🚗 PERFECT 10 Day Scotland Itinerary for a Road Trip in 2024

With a well-crafted route, 10 days in Scotland is just enough time to see most of the major highlights on every Scotland bucket list.

We explored Scotland by motorhome for over two fun and photo-filled weeks, seeking the most beautiful destinations while also making time to appreciate the culture and history.

This guide was created from our experience with the intention of providing a customizable itinerary to best match your interests, while also ensuring you maximize your time.

In our mind, the best Scotland road trip itinerary is one that prioritizes time and fuel-efficient routes, while still allowing a flexible schedule. That was our goal.

In this 10 day Scotland itinerary, you will learn the recommended travel routes, must-see stops, and all of the best things to do throughout the country, as well as general advice on logistics like where to stay and how to get around.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotland 10 Day Itinerary Overview

The locations you will visit and the time you will need for each on a 10 day road trip are broken down below.

The colors correspond to the accompanying map which shows the route and stops for each.

• Day 1-2: Edinburgh to Luss (1-2 Days) (blue)
• Day 3-4: Luss to Glencoe (2 Days) (green)
• Day 4-6 Isle of Skye (2-3 Days) (yellow)
• Day 7: Isle of Skye to Inverness (1 Day) (orange)
• Day 8-9: Inverness to Cairngorms National Park (2 Days) (pink)
• Day 10: Cairngorms National Park to Edinburgh (1 day) (purple)

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How to use this guide

10 days in Scotland is a lot of time, but not if you hope to see EVERYTHING.

Only you can decide how much ground you want to cover and at what pace you enjoy travelling!

This Scotland road trip itinerary is broken down by estimated days needed for each leg of your journey around the country.

Depending on how slowly you prefer to travel, you may have to skip some stops to allow yourself to truly enjoy your Scotland road trip the way you like to.

Conversely, those of you who prefer to stay in motion can add additional stops or even day trips.

Begin by studying the map and breakdown above in the Overview section. The bulk of this guide will provide all the stops along each route with photo inspiration.

As a note, we have not included the popular North Coast (NC500) route. For most, this is a journey of its own as it is simply too much to fit into a non-dedicated 10-day itinerary.

If your version of the best Scotland road trip features the NC500, we suggest altering the FOURTH LEG (orange pins above) on day 7 to drive from Eilean Donan Castle to Inverness via the north coast.

🏰 General tips for 10 days in Scotland

Download Google offline maps!

Though we had service in most of the country, we would have been completely lost with so many country roads during those spells of not having it.

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Travel the western region first!

The West Coast, Scottish Highlands, and Isle of Skye were the highlights for us, and you will want to make sure you have your schedule as open as possible for these regions.

If you save them for the end of your 10-day visit, you may find yourself running out of time when you wish you had it most!

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Make sure you understand the roads!

If you are not familiar with driving in the UK, read this guide to driving in Scotland!

There are many very small roads, and understanding the passing places and road etiquette will make for a much more enjoyable trip.

Also, be aware that it is common to encounter deer, sheep and other animals on the road in rural areas.

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Use restrooms when you see them!

We were surprised at how many of Scotland’s points of interest did not have facilities.

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Pack plenty of snacks!

This is an essential one for us as we both get hangry if we don’t have food!

While you will, of course, come across places where you can pick up food, no road trip is complete without snacks.

For Adam, this basically means chips and candy, for Sophie, this means plenty of healthy snacks!

🌿 10 days in Scotland road trip itinerary

Scotland is a dream destination for so many. It is, therefore, impossible to create perfect Scotland itineraries for everyone who will visit Scotland, as we are all unique in our interests and preferred pace.

For this guide, I have attempted to provide only the pertinent information on Scotland’s major points of interest, while providing some suggestions for time-efficient routes.

Instead of restricting your road trip itinerary to a rigid schedule, I will try to include all of the places you could visit and provide information that I would have found helpful for each stop. I’ve also included a suggested number of days for each leg of the journey, though this is entirely up to you.

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🏰 STARTING POINT: Edinburgh

The majority of visitors will begin their road trips in Edinburgh. It, therefore, made sense to begin this Scottish road trip with Edinburgh as our start and end-point!

It is an absolutely beautiful city and you’ll find plenty of things to see and do. We highly recommend spending at least one or two days in Edinburgh, either at the beginning or the end of your trip.

If you have more time, consider spending longer in the city and following this 3 days in Edinburgh itinerary.

Scottish people are the nicest people we have encountered anywhere in the world, and Edinburgh was just as friendly despite being a big city.

Beyond that, the architecture is incredible, the public transportation is easy to use, and Edinburgh Castle towering regally above the city creates some striking opportunities for street photography.

As well as visiting the must-see places such as Edinburgh Castle, take time to explore the city and discover some of the secret places in Edinburgh, including our favourite view of the city at the Vennel.

🏰 Day 1-2: Edinburgh to Luss

For nature and small-town lovers, such as ourselves, this is the route that we took and recommend! Luss is a charming old town tucked against the impressive Loch Lomond.

A direct drive from Edinburgh is less than two hours, but there are a lot of suggested stops in between…

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Stirling Castle

The city of Stirling itself had a quirky charm to it, but it’s the Stirling Castle standing tall on the hill behind the city that makes it special.

Just be ready to have “Castle on the Hill” stuck in your head for the rest of the day!

There are many views of Stirling Castle, but the best is from Wallace Monument where you can capture it with a telephoto lens set above the city and against the distant mountains.

Unfortunately, we didn’t learn of this view until after our visit, but we still enjoyed driving around the city in search of compositions.

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Loup of Fintry

A hidden gem seemingly known only to photographers is the surprisingly large waterfall at Loup of Fintry.

Finding the farmland trail can be very tricky as there is no signage for it, and you will begin your walk thinking “There is no way there’s a waterfall here,” but soon you will hear the sound of rushing water. What awaits is a very large waterfall in an idyllic country setting.

This spectacular waterfall is an incredible sunset destination! If photography is your goal, you may want to note this as a good end-of-day option.

It is worth noting that parking is extremely limited! Perhaps a couple of cars can squeeze in next to the trail, otherwise, you will have to do like we did and park about a half-mile down the road at the Todholes Car Park.

Even this is relatively limited, but we were able to park the motorhome here.

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Getting to Loup of Fintry

If you input Loup of Fintry into Google Maps, it will take you to what appears to be the middle of nowhere.

However, there is a trail sign here with a pedestrian access point over the farm fence. This is the trail you want!

We suggest routing for the Todholes Car Park and then routing to Loup of Fintry for the walk so you don’t accidentally pass the marker.

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Finnich Glen – The Devil’s Pulpit

Another little gem that has become increasingly popular (and still difficult to find) is the incredible Finnich Glen!

Blood-red water rushes through the vibrant green gorge, creating a very otherworldly scene. The Devil’s Pulpit is the location most photographers prefer, using the unique shape and small waterfall behind it to add some points of interest to the photograph.

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Getting to Devil’s Pulpit

The easiest way to access Finnich Glen is to park in the small gravel area where the B834 and A809 roads meet.

Assuming you came in on the B834, you will park and begin your walk by making a LEFT onto the A809 (heading south toward Craighat). There will be an obvious walking trail along the road.

You will come to a wooded gorge with an entry and signage for Finnich Glen (this shows as Carnock Burn on Google maps).

However, you will need to keep walking to the OTHER side of the water, where you will see another sign and entry point. This is the trail you will want. (You should be walking along the trail with the water to your LEFT, not your right.)

Eventually, you will come to some stone steps that take you down into the gorge.

This can be wet and slippery, so be sure to wear appropriate footwear and only attempt the climb down if you do not suffer from joint issues. It is not strenuous, but this portion can be challenging.

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Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park

As our 10-day Scotland road trip took place in the autumn, we spent some time chasing colourful foliage!

We were told that the autumn colours would be brilliant here, particularly in the Aberfoyle area and Queen Elizabeth Forest Park. Though it required a detour, we decided it was worth exploring as we had, thus far, been disappointed by the lack of colour.

To be honest, we were not overly impressed by the scenery of Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park, especially as the foliage had yet to turn.

We went for a bit of a drive through the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park debating a further voyage to Ben A’an, but decided the weather, small roads, and lack of photographic interest were reasons enough to save some precious time.

This is not to say that the national park is not worth exploring, but with only 10 days in Scotland, you will have to prioritize carefully and we wanted that extra time in our pocket for the Highlands and Isle of Skye!

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Ben A’an

We had the iconic Ben A’an viewpoint as a sunset destination on our road trip itinerary.

However, our options were to skip two castles that we really wanted to visit (Inveraray and Kilchurn) or sacrifice what would end up being a full day to visit Ben A’an.

With the weather relentlessly rainy, we opted to save the time and miles and head around Loch Lomond to Luss instead.

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Alternative Route: Edinburgh to Glasgow

For the city lovers, you can choose to skip the stops above in favour of spending the night in Glasgow.

From Edinburgh, you will have a 1.5-hour drive to Glasgow; a city paradoxically known as the murder capital of the United Kingdom, as well as Europe’s friendliest city!

Honestly, we loved our time in Glasgow and genuinely found the good nature of the Scottish to be on full display here. Never once did we feel unsafe, or even unwelcome.

With that said, personally, we were not as enchanted by the city of Glasgow as Edinburgh and would only recommend journeying through if your primary interest in travel is experiencing the major cities of the world.

10 days in Scotland may seem like plenty, but we can almost guarantee you will wish you had more time at the end!

From Glasgow, you can continue on to Luss and pick up the rest of the suggested road trip itinerary from there.

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Suggested stop: Cambusnethan Priory

If you do decide to visit Glasgow, and are planning on staying overnight there anyway, you may want to take M8 instead of the slightly-faster Northern route and allow a visit to Cambusnethan Priory on your way.

This 19th-century priory has all the feelings of a haunted house… and legend has it that it just might be!

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🏔 Day 3-4: Luss to Glencoe

If you are a landscape lover, make sure you schedule plenty of time for this portion of the road trip!

The Scottish Highlands and scenery en route to Glencoe are hands down the most beautiful part of the country, though its microclimate also makes it one of the most challenging in terms of weather.

Even in the relentless rain and cloud, the unique beauty of the highland mountains and lochs is unlike any landscape we’ve explored anywhere else in the world.

On the way to Glencoe, we would highly recommend taking a short detour to Inveraray Castle and Kilchurn Castle.

This will add about 45 minutes to your total journey time, but is absolutely worth it. On our top 20 list, these came in near the top for the best castles in Scotland.

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Inveraray Castle and Gardens

This was a special stop for two reasons. First, Inveraray Castle is one of those postcard-perfect, Disney-like castles you dream about seeing.

Second, this was the only time in our first week in Scotland that the rain let up and we saw some sunshine!

The town of Inveraray is quite nice in its own right and a great place to refuel and recharge. The castle is, of course, the highlight.

Tickets for the castle and gardens cost £16* or you can visit just the gardens for £8.50*.

If you (like us) just want to walk around the outside, then parking is a reasonable £5*.

Without buying a castle ticket, you can still access the front view of the castle, as well as the gift shop, tea room, and restrooms. You will not, however, have access to the immaculate gardens.

Behind the parking lot, you will find a field with highland cows happily eating away! This was our first encounter with highland cows, which were not as frequent as we expected, so you may want to take a moment to visit them while you are here.

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Kilchurn Castle

Though Kilchurn Castle is little more than ruins and scaffolding these days, it is a must-see for most visitors and photographers because of the stunning scenery that surrounds it.

Google will take you to the car park and walk-in entrance to the castle grounds. This is a short and easy walk that allows you to get right up next to the castle.

Many photographers prefer the view on the far side of Loch Awe, shooting back across the water and Kilchurn Castle. There are many laybys to park at on A819, but setting your destination for “Kilchurn Castle Panorama Viewpoint” is the easiest way to find *that* view.

Klilchurn Castle is an awesome spot for both sunrise and sunset, as the warm, angular light spills onto the landscape to create a spectacular scene.

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Drive to Glencoe (A82)

The road to Glencoe is simply too beautiful and loaded with viewpoints, lochs, and mountains to possibly name them all.

We would recommend a full day for this drive, maybe even two for the impassioned landscape photographers!

While we’re sure there are many amazing trails and hidden gems throughout the region, you will see a lot just from the road. Keep your eyes open and camera ready!

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Etive Mor Waterfall and Glen Etive Road

The one destination we have to mention by name as a can’t-miss stop on your Scotland road trip is the Etive Mor Waterfall.

While this is usually a fairly moderate cascade, it was absolutely thundering during our visit!

What makes this spot so special is Buachaille Etive Mor; the mountain that towers above the falls. Its unique shape and size, coupled with the majestic Etive Mor Waterfall, make for a stunning photo.

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Getting to Etive Mor Waterfall

To access this waterfall, you will turn on to Glen Etive road and park in the small area where Google Maps directs you to. Parking is EXTREMELY limited.

The walk itself is short but very, very muddy. The trail should be fairly obvious, just know that if you have crossed the bridge on your way, then you have gone past the trailhead.

After seeing the waterfall, be sure to drive some miles along the Glen Etive road as well. During our visit, there were literally dozens of waterfalls streaming down the sides of the mountains in every direction.

⭐️ Pro Tip: Glen Etive Road is known for being the most reliable place to see red deer so keep a lookout for these impressive animals!

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Meeting of the Three Waters

A roadside pull-off that you cannot possibly miss, the Meeting of the Three Waters is an impressive scene in the heart of the Glencoe drive where three channels of water collide. Parking can be limited.

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Three Sisters of Glencoe

They say good things come in threes!

Just after the Meeting of Three Waters, you will arrive at the last roadside pullout on your way to Glencoe; the Three Sisters of Glencoe viewpoint.

You will have no trouble finding this one, and it is absolutely worth a stop.

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Glencoe to Isle of Skye

Now we are arriving at the most famous region in all of Scotland, and a reputation that is well deserved!

The rest of the drive to the Isle of Skye was not overly impressive, especially after experiencing the road to Glencoe, but there were some beautiful autumn colours coming in as we neared the Skye bridge.

With that said, the most time-efficient route will be to take the ferry from Mallaig to Skye. Your other option is to drive, crossing at Kyle of Lochalsh. Being that the ferry is reasonably priced and an experience unto itself, most people select this option.

However you choose to travel, you will pass through Fort William. If you are partial to whisky then it’s worth stopping in here for a Scottish whisky tour at Ben Nevis distillery.

If you have more time and are a keen hiker, then you may also want to consider a detour to hike Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest peak at 1345m (4413 ft).

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Suggested Stop: Glenfinnan Viaduct

You’ve undoubtedly seen pictures of the magical, world-renowned Jacobite Steam Train aka the Harry Potter train by now.

These photos are captured at the Glenfinnan Viaduct, which will be on your way to the Mallaig ferry, or a slight detour for those driving to the Isle of Skye.

In order to truly be the best Scotland road trip itinerary, this stop needs to be on your route!

The most important thing to know about photographing or riding the famous Jacobite Steam Train at Glenfinnan is that it does not run often, and varies seasonally.

The best thing to do is check the website for times.

⭐️ Pro tip: While you can catch the train on its return journey in the afternoon, the morning photos will be much better. When it returns, the front of the train will be backwards, facing the rest of the train. This takes away a lot of the photographic appeal.

📸 Day 4-6: The Isle of Skye

It’s hard for a place with such a big reputation as the Isle of Skye to live up to expectations, but somehow, ours were still exceeded!

The Isle of Skye is the BEST place to visit in Scotland when it comes to photography (with apologies to Glencoe).

Even if photography isn’t your thing, the views here are truly breathtaking and it is an absolute must during your 10 days in Scotland!

Be prepared to spend at least 3 full days on the Isle of Skye if you plan on doing it all, especially if you want to do a couple of sunrise/sunset hikes.

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Map: Isle of Skye driving route

The map below shows the most time and fuel-efficient route for checking off all the major highlights.

However, we chose to take some extra time here to make sure we not only saw everything but were there at the best time for photography.

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Sligachan Bridge

The Isle of Skye comes to a crossroads in the small village of Sligachan.

Before deciding which corner of the island to cover first, take some time to explore the scene near the Sligachan bridge.

The Black Cuillin mountains provide a stunning backdrop for the traditional stone bridge.

From here, you can either head northeast toward Portree and the iconic Old Man of Storr, or northwest toward Neist Point.

If you are hoping to cover the NC500 route as part of your 10 days in Scotland, you should consider skipping Neist Point and the northwestern peninsula altogether. While we enjoyed some of the stops in the region, this was definitely not the most impressive area of Skye.

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Northeastern Peninsula

Without a doubt, the Northeastern Peninsula is the treasure trove of Skye.

Some of the most impressive landscapes, waterfalls, and overall scenery in all of Scotland are found in this remote region.

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Storr (and The Old Man of Storr)

The Old Man of Storr is a geographic wonder and is one of the most photographed locations in all of Scotland, and for good reason.

Rather than speak to its beauty, we’ll let the photos speak for themselves. Suffice to say, it is well worth the gruelling hike, especially at sunrise!

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Hiking Old Man of Storr

The first thing to know before tackling the hike is that, at a normal pace, it is a 45-60 minute, steep climb to the most popular viewing area. Not only is the hike steep, but it can also be very, VERY muddy.

The only thing to note before beginning the hike is that you need to stay right at every loop and trail fork to walk the most direct route to the iconic view, looking back across the Old Man.

The first half of the trail is gravel and manageable, but once you cross the fence it quickly turns into a steep ascent. The trail also begins to branch off into various loops, all of which are worth a wander, but the route to the right is the direct path up.

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Parking at Old Man of Storr

Parking is plentiful, but even still can become hectic, especially during peak season. There is a parking area that is free, but it will be full by sunrise. Metered roadside parking is available and affordable.

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Lealt Falls

After leaving Storr and travelling north, your next stop will be Lealt Falls viewpoint.

It is not the most impressive waterfall, but there is no hike and parking is easy, so it’s worth the stop.

If you have a drone, you’ll be able to get a much better view than from the platform.

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Brother’s Point

A 45-minute walk through farmland takes you to a beautiful section of the coast called Brother’s Point.

This is a nice place for sunrise, but if you have only 10 days in Scotland, we would recommend visiting Brother’s Point whenever it happens to be convenient.

It is very pretty, but not as grand as some of the other sunrise destinations in Skye.

Like most in Scotland, expect a very muddy trail.

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Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls

Mealt Falls feels like a waterfall at the end of the world!

A massive cascade spills over a sheer rock edge, plummeting directly into the ocean below. It is easily one of the most breathtaking waterfalls in Europe.

Parking is plentiful and free, and this stop will be on your natural route around the Isle of Skye anyway!

The best light comes during the golden hours if you are lucky enough to get some natural light here.

If you have a drone, make sure you have at least one battery charged! This was one of our favourite places to fly as the view was very limited from the ground.

It is possible to get to the bottom of the falls during low tide, but we never figured out how.

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The Needle – Quiraing

This almost slipped under our radar, but we are so grateful we learned of it because it ended up being our favourite sunrise destination in all of our 10 days in Scotland!

As you can see from the photo, it is a spectacular, dramatic scene that really comes to life at sunrise.

If you wish to make the hike, be prepared for a strenuous, steep walk that takes about an hour.

To find the correct parking lot, make sure you have entered “The Quiraing Car Park” into your Google Maps. If you only type “Quiraing”, you will end up somewhere in town and not at the trail.

This can be a difficult viewpoint to find in the dark for those brave enough to shoot sunrise, but the trail is fairly obvious for most of the walk.

Even if you do not make the final climb up, the views throughout the hike are gorgeous, especially during the golden hours of sunrise and sunset.

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Fairy Glen & Castle Ewan

The Fairy Glen is perhaps the most aptly named destination you will encounter on the Isle of Skye.

Rolling green hills sprout out of nowhere, dressed in the autumn-red fern of the isle. We absolutely loved the Fairy Glen and its strange, otherworldly feel.

The main “feature” of Fairy Glen is a geographical curiosity called Castle Ewan. From a distance, you may confuse this rock shape for old castle ruins.

You are able to climb to the top of this fairly easily by taking the path from the car park. As always, it can be very muddy.

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The Stones at Fairy Glen

You may see stones placed within the circular feature at the base of Castle Ewan. These have been put here primarily by tour groups after they created stories about leaving a stone for good luck.

This is not a local tradition but is actually something that local people are working hard to prevent. Moving rocks is damaging to the landscape and can be dangerous to livestock. Please just enjoy the beauty of the area without altering it.

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Getting to Fairy Glen

The most fuel-efficient route from Quiraing is via a very small road that cuts across the peninsula to Uig.

However, we would NOT recommend this route in an oversized vehicle; we attempted the drive from Uig to Quiraing and had to turn back very quickly. Instead, take the route the buses go, circling the north of the peninsula.

Driving a motorhome or oversized vehicle here is very difficult, and parking it is nearly impossible without a lot of luck!

If you want to visit and are in a motorhome, you may be best off coming near sunrise when you will have the road and parking lot to yourself.

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Northwestern Peninsula

After leaving the Fairy Glen and Castle Ewan, you can shortcut over to the northwestern Peninsula at the small village of Borve.

There are not a ton of stops in this region, which is why we suggest assessing the available days you have left at this point and deciding if you feel ahead of, or behind, schedule.

Note: This will largely depend on whether or not you plan on including the NC500 (North Coast 500) route to your 10-day Scotland travel itinerary.

Have a look at the photos below and make the choice for yourself; personally, we likely would have skipped this section, as well as the Fairy Pools, and made an attempt at the North Coast instead if we could do it again!

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Dunvegan Castle

A beautiful castle and on your way to Neist Point, Dunvegan Castle was originally constructed in the 13th century but was remodelled in a medieval style in the 1800s.

If the tide is in, there is a great shot to be had looking back across Loch Dunvegan toward the castle.

Parking is free and plentiful, but admission to the castle and gardens is £16* for adults or £14* for a garden-only ticket.

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Coral Beach

A short detour from Dunvegan Castle delivers you to a little slice of white sand paradise in the least expected place!

Coral Beach is a favourite destination for locals, and is still relatively off the radar for tourists.

If you have made it to this part of Skye and the weather is nice, it’s worth poking in for a walk to the beach.

However, the road in and out is rather small and the walk to the beach from the parking area is about 25 minutes each way, and just over two miles return.

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Neist Point Lighthouse

If you have made the journey to this remote region of the Isle of Skye, you have likely come seeking sunset photos at the Neist Point Lighthouse.

You can walk down to the lighthouse itself, but the photos you will usually see are from the cliffs to the right of the trail. You’ll notice some various boards and tires creating a rough sort of mud crossing just past the small shop; this is the trail.

The best time to visit Neist Point Lighthouse is at sunset, and photographers will likely want to stick around for the blue hour as well.

It is also worth noting that there are no restroom facilities here, and the road in is very small for large vehicles.

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Fairy Pools

The Fairy Pools are the second most popular destination on the Isle of Skye, following Storr.

While it is free to visit the Fairy Pools, you will need to pay for parking here. There is a large car park and a parking attendant who collects fees. Parking here costs £6* for a car or £8* for a motorhome/large vehicle.

There are also toilets in the car park.

From the car park, you can take the trail to the Fairy Pools, which is essentially a series of small cascades and rock pools set against the Black Cuillin mountains. The trail can actually be taken all the way to Sligachan, but most of us will just walk a mile, maybe two, then turn around.

While the Fairy Pools present some neat compositions for photos, they were a bit disappointing when compared to the grandeur of Glencoe, which was a similar but more impressive landscape.

They are absolutely worth a visit if you have the time to spare, but this is one of those place where we liked the photos better than the experience.

We walked all the way to the base of the mountains and found that the falls get smaller and smaller and the views less impressive the further on you journey.

We have seen some neat photos at sunrise or sunset, but unless you really get some sky fire you won’t be able to capture much colour in your frame. This is one of the few stops where daytime lighting may be best.

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🏔 Day 7: Isle of Skye to Inverness

While there are certainly many other places worth exploring on the Isle of Skye, 10 days in Scotland only allowed time for the highlights.

As we had elected to spend the majority of our time in Glencoe and the Isle of Skye, we were relegated to skip the NC500 and take a more direct line to Inverness.

There are many good blogs on the NC500 route, but this travel itinerary does not include that route.

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Eilean Donan Castle

If you decided to drive to Skye instead of taking the ferry, you will have already passed Eilean Donan Castle on your way in. However, you may want to save it for your way out, as it will be on your way to Inverness.

Eilean Donan Castle is definitely the most photographed castle in all of Scotland and is maybe the best. It technically took second on our list of the best castles in Scotland, but we captured a lot more photos here.

When the tide is in, the castle is isolated on a small island surrounded by water. It is accessible via a long stone bridge, which compliments the aesthetic nicely.

There is no wrong time to visit this castle! In fact, we strongly recommend doing what we did and arriving for sunset, staying until the lights come on after dark, and sleeping nearby to visit again at sunrise.

If you happen to be lucky with the conditions, the photos you take home from Eilean Donan castle will certainly be some of the best of your 10 days in Scotland!

There is a restroom, cafe, and facilities on site that are available during opening times.

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Plodda Falls

This gorgeous waterfall is just a slight detour on your way to Inverness, but looks like one of the nicer ones in Scotland.

As we had fallen behind schedule and have seen a LOT of waterfalls throughout our travels, we chose to give it a miss and save time, but you should at least have it on your Scotland road trip map.

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Urquhart Castle and Loch Ness

The most famous name in all of Scotland belongs to Loch Ness, due primarily to the folklore that surrounds it.

“Loch” simply means lake in the native Scottish Gaelic and were it not for the mythological monster known as Nessie, you likely wouldn’t think twice about visiting Loch Ness.

However, the allure of the folklore brings tourists in droves, which the local community has capitalised on.

As for the scenery, the lake drive is sort of pretty, especially in the fall, but the only item that really makes the itinerary is Urquhart Castle which sits at its base.

As Urquhart Castle is on your most natural route to Inverness, you may as well stop in. Tickets cost £13* online or £14.50* as a walk-up.

At this point, the castle is little more than some old stone ruins in a fairly pretty setting. We personally wouldn’t spend much time here, but you may as well peek over the fence and give it a gander, or pay the admission and visit if you have good weather and love what you see.

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Inverness

The unofficial capital of the Highlands, Inverness felt like a big city (and it is by highland standards), but it is only the 13th most populated city in Scotland.

Still, you should expect a big city feeling complete with any chain and retail stores one might expect to find.

We found metered parking near Bellfield Park and paid for 2 hours, which was plenty of time to do the river walk to Inverness Castle and explore a bit of the city center.

All in all, we liked the city and the general vibe we got while exploring, but we were more interested in allowing time for some of the remaining stops on my itinerary. Two hours felt like plenty us!

🚘 Day 8-9: Inverness to Cairngorms National Park

We are now entering what we call “the castle stretch.” Having just left Inverness, most of the stops remaining on our 10-day road trip itinerary are remote castles.

If traditional Scottish castles do not hold great appeal to you, you may want to spend your extra time on the North or East coasts instead.

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Cawdor Castle and Gardens

Just a short drive away from Inverness resides the beautiful 600-year-old Cawdor Castle. As it is still used as a family home, it is only open seasonally from 10am to 5pm from the end of April until the beginning of October.

If you are visiting during these times, it is well worth the stop. However, if not, then you will unfortunately not be able to see this impressive castle.

Tickets cost £14.50* for entrance to the castle and gardens or £8* for just the gardens.

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Brodie Castle

After seeing photos of Brodie Castle, we almost skipped it as it looked rather plain and blocky. However, there was something kind of unique and magical about this fortress-like structure when we saw it in person.

We arrived after closing, which meant we couldn’t enter the castle itself, but we were free to roam the grounds. It was very quiet and allowed some opportunities to get creative with compositions, which is perhaps why we liked it so much.

Most times of the year, Brodie Castle is just a quick stop. However, spring visitors will definitely want to budget some extra time here as it receives new life this time of year when over 100 varieties of daffodils carpet the scene!

For those that wish to visit the castle, tickets are £12*.

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Elgin

The city of Elgin was a pleasant surprise and a place we definitely recommend including on your Scotland road trip.

It’s hard to explain what it was that we liked so much, except that it felt like the “perfect sized” city. It was bigger than we expected, but still very walkable, with lots of bars, restaurants, and cafes.

We included Elgin on our Scotland itinerary because we had a specific Halloween photo in mind, using the Elgin Cathedral and graveyard as a spooky sort of night scene. Unfortunately, the cathedral is gated shut from 5pm, meaning we suddenly had a free night!

The city itself is highly photogenic, especially at night, and also has some awesome fall foliage in Cooper Park.

If you are in the mood for an affordable night out, we went to The Muckle Cross for both dinner and breakfast! The building itself is a historical site, the ambiance is nice, and, being a Wetherspoons, the beer, coffee and meal prices are a great value.

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Detour Option: Bow Fiddle Rock

Bow Fiddle Rock is an interesting sea stack on the northeast coast of Scotland. In addition to being a popular tourist attraction, it is also an important place for nesting sea birds. You can also spot bottlenose dolphins and porpoises feeding around the base of it.

Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to stop here but we recommend checking out some photos and seeing if it’s something you feel is worth including in your Scotland road trip itinerary!

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Cairngorms National Park

Most tours of Scotland will take you to Aberdeen via the east coast route.

In our opinion, however, the best Scotland road trip itinerary cuts through Cairngorms National Park.

During the summer months, the coast may have some appeal, but Cairngorms National Park is a must-see destination during the autumn season. The fall colours are incredible, the castles are magical, and there is a plethora of wildlife that resides here.

We cannot say for certain if it was just that our time in the Cairngorms coincided with peak foliage, or if this region simply has the best fall colour. But, we can say for certain is that it was pure autumn magic!

Below are a list of castles in the park, but we would advise you to go for walks anywhere you see an opportunity that looks pretty. We pulled off at some random laybys chasing the autumn leaves and happened upon a lot of stunning natural beauty in locations that certainly wouldn’t be on any sort of tourist trail.

The Cairngorms National Park is a great place to get lost and was a highlight of our 10 days in Scotland road trip.

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Castle Fraser

While we had blue skies for much of the morning, the weather turned just as we arrived at Castle Fraser.

Even in the moody Scotland rain, the castle and grounds were picture perfect. While our photos from here do not rank at the top of the list, it was one of the castles we enjoyed the most in person.

Parking is plentiful but comes at a small fee. Be sure to explore the surrounding gardens and forest walks, keeping a keen eye out for red squirrels and red deer.

For those who wish to explore the castle itself, tickets cost £15.50*.

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Craigievar Castle

We absolutely loved Craigievar Castle! Its pastel pink walls, slender shape, and general aesthetic makes it look so out of place compared to the more traditional castles you will have travelled to so far.

It is even rumoured to be the inspiration for Disney’s Cinderella castle!

Craigievar Castle is owned by the National Trust of Scotland, meaning there is a small, metered fee to park, restroom facilities, and another fee to enter.

We arrived for sunrise before the castle was open, so entering was not an option. The good news was that we had the place all to ourselves to snap some pictures of Sophie doing her best princess impression.

If you don’t plan on entering the castle, you won’t need more than an hour here.

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Kincardine Castle

This beautiful home was not included in any of the blogs and guides we read when researching what to do in Scotland, so we’re grateful we stumbled across it by chance.

Kincardine Castle is the home of Andrew Bradford and his wife, Nicola. Because it is a private residence, castle tours are not an option, meaning you can really only see it from the roadside, or by attending an event there.

Even without being able to access the castle, we loved the way it looked against the fall colours from the road and felt like that was the best vantage point for photos anyway.

We had the good fortune of meeting Andrew whilst taking photos and promised him we would make sure to include a few things about visiting the castle: most notably, you are not allowed on the grass!

You can access the private road on foot and view the castle from there, but by no means are you allowed to have a picnic.

We can only imagine how much of his days are spent with strangers poking around, having picnics, and even peeking through windows. Please don’t be one of those people.

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Balmoral Castle

Balmoral Castle is potentially the most picturesque, idyllic castle in all of the UK; certainly in Scotland.

It is one of the many homes of the Royal Family, which makes accessing the castle impossible without booking a tour.

Unfortunately for us, the Queen was actually staying there during my 10 days in Scotland, so I was unable to see the castle at all.

If you would like to visit Balmoral, be sure to book your tickets ahead of time and plan accordingly; the castle tour is among the most popular of the Scotland tours available, and books out well in advance.

For more information, including tour times and prices, visit their website.

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Braemar Castle

Were Braemar Castle not on your way back to Edinburgh anyway, we might suggest skipping it. You can see from the photos how unusual it is, but that was where the appeal seemed to end.

In our opinion, the best castles are either in the prettiest setting, such as Eilean Donan and Kilchurn mentioned above, and/or are just fairytale-like, well-preserved structures, such as Craigievar Castle. Braemar was neither of those things.

Don’t get us wrong, you may as well stop and have a look on your way out of Cairngorms National Park as it will not add any time to your journey, but we wouldn’t budget much time for Braemar Castle.

🍁 Day 10: Cairngorms National Park to Edinburgh

We are now onto the home stretch!

At this point, many of you will likely be running low on energy! You will have already seen so many beautiful castles, landscapes, and met so many wonderful Scottish people, that you’ll be ready to get out of the rain and mud and just relax.

With that said, here are few more castles you could visit on your way back to Edinburgh, if you have the desire.

The one you should not miss if time permits is Dunalastair Castle. It is a rare opportunity to see an incredible abandoned castle left to the be reclaimed by nature.

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Blair Castle

We opted not to visit Blair Castle but it is worth considering it as it will be on your natural route back to Edinburgh and it looks quite impressive.

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Dunalastair Castle

Despite being only the remains of a castle, Dunalastair Castle was our favourite castle in Scotland. There is something so spooky and haunted about this dilapidated old building that we found enchanting.

Part of it, surely, was that nature has started to encroach on the building and reclaim it, meaning it is tucked away into the trees.

Surrounded by the autumn foliage, this made for quite a scene!

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Getting to Dunalastair Castle

Visiting Dunalastair Castle can be pretty tricky, so you may want to take careful notes on how to visit.

The castle is part of a larger estate and is located up a private driveway. The driveway is open to pedestrians, but not to vehicles. There is also no parking available, which is why this can be a bit difficult to get to.

Google Maps will take you to the driveway, but you will find the only nearby parking about half a mile BEFORE the driveway.

It will be a layby that is separated from the road and has room for about 5 cars by our estimate. Park here, walk back to the driveway, and once on the driveway, stay right until you arrive at the castle.

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Atholl Palace Hotel

We were pretty exhausted as we drove the final stretch back to Edinburgh and had already seen too many castles to bother with one more.

However, we first saw Atholl Palace Hotel as we drove past it on the dual carriageway and it was so impressive that we had to stop and shoot it from the side of the road.

If you have the time, it looks like a beautiful place to stay and would be the perfect end to 10 days in Scotland.

🚐 Choosing a vehicle for your Scotland Itinerary

Perhaps the biggest consideration you will have when planning a road trip to Scotland is the type of vehicle you chose.

After all, this one decision will impact your accessibility, costs, speed, and most of all, your comfort!

During our 10 days in Scotland in October, it rained for eight of them, as well as another three days before and after. Having a comfortable place to cook, work, and dry out made a world of difference in my experience.

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10 days in Scotland road trip by Motorhome

We have always praised campervans as the best way to travel as they provide accommodation, transportation, and liberation all in one. However, we chose to travel Scotland by motorhome instead, and it may have been the best decision I made.

You may find this guide on the difference between campervans and motorhomes useful when deciding which to go for!

Who should choose a motorhome:

• UK drivers
• Large groups
• Comfort-minded travelers

Who should NOT choose a motorhome:

• Summer visitors
• Anyone who is not confident/experienced driving in the UK

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Our Scotland Road Trip by Motorhome Experience

After weighing the cost and reputation, we decided to reach out to Spaceships UK to discuss the options. We were eventually swayed by them to consider our first-ever motorhome road trip in lieu of a campervan!

The reason we made the switch was that we were assured that we would not be limited by the small country roads. Also, the fuel efficiency was comparable to all but the smallest campervans, and the Scottish weather forecast called for a LOT of rain.

In all honesty, we almost asked to switch vehicles after our first day of driving. As photographers, we’re used to being able to pull off quickly to take roadside images, even if it is just live parking somewhere.

Additionally, turning around was a near impossibility on those small Scottish country roads. Adjusting to the large size and all the switches, dials, and gadgets certainly took some getting used to; they don’t call it a Spaceship for nothing!

However, once we got used to the size and started to understand all the different tank levels and such, we found ourselves embracing the freedom it provided!

True, roadside photos took a bit of a hit, but I was able to access all of the stops I had on my map without exception.

Parking would likely have been a major nightmare in the more popular months, but it was no problem at all as my Scotland road trip took place in October.

We absolutely recommend a motorhome if you are planning a road trip during off-peak seasons, and loved our experience with Spaceships UK.

They were incredibly helpful in planning our trip, and having 24/7 live online support saved us on many nights as we dealt with the motorhome learning curve.

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10 days in Scotland road trip by Campervan

While the motorhome would be our recommendation for the spring and fall seasons, we definitely missed a few things about road tripping in a camper van. Namely, the manoeuvrability!

Who should choose a camper van:

• Summer visitors
• Budget travelers
• Die-hard photographers

Who should NOT choose a camper van:

• Visitors with a priority on comfort
• Visitors with longer than 10 days in Scotland

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Travelling Scotland by campervan or motorhome provides all of the same advantages, but have some distinct disadvantages.

If you are travelling during the summer, for example, finding parking and dealing with traffic in an oversized vehicle may be a bit of a nightmare. The passionate photographers may also find themselves frustrated by a complete inability to make impromptu stops or turn around.

A campervan is a great option for road trippers who don’t mind small spaces and want the ability to sleep nearby to shooting locations, but anyone spending more than 7 days in Scotland should consider a motorhome.

You should expect at least SOME rain, if not a LOT of rain, almost any time of year. As most camper vans don’t have room to cook inside, this can be a huge problem.

Furthermore, most of the destinations we visited did not have restroom facilities, which is another problem for the majority of camper vans.

Beyond this, spending up to a week in muddy, soggy discomfort is one thing, but eventually, the rain and slog will become impossible to keep out of the van and begin to affect your experience.

Spaceships does offer the Voyager Camper Van, which is perhaps the perfect compromise between size and comfort. It offers the space to sit and eat inside, sufficient cover outside for preparing meals, and is still small enough to turn around easily.

This may have been our first choice had they been available, but we were honestly happy to have the motorhome after my first 5 days of perpetual rain and mud!

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10 days in Scotland road trip by car

Of course, you always have the more traditional option of doing your Scotland road trip by car!

You will save some money upfront in rental fees and fuel costs, though you will undoubtedly be spending significantly more on accommodation.

Still, this may be the best option for those of you who are not comfortable driving a larger vehicle, nor have the need to be on-location for sunrises and sunsets.

Who should choose a car:

• Casual tourists
• Foreign drivers
• Non-photographers

Who should NOT choose a car:

• Anyone who knows the van life is for them!

Not much needs to be said here. If you are not comfortable driving a large vehicle in a foreign country, stick to a compact.

If you prefer hotels or B&Bs and don’t mind being confined to a preset schedule based on reservations, then this is the way to go!

Or alternatively, look into staying in a highland bothy for a unique Scotland adventure.

When considering renting a car in Europe, ensure that your policy allows you to take the car on ferries for this itinerary!

☀️ When to spend 10 days in Scotland

When planning your Scotland road trip, choosing the right time to visit can make all the difference.

Each season provides distinct advantages and disadvantages. You should, therefore, carefully consider the type of Scottish holiday you are hoping for to ensure you have an amazing experience.

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Visiting Scotland in Late-April/May

These are perhaps the best months to schedule your 10 day Scotland road trip.

Pros:

• Driest time of the year
• Moderate temperatures
• Wildflowers
• Potentially even some snow-dusted peaks still lingering
• Perfect 12 hour days
• Some great UK hotel deals during shoulder season!

Cons:

• April can still be very wet and muddy. Mid-to-late May is considered the best time of year to visit.

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Visiting Scotland in June/July/August

These summer months are the most popular time to visit Scotland, and with good reason.

However, this also means that you’ll be sharing the beauty of Scotland with many others, which can create some challenges.

Pros:

• The hottest time of the year, with an average of 19°c (66°f)
• Somewhat reliable weather (it is still Scotland, however)
• Lots of festivals and activities to attend
• Longest days of the year (with summer solstice logging just shy of 19 hours of daylight!)

Cons:

• Large crowds
• Busy parking lots
• Limited accommodation
• Longest days (not so good for photographers who will find little time for sleep between sunrise and sunset, not to mention harsh overhead light throughout their holiday!)
• Lots of mosquitoes and midges (pack plenty of insect repellent!)

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Visiting Scotland in September/October

The autumn season is arguably the best time for trips to Scotland.

Pros:

• The weather begins to cool slightly, while remaining tolerable
• Roads remain open
• Incredible colors of autumn burst to life! It was the fall colors that I was after when I arranged my 10 day Scotland itinerary.
• Smaller crowds
• Daily rainbows
• Manageable parking lots

Cons:

• Torrential rain occurs frequently
• Frequent clouds blocked most of the light during sunrise and sunset.

🍁 Note on autumn colours: Of course, it is impossible to predict the exact week of peak foliage. Typically, the leaves start to change beginning the first week of October, with the colors starting to fade after the first frost toward the end of the month.

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Visiting Scotland in November-March

Like many places, winter is perhaps the toughest time to schedule your road trip in Scotland.

Pros:

• Stunning snowy scenery
• Less crowds

Cons:

• Many roads may be closed
• Weather can be brutal
• Many attractions will be closed

🤫 Final thoughts on Our 10 days in Scotland Itinerary

While it is possible to cover a lot of ground in 10 days in Scotland, there’s always more to see!

We hope you have found this 10-day road trip itinerary helpful, but we’re always looking to improve it!

Please feel free to leave constructive feedback in the comments, and please share with friends who are planning their own trips to Scotland!

Don’t forget to check out our other blog posts on Scotland to help you plan the perfect Scottish vacation:

• 2 Day Isle of Skye Trip from Edinburgh
• Top 10 Isle of Skye Photography Destinations
• Top 20 Best Castles in Scotland
• An Unforgettable Overnight Stay in a Scottish Castle
• Best Things to Do in York

Finally, feel free to browse our Scotland professional photography gallery for prints and inspiration ?

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