the Stockbridge neighborhood for traditional Scottish plus fare with modern innovation in a cozy and inviting atmosphere.

Start your day with a tour of Edinburgh Castle. Perched majestically atop an ancient volcanic rock, Edinburgh Castle stands as a symbol of Scotland's rich history and offers breathtaking views of the city below. Later, enjoy lunch at a pub like Piper’s Rest and try a “Whiskey & Tales Tour” for part Scotch Whiskey tasting and part traditional storytelling. For the rest of the day, you can walk Victoria Street and check out all the unique shops, meander the Royal Mile or take a stroll to Dean Village before heading back to your hotel. Try The Witchery for dinner, located inside a 16th-century merchant’s house filled with enchanting ambiance and culinary delights. Just be sure to make reservations!

Pick up your rental car and get situated — it’s time to head to the highlands. Today you’ll be driving to Inverness, the capital of the highlands. Your drive time will be a little over three hours in total, but you can break that up with some of these great stops. To start, head to Pitolchry for lunch (about 1.5 hrs drive). Try Port-na-Craig Inn & Restaurant for a meal on the River Tummel. Before or after lunch, you may want to walk around a bit, cross the suspension bridge or check out the Pitolchry Dam Visitor Center. With about half of your drive left, you’ll be entering Cairngorms National Park.

If you’ve got your heart set on seeing some hairy coos (the adorable highland cows) you may want to stop at Rothiemurchus Farms for their “Hairy Coo Safari,” about an hour's drive from Pitolchry. After that, it’s onward to your Inverness accommodations. I recommend Ness Walk for a 5-star luxury stay that will wow you from the start, trust me.

If it’s not too late, I recommend checking out Clava Cairns & Culloden Battlefield before dinner. You can have a fabulous meal at Torrish Restaurant (at Ness Walk) or walk along the river into town and choose whatever sounds good.

After breakfast at Ness Walk which I do highly recommend, head to Loch Ness (about a 15 min drive) for a 1-hour boat cruise. You may want to bundle up as it can be cold on the water. Catch views of Urquhart Castle and the elusive Nessie if you can. If you are an Outlander fan, you can take a 25 min detour to Beauly Priory & Beaufort Castle after the Loch Ness Cruise. From there it’s 1.5 hours to your next stop, the unmissable Eilean Donan Castle. Note that you will need to pay for parking here and purchase a ticket to the castle if you would like to cross the bridge and go inside. This iconic castle dates back to the 13th century and is so rich in history that walking around its interior will transport you to another time.

Your final destination for the day is Portree on the Isle of Skye — about an hour's drive from the castle. I recommend Cuillin Hills Hotel, Boseville Hotel or Sligachan Hotel (about eight miles from Portree). For a fine dining experience, have dinner at Scorrybreac Restaurant or check out Dulse & Brose at the Boseville. Be sure to make dinner reservations ahead of time no matter where you plan to eat in Portree.

Take today to explore the Isle of Skye (in your hiking boots, if possible). I recommend driving the Trotternish Peninsula — about 1.5 hrs drive time in total without stops — but you will definitely want to stop and check out the natural beauty of this island. My highlight list includes Old Man of Storr (it takes about 1.5 hrs to complete the hike if you are up for it), Lealt Falls & Kilt Rock, Quirang Lookout, Skye Museum of Island Life & Flora MacDonald’s Grave & Fairy Glen (spend some time walking around this area — it’s magical).

Note: parking lots can fill up fast during peak season (July & August). I recommend heading out early for the best experience. There are also not many places to stop and eat on this drive. You may want to swing by “Co-op Food” in Portree for some provisions as you head out or you can pause for a meal at Columba 1400 in Staffin.

Enjoy a shower and dinner back in Portree. Get a good night’s sleep after a full day of exploring.

In the morning, drive to Armadale (about an hour) where you will catch a ferry to Mallaig. Book your tickets in advance. If time permits, you can take a detour to the Fairy Pools on the way or spend some time checking out the Armadale Castle, Gardens & Museum. After the ferry ride, grab lunch in Mallaig. Try The Cabin Restaurant & Takeaway

Continuing on your road trip, you will drive from Mallaig to the Glenfinnan Viaduct (about 40 min). If you want to see the “Hogwarts Express” cross the viaduct (otherwise known as the Jacobite Steam Train), you’ll need to time it right as it only passes by at 10:45am and 3pm. Arrive an hour early to park and walk the 15 minutes to the viewpoint. Later, spend some time walking around the Loch Shiel waterfront (known as Black Lake to Harry Potter Fans) before driving onward to Fort William and Inverlochy Castle Hotel to relax for the evening.

No driving today! Spend the day at Inverlochy Castle, where there are so many activities to partake in — billiards, woodland walks, row boats on the loch, archery, clay pigeon shooting and more. Enjoy afternoon tea (maybe even with Champagne) and take it easy as you near the end of your road trip.

Today you are headed either back to Edinburgh or to Glasgow, depending on where you would like to end your Scottish adventure. Both cities have international airports and well-connected train stations so you can be on your way home or to your next destination. But on the way, you must drive through Glencoe (taking A82) for some of the most unmatched scenery in the world. If you are up for more hiking, stop at the Glencoe Lochan Trails and choose one of the three easy trails to explore.

After your walk, continue on the A82 to see the Meeting of Three Waters, the picturesque “wee white house” and Glen Etive. After you are done exploring Glencoe, keep driving to your ending location and think back on all the beautiful sights you have seen in Scotland.