Scotland: Epic Adventures Can Begin at Home

Culture and History in Edinburgh and Glasgow

Edinburgh: Festivals, Castles and Atmosphere

Edinburgh is possibly one of my favourite cities in the world: a perfect blend of history, culture, beauty and modernity, and a fantastic starting point for a Scotland city break.

The main reason for our visit was to experience the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, which forms part of the Edinburgh Festival celebrations each year. It’s only by being there in person that you truly feel it:

• The sound of hundreds of pipes and drums reverberating in your chest
• Goosebumps rising on your arms
• That mix of pride and joy that can bring tears to your eyes

The precision of the pipe bands as they moved around the castle esplanade was astounding, and the light show projected onto the castle behind them added even more drama and wonder.

With the Festival in full swing, the whole city felt like a stage. We watched numerous street performers, including magicians, acrobats and comedians, and were blown away by the talent on show at every corner.

No Edinburgh holiday would be complete without a visit to Edinburgh Castle. It offers:

• A fascinating insight into Scottish history
• Fabulous, far‑reaching views over the city and out to the Firth of Forth
• Easy access to the rest of the Old Town, as most of the main historic sites lie along the famous Royal Mile

You can explore a huge amount of Edinburgh’s history simply by strolling up and down this atmospheric street.

Glasgow: Industrial Heritage and Grand Architecture

Glasgow may not have a grand castle skyline, but it has its own unique character and is a brilliant contrast to Edinburgh on a Scotland twin‑centre trip.

Visible from much of the city, the Glasgow Necropolis makes a surprisingly striking landmark, its Victorian monuments rising above the rooftops. While Glasgow doesn’t have the same level of medieval architecture as Edinburgh, its rapid expansion during the Industrial Revolution left it with an incredible legacy of Georgian and Victorian buildings. You can hardly walk anywhere in the city centre without passing a beautiful façade or ornate detail.

Glasgow is also a major university city, which brings a creative energy, diverse food scene and a lively nightlife, making it an excellent stop for those who enjoy culture, shopping and entertainment in between their Highland adventures.

Scotland’s Historic Sites and Film Locations

One of the joys of a Scotland driving holiday is how often you encounter history. Ruined castles, historic battlefields and atmospheric sites appear around almost every bend.

A few standouts from our trip:

• Midhope Castle: Instantly recognisable to fans of the TV series Outlander as Lallybroch, this was a very special stop for us. If you love the series, visiting this filming location really brings it to life.
• Culloden Battlefield, near Inverness: The excellent interactive displays here helped us understand the context of the battle and the perspectives of both sides. It is a powerful and sobering place to visit.
• Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness: Rather than battling for a parking space, we chose to view the castle ruins from the water on a Loch Ness cruise. Seeing the castle from the loch gave a wonderful sense of how it would have looked to those approaching by boat centuries ago. Note: We didn’t manage to see the elusive Loch Ness Monster on our cruise but we did see an otter and saw seals on a Loch Linnhe cruise at Fort William.
• Glenfinnan Viaduct: The Harry Potter films made this jaw-dropping viaduct world famous as the Hogwarts Express passed along it, and for good reason. Surrounded by mountains, passing 30m over the glen, there can’t be many rivals for most picturesque railway line.

If your ideal Scotland itinerary includes history, castles and film locations, it’s very easy to weave these into almost any route.

Scenic Beauty: Highlands, Glens and Coastal Walks

Coastal Walks and Beaches

Scotland has a huge number of beautiful beaches and coastal walks, many of which feel wonderfully wild and unspoilt.

Some of the routes we loved included:

• St Abbs, Scottish Borders: One of the UK’s best dive sites, with rugged cliffs and clear waters. We did not dive, but the coastal path here offers impressive views and fresh sea air.
• The Fife Coast: Charming fishing villages, sandy bays and pretty harbours line this stretch of the east coast, perfect for relaxed seaside strolls and rock-pooling.
• White‑sand beaches around Morar, on the west coast: These beaches have a wonderfully remote, “edge of the world” feel, with pale sand and turquoise water that look almost Caribbean on a sunny day (which it sadly wasn’t when we were there).

It felt as if every turn in the road revealed another cove or viewpoint begging to be explored.

The Scottish Highlands: Iconic Landscapes

The Highlands are the landscape most people picture when they think of Scotland, and they did not disappoint.

We were surrounded by:

• Soaring hills rising on either side as we drove through the glens
• Shimmering lochs acting like vast mirrors, reflecting the peaks and skies above
• Waterfalls bouncing down the mountainsides

One particularly scenic route was the drive from Inverness to Fort William, which follows the Great Glen, passing multiple lochs. Many adventurous travellers choose to kayak the length of the lochs and the Caledonian Canal between these two towns, a journey that takes around five days with camping along the way. It is an incredible way to experience the landscape if you enjoy multi‑day paddling trips.

Climbing Ben Nevis: A Highland Challenge

One of our family aims on this holiday was to climb Ben Nevis, although I found it exceptionally hard, we did reach the summit and completed the round-trip in 7.5 hours. At 1,345 metres, it’s the highest mountain in the UK and it certainly felt like it. The pain was absolutely worth it though!

Even if you don’t intend to reach the summit, the lower sections of the path offer:

• Far‑reaching views across The Grampians
• Glimpses of shimmering lochs below
• A sense of wide‑open space all the way to the sea on a clear day

Around the halfway point on our climb, low cloud rolled in and the views disappeared, but we were lucky enough to avoid rain. This meant we could really appreciate the countless small waterfalls and streams tumbling down the hillsides.

For anyone considering a Scotland adventure holiday, Ben Nevis is a memorable challenge. With the right preparation, any reasonably fit walker can attempt at least part of the route and savour the Highland scenery.

West of Scotland Road Trip Highlights

Leaving Fort William and heading south to Glasgow and then Dumfries treated us to even more iconic scenery.

Key highlights included:

• Glen Coe: A valley steeped in history and framed by dramatic peaks. The drive through here is one of the most recognisable and atmospheric stretches of road in Scotland.
• Loch Lomond: Dotted with beautiful villages along its shores, this is a lovely area to pause for a walk, boat trip or relaxed lunch.
• Mennock Pass: South of Glasgow, this route was a wonderful surprise, offering outstanding scenery and a real feeling of remoteness.
• Wanlockhead: Scotland’s highest village is one of the few places in the country where you can still pan for gold. The Museum of Lead Mining in the village sells permits and rents out equipment, and we saw several hopeful prospectors busy searching for their fortune.

We finished our Scottish tour in Gretna Green. Famous worldwide as the place where countless young lovers eloped in the 18th century to marry without their parents’ consent, it remains a place of romance today, with weddings and vow renewals taking place daily. The village feels steeped in love stories, its historic buildings beautifully maintained by the family business that runs the estate.

Golf in Scotland: From Bucket‑List Courses to Hidden Gems

Golf is almost as synonymous with Scotland as the Highlands themselves. It genuinely seems as if every small village has its own golf course, although standards naturally vary.

For many golfers, the ultimate dream is to play at St Andrews, the “Home of Golf”. My husband and son entered the ballot to play the Old Course. Sadly, they were not successful this time, but the ballot system is a brilliant way for non‑members, and those not on a St Andrews golf package, to get a chance to play this world‑famous course.

• The ballot is open 8am-2pm two days before the desired day of play
• The result of the ballot is announced from 4:30pm that same day
• You must have a handicap of at least 36.

All was not lost on the golf front though. They did manage a memorable round in the Highlands at Fort Augustus, where you simply turn up, pop your green fee in an honesty box envelope and set off. It may not be the world’s most prestigious course, but the views more than compensated.

If your perfect Scotland holiday includes golf, there are options for every level, from legendary championship venues to friendly local clubs with spectacular scenery.

City Hidden Gems: Street Art, Green Spaces and Quiet Corners

Edinburgh and Glasgow are both major university cities, with all the benefits that brings:

• A huge choice of bars, restaurants and cafés
• Independent shops and markets
• Theatres, live music venues and comedy clubs
• A generally youthful, creative buzz

Yet it’s often the quieter corners that really steal your heart.

In Edinburgh, Dean Village did exactly that for me. Tucked away along the Water of Leith, it feels like stepping into a storybook, with its beautiful stone bridge (built by the famous Scottish engineer Thomas Telford) and riverside buildings. It’s hard to believe you are just a short walk from the city centre.

In Glasgow, the large‑scale street art scattered across the city centre is a highlight. Murals cover the sides of entire buildings, and it’s fascinating to see how artists have created such detailed, expressive works on such a large scale.

Both cities also have plenty of urban green spaces, which are ideal when you need a break from the crowds. A stroll through a park or along a riverside path can be a real balm for the soul in between sightseeing, shopping and dining.

Ready to Plan Your Own Epic Scotland Adventure?

Our two‑week Scotland road trip reminded me that you don’t always need to cross continents to have an unforgettable holiday. From Edinburgh’s world‑famous festival and historical sites to the drama of the Highlands, peaceful coastal walks, characterful villages and iconic golf courses, Scotland offers something for everyone.

If you would like to start planning your own epic adventure to Scotland – whether that’s a family road trip, an Edinburgh and Glasgow city break, a Highlands hiking holiday, or a trip that includes the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo – I would be delighted to help. For even more inspiration, go to my Instagram account (https://www.instagram.com/carpediem.travelcounsellors) to see all my videos from our wonderful Scotland tour.

Scotland also has an excellent rail network, with many lines hugging the coast offering spectacular view, and this is a wonderful alternative to self-driving.

Tickets for the Tattoo typically go on sale around a year in advance and sell out quickly, so early planning is essential.

Get in touch and I can:

• Tailor a Scotland itinerary to suit your interests, fitness levels and travel style
• Suggest the best time of year and route for your trip
• Recommend hand‑picked accommodation, from charming guesthouses to luxury hotels
• Help you secure key tickets and experiences so you can simply relax and enjoy the adventure

Your next unforgettable journey might be closer than you think.