Inverness Castle

As a teenager, I visited Scotland for a few days, and that in addition to Outlander binge watching ended up with me moving to Edinburgh next year. I spent a few years living there and falling more and more in love with the country. The only problem was that it was my university years which meant a tight budget but still the need to explore. So this guide is a summary of a few years of budget travel in Scotland and what I think it's the best compromise between budget and exploring everything this magical country has to offer. ⛰️ This guide will help you plan your perfect Scotland trip - on a budget and without a car. The base of this trip is a loop which you can start in either Glasgow or Edinburgh and which will take you 8 days. Then, at every stop, I'll give you some day trip options so that you can extend your trip depending on what you want to see and how much time you have. If you go for all-day trips this full itinerary will take 17 days. 💷 I'll give you a full breakdown of the cost. The basic loop will require around 210£ for all transport and accommodation. I'll provide you with a spreadsheet that breaks down each cost and each day trip so you can also plan and adjust your trip according to your budget. I'll also share with you accommodation recommendations and a breakdown of all the buses/trains you'd need to take.

This itinerary is based on the research and planning I had done for my own personal road trip in Scotland. My personal itinerary was 7 days but here I extended and adapted it based on my conversations with locals and areas of Scotland I felt I needed more time! This updated itinerary is now 12-14 days (not including travel to/from Scotland), making it perfect for a 2-week Scottish road trip! This itinerary includes: ⛰️ what to see and do for EACH day of the trip 🌳 visits to BOTH of Scotland's national parks 🥾 13 hike recommendations (some from personal experience and some extra ideas from research) + AllTrails links! ⚡️ 22 cultural activity ideas (including castles, city tours, ruins, museums and filming locations) 😋 10 memorable restaurants and food recommendations to try 🚗 drive time and distance estimations (important for car rental) ✨ travel, activity and driving tips based on first-hand experience + links to official sites for activity bookings or more information! BONUS: A Budget Breakdown where I break down my ENTIRE budget for when I completed this road trip! After this particular road trip, Scotland became my favourite country I have visited so far! I hope you enjoy this trip as much as I did and fall in love with this wonderful country! And of course, feel free to adapt this itinerary to make it your own so you can have the most memorable trip possible!

The Scottish Highlands, a rugged and enchanting region in the north of Scotland, is renowned for its breathtaking landscapes, rich history, and traditional culture. Towering mountains, deep glens, and sparkling lochs characterize this wild and untamed terrain, offering endless opportunities for outdoor exploration and adventure. Visitors can embark on scenic drives along the North Coast 500 route, hike through the majestic peaks of Ben Nevis or the Cairngorms, and cruise the mysterious waters of Loch Ness in search of the legendary monster. The Highlands are also steeped in history, with ancient castles, clan battlegrounds, and archaeological sites scattered throughout the landscape, telling tales of Scotland's turbulent past. This guide includes: - introductory note - places to visit (museums and cultural venues, open squares, and others) - photo spots Get to see more from my travels on my Instagram (@pedralexpereira) and Flickr (flickr.com/photos/pedralexpereira)