Fàilte gu Alba - welcome to Scotland!

If you might be extending your trip in Scotland a little bit we hope these tips will help you get the best of your time. Generally we'd recommend travelling after our wedding, as more things will be open in the month of April as better weather begins.

1-2 Days | 3-4 Days | 5 days - a week +

A wee jaunt

St. Andrews (public transport friendly, 1 day): Cherith & many of our wedding guests’ alma mater! A beautiful, historic seaside town, and the home of golf. Beaches are absolutely gorgeous if its a nice day, but great shopping & history if it’s a little dreich. 

How to get here: Train to Leuchars from Edinburgh Waverly (1 hour) and either a 5 minute taxi (they’re always at the station) or a 15 minute bus into town. 

Where to eat & drink: Janettas ice cream | Balgove Larder - great steak | Tail End fish & chips | The Seafood Restaurant - best view in town

What to do: St. Andrews Castle | West Sands beach | St. Rules Tower | St. Salvatore's & the Quad (visit the 3rd oldest university in the English speaking world... and according to reliable sources, the very best).

Stirling (public transport friendly, 1 day): One of the finest castles in Scotland is in Stirling, sweet places to eat, drink and shop, and smallest distillery in Scotland if you fancy it. 

How to get here: Train to Stirling from Edinburgh Waverly (1 hour)

Where to eat & drink: Brea - classic Scottish food | Darnley Coffee House for a delicious lunch 

What to do: Stirling Castle | Stirling Distillery for gin & whisky | or hop in a car and see the site of the Battle of Bannockburn 

Trossachs / Loch Lomond (car preferable / public transport friendly, 1-2 days): If you want a little taste of Scottish scenery, but you don’t have a long time to spend, go to the Trossachs, for lochs, (small) mountains and views galore. 

How to get here: if you’re driving this is a 2 hour, beautifully scenic drive - and this gives you the flexibility to hike any of the nearby munros (mountains over 3,000ft). If you’re using public transport, you’ll get the train to Glasgow (1 hour) and then to Balloch (1 hour). We’d recommend spending some time in Glasgow if you do this, as it’s a wonderful city with probably the best food scene in Scotland. 

Where to eat & drink: there are options throughout the Trossachs, but if you’ve come by public transit stick to Balloch so you’re near the station. You can go Michelin at Loma at Cameron House Hotel | or gastropub at Balloch House.

What to do: If you’re driving, go to Loch Katrine, hire a bike or get the steamboat across the loch (and you’ll be reliving some of Cherith’s favourite childhood holidays) | Kilchurn Castle (again best by car, but one of the most picturesque castles you’ll ever see) | Loch Lomond (you have to!) | Conic Hill for an easy and beautiful hike (but there are many options in the Trossachs)

Aff for a dander

Oban & Mull | (public transport friendly), 3-4 days: The most accessible trip to the Scottish Isles is one over to Mull, and to iconic village Tobermory. From there you can take sea trips to the Treshnish Isles, where you can see outstanding natural beauty (Staffa) and nature (Lunga). Cannot recommend more highly, but weather dependent (high winds will call the boat off).  If you do take a car, or hire local taxis (must be booked in advance), you can make your own pilgrimage to Iona, the birthplace of Celtic Christianity. If you have a car, on your way there or way back, make sure to stop at Kilmartin Glen, to see a colossal Neolithic and Bronze Age site with over 350 ancient monuments and standing stones, and the site where Scotland’s kings once were crowned. Unmissable. 

How to get here: Public transport - train from Edinburgh to Glasgow (1 hour); train from Glasgow to Oban (3 hours); ferry from Oban to Mull (45 minutes); taxi or bus to Tobermory (20/30 minutes). We recommend stopping off in Oban properly (or even spending a night there) as it’s a totally beautiful seaside town, with Jab’s favourite ever fish and chips. 

Where to eat + drink: in Oban - Oban Fish & Chip Shop, for incredibly fresh, absolutely delicious fish & chips

In Mull -  The Glass Barn, Tobermory (pick up some Isle of Mull cheese too) | Cafe Fish, Tobermory | The Mishnish, Tobermory | Isle of Mull Ice Cream | Tobermory

What to do: Staffa & Treshnish Isles Widlife Tour | Tobermory Distillery | Isle of Mull Farm, Dairy & Distillery Tour | visit Iona | Kilmartin Glen

A Taste of the Highlands & Loch Ness (Car Needed, or look for bus tours), 3-4 days: Make your way to the Cairngorm National Park, stopping off in Aviemore, surrounded by mountains and lochs - ideal for hiking. Continue on your way north, stopping at Clava Cairns, a Bronze Age tomb cairn. Stay in Inverness. Spend a day heading by water or car to Urquhart Castle, and whatever you do, don’t miss the Loch Ness boat tours, where you can try your hand at spotting the Monster in the water. 

If you’re driving, you could squeeze in a trip to Skye on this trip, but NB that it rewards a little more time (so would suggest spending at least one night on the island, which you will need to book in advance, there are not many places to stay)

How to get here: At a stretch, you could do some of this with a lot of different trains, but we would recommend driving. Edinburgh - Inverness is straightforward by train (3 1/2 hours) alternatively, if you'd just like to see the loch and go Nessie hunting.

Where to eat + drink: in Aviemore - the Old Bridge Inn 

in Inverness - Rocpool, for fine dining | River House for a view of the water and relaxed dining

What to do: Urquhart Castle | Loch Ness Boat trip | Inverness Castle | Clava Cairns | Culloden Battlefield

Awa wi’ it 

Highlands & Islands | (car strongly recommended, public transport can only take you so far), 5 days + . Everyone who comes to Scotland wants to go to Skye - it is consequently the most touristed island in Scotland (and we have more than 750!). We’d always encourage people to think of other islands (Harris, Lewis, Mull, Arran, Barra) too, as you might have a better experience. But if Skye is a must-do for you, here is an itinerary we’d suggest! Please NB - Skye is hard to navigate if you don’t have a car, although you can get there by train (the stop is Kyle of Localsh). We’d also recommend booking your accommodation in advance, as there are not many places to stay on the island. 

Travel from Edinburgh to Oban, via Glasgow, and spend the night here. This train or car trip takes you through the Trossachs, and is absolutely beautiful. Finish up with some great fish & chips (tips further up!). Alternatively, you could drive a bit further north, and spend the night at Fort William, at the foot of Ben Nevis (the UK’s highest mountain, and a great - and manageable - hike, if that’s your thing). 

Travel from Oban or Fort William to the Isle of Skye - we’d recommend going to Mallaig, and getting the ferry over from there (you can take your car!). You will likely stay the night in Portree. This route can take you through Glencoe, to Kichurn Castle and the Glenfinnan Viaduct, all of which we’d recommend. 

Spend at least one full day in Skye, and ideally more to make the most of this wonderful island! Car will be most helpful for this portion. 

When travelling back, drive across the Skye Bridge past Eilean Donan Castle (recommended to at least see, or visit), and either make your way back the way you came, or drive over to Inverness, spending the night before heading back south. This will give you an absolutely beautiful drive throughout Scotland. 

Where to eat + drink: Three Chimneys at Talisker (combine distillery and Skye’s finest dining!, Carbost | Scorrybreac, Portree | The Oyster Shed, Carbost | The Stein Inn, Waternish

What to do: Fairy Pools | Dunvegan Castle | Old Man of Storr | Kilt Rock & Mealt Falls | Duntulm Castle | Talisker Distillery