Quick Takes for Scotland
- 🥃 Whisky overload is real. Unless you’re a die-hard whisky lover like my dad, one distillery is plenty.
- 🏰 Pace your castles. They’re stunning, moats, turrets, secret staircases, but after your third or fourth, they start to blend together. Pick a few iconic ones (Edinburgh Castle and Urquhart Castle are worth it) and move on before they lose their magic.
- 🚂 Time your Harry Potter moment. If you want that perfect shot of the Jacobite steam train crossing the Glenfinnan Viaduct, check the schedule in advance. Otherwise, you’ll just be staring at an empty bridge wondering where all the wizards went.
- ⛳ Even non-golfers will love St Andrews. You don’t have to know a putter from a driver to feel the history here. It’s charming, coastal, and full of great little cafés, worth the detour.
- 🧥 Bring layers (and waterproof everything). Scotland’s weather changes faster than your phone can load a forecast. One minute you’re basking in sunshine, the next you’re in a misty moor scene straight out of Outlander.
- 🚗 Driving is half the adventure. If you’re renting a car, brace yourself for left-side driving, single-track roads, and a few “are we supposed to fit through that?” moments. But it’s worth it!
Welcome to Scotland
Scotland had technically been on my dad’s travel list forever, whisky, golf, and more whisky. I, on the other hand, decided it was finally time after watching Outlander and falling for the castles, the moody scenery, and, fine, maybe Jamie Fraser. It seemed like the perfect idea for a family trip!
We landed, rented a car, and that’s when the real Scottish adventure began, left-side driving. Between the roundabouts and the sheep crossings, there were at least five moments I thought my dad was going to kill us (or vice versa). But somehow, we survived.
Day 1 – Nairn & Culloden Battlefield
We started our Scottish adventure in Nairn, a quiet coastal town on the Moray Firth. Our base was the picture-perfect Invernairne — a family-run guesthouse right on the water. Every morning, our hosts cooked breakfast downstairs while their little boy played upstairs, which made it feel more like visiting old friends than staying at a hotel.
It was less than a five-minute walk to the beach (which we did every morning and evening), and wandered along the beach, and quickly understood why locals brag about Scottish sunsets (10 p.m. and still bright!) Below is the view from the hotel breakfast room.
Before settling in, we drove just outside of Inverness to walk through Culloden Battlefield, the haunting site of the final Jacobite rising in 1746. It felt like a scene straight out of Outlander, and so when the museum had costumes from the time, I obviously had to try them on.
Grab a drink at the hotel bar, it’s wrapped in classic Scottish plaid and looks like you just stepped onto the set of a Highlands period drama (minus the kilts, plus the whisky).
Tip
- ⚔️ Culloden Battlefield can be walked for free — the site itself is open to the public. If you already know the history, you might skip the Visitor Centre.
- 🏛️ That said, the Visitor Centre is incredibly well done, with powerful exhibits, real artifacts, and an immersive battle scene that’s genuinely moving. (~$15 per adult)
- 💡 My take: If you’re not into battlefields or history, you can skip it. But if you go, spend the $15, otherwise, it’s just an empty field without context.
Day 2 – Dunrobin Castle, Glen Ord Distillery & Macallan
We decided to divide and conquer. My dad went full whisky-trail mode — starting at The Macallan Distillery in Speyside and somehow fitting in two more distilleries before dinner.
Meanwhile, my mom, sister, and I opted for a slightly more civilized day. First stop: Dunrobin Castle, a fairytale-style estate that looks straight out of a Disney storyboard. The gardens are perfectly manicured, and there’s even a falconry show if you time the tour right (unfourtantley we missed it).
Afterward, we headed to Glen Ord Distillery in Muir of Ord, one of the few distilleries that still malts its own barley. The tour was short, friendly, and came with just enough samples to make us feel cultured but not tipsy.
Tip
- 🏰 Dunrobin Castle is worth a visit, but time it right. Try to see the falconry show (it’s fantastic and unique). Check the daily schedule before you go on the official site: Dunrobin Castle.
- 🥃 Book distillery tours in advance, especially in summer. Both The Macallan and Glen Ord require online bookings and fill up fast during peak season, even for their bars and boutiques.
- 🏛️ The Macallan: All visits are by appointment only. Check availability up to four months ahead and book early. The cheapest tasting (~$60) includes three whiskies.
- 🏰 Glen Ord Distillery: Online booking is required. The Singleton Classic Tour (~$25) offers three samples, a great value for casual drinkers.
- 🚘 Whisky Wheels Tour: If you’re a true whisky lover, consider the Distillery Trifecta Tour (~$400 per person). It includes a driver, hotel pickup/drop-off, and tastings at The Macallan, Glenfiddich, and Glenlivet, a worthwhile splurge for enthusiasts.
Book ahead and enjoy Scotland’s liquid gold 🥃
Day 3 – Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle & The Road to Skye
No trip to the Highlands is complete without trying to spot Nessie, so we made our way to Loch Ness (which is large freshwater lake). Best place to try to spot the mythical creature is Urquhart Castle, so we headed there.
Along the loch’s edge sit the dramatic ruins of Urquhart Castle. Built in the 13th century and blown apart several times since, it’s now a beautiful mess of stone towers and lake views. My mom swore she saw “something move in the water”.
Next we stopped at Eilean Donan Castle on our way to the Isle of Skye, it looks like something straight off a postcard, sitting at the meeting point of three lochs. You really can’t miss it, it’s right before you cross the bridge to Skye and totally worth a stop. We did the full tour inside the castle, I personally didn’t think the inside tour was worth it. I would skip the tour and simply stop for photos and walk around the castle.
From there, we wound our way through the Highlands toward the Isle of Skye, a drive filled with rolling green hills and tiny stone bridges. By the time we arrived at the Cuillin Hills Hotel in Portree, we were ready for dinner! Below is a view of the colorfol houses from the hotel!
🏰 Tip
- 🏰 Urquhart Castle is more “ruins” than castle. Stop for a photo from above, but skip the paid tour if you’re not into ruins or want to save money. (~$15 per adult)
- 🌉 Eilean Donan Castle is breathtaking from the outside but just okay inside. Cross the bridge, wander the grounds, and read the War Memorial inscription — it’s deeply moving. You’ll still get amazing views and atmosphere without the ticket. (~$15 per adult)
Easy $30 saved per person — and you still capture the best photos 🥂
Day 4 – Isle of Skye, Fairy Pools & the Ferry to Mallaig
After breakfast with a view we drove west to the island’s most famous spot, the Fairy Pools.
It was gray and overcast, basically, classic Scotland, but still beautiful. The trail was easy and the scenery made up for the drizzle. The water was that icy blue you only get in the Highlands, and in case you were curious we didn’t brave a swim (we’re adventurous, not unhinged),
After the hike, we stopped at Talisker Distillery for a quick tour and tasting. They said the whisky had a smoky flavor, to me, it just tasted like burning, but my dad enjoyed it.
We spent the rest of the afternoon driving around Skye, plenty of sheep, one-lane roads, and some of the best views of the trip.
Tip
- 🥃 Talisker Distillery tours must be booked ahead, they sell out in advance during peak season. Tickets are about $25. After doing other whisky tours the day before, I felt I could have skipped this...my dad disagreed.
- 🥾 If you skip Talisker, spend your day exploring Skye. Great free options include:
• Old Man of Storr – short but steep, incredible views.
• Quiraing – dramatic landscape hike.
• Neist Point – walk to the lighthouse (steep concrete path).
• Fairy Pools – magical clear pools.
• Fairy Glen – whimsical grassy hills.
• Portree – colorful harbor and small-town charm; two nights here is plenty. - 🏨 Where I’d splurge: I think the Cullin Hills Hotel was worth every penny — beautiful food, incredible views, and just an amazing hotel. It’s pricey (~$600 a night), but out of all the places so far, this is where I’d splurge.
Whether you sip or skip, Skye’s beauty steals the show 🌄
Day 5 – Ferry to Mallaig, The Harry Potter Train & Stirling Castle
We left the Isle of Skye early to catch the Armadale Ferry to Mallaig, a short but beautiful crossing that’s totally worth doing. If you can, grab a spot on deck. The views of the Skye coastline and surrounding islands are incredible.
Once on the mainland, we made a quick stop at the Glenfinnan Viaduct, aka the Harry Potter train bridge. The Jacobite Steam Train crosses it twice a day, and if you time it right, you can watch it chug across with the mountains in the background. (If you don’t time it right, you’ll just be standing in a field looking at a viaduct. So check the schedule first.) I would recommend arriving about 45 minutes before the scheduled time it is supposed to pass the viaduct as it takes about 30 minutes to park and hike up to the viewing location.
To give you an idea, we planned to catch the morning train, so we got to the viewpoint around 10:30 a.m. and waited about 15–20 minutes. Around 10:50 a.m., the steam train appeared in the valley and slowly made its way across the bridge, totally worth the wait.
From there, we continued south to Stirling Castle, one of Scotland’s most impressive and best-preserved castles. The views from the top are incredible!
By evening, we pulled into Edinburgh and checked into Nine Nelson, a cozy apartment in New Town. The apartment was in a great location! Easily walkable to all the sites in Edinburgh and very spacious!
🚂 Tip
- 🚂 Want the Harry Potter “Hogwarts Express” moment? Visit Glenfinnan Viaduct and time your arrival to see the steam train cross the bridge. Arrive around 45 minutes before the scheduled time and choose the main hillside viewpoint for the best photos. Check the official Jacobite Steam Train timetable before you go.
- 📍 Pro tip: There are multiple viewpoints — I chose the one on the hill for the iconic shot, but there are plenty of great vantage points nearby.
- 🅿️ Parking fills fast. You can pay for parking at the Glenfinnan Visitor Centre car park, but it fills up quickly in peak season — arrive early!
Day 6 – Edinburgh Castle, More Harry Potter Stops, and Shopping
By Day 6, I was officially castled-out, this was our fourth one, but Edinburgh Castle actually turned out to be my favorite. It was a combo of the views over the city, and all the history. (If I could redo it, I probably would’ve skipped one of the earlier castles.) During the tour, we learned that centuries ago they used to toss the dead into the moat… which definitely made the “ancient stones” part feel a lot more literal.
Afterward, we wandered down the Royal Mile and curved onto Victoria Street, the rainbow-painted lane that supposedly inspired Diagon Alley. And of course I ended up buying a cashmere sweater because when in Scotland…
We also stopped at Greyfriars Kirkyard, because we wanted to see Tom Riddle’s name on a gravestone. The cemetery sits right next to The Elephant House Cafe, where J.K. Rowling wrote parts of Harry Potter, so we grabbed coffees and leaned into our nerd moment.
Dinner that night was at a casual, modern, and delicious, followed by cocktails at Nightcap, a tucked-away speakeasy!
Tip
- 💸 Where to save: Skip going inside Edinburgh Castle if you’re short on time or not a big history buff, the views outside are just as good.
- 🚶 Don’t miss: Join the Free Walking Tour through the Old Town. It’s a fun, tip-based way to learn hidden stories and get oriented. I thik the guides are always great!
- 🥾 Get outdoors: Hike Arthur’s Seat (free!) for panoramic views of the city, go early to avoid crowds.
- 🏛️ Free gems: The National Museum of Scotland is fantastic and completely free, don’t miss the rooftop terrace views.
- ☕️ Good to know: Avoid drivingand book restaurants ahead on weekend.
Day 7 – St Andrews
For our last day, we took a day trip to St Andrews, a seaside town famous for its university and golf. The drive from Edinburgh took about an hour and a half.
Our first stop was the St Andrews Cathedral ruins and graveyard, where we found the gravesite of Allan Robertson, one of the earliest professional golfers.
Then we headed to the Old Course, my dad was so excited, this was the part of the trip he’d been looking forward to the most.
Even though I’m not a golf fanatic, I have to admit it was really cool to see where it all began. We took photos on the Swilcan Bridge, the tiny stone bridge that’s somehow become one of the most famous spots in golf. Every major player has crossed it, and now, apparently, so have we.
As a royal family fan, I was equally excited to walk around The University of St Andrews, where Prince William and Kate Middleton met.
We had lunch at a small café right next to the course, cozy, casual, and surprisingly delicious. It was a fun day, and a great way to end the trip!
Tip
- 🏌️ You can walk the Old Course anytime. It’s a public right-of-way — just don’t interrupt play. Sundays are best when the course closes to golf and opens to everyone for walking and picnics.
- ⛳ Golf fanatic? Enter the Old Course Ballot to try for a tee time. Submit your entry 48 hours before your desired day by 2 p.m.
My Overall Recommendation: Where to Splurge and Where to Save
💸 Splurge vs Save
- 💤 Splurge: Stay somewhere charming and memorable, a coastal inn or castle hotel is worth it.
- 🚙 Splurge: A good rental car with insurance and GPS, you’ll use it every day.
- 🍽️ Save: Pub food is cozy and delicious; no need for fine-dining reservations nightly.
- 🏰 Save: You don’t need to pay entry for every castle, one or two are plenty.
Smart spending keeps more budget for adventures 🥂
