I’ve written a few posts about Scotland and I think they all start out the same way…I LOVE Scotland! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, it is my all-time favorite place I’ve been to date. I love the history and I love the amazing untouched landscapes. It is such a beautiful place! We went in August (when the weather is at its warmest & there’s a good chance of catching the heather in bloom) and chose to rent a car (don’t miss that topic at the end) and stay a couple of nights in each area to make the most of our trip. There were a few things I would do different, of course. I’ve included that info here as well so you can avoid the mistakes we made and you can have the perfect Scotland road trip. Let’s get started!
Edinburgh (2 nights) & Drive to Dingwall
Where We Stayed:
Holyrood Aparthotel:
It was nice, clean, and within walking distance to everything. I would definitely stay there again. You will want to reserve a parking spot in advance. We booked through Expedia and we didn’t know about reserving a spot until we arrived. We were very lucky that they had a space open. The parking lot is tiny and there isn’t much other parking in the area.
What We Did/Saw
Hiked Arthur’s Seat:
Our first full day, we hiked Arthur’s Seat. This is a 2.3 mile loop that is rated at moderate. It starts out easy, but gets a little tougher as you reach the top. You will be rewarded with 360 degree views of Edinburgh & the surrounding mountains. Arthur’s Seat itself is an extinct volcano. As we were hanging out at the top, there was a guy in a kilt on top of an adjacent hill playing the bagpipes! I highly recommend this trail.
Palace of Holyroodhouse & the Abbey:
The palace is Queen Elizabeth’s official residence in Scotland. We did the tour with the headphones & it was great. There is plenty to see relating to many monarchs through the ages including Mary Queen of Scots and Bonnie Prince Charlie. The abbey is in ruins, but still magnificent to see.
The Royal Mile:
Much of what there is to see and do in Edinburgh is located somewhere along the Royal Mile. The Royal Mile is the stretch of streets that run between Edinburgh Castle & the Palace of Holyrood. Its ancient cobble stone streets are super cool! This is the area we spent most of our time. This is one place you can buy your tartan souvenirs (they make just about everything in plaid – seriously).
Hamilton & Young:
They have two stores along the Royal Mile. I bought a necklace there and it is one of my favorite souvenirs. They have a great selection of both Outlander inspired jewelry and Celtic jewelry. Plus, I got to take my picture with a Jamie cardboard cutout there! (Ok, if you aren’t familiar with Outlander…it’s a book & a show…I HIGHLY recommend you read the related post at the bottom).
Midhope Castle (aka Lallybroch):
A must see for any Outlander fan! It is not in Edinburgh. We stopped there on our way out of town headed north to Dingwall. We got tickets at the Hopetoun Farm Shop and they gave us directions from there to Midhope Castle. The show has gained popularity since we were there, but we were the only ones there on the day we went. You can’t go inside the castle, but can walk around and take pictures.
Where We Ate/Drank
Whiski Bar & Restaurant:
This is where we had our first whiskey flight and we ate there 2-3 times. I REALLY liked the Cullen Skink (it’s like a rich & creamy fish soup) and their fish and chips were good too. We also had our first taste of haggis here – not bad, but I haven’t missed it either.
Other:
I’ll admit, I did not take note of most of the places we ate. Most of the food was good. There really wasn’t much we didn’t like. We stuck with pubs and restaurants that served traditional Scottish foods. Most places serve fish & chips (which my husband ate almost daily while in Scotland) and we never tasted any that weren’t good. Also, steak pie is a popular and delicious dish. Don’t feel like you have to go somewhere fancy to get good food either. We had a steak pie at a little take-out place on the Royal Mile late one night and it rivaled all the others I tried (I ate several steak pies on our trip – YUM).
On to Dingwall
We headed up the A9 to the town of Dingwall. This was a beautiful drive. Unfortunately, it rained the whole drive so we didn’t get any great pictures – It is Scotland after all. The drive will take about 3 hours and 40 minutes (give or take).
Mistakes We Made
Palace of Holyroodhouse Exhibitions:
There is always an exhibit from the royal collection that you can add on to your ticket to see the palace. If you wait until late in the day to see the palace, you may not have the chance to see the exhibition – tickets and hours can be limited. So, if you want the option, make sure you get there early. We missed out on a collection when we were there.
Helpful Hints
I always like to read books about the history of the area I’m heading to and/or watch movies set in that place. I find that it really adds to my enjoyment and appreciation once I get there.
- Mary Queen of Scots: The True Story of Mary Stuart by John Guy. This book reads a little bit like a history book, but hang in there. Her life is so fascinating! Guy has done amazing research and used actual documents to paint one of the most factual depiction of the well know queen. There are so many things in this book that added to the wow factor of seeing both Palace of Holyroodhouse & Edinburgh Castle.
- Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. You can also watch the show, of course, but THE BOOK! My all-time favorite book and THE reason I went to Scotland. Gabaldon describes the scenery so well, I had to see it for myself. Outlander is the first in a series. Yes, I have read them all and I recommend you do too. Before you head to Scotland, you really must read at least the first two books: Outlander & Dragonfly in Amber.
Renting a Car
Make sure you check with your credit card provider to see if they will cover you while renting a car in Scotland (We use the Chase Sapphire Reserve). If they do, get them to send you a letter and take it with you on your trip. Otherwise, you will end up having to buy additional insurance which will cost you hundreds of extra dollars.
Heather…What’s in a Name?
Okay, this is one of the most embarrassing moments I’ve ever had on a trip. I was so excited to plan out trip at the perfect time of year to try and be there while the heather was in bloom. I had never seen heather and only read about it in Outlander, but I knew they were purple/pink flowers that covered the hillsides and it was beautiful. The excitement got the best of me.
As we walked up Arthur’s Seat, I was so excited to see those pinkish purple flowers, exclaiming “OH! Look at the heather!!!” and proceeded to take several pictures – happy as a lark!
Later, as we drove through Cairngorms National Park into the highlands and saw the hills covered with purple flowers (um, actually heather this time)…I figured out I had not seen heather before at all. I can’t imagine how idiotic I sounded on that trail to all who overheard me and knew better. They could have spoken up!
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Know Your Heather
Anyway, heather is easy to spot (once you know what you are looking for). It’s a short shrubby plant low to the ground with a bunch of small flowers and found mostly in the highlands. It comes in white (though rare) and a variety of shades of purple and pink. My husband will never let me live this one down – he exclaims delightedly “OH! Look at the heather!” every time we are driving down the road and see a bunch of pink or purple flowers.
CONTINUE TO PART 2…I have much more to share to help you plan your Scotland road trip!
Don’t miss these posts about Scotland as well!
- 17 Fun Facts About Scotland You Never Knew
- 3 Can’t Miss Places In Scotland
- Today’s Travel Advice – Read Outlander!
Until next time…
About The Author
My mission is to inspire and empower families to prioritize travel now, creating unforgettable memories and deeper connections with their loved ones.
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