7 Day Scotland Itinerary

Seven days is the sweet spot for Scotland. It gives you enough time to see Edinburgh, drive through Glencoe, explore the Isle of Skye, cruise Loch Ness, visit a whisky distillery, and return south through the Cairngorms — all at a pace that lets you actually enjoy it. This itinerary is the route we run most often for first-time visitors. Every detail can be adjusted to your interests, your pace, and the time of year.

With a private chauffeur, you never touch the wheel. Your driver-guide handles single-track roads, ferry timings, and parking while you take in one of the most beautiful landscapes in Europe. Everyone in the car can enjoy a dram at the distillery. That matters.

Day 1 — Edinburgh

Arrive in Edinburgh and settle in. If you have a full day, explore the Old Town on foot: Edinburgh Castle dominates the skyline, the Royal Mile runs downhill to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and Calton Hill offers one of the finest city panoramas in Britain. The New Town’s Georgian streets are a different Edinburgh entirely — quieter, elegant, and full of independent shops and restaurants.

In the evening, Edinburgh’s dining scene is excellent. We can recommend restaurants across every style and price point, from Michelin-starred kitchens to honest bistros on Rose Street.

If you arrive mid-afternoon, a private Edinburgh tour can cover the highlights in three hours: the Castle, Arthur’s Seat for views, Dean Village, and the Royal Botanic Garden.

Day 2 — Edinburgh to the Highlands via Stirling and Glencoe

We collect you from your Edinburgh hotel and drive north. The first stop is Stirling Castle, one of Scotland’s finest. Perched on volcanic rock, it was the seat of Scottish kings and queens and the setting for major moments in the Wars of Independence. The Great Hall and the Renaissance royal apartments are worth taking time over. Allow 60–90 minutes.

From Stirling, we drive through the Trossachs and along the banks of Loch Lomond. The road climbs into wilder country past Crianlarich and Tyndrum, then drops into Glen Coe — the most dramatic valley in Scotland. The Three Sisters, the Aonach Eagach ridge, and the Glencoe memorial to the 1692 massacre create a landscape that stops you in your tracks. We take time here. This is not a drive-through.

We continue to Fort William, the outdoor capital of the Highlands, at the foot of Ben Nevis. Overnight in the Fort William or Lochaber area. For luxury, Inverlochy Castle Hotel is set on the shores of a private loch beneath Ben Nevis.

Day 3 — Fort William to Isle of Skye

Morning begins with a stop at the Glenfinnan Viaduct, famous from the Harry Potter films. The Jacobite Steam Train crosses the 21-arch viaduct between mid-April and October — arrive by 10:30 to see it. The Glenfinnan Monument below marks where Bonnie Prince Charlie raised his standard in 1745.

We drive west along the Road to the Isles, through some of the most remote and beautiful country in Scotland, past Arisaig and the white sands of Morar. Then north to the Kyle of Lochalsh and Eilean Donan Castle — the most photographed castle in Scotland, sitting where three lochs meet. It is a mandatory stop.

Cross the Skye Bridge onto the Isle of Skye. Depending on arrival time, we can visit Portree harbour or take an evening walk to the Old Man of Storr in the long summer light. Overnight on Skye — Kinloch Lodge, The Three Chimneys, or a quality B&B in Portree.

Day 4 — Full day on the Isle of Skye

A full day on Skye is essential. The island deserves it. We tailor the day to weather and your preferences, but a classic Skye day covers:

• The Trotternish Peninsula — the Old Man of Storr, the Quiraing ridge walk (moderate, stunning views), and Kilt Rock with the Mealt Falls waterfall plunging into the sea.
• Dunvegan Castle — the ancestral seat of Clan MacLeod, continuously inhabited for 800 years. The castle gardens and a boat trip to the seal colony are both worth doing.
• The Fairy Pools in Glen Brittle — crystal-clear pools beneath the Black Cuillin. A short walk from the car park.
• Neist Point — the most westerly point on Skye, with views to the Outer Hebrides. Spectacular at sunset.

Lunch in Portree or at one of Skye’s excellent restaurants. Your driver-guide knows the roads, the weather, and which attractions are busiest at which times — that local knowledge makes a significant difference on Skye. See our Isle of Skye tours for more detail.

Day 5 — Skye to Inverness via Loch Ness

We leave Skye and drive east to Inverness, stopping at Eilean Donan Castle if you missed it on Day 3. The route passes through Glen Shiel, alongside Loch Cluanie, and into the Great Glen.

At Loch Ness, we stop at Urquhart Castle — one of Scotland’s most atmospheric ruins, perched on a rocky promontory above the dark water. A Loch Ness boat cruise from the castle jetty or from Drumnadrochit is highly recommended. On a calm day, the loch is remarkably peaceful.

If time allows, we detour to the Falls of Foyers on the south side of the loch — a thundering waterfall through oak and birch woodland that most visitors miss. We arrive in Inverness in the late afternoon. The Highland capital is a compact, walkable city with excellent restaurants, the River Ness walk, and the new Inverness Castle Experience.

Day 6 — Speyside whisky and Highland castles

Today is flexible. Two excellent options:

Option A: Speyside whisky trail

Speyside is an hour east of Inverness and home to over half of Scotland’s malt whisky distilleries. We visit two or three distilleries depending on your interest. The Macallan has a stunning architectural visitor centre. Glenfiddich and Balvenie sit side by side in Dufftown and offer intimate tours. Smaller distilleries like Aberlour or BenRiach provide a more personal experience. The pace is deliberately relaxed, with time for tastings, lunch in a Speyside village, and a walk along the River Spey.

See our private Speyside whisky tour for full details. The great advantage of a private tour: everyone can enjoy the whisky.

Option B: Culloden, Cawdor Castle and the east coast

Morning at Culloden Battlefield — the site of the last pitched battle on British soil in 1746. The visitor centre tells the Jacobite story with clarity and dignity. Nearby are the Clava Cairns, a 4,000-year-old Bronze Age burial site. After lunch, visit Cawdor Castle — the Shakespeare connection, beautiful gardens, and a lovely pub lunch at the Cawdor Tavern next door. If you want to push further, Dunrobin Castle near Golspie is an hour north: a French château on the Scottish coast with a falconry display in the gardens.

Day 7 — Return south via the Cairngorms

The final day takes a scenic route south through the Cairngorms National Park. We pass through Aviemore with views of the high plateau and ancient Caledonian pine forest. An optional stop at Dalwhinnie Distillery, Scotland’s highest, adds a final dram to the journey.

Through Perthshire, we can stop at Blair Castle (home of Europe’s only remaining private army) or the House of Bruar for a stretch and some shopping. The route continues via Pitlochry and Perth, arriving at Edinburgh Airport or your city hotel by late afternoon.

If you are flying from Glasgow, we take the M80 from Perth — roughly the same driving time. Aberdeen departures are equally comfortable via the A90.

Extending or adapting the itinerary

Seven days is a framework. Here are the most common adaptations we make:

• Add the NC500 — insert two days between Days 5 and 6 to loop the North Coast 500 from Inverness. See our NC500 private tours.
• Spend two nights on Skye — the island rewards a slower pace. A second day allows the Trotternish Peninsula, Dunvegan, and the quieter west coast.
• Add a golf day — Royal Dornoch, Castle Stuart, or Nairn can be inserted into Day 6. See our golf tours.
• Include Orkney — two extra days from Inverness covers the ferry, Skara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar, and St Magnus Cathedral. See our Orkney tours.
• Swap Speyside for Islay — if single malts are your passion, a 2–3 day Islay detour covers all nine distilleries. See our Islay whisky tours.

What is included?

Your tour includes a dedicated driver-guide, a luxury Mercedes V-Class, fuel, parking, and tolls. Accommodation, meals, and attraction entry fees are separate, but we advise on all of these and can help with booking. We know the hotels, the restaurants, and the routes. Everything is tailored to you.

We pick up and drop off at airports, hotels, railway stations, or cruise ship ports anywhere in Scotland. See our 7-day Scotland tour page for pricing, what’s included, and pickup options from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, or Aberdeen. Request a quote for a bespoke 7-day itinerary.

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Related reading

3 Day Scotland Itinerary · 10 Day Scotland Itinerary · Multi-day Scotland tours · 5 days in Scotland itinerary · Isle of Skye tours · Loch Ness tour · Speyside whisky tour · Best time to visit

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