Are you looking for a blog to answer all of your questions for visiting the land of fairytale castles and the Loch Ness Monster? Well here it is, our ultimate guide to visiting Scotland. We have split the questions and answers into the following 4 sections; general, driving, location and accommodation.
General Questions...
When is the best time to visit Scotland?
Of course Scotland isn’t known for having the best weather. It is definitely that country where you can experience all seasons in the one day. So when is the best time to visit then? Taking into consideration the weather, attractions and daylight hours, we’d recommend May or June is the best time to visit. However here is a breakdown of the tourism seasons…
High season is July and August. This is during the school holidays and accommodation prices are at their highest and attractions will be at their busiest. Edinburgh will also be its busiest due to the Fringe Festival which takes place for the entire month of August. There’s also the problem of midges, which unfortunately are the worst during this season.
Low season is from October to April. In the winter months it starts to get dark from as early as 4pm and is cold and wet. You will also find that a lot of rural attractions are closed. Unless you are specifically wanting to see the country during the festive period, including visiting the Christmas markets in Edinburgh or the Hogmanay street party, we’d recommend choosing a different season.
Shoulder season includes May, June and September. Generally you will find the Spring and Autumn months have the best weather and also tend to be less wet. You also have the beautiful colours of these seasons including bluebells in Spring and heather in Autumn. In May and June we have a lot more daylight where it gets light at 4am/5am and dark around 10pm/11pm.
will i be safe travelling in scotland?
Absolutely yes! Like any country you visit you should keep your wits about you in the larger cities, but overall you will find Scotland to be a really safe, friendly and welcoming country.
What should I pack for visiting scotland?
Like we said previously, the weather in Scotland can be pretty unpredictable and therefore packing can be challenging. However regardless of when you visit, there is always a chance of rain in Scotland (trust us) and therefore a waterproof is essential. We would highly recommend you pack a light, windproof and waterproof jacket with a hood if visiting in Spring/Summer and a heavy waterproof coat if visiting in the Autumn/Winter months. You can also pack an umbrella, however sometimes they just can’t cope with the wind unfortunately. If visiting during the so-called “Summer” you have to be prepared for both warm days and freezing days! We’d recommend you check the weather forecast before and pack accordingly. You should pack extra layers in anticipation of colder than expected weather, and also lighter clothing incase of warmer than expected weather (it really is so unpredictable).
what's the food like in Scotland?
Scottish cuisine is very unusual, but surprising good. We have found that people either absolutely love it or really dislike it. 6 things we’d recommend you taste in Scotland are 1) haggis 2) Irn-Bru 3) whisky 4) scottish tablet 5) a sausage supper and 6) a square sausage. There are also Vegan or Vegetarian alternatives to most of the above mentioned meat based products that are equally as delicious. For our full blog on what to eat and drink in Scotland click here.
when should i tip in scotland?
In Scotland it is common to leave a 10% tip of the bill (or more if you’d like) in restaurants and in a taxi, to round up the amount to the nearest pound. In most bars you will order and pay at the bar and therefore it is less common to tip.
What are midges?
Midges are small flying insects which are, to be frank, incredibly annoying! The female midges bite and they are most active during the summer months or in humid weather. They are most common in the Western Highlands and you can check the midge forecast before visiting to access how bad they are during a certain period. We would also highly recommend buying Smidge or Avon Skin So Soft which repel midges.
Driving Questions...
what should i know about driving in scotland?
Well for a start in Scotland we drive on the left hand side of the road which may be a huge change to some. We have a whole blog dedicated to tips for driving in Scotland and highly recommend you check it out before driving here.
Should I hire a car whilst visiting Scotland?
If you want to go anywhere other than Glasgow or Edinburgh then we would suggest you do. Whilst the transport links are good in Scotland it can be costly and there’s always going to be places off the beaten path you want to visit. Therefore hiring a car is definitely the easiest option! If you are flying to Glasgow or Edinburgh you won’t need one until you are ready to leave the cities.
location Questions...
Should I visit Glasgow or Edinburgh whilst visiting scotland?
We would highly recommend you make time for both, but if you are short on time it depends what kind of experience you are after. If you are interested in nightlife, shopping and music then choose Glasgow and if you are looking for historic sites and Harry Potter locations then choose Edinburgh. That’s not to say for a minute you can’t find these things in both cities, you definitely can!
should i visit any of scotland's islands?
Yes, yes, yes! If you only have time to visit 1 island then we’d recommend it be the Isle of Skye. It’s such an impressive island with so much to see and do. A huge bonus is you can actually drive over a bridge to this island rather than take a ferry, saving you time and money!
how many days should it take to drive the north coast 500?
To drive the NC500 you ideally want at least 5 days. This way you can really get the most out of your trip. However it really depends on how much you want to stop at and therefore planning this trip beforehand is essential. For more tips on where to stop, sleep and eat on the road trip check out our NC500 blog post.
Where should I visit in Scotland for my first time trip here?
Knowing where to start can be tricky. For a small country, there is so much to see and do in Scotland. It really depends on what you are personally looking to see and do, but if it were up to us, this is where we would visit. First, we’d recommend flying to Edinburgh and spend 2 days there to explore. Next we would suggest riding the train to Glasgow and spending 1 or 2 days there. We’d then suggest you hire a car and head to the Scottish Highlands, driving the A82 to Glencoe. We’d suggest spending a night or two here before driving over to the Isle of Skye.
Accommodation Questions...
what cool places are there to stay in scotland?
First off there’s the AirShip 002, an extremely cool airbnb surrounded by nature in the Scottish Highlands. If you are looking for something a bit quirky in Edinburgh then we recommend Fingal, a beautiful floating hotel north of Edinburgh city centre where you can experience ultra luxury. If you are driving the NC500, the John O’Groats Inn is a beautiful and colourful place to stay with architecture totally unique to it’s surroundings. For a full list of cool accommodation, check out our unusual places to stay in Scotland blog.
can you stay in a castle in scotland?
Absolutely! There are lots of amazing castles you can sleep in whilst visiting Scotland. For example, The Witchery in Edinburgh or Fonab Castle Hotel in Pitlochry. Or you can hire Rowallan Old Castle all for yourself on Airbnb! How’s that for an incredible Scotland experience? Read all about staying at the Ayrshire castle here.
Is there budget options for staying in scotland?
Definitely! There are many hostels in both Glasgow and Edinburgh as well in most rural areas. There is also always the option of Airbnb for a cheaper alternative to hotels. Also check out Itison for hotel deals during your trip but we would highly recommend phoning the hotel to check they have your dates available before purchasing any deals.
The Wee Wanderer
Aww I loved this! 😍👏 definitely thinking about travelling more in Scotland this year! 😊 and it made me laugh that you included a bit about what are midges 😂💖💖
ontheroadagaintravels
Haha they really are such an annoyance! Thank you so much for reading 💖💖💖
Aga
Great post you guys! Could have dropped in my question about climbing Ben Nevis 😛 have you done it? And ohh those nasty midges 😉 what a funny word btw 😛
ontheroadagaintravels
Oh I’m sorry we missed that 🙈 We haven’t actually… we had planned to climb more munros this year! Haha they are so annoying! Thank you for reading 😊💖
Jenni
Amazing guys! Midges are real and they are soooooo annoying haha. One day when we return home we definitely want to see more of our beautiful country. Still not explored a lot of places!
ontheroadagaintravels
Thanks so much for reading ♥️ Midges are the worst haha 🙈