Scotland Overview
Incredible hikes, scenic views, medieval cities, and ice-cold scotch; Scotland has a ton of must-see spots! The gloomy year-round weather can scare people away from making this trip (it almost did for me) but Scotland is an underrated beauty of Europe and the world.
Here are 10 things you must do in Scotland:
1. Visit Edinburgh and the Royal Mile
Edinburgh is one of the cooler cities I have visited in the world. There is an oldish medieval vibe to the buildings and streets that I fell in love with from the minute I arrived. As you walk around, it feels like you have gone back hundreds of years in time. The city was also home to J.K Rowling during the writing of many of her Harry Potter books. Once you visit this city, you will see where she got a lot of her scenic inspiration from.
In Edinburgh, we spent the majority of our time simply walking around. The Royal Mile is a street that has the most happening. You will see tons of street performers, old kilt stores, nice coffee shops, and old architecture along the roads. I would highly recommend walking through this street at a leisurely pace. Don’t rush and don’t over plan. Enjoy hopping into coffee shops, sipping on a beer at local bars, and meeting the Scottish people.
2. Hike Up Arthur's Seat
If you have some time in Edinburgh, a relatively easy hike up Arthur’s Seat provides a great view of the city. The hike took about 30 minutes and provided 360 views of Edinburgh. As you descend from the other side of the hill, there is a nice lake where you can relax, catch your breath, and rest!
3. Lunch at Top of Ben'an Hill
Between the city of Glasgow and Oban is one of Scotland’s most scenic spots, Ben’an Hill Path. Don’t be fooled by the word hill” as this is around an hour-long hike. Your legs will be sore from the steep incline, but the gorgeous view of Loch Lomond at the top makes it all worth it.
The top of the hill has flat land where you can relax and enjoy the views as you lay on the grass. Pick up some lunch before arriving and bring it to the top. Your food may not stay warm, but picnicking with a view like this will result in your most memorable meal of the trip!
4. An Evening in Oban
Oban is a small town that is often overlooked. If you are thinking of skipping this stop, don’t! This pleasant town is both beautiful and lively. Enjoy dinner by the stunning waterfront as you observe the gorgeous sunset. Spend the remainder of the evening drinking/socializing at local pubs and restaurant bars. If you’re in the mood to dance, Skipinnish is a great local bar to learn some Scottish moves as you end the night.
5. Visit a Whiskey Distillery
You can’t visit Scotland and not learn about Scotch! There are many whiskey distilleries located throughout the country, so take your pick! We visited one in Oban and the tour was excellent! Say “Slàinte mhath!” as you sip on some of the smoothest scotch in the country!
6. Aimlessly Wander Glencoe
We arrived in the town of Glencoe intending to hike Devil’s Staircase. Fortunately (Yes, fortunately), we got lost and ended up wandering through the random hills and valleys of the town. The day turned into a nature treasure hunt as we discovered hikes, waterfalls, and great scenery. I fell in love with Scotland in Glencoe as I was amazed at the endless amount of scenic and secluded spots we found. I’m sure Devil’s Staircase is awesome but aimlessly wandering through Glencoe was so much fun. If you plan to do this, I would encourage just driving around and finding a secluded spot that is calling your name and start exploring.
7. Fairy Pools
The fairy pools are one of the more unique sights you will find in Scotland. As you walk through the area, you will follow bright blue staircase-shaped waterfalls as it leads you up to a stunning mountain backdrop. If you feel daring, bring your swimming shorts and take a jump into the cold all-natural water!
This spot is touristy and the crowds can ruin the experience slightly, however, you can’t miss this if you are in the area.
8. Unwind in Portree
The town of Portree, located in Isle of the Sky, is a great town to unwind after a long trip of hiking. The area is quiet and peaceful and hosts some nice restaurants. Take things slow and enjoy food, and socializing One of my favorite things to do here was to head to the harbor at night with a beer and look at the mystic blue water.
Tip: If you are traveling in a small group, I would recommend the Airbnb we stayed at. The harbor location was amazing.
9. Hike Old Man of Storr
One of the great hikes in Scotland is the famous Old Man of Storr. This hike can take about 1-1.5 hours and requires a decent level of fitness. If you need some encouragement to make it to the end, a picture from the view at the top may inspire you. The scenery from above makes you feel like you have entered another planet or a fake movie set (I kept thinking of Game of Thrones). The large three-pronged rock formation is really what separates this view from many others. This was my favorite view of the many hikes I did in Scotland.
10. Take in Quiraing
Not too far from Old Man Storr is Quiraing. The drive up here can be scary with the narrow and windy roads but if you take it slowly you should be ok! Quiraing, situated near Staffin Bay, is a landslide that offers incredible views and picturesque spots. Hiking the whole trail can probably take you two to three hours but you have the option to just hike up to a few vantage points.
We chose to do a short hike for about half an hour just to see one of the views of Staffin Bay. If it is raining here, proceed with caution as the terrain is steep and slippery. This was the last hike of our trip and a great one to end it on. I truly felt like I was on top of the world!
