I’m not saying don’t visit the popular spots, but don’t make them the focus of your trip or you are truly missing out on the real Scotland – not the one you’ve seen on Instagram. Bus Schedules in Scotland. The food in Scotland is amazing – fresh seafood, incredible beef, lamb and game, an inventive veggie and vegan scene – and specialities from all over the world. Before setting out from Edinburgh, explore everything the city has to offer. Planning a Trip to Scotland. Magic! Ready to Start Planning Your Trip? Meanwhile US media are reporting Mr Trump could be planning … No, if you’re planning a trip to Ireland or Scotland — especially in the high season of June to August — you’re going to have to book ahead. I’m Kay, and I’m here to help you plan your trip to Scotland. You’re not going to Hawaii ok, so plan accordingly! Create a Trip to save and organize all of your travel ideas, and see them on a map. And the country's latest route – the Heart 200 – is sandwiched between two national parks, Loch Lomond and The Trossachs and The Cairngorms, offering an easy tour of Scotland's central region. With these best places to visit in Scotland, you could say you’d be saving the best for last… Want to visit Skye? With each person, couple or group, I tend to follow a very systematic (and easy-to-follow) approach that I’ll give you below. Let’s talk about what to pack, where to go in Scotland, and where to stay. Don’t hold back! A seven-day Scottish itinerary taking in some of the best of our country. Glencoe? How to plan a road trip to Scotland? Also open 24 hours by phone on 0871 200 22 33. There are over 300 whisky distilleries across Scotland – there really is a style for everyone. Many of these historical sites, including the famous Stirling Castle, feature costumed staff and organized events that take little ones on an exciting trip back in time. Honest. You can start your trip pretty much anywhere, but Scotland’s capital city is a natural launching point. Depending on the length of your trip, and taking geographic proximity into account, here are my recommended priorities: There are also over 130 breweries and a plethora of gin producers. You do not need a rental car while in Edinburgh, since most sights are within walking distance of the Royal Mile or accessible with public transportation. Without the worry about my budget holding out until the end, I might have more readily enjoyed a few more pints along the way. Yes really. Scotland travel guide - Planning tips . I can guarantee it. We can create a tour plan especially for you. If Scotland trip cost is not a concern for you, you can go all out and choose a … Edinburgh, UK. Well, that's great! There are plenty of road trips in Scotland that are planned by tour companies, but there’s also the flexibility of tailoring your own trip depending on what you want to see and how much time you have. BnBs are the most typical mode of accommodation in Scotland. Here’s a trip to Scotland, as an example. You can start your trip pretty much anywhere, but Scotland’s capital city is a natural launching point. Also want to put a degree of Outlander sites in there too? There are no shots to get, no particular safety precautions, no unusual pretrip planning. Let Our team of travel planning experts craft your next self-drive road-trip to Scotland. If you are considering a trip to Scotland, you have most likely already dreamed of traveling to certain places and that’s a great place to start for planning your trip. Trips to Ireland and Scotland offer the best of both worlds and can be done affordably too. If you want to head to Harris & Lewis, Mull or Islay in summer it is worth booking way in advance of travelling. The language is almost never a problem, the visa requirements are not particularly onerous for vacationers from North and South America, Australasia or Europe, and there's a good choice of ways to arrive and get around. Timetables and journey planner for all bus, rail, coach, air and ferry services in Scotland. Each council area in Scotland is covered by a local development plan, which sets out where most new developments are proposed and the policies that will guide decision-making on planning applications. Avoid the midges – a small biting fly, midges appear in humungous clouds just as you want to enjoy the sunshine and are the bane of our west coast summers. Keep reading for fantastic outdoor activities, cosy accommodation, scenic road trips, Harry Potter railway tours, inspirational itineraries, and historic city breaks, to name a few! This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Like a lot of places in the world, Scotland is suffering from over-tourism. However, I can help. Where should you stay to see the best of Scotland? Learn More > However, if you haven't chosen an itinerary yet, we suggest to plan your trip to Scotland with the help of Triptile and the destination specialists behind it. Whatever type of Scotland road trip you’re planning, there are many different routes you can take to see the most of this wild, beautiful, rugged country. The best value tickets are released 12 weeks in advance. Customised . Here’s a trip to Scotland, as an example. The Scottish Government said the UK Government’s Foreign Office is responsible for planning Presidential visits. – Scotland’s most famous road trip takes in 500 miles around the north coast of Scotland taking in some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. Disclosure: We are an affiliate of some of the companies and products mentioned and may be compensated if you click one of these links and make a purchase. Tried a few and really don’t like whisky? How exciting! Do you head to the NC500, or try and avoid the crowds and go elsewhere? Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has shot down a supposed plan for the president to pass the Biden inauguration at his Turnberry links. 10 ways to explore Scotland from your own doorstep, The complete guide to The North Coast 500, How to get off the beaten track and see the real Scotland, Everyone is [not] going to the same places in Scotland as you. (If you're considering adding England and/or Wales, see my recommended itinerary for Great Britain.) – starting in Edinburgh, road trip to Loch Lomond, then head north to explore Scotland’s most famous glen, Glencoe and on to Loch Ness before returning via beautiful Perthshire. All Rights Reserved. Glencoe is a sea of selfie sticks, there are crowds jostling to take videos of the ‘Harry Potter train’, people are getting stuck in ravines fulfilling their Outlander fantasies, and locals are getting increasingly frustrated being stuck behind convoys of campervans. Welcome to Love, From Scotland, the Scotland travel blog that shows you where to stay and how to get outside in Scotland. I wish to checkout where my grandparents and mother came from. It’s the last large city you’ll be seeing for a while. Answer 1 of 10: Hi all. We often get asked about a trip to Scotland. Try Haggis – we love haggis so much in Scotland that we eat it for breakfast. Anonymous sources at Scotland's Prestwick airport, pictured, suggested the President may be planning a visit. Best trip planning tools for Scotland Train Schedules in Scotland: Check schedules for Scotrail, National Rail, Traveline Scotland and the overnight Caledonia Sleeper. BnBs are the most typical mode of accommodation in Scotland. Trains – the trains are run by Scotrail and will take you to all the major cities, along with a few scenic routes such as the West Highland Line to Fort William and Mallaig, across the Glenfinnan (or Harry Potter) Viaduct. Our Travel Specialists are ready to craft the perfect driving tour of Scotland! To help you get started, I've listed my top picks for where to go in Scotland and my plan for your best two-week trip. Scottish food isn’t all deep-fried mars bars, steak pies, fish and chips and curries (although you must try a Glasgow Chicken Tikka Masala!). Scotland has a good selection of Hotels, Guesthouses, BnBs and Rentals. While both destinations are amazing and beautiful with so much to offer, and I always try to help them make the right choice for their needs, I don’t think this has to be an either-or choice. Destinations. (Or how to avoid the crowds hogging the ‘best’ photo/Instagram stops). Open up Goo gle Maps, either online or on the app. Scotland Planning a Trip in Scotland Of almost any destination in the world, flying into Scotland, if your documents are in order, is one of the most effortless undertakings in global travel. The Scottish hangover cure is a fried breakfast and a can of Irn Bru a lurid orange and sickly sweet fizzy juice. The Traveline Scotland Journey Planner is a very useful tool. Glasgow, UK. A trip to Scotland to witness and adventure through the likes of the Scottish Highlands, Skye, NC500 and film locations featured in the likes of Harry Potter is definitely a one-in-a-lifetime and it’s important you plan it well. Buses – most bus services outside of the city are run by Stagecoach. Scotland Tourism: Tripadvisor has 5,398,512 reviews of Scotland Hotels, Attractions, ... Start planning for Scotland. So, it is going to rain – but are you wondering when the best time to visit Scotland is? Getting from Ireland to Scotland is easy and affordable. Packing for Scotland. Great! There can be up to three parts to the plan. I often get asked by my readers which trip they should take, Ireland or Scotland? You still want to see EVERYTHING, including going to the Outer Hebrides, Skye, Orkney and Loch Ness. Self Drive Tours of Scotland. Don’t forget that whisky in Scotland has no E – and you will be corrected instantly, it is a matter of pride. Planning a Scotland Tour? It’s a secluded route that takes you along the stunning North Coast and through the Northern Highlands, where you’ll experience the natural beauty of Scotland. I’m sure you cannot wait to visit Scotland – after all, it is a dream destination of yours, or else you would not be here! Just an hour and a half north from Edinburgh y… Even living for 20 years in Scotland, believe me, seeing it all cannot be done. – Grab a ferry hopping ticket from CalMac and sail from Skye to Mallaig, Kilchoan to Tobermory, and Craignure to Oban. And to finish planning your Scotland Road Trip you need to book accommodations. Too many cities, islands, mountains, valleys, castles and lochs to choose from; all of them are worth a stop, but it’s impossible to see them all, no matter how much time you have. Let’s go! Planning a road trip to Scotland? Visit Scotland have a great wee guide to driving in Scotland , but I’d recommend brushing up on the speed limits, roundabouts, road signs and these tips: For back-to-basics family fun, spend some of your Scotland vacation in its national parks; Cairngorms National Park is the country's largest. Our Scotland Itinerary is around 800 miles (1300km), with around 23 hours of actual driving over a 10 day trip. It is going to rain on your trip to Scotland. Is a month too long to self drive? You’ve probably got a few things to do in Scotland on your list already. If you are anything like me, food is a major part of why I visit a new place. How you plan your road trip depends on what’s important to you. Are you planning a trip to Scotland? Transport Scotland said: “This is an operational matter for the airport itself”. Here’s my guide to everything you need to know & do before you plan your trip to Scotland. They are great to enjoy typical Scottish Breakfast and meet locals. Some good ones to know describe being drunk… blootered, stoating, steamin, jaked… ahem. ?” rather a lot. So you have booked your flights/trains/kayak to Scotland. For example, the wettest parts of Scotland (the western highlands) experience an average of 250 days of rain per year, whereas the driest parts only experience an average of about 150 days … However, planning a trip to Scotland and Ireland takes a bit more preparation than simply booking a flight and packing a bag. Timetables and journey planner for all bus, rail, coach, air and ferry services in Scotland. That’s why I’m delighted to offer my Itinerary Review, Route & Accommodation Planning, and Full Itinerary Planning services. We’ve put together this comprehensive North Coast 500 guide to help you plan the perfect North Coast 500 road trip in Scotland. Planning Your Trip Rental Car and Hotel Reservations. This can, however, be reduced if you plan on spending some nights camping, not doing many paid activities and cooking most of your own meals. Which Type Of Tour Suits You? Did you know that our actual national animal of Scotland is a Unicorn? Planning a road trip can feel daunting, especially when you’ll be making multiple bookings for your itinerary. Planning Your Trip . Get off the main highways This is because Scots have three languages – Scots, Gaelic and English (which will still sound like Scots). A seven-day Scottish itinerary taking in some of the best of our country. Over the years I have tried and tested lots of restaurants in Scotland (and have many ‘on the list’ still to visit) and I have popped them all on a google map of all my recommended places to eat and drink in Scotland – from Michelin-starred restaurants to a lobster shack on the beach – download it and start planning your trip around where you want to eat! 8. Unless you are planning on booking a coach trip or Scottish Highland’s tour, the best way of seeing Scotland is by car – either on a road trip or making yourself a base for a week and exploring. We name our mountains, language is a huge place, and itinerary... Can avoid them by visiting Scotland in Autumn and winter, or staying... Hours of actual driving over a 10 day trip trip & let us your! Your rental car the morning of day 4, when you drive from Edinburgh to Isle... Of all the best way to see and things you want to do in.... 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