So, you booked a trip to Scotland?! Amazing! You’re gonna love it, and here are 10 tips to help you love it even more!
1. Closing Time: If a castle or museum closes at 5PM it really closes at 4 or 4:30! Even if you PROMISE to be out by 5PM they will not let you in. Even if you say you swear you don’t care that you won’t see it all. Even if you tell them you just white knuckled it driving on the unfamiliar side of the road to get there they will not let you in. And even if you arrive just one minute after final entry they will not let you in. We got burned very many places in both Scotland and London because of this! I feel like in the States they will take your money if you only want to be there for 15 minutes before they close. But not in the UK.
2. Rent a Car: Seriously, you have to road trip through Scotland. We spent a lot of our time in Scotland in the car BUT overall the journey really is a part of the destination. It was so convenient being able to stop when we wanted, where we wanted and however often we wanted! Yes, it’s a little scary driving on the opposite side of the road with the steering wheel on the opposite side but you do get used to it!
3. Fly into Inverness: Inverness is a great place to start your Scottish adventure. It’s right in the Highlands, near the famous Loch Ness, relatively small airport but with regular flights and it’s a great place to start your car rental experience. You want more open road, less cars, less people, less traffic & less roundabouts when you’re first getting your bearings with the whole opposite steering wheel/side of the road thing. Trust us! By the end of the trip we felt comfortable with driving in Edinburgh but had we started there it would have been very overwhelming.
4. Plan Your Drive: Yes, you’ll definitely want to use your GPS to get from place to place but it’s important to plan out your stops in advance. There is a lot to do and see in the Highlands and spending 15 minutes driving here then 30 minutes driving there the time adds up. If you want to maximize your time and hit up all your must sees then a little advance planning will go a long way! Before the trip I literally typed into google maps every place I wanted to see and planned out the most logical route.
5. Haggis: Yes, you really do have to try Haggis! No, I won’t tell you what it is…but a lot of full Scottish breakfasts will include Haggis so don’t go out of your way to order and pay for it at a restaurant, because chances are you won’t like it!
6. Glasgow vs. Edinburgh: If you’re exploring the Highlands and making your way down to Edinburgh you can stop through Glasgow on the way. Even if you don’t have much time, stop for lunch & take a walk around University of Glasgow. It’s said that JK Rowling designed Hogwarts inspired by this University. Stop in Glasgow but spend more time in Edinburgh as there is so much to do there!
7. Glenfinnan Dining Car: If the Jacobite Steam Train ride is too rich for your blood or you just don’t have the time-stop for a quick bite to eat at the Glenfinnan Dining Car! It’s a 1960’s train car turned café. Awesome tea, soups, sandwiches and of course scones! After you finish up eating head to the Glenfinnan Viaduct. You can look up exact train times of the Jacobite Steam Train aka the Harry Potter train, if you want to see it cross the Viaduct (unfortunately the train wasn’t running at all the days we were there in October) But the Viaduct was cool none the less!
8. Off-Season: I highly recommend going to Scotland in early October! This is considered the offseason so there are far less crowds, way more accommodations and better prices everywhere. Go in early October before it gets really cold and before daylight savings when the clocks move back an hour and it dramatically reduces the hours of daylight you have to drive and explore. The later you get into October the more places will be closed-so be sure to go early in the month.
9. Rain: Yes, it does rain in Scotland…a lot! Why do you think it’s so lush and green?! The rain isn’t an issue so long as you pack accordingly. You’ll definitely want to bring a nice rain coat, umbrella and water proof shoes if you have them! Also, if going in the fall dress in layers because it goes from cold to OK to down right freezing and back to being OK all throughout the day!
10. Bed & Breakfasts: Stay in bed and breakfasts while you’re touring the Highlands.We absolutely loved all 3 B&Bs we stayed at while exploring the Highlands. Loved having a home made breakfast each morning before we headed out to explore. The owners of these Inns & B&Bs are so personable & you can learn so much about life in Scotland from them. I also love the opportunity to interact with other guests in the common areas if you chose to. We stayed at Viewfield House, Loch Ness Country House & No. 20 Boutique B&B.
Britt Heller 