The Best 6 Days in Scotland Itinerary
Scotland has beautiful castles, cities with stunning architecture, breathtaking ocean views, and lush green landscapes. And yes, it is as good as it sounds. Every area in Scotland is beautiful and offers something for everyone to enjoy.
Scotland was high on our bucket list for so long, and let me tell you, it did not disappoint. We spent an incredible week road-tripping through Scotland and exploring the most beautiful areas, including the highlands. And now I can share the itinerary with you!
Although you can take months exploring everything Scotland offers, you can see a few must-visit areas in a week! This guide has everything you need to know about spending 6 days in Scotland.
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Tips for Spending 6 Days in Scotland
Pack warm layers and a rain jacket. Scotland is known for its rainy and moody days, especially in its highlands. The Scotland highlands have about 265 days of rain, making it crucial to pack a rain jacket. Although it rains a lot year-round, the wettest seasons tend to be autumn and winter. April, May, and June tend to be the driest months. We visited in May because it is usually dry and has fewer crowds, and it only rained one day during our time in Scotland.
Arrive at the popular trailheads early. The trailheads in the highlands have small parking lots and fill up quickly no matter what day of the week you visit. I recommend arriving at the popular trailheads early in the morning to secure a spot. We arrived at a trailhead around 10 AM and could not find parking, so we had to spend quite a bit of time circling the parking lot before deciding to drive down the road and walk to the trailhead.
Prepare to drive on the left side of the road. Unlike most of Europe, the United Kingdom drives on the left side, which is the opposite of what we usually drive. The driver is also on the right side of the car. You get used to this quickly, but it is good to keep that in mind if you plan to rent a car.
Pack food and water while you are exploring. Once you are outside the city, most attractions are in remote areas and have few restaurants and stores nearby. I recommend packing food and water you will need while exploring and hiking for the day in the highlands.
Always remember to leave no trace. It is crucial to pack out what you pack in and leave no trash. Some of these spots have trash bins, so you can easily throw your trash away. If they do not have trash bins, you can throw your trash away once you reach a trash bin.
Where to Fly into Scotland
Since the first day of your 6 days in Scotland is in Edinburgh, I recommend flying into the Edinburgh Airport. Edinburgh has many flights available, so you should be able to find something that works for you! You could also fly into Glasgow and take a train or drive to Edinburgh, but it is easier to fly into Edinburgh.
I also recommend renting a car for this Scotland road trip. A few tour companies offer bus services in each area this itinerary explores, but renting a car is easier and gives you flexibility.
What to Pack for Scotland
Hiking Boots: If you want comfort and support on your trip, hiking boots are the go to.
Hiking Socks: Having moisture-wicking and comfortable hiking socks are just as important for exploring.
Hiking Backpack: You need something to carry all your food, clothes, and anything else you need while adventuring, so having a supportive hiking backpack is crucial.
Hydration Reservoir/Water Bottles: While hiking or just exploring, it is important to have enough water! I always pack a hydration reservoir.
Jackets: The weather is unpredictable, so I always pack a rain jacket and insulated jacket.
Ten Essentials: The Ten Essentials are crucial for hiking!
The Best 6 Days in Scotland Itinerary
I created this 6-day Scotland itinerary based on what worked best during my trip, but it is completely flexible! I recommend driving to the Isle of Skye first to get the long drive out of the way at the beginning of your road trip. Doing this worked well for our trip because we did not stress about driving to the city for our flight home. But you can switch the days around based on what you want to do!
I also recommend picking up your car the morning you drive to the Isle of Skye. It saved us some money not picking up at the airport, which was nice! Edinburgh has a great public transportation system, so you can easily get around the city. And the airport has a bus that runs 24/7 into the city. We got into Edinburgh at almost midnight and were able to hop right onto the bus to take us into the city to our accommodation, which was awesome!
Day 1: Edinburgh
The first day in Scotland explores one of the most beautiful cities, Edinburgh. Edinburgh has stunning architecture, so much history, and delicious food, making it the best place to start your 6 days in Scotland.
Things to know:
Use public transportation if you are staying outside the city. Edinburgh has great public transportation, including buses and trams. These are fantastic for getting to and from the city.
Get discount cards to help save money. Your one day in Edinburgh does not have to be expensive. There are many ways to save money, including discount cards, discount codes, or purchasing tickets in advance to must-see sights. There are also many free things to do in Edinburgh!
Where to stay:
I recommend spending your first night in Edinburgh after you finish exploring the city. A few of my favorite areas to stay in are Old Town, New Town, Dean Village, Stockbridge, Haymarket, and West End.
If you want to be in the middle of the city, Old Town and New Town are great places to stay. If you want accommodation in a quiet area, Dean Village, Stockbridge, Haymarket, and West End are for you. Keep in mind that the closer you stay to the city, the more expensive the accommodations will be. But no matter where you stay, you can easily use Edinburgh’s public transportation!
Things to do:
Dean Village is one of the most picturesque neighborhoods in Edinburgh and should be on every Scotland itinerary! I recommend walking around Dean Village to enjoy the stunning views and architecture. A few of my favorite photo spots are Bell’s Brae Bridge, Water of Leith Walkway, and Dean Village View Point. The architecture is stunning, so I know you will quickly fall in love with this cute area.
Note: Dean Village is a residential neighborhood, so please be respectful when visiting.
If you want a delicious breakfast to start your day off right, I recommend eating at the Painted Rooster. We LOVED our breakfast here because the food was delicious.
Edinburgh Castle is the iconic castle in downtown Edinburgh atop a hill formed by a volcano. It is hard to miss when you are walking around! Edinburgh Castle is one of the most popular things to see in the city because it is stunning. The architecture and castle grounds are beautiful, making it a great place to visit in the morning. Although you can see the castle from various viewpoints throughout the city, I recommend visiting its grounds! If you want to go into the castle, there is a fee, but you can enjoy the castle views from the castle esplanade outside the gate for free.
If you want to view Edinburgh Castle for free from a beautiful viewpoint, look no further! Vennel Street has one of the best views of Edinburgh Castle, in my opinion. After you finish exploring the castle grounds, I recommend walking over to the top of the steps on Vennel Street and enjoying the stunning view of the castle. The best view is right before the top of the steps and is pretty picture-perfect!
If you are looking for a little snack before continuing your journey through the city, I recommend going to Mary’s Milk Bar! They have homemade gelato and coffee if you need a little pick-me-up before.
The Royal Mile is an iconic walk in Edinburgh connecting Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse through its old town. This 1-mile road has some of the most beautiful views in Edinburgh, making it a fun addition to your one day in Edinburgh. I will dive into some of the best things to do along the Royal Mile after this, but here is a list of some of the places you should stop at along the Royal Mile:
Edinburgh Castle
Camera Obscura
Scotch Whiskey
St Giles’ Cathedral
The Real Mary King’s Close
The Scottish Parliament
The Palace of Holyroodhouse
Victoria Street is a small side street off the Royal Mile and is one of the most photographed places in Edinburgh! The street has many small shops and restaurants, but the true beauty is in the colorful buildings. It is also a place Harry Potter fans love! It is said that Victoria Street may have inspired J.K. Rowling when creating Diagon Alley.
St Giles’ Cathedral was one of my favorite buildings in Edinburgh along the Royal Mile because of its stunning Gothic architecture. I wanted to call this out of the other must-see sights along the Royal Mile because it is just too beautiful not to.
Cockburn Street rivals the beauty of Victoria Street, in my opinion. It is the perfect place to enjoy a side trip off of the Royal Mile to enjoy the cute street. You can walk along the road or visit its small cafes and shops.
The Palace of Holyroodhouse is the royal residence of the monarchy in Scotland and one of the last things along the Royal Mile. You can enjoy its beautiful architecture from the grounds outside or walk through its interior. Although it is actively a royal residence, it is open to the public year-round!
If you want to enjoy a beautiful view of Edinburgh, look no further! The city has two beautiful trails you can enjoy. Arthur’s Hill is a more strenuous hike but has the better views of Edinburgh, in my opinion. Carlton Hill is a smaller hill with an easier trail and still offers great views overlooking the city. You can hike one or both!
Arthur’s Seat is the iconic hike in Edinburgh on an ancient volcano over 800 feet tall. At the top, you can enjoy expansive views of the city and beyond and visit a 2,000-year-old fort.
Carlton Hill and National Monument is a volcanic hill over 300 feet tall with a historic monument. The National Monument may look familiar because it was designed to be a replica of the Parthenon in Greece. Unfortunately, it was never completed, and only half of the structure was built. The 1-mile loop on Carlton Hill is less strenuous than Arthur’s Seat, making it a great alternative if you are not up for the longer hike.
After Arthur's Seat and Carlton Hill, you can walk along Princes Street towards downtown. It has many beautiful buildings, but the Scott Monument is one of my favorite structures because of its Gothic architecture. You can also walk up to the third floor of the monument to get incredible views of the surrounding city.
Princes Street Gardens is next to the Scott Monument and adds a splash of vibrant green to the center of Edinburgh. The 37-acre gardens separate the old town and new town in Edinburgh, making it a great spot to enjoy a quick stroll, eat a snack, or relax. Since the gardens are right on Princes Street, you can grab dinner before you relax or get dinner to go and enjoy a picnic in the park.
Days 2-3: Isle of Skye
The next two days on your 6-day Scotland itinerary explore one of the most popular places in the highlands. The Isle of Skye offers stunning mountains, coastlines, and waterfalls. Trust me, you will fall in love when you visit!
I recommend spending at least two days on the Isle of Skye so you can explore everything it offers. We spent two days on the Isle of Skye, and it gave us plenty of time to hike a few trails and explore everything on our itinerary.
Things to know:
Arrive at the popular trailheads early. The Isle of Skye has over 600,000 visitors a year, and the popular hiking trailheads fill up quickly, especially during peak season. We arrived at the Old Man of Storr around 9 AM, and the parking lot was almost full! I recommend arriving at the popular trailheads early in the morning to secure a spot and enjoy the trails with fewer crowds. Trust me, it is worth the early wake-up call!
Most roads on the Isle of Skye are one lane. We did not expect most roads on the Isle of Skye to be one lane, and it was interesting. You can drive both directions on the roads, but it is tricky because it is one lane, so you pull over a lot while driving on one of the many Passing Places. The other factor is the speed is about 60 MPH. Most drivers do not drive that fast because the roads are one lane, but some do, making it tricky. You have to stay aware and be mindful while you are driving.
Where to stay:
Although the Isle of Skye has many towns to find accommodations, I recommend staying on the eastern side since most of the best things to do are there. It will decrease your driving time, allowing more time to explore!
Portree is the largest town on the Isle of Skye with the most accommodations, restaurants, and stores. It is a great place to stay near the hustle and bustle, but if you want a quieter area, I recommend staying anywhere north of Portree along the coast. We stayed near Brother's Point and Old Man of Storr, which was perfect for our trip since it was close to many attractions.
Isle of Skye Hotels:
Isle of Skye Campgrounds:
Things to do:
The Old Man of Storr is arguably the most popular hike on the Isle of Skye because the views along the trail are absolutely stunning, and it was one of our favorite hikes on the Isle of Skye. The 3.4-mile Old Man of Storr Loop offers incredible views along the entire trail of the surrounding mountains and rock formations. I recommend hiking to the final lookout first to get stunning views of the surrounding area before heading to the Old Man of Storr.
If you want a longer hike, you are in luck! You can also make the hike longer by hiking 5.3 miles round trip to the top of The Storr. We heard from a few hikers that the hike was stunning!
Lealt Falls is a beautiful waterfall on the side of the road on the Isle of Skye just north of the Old Man of Storr. The easiest viewpoint to get to is close to the parking lot on a platform overlooking the top of the falls. I recommend hiking the trail towards the ocean because it has another platform with stunning views overlooking the surrounding cliffs and water. The An leth-allt view point is worth the short walk!
If you want to hike to the bottom of the waterfall, you can continue descending along the path past the platform towards the ocean. The trail continues into the gorge, where you get incredible views of the falls! The trail is steep, but if you are up for the hike, it is a beautiful viewpoint.
Brother’s Point is another beautiful hike on the Isle of Skye, offering stunning views overlooking the ocean, cliffs, and lush landscape. The 2-mile round trip hike to Brother’s Point travels towards the ocean and follows along the rocky coastline before climbing towards the viewpoint overlooking Brother’s Point. It is one of my favorite views along the trail!
Mealt Falls is a 180-foot waterfall cascading off a huge cliff into the ocean, and yes, it is as beautiful as it sounds! The viewpoint is easy to get to and to enjoy the view of the water cascading off the cliff.
An Corran Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches on the eastern coast of the Isle of Skye, in my opinion. The sandy beach sits at the base of the rocky cliffs, offering breathtaking views. If you visit during low tide, which I highly recommend, you can see Dinosaur footprints in the rocks! And if you are lucky, you may see the seals and dolphins that frequent this area along the coast.
If you want to learn more about the Dinosaurs, you can visit the Staffin Dinosaur Museum, just north of Mealt Falls. It has many dinosaur fossils and is a fun thing to do on the Isle of Skye for the entire family!
The Quiraing is my favorite hike on the Isle of Skye, and although it is not easy, the views make the effort worth it! It was my favorite hike on the Isle of Skye because the views were unmatched. Although you can hike the 4.3-mile loop in either direction, it may be easier to hike it clockwise to get the steep ascent out of the way. The steep ascend makes you work for the views, but once you are at the top, you get incredible views overlooking the highlands!
If you do not want to hike The Quiraing Loop, you can hike just to the Prison. The 2.5-mile round-trip trail is easier than The Quiraing but still offers stunning views overlooking the highlands!
Over 100,000 years ago, a landslide and erosion created this unique area known as the Fairy Glen. The Fairy Glen has a 1.1-mile round-trip loop that travels under crooked trees, up hills with sweeping views, and around the Fairy Glen, offering beautiful views of the surrounding landscapes.
Dunvegan Castle is the oldest inhabited castle in Scotland because it has had the same family living in it for over 800 years! If you want to explore the castle and gardens, there is a fee to enter, but it is worth it to see the beautiful grounds. If you have time and want an even more fun experience, you can take a seal boat tour! The tour brings you to see the Loch Dunvegan seal colony, and it is a very fun experience if you have time for it when you visit Dunvegan Castle!
Neist Point Lighthouse is one of the most famous in Scotland because of its location and beauty. It sits on a stunning cliff on the western side of the Isle of Skye, making it the most beautiful place to watch the sunset over the ocean. The iconic view of Neist Point Lighthouse is from the cliffs next to the parking lot. It will be easy to find since many people will be there for sunset. !If you want an up-close and personal view of the lighthouse, you can hike the 1.7-mile round-trip trail to the lighthouse with beautiful ocean views.
Fairy Pools are in the southern section of the Isle of Skye near Glen Brittle and consist of a series of small waterfalls with beautiful mountain views. The 2.6-mile round-trip trail to the Fairy Pools brings you to waterfalls and bright blue pools.
You can also extend your hike if you want a more strenuous trail. Once past the Fairy Pools, you can continue a big loop around the area, making it a 5-mile round trip loop. It is a great way to escape the crowds, too!
Day 4: Drive from Isle of Skye to Glencoe
The next day in your 6-day Scotland itinerary explores a few areas in between Isle of Skye to Glencoe. The drive is a few hours, but I recommend taking your time, enjoying the views, and exploring some attractions. Once you get to Glencoe, you can relax or spend the afternoon hiking!
Things to know:
- Start your drive early in the morning. Although the drive from Portree to Glencoe is only about three hours, I recommend starting it early in the day to give you plenty of time to enjoy some attractions along the way. Once in Glencoe, you can settle into your accommodation or enjoy an afternoon hike!
Where to stay:
Glencoe has a small downtown with a few accommodations, making it a great place to stay during your trip. It is close to the best things to do in Glencoe and many of its hiking trails.
Fort William is one of the largest towns near Glencoe, making it a great place to stay if you want to stay in the hustle and bustle. It has many accommodations, restaurants, and shops in its cute downtown. Fort William is about a half-hour drive from Glencoe, so you need to allocate time for traffic and the drive if you stay here.
We stayed a bit further away in Oban because we found a cute house rental. This coastal town was so cute and had many restaurants and accommodations. It was a bit of a drive to get to Glencoe and its attractions, so I recommend staying closer to Glencoe.
Hotels Near Glencoe:
Campgrounds Near Glencoe:
Things to do:
If there is anything you did not get a chance to visit on the Isle of Skye, I recommend visiting that in the morning before starting your drive to Glencoe.
Eilean Donan is a beautiful castle just off the Isle of Skye and a great place to stop along your drive to Glencoe! You can enjoy the views of the castle from the parking lot or pay a small fee to get an up-close and personal experience with it. We only saw Eilean Donan from the parking lot, but the views were stunning! It is a very picturesque area.
Glenfinnan Viaduct is the iconic Harry Potter train, so I am sure you have seen photos of the area! If you want to get the iconic steam train shot, I recommend checking out the schedule for The Jacobrite. Usually, the train passes by this area around 10:45 AM and 1:15 PM going westbound, and 2:50 PM and 5:40 PM going eastbound, but these times could change.
If you want to go to the iconic view of the Glenfinnan Viaduct, you can hike 1.3 miles round trip to the main viewpoints. The westbound viewpoint is to the left, while the eastbound viewpoint is to the right, and the trail has signage to help you find each.
You can also hike a 2.4-mile round-trip loop to a few other viewpoints.
Once you get into Glencoe, you can hike, explore the small town, or enjoy a scenic drive. Depending on what time you arrive, you can add anything mentioned on the itinerary below!
Days 5-6: Glencoe
The final two days of your 6 days in Scotland explore another beautiful area in the highlands! Glencoe has fun hiking trails and breathtaking views for you to enjoy. It quickly became one of our favorite places in Scotland!
I recommend spending at least 2-3 days in the area. We spent two days in Glencoe and wished we had at least another day to enjoy more hiking!
Things to know:
Pack warm layers and a rain jacket. The Scotland highlands have about 265 days of rain, making it crucial to pack a rain jacket. Although it rains a lot year-round, the wettest seasons tend to be autumn and winter. April, May, and June tend to be the driest months. We visited in May because it is usually dry and has fewer crowds, and it only rained one day during our time in Glencoe.
Arrive at the popular trailheads early. The trailheads near Glencoe have small parking lots and fill up quickly no matter what day of the week you visit. I recommend arriving at the popular trailheads early in the morning to secure a spot. We arrived at a trailhead around 10 AM and could not find parking, so we had to spend quite a bit of time circling the parking lot before deciding to drive down the road and walk to the trailhead.
Things to do:
Three Sisters Viewpoint is one of the most beautiful views near Glencoe because the views of the mountains and surrounding highlands are breathtaking! And the best part? You can enjoy the views right from the parking lot. The Three Sisters Viewpoint shares a parking lot with a few hikes in the area, so it fills up quickly.
Coire Gabhail (The Lost Valley) is a stunning trail offering up-close and personal views of the Three Sisters and the Hidden Valley. The 4-mile round trip hike begins at the Three Sisters Viewpoint parking lot and travels to the top of the Hidden Valley Viewpoint, offering breathtaking views overlooking the valley and surrounding mountains. You can stop here or continue into the Valley. We continued to the bottom of the valley to enjoy some beautiful views from the base of the mountains.
If you want to hike a strenuous trail, you can continue past Hidden Valley towards Stob Coire. It is a strenuous 7.1-mile round trip loop gaining over 4,000 feet of elevation, but a hiker we met along our hike said it was stunning and worth the effort!
The Meeting of Three Waters is a beautiful and easy-to-get-to waterfall just past the Three Sisters Viewpoint. The waterfall consists of three water sources merging to create the waterfall at the base of the mountains. And yes, it is as beautiful as it sounds!
The Devil's Staircase is one of the most beautiful sections along the 96-mile West Highland Way backpacking route. Although you can only hike to the ridge near the Devil’s Staircase, I recommend going a bit further to the summit of Stob Mhic Mhartuin. The 3.2-mile round-trip hike has breathtaking views along the entire trail.
Wee White House is one of the most photographed areas near Glencoe because of its picturesque surrounding landscape. The viewpoint of the hut is off A82, so you can easily see it from the road. We enjoyed walking around and capturing the iconic hut with its stunning mountain backdrop, so I know you will love it, too!
If you want to enjoy a scenic drive in the highlands or are a James Bond fan, I recommend adding Glen Etive to your itinerary. The 12-mile single-track road offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains. You can enjoy driving it or stopping at its many scenic viewpoints. And if you are a James Bond fan, you can visit the iconic scene from Skyfall when James Bond and M stand with the Aston Martin DB5.
Glencoe Mountain Resort is open year-round, offering fun activities in every season! In the winter, you can ski and snowboard on the mountain, and in the summer, Glencoe Mountain Resort offers mountain biking, tubing, and scenic chairlift rides. The views from the slopes are stunning, and you can enjoy them on any of the activities. It is the perfect place to visit no matter when you travel to Glencoe!
Glencoe Scenic Drive is one of the most breathtaking scenic drives near Glencoe, following A82 from Glencoe going south. Once you reach the A85 intersection, take a right to continue the loop back towards Glencoe. All the above-mentioned attractions are along A82, plus many more scenic viewpoints. Although the drive along A85 is not as scenic, it still offers beautiful views and a few attractions. It is nice to drive the entire loop and explore lesser-visited areas.
Kilchurn Castle was one of our favorite things to do along the scenic drive on A85. You have two ways to view Kilchurn Castle. The first is from the Kilchurn Castle Viewpoint along A819. Although the views from the viewpoint are pretty, the best are from the 1.1-mile round-trip hike off A85. The trail offers an up-close and personal experience with Kilchurn Castle.
Ben Nevis is an iconic mountain because it is the tallest mountain in Scotland, standing over 4,400 feet. It can be seen from Glencoe and along Glen Nevis Road. If you want to hike to Ben Nevis, you are in for a strenuous and fun day hike! Hiking to the top is one of the best things to do in Glencoe, but it will make you work for the views. The 10-mile round-trip hike gains over 4,400 feet of elevation and typically takes hikers all day to complete.
Steall Waterfall is the last attraction on the Glen Nevis drive past Ben Nevis, and it is the second tallest waterfall in Scotland, standing at 393 feet. The 2.3-mile round-trip trail has a few viewpoints of the waterfall, with the best being at the end of the trail across the river.
Castle Stalker is a small castle on Loch Linnhe that you will see while driving along A828. The only way to explore the castle is on one of the few tours offered each year. The tour provides a boat ride to the castle, where a member of the family who currently owns it gives you a tour.
If you want to view Castle Stalker from afar, you can visit the Castle Stalker View Cafe. You can look around their gift shop, grab food or a coffee, and enjoy a view of Castle Stalker.
If you want to plan an incredible 6-day Scotland itinerary, you are in the right place! This guide has everything you need to know about spending 6 days in Scotland exploring the most beautiful areas.
Hey, I’m Nichole!
I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.
I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!
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