Explore Scotland

I’ve always wanted to do a road trip but never expected my first one to be in Scotland due to the weather. In August 2019 I just thought ‘why not?’ and hopped on a plane. Scotland is known for its varied weather but little did I know of its beauty and highlands! It’s a beautiful country with so many things to see and offer.

Planning a road trip can be hard if you have so many things you want to see or do. Before I went to Scotland I made a list of places I really wanted to see. There were also other ones on my list but I would only visit them if I had enough time. Tip: buy a map, put all your must see places on the map and mention the other ones in your notes. I like a little adventure so we didn’t plan anything in advance. Sometimes you don’t even spent half a day at a specific place, so you will have the time to explore other places and do things.

How to get to Scotland and drive around

I live in Belgium but caught a plane at Schiphol because it was cheaper and it was also flying directly to Glasgow. We’ve hired a camper from Atlas motorhome in Glasgow from the 12th till the 22nd of August. You have to be 25 years old because otherwise you aren’t allowed to drive with a camper. Luckily, my travel companion was old enough to drive one. They give you a lot of information at the beginning and believe me it’s a lot to remember so luckily you get an information book with you.

It was a challenge for us to drive in Scotland because they drive left and in Belgium it’s the other way around. But don’t worry, you will adjust rapidly. Make sure to think of your fuel in advance because you won’t frequently pass a gas station. Plan your route very carefully!

What’s the weather like in Scotland during summer?

The weather changes a lot in Scotland, it varies from one region to another. Sometimes when we were driving, it was raining so hard and when we came to our location, the sun was shining. You can experience all four seasons in one day. Overall, the weather was good reaching temperatures to 18 degrees but we’ve also had days on which it rained a lot. Check the weather a few days before you leave. Based on this and depending on the cities you want to visit, you can choose your clothes. The most important things to bring with you are a rain coat and waterproof hiking boots. You will definitely need those!

10 day Scotland road trip itinerary

Day 1 – Glasgow & our first stop

We arrived around 11 a.m. in Glasgow and went immediately to the place where we hired our camper. After getting a lot of information, we wanted to leave Glasgow as soon as possible because the traffic was really hectic and it’s such a touristic place. Our first stop was in Finnich Glen at the Devil’s Pulpit, near Loch Lomond.

It’s not easy to access but if you’re an adventurer and saw the TV series Outlander, this is the ultimate walk for you! There’s a myth that the river has a blood color from the devil’s presence because he would bring all his followers to this place. Don’t worry, it’s not as scary as it seems and it’s definitely not a cursed place! The sandstones underneath the water give the water this blood-red color and the pulpit is just a stone which pokes out of the rock by the river.

I would definitely recommend to visit Devil’s Pulpit early in the morning because it can be really busy, especially during summer. Don’t get too close to the edge because the gorge walls are very steep.

While the Devil’s Pulpit is a beautiful location but not a long walk, we wanted to do something else on our first day. Go sight-seeing in this area! We went to Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park because it’s close to the gorge. You can do a lot of activities around the Park.

Day 2 – Stirling & Oban

We visited the grand Royal Palace of Stirling Castle and wandered around in Stirling. After a few hours, we headed to Oban or better called ‘little bay’. Oban is the perfect place to take a short break with so many things to see and to do. We explored castles, forests and went to the Oban distillery. If there’s one thing you need to do in Scotland, it’s definitely whisky tasting! I wasn’t allowed to take pictures everywhere so I decided to just enjoy this tour (and my whisky of course). After the whisky kicked in, we ate and drank something in Oban while planning our next day. I was and I am still obsessed with puffins so I really needed to see them. A local told us it was easy to take a boat tour to Mull, Iona and Staffa so we immediately booked or trip at Turus Mara Cruisetours.

Day 3 – Staffa

Today was the day I could hopefully and finally see some puffins. I still don’t get why I’m obsessing over these birds but I think they’re so pretty. We took a boat trip to Staffa and it was the first day the sun was shining since our arrival. It was really warm and we needed to wear sunscreen because you’ve could easily get sun burned. During the boat trip, we got a lot of historical information about the island. We picnicked on the top of Fingal’s Cave and while eating I saw puffins! Knowing me, you could guess how I excited I was.. We spent half a day on the island, this was enough to see everything we needed to see.

Day 4 – Glenfinnan viaduct and climbing the Ben Nevis

There was one thing on my Scotland bucket list I really needed to experience and see. For my Harry Potter fans, I dedicate this special moment to you. I don’t have to explain this scene so I’ll just show it.

If you want to visit the Glenfinnan Viaduct, make sure you get there in time. The train only passes by 2 times a day, one at 10:30 a.m. and the other one at 3 p.m. (hours can change). Besides the time table, there isn’t much parking around this spot and you still have to walk a bit to get at the Glenfinnan Viaduct.

After seeing the steam train passing by, we went back to our camper to eat something because we decided to climb the Ben Nevis afterwards. This is the highest mountain in the UK where the summit is 1,345 meters. When climbing the Ben Nevis, just make sure you keep following the path. At a certain point, it started pouring really bad so we kept walking but realized we were not on the path anymore. We didn’t see anyone for like an hour so we were lost while we were soaked. But we did make it to the top! We were a little bit disappointed because there was a lot of fog so we couldn’t really enjoy the view. Besides that, I was really proud of myself because I didn’t think I could do it.

If you have the same idea as we had, make sure to wear rainproof clothing and walking boots. Bring enough water and food with you like protein bars or something that gives you extra power.

Day 5 & 6 – Isle of Skye

The ultimate guide in the Highlands of Scotland. It’s well known for its beautiful landscapes and scenery. It will take your breath away! I don’t know the right order anymore of the places we visited but anyhow, this is how it looked like.

When driving in Sligachan, we noticed a lot of people hiking there and standing on the bridge. We hopped out of our camper and went to see the Sligachan Old Bridge. It was pouring outside so we didn’t have a long hike here. After seeing this bridge, we went to see the Fairy Pools in Glenbrittle. This place is really dreamy, it gives you so much peace and instant good vibes. You still have to walk a while before seeing the Fairy Pools. Wear your raincoat and stay there for a while to enjoy nature’s beauty!

While driving to our next stop, we saw the Talisker Distillery and decided to do another whisky tasting. As a Game of Thrones fan, my eyes immediately fell on these incredible designs. I didn’t take a lot of pictures while visiting the distillery because it also wasn’t allowed everywhere. The tour guide was really great and funny so we had a good laugh and drink at the same time.

After the Distillery we had to sit back for a minute because the Scottish whisky kicked in (AGAIN). We ate something quick and went to Neist Point in Glendale. We found a great spot to sleep. When we woke up it was like waking up in a dream (except that there are cows standing at your front door). I still think of this view a lot, I fell in love with this place. We stayed here for a while because it was just too beautiful to be true. Take your time to just sit back and relax in this place!

We spent half a day at Neist Point and drove to our next stop: Kilt Rock and Mealt falls viewpoint. I don’t think I have to describe this beauty so I’ll just leave it here.

Leaving to our next and last stop on the Isle of Skye which is the most famous and busiest walk at the same time. Can you guess the place? The Old Man of Storr is an amazing rock feature where the views are really stunning. The walk takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. The weather really varies so make sure you’re wearing waterproof clothes!

Day 7 & 8 – North Coast 500

From this point, we saw a lot of places in a short time. There’s nothing like the freedom of never-ending roads. That’s why we tried to follow the NC500 as much as possible. A coastal scenery where the views are breathtaking!

Victoria Falls

After leaving the Isle of Skye, we drove to our next stop: Clo Mor Cliff. When driving around we saw a sign with ‘Victoria Falls’ on it so we decided to park nearby. It’s a beautiful waterfall named after Queen Victoria. There’s a path you can follow, leading to more views of the falls and Loch Maree.

Old Man of Stoer

Old Man of Stoer was our next stop (don’t confuse it with the Old Man of Storr). The Old Man of Stoer is a 60 metres high sea stack. The scenery is absolutely impressive! If you’re lucky you can spot some whales or dolphins here. Driving further into Stoer we saw this funny sign of ‘Stoer’. In Belgium, the word stoer means cool so we wanted to make this a memorable and funny moment.

Clo Mor Cliff & Smoo Cave

One of the highest and most impressive cliffs in Great Brittain, nearby Cape Wrath. From panoramic views to seeing puffins and impressive nature. Down on the beach, you’ll find Smoo Cave. Smoo Cave is a natural sea cave located in Sutherland. The caves are accessible via a path but be careful because it’s quite steep. Inside the cave, it’s also possible to do a boat tour. We did this but for me, it wasn’t worth the hype. So, my tip for you: just explore Smoo Cave by yourself and enjoy the caves and stunning views.

Cairngorms National Park

Cairngorms is the largest National Park in Great Britain and is twice the size of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, like what?! You can do a lot of things in this area like sightseeing, water activities, hiking, mountain biking, golfing and so on. If you have spare time, I would recommend to do a fun activity. There are many wow factors and also a lot of hotspots so definitely worth going!

Day 9 – Edinburgh

When in Scotland, you do have to visit the capital of course! My favorite street in Edinburgh was Victoria Street. It’s known for its historic building with brightly-painted shops underneath. While you’re in this street, pop into the Harry Potter themed shops. If you want to experience the whole Harry Potter magic, bring a visit to the Elephant house. Go there later in the evening because it’s really busy during the day. Not only did I eat in Edinburgh, I also did some shopping cause a woman can never have too many clothes! While shopping at Princess Street, we discovered a great street music artist @Reuben Stone. His vibe is so chill so make sure to listen to one of his songs!

We headed back to Glasgow after our day trip in Edinburgh because we had to catch our flight the next day. I was sad to go back to Belgium because I fell in love with Scotland and road tripping itself.

If you’re thinking about doing a road trip in Scotland, hit me up and I will answer all of your questions!