Scotland Travel Guide: Planning Your First Trip

We are based in Perth and have spent years exploring Scotland with our own family, by road, ferry and rooftop tent. This guide covers what first-time visitors usually ask us: where to fly into, what driving here is really like, when to come and which regions to choose.

Plan My Trip

Getting to Scotland

Most international visitors fly into Edinburgh or Glasgow, both with direct flights from North America and Europe. Inverness is the best choice if you’re heading straight for the Highlands or the North Coast 500.

Our base in Perth is about an hour from Edinburgh Airport. We can arrange transfers from Edinburgh and Glasgow airports and selected railway stations, or deliver your vehicle to Edinburgh, Glasgow or Inverness.

Pick Up Locations

Driving in Scotland

We drive on the left. Most people get used to it within the first hour. An automatic makes it easier, and our new Defenders and the Suzuki Jimny are all automatic. Read our tips for driving on the left.

Single-track roads are common in the Highlands and islands. They are wide enough for one car, with passing places every few hundred metres. Whoever is closest to a passing place pulls in. Never park in one.

Allow more time than the map suggests. A two-hour drive can easily take half a day once you add photo stops, single-track sections and ferries. We recommend two to four hours of driving a day.

Which licences can I drive with? Full licences from the UK, EU, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa are accepted as standard, provided you’ve held yours for at least two years. Other licences need approval before booking. Drivers must be aged 23–75.

When to Visit

• Spring (March–May): quieter roads, lambs in the fields and longer days.
• Summer (June–August): long daylight hours, but busier roads and midges on the west coast.
• Autumn (September–November): golden colours and fewer visitors. One of our favourite times.
• Winter (December–February): short days, snow on the hills, fireside hotels and dark skies. Explore the Winter Collection.

From March to October our minimum hire is three nights. From November to February you can hire from one day.

How Long Do You Need?

Three or four nights is enough for a taste of the Highlands. A week lets you take in the North Coast 500 or the west coast and Skye without rushing. Ten nights or more opens up the Outer Hebrides.

Our Scotland Road Trip Guide has suggested routes for each length of trip.

Good to Know Before You Go

• Weather: pack waterproofs and warm layers in every season. Conditions change quickly.
• Midges: tiny biting insects common on the west coast from late spring to late summer. Bring repellent. We sell Smidge in our shop.
• Ferries: book island crossings well ahead in summer, especially with a vehicle. Most routes are run by CalMac.
• Phone signal and fuel: both can be patchy in remote areas. Download maps offline and fill up when you can.
• Camping: Scotland’s wild camping rights don’t cover vehicles or rooftop tents, so stay at campsites. We’ll recommend good ones on your route.

Where to Go: Scotland's Regions

Highland Perthshire

Our home patch, and an easy first taste of the Highlands just an hour or so from Edinburgh: woodland walks, rivers, lochs and quiet glens.

Our tip: walk The Hermitage near Dunkeld, then stop at the Aran Bakery in town for coffee and a pastry. In the summer, try a pizza in the garden at The Taybank.

3 Night Heart of the Highlands Road Trip

Black Linn Falls at The Hermitage near Dunkeld

Glencoe & Glen Etive

Scotland’s most famous glen, with the Three Sisters and Buachaille Etive Mòr towering over the road. Turn off onto the single-track road into Glen Etive for somewhere much quieter.

Our tip: finish the day at the Clachaig Inn, a favourite with walkers. You might recognise it from Prisoner of Azkaban as Hagrid’s hut was filmed on the hillside nearby. Stay at Red Squirrel Campsite if you’re camping.

3 Night West Coast Adventure

The Isle of Skye

The largest island of the Inner Hebrides, reached by the Skye Bridge or the ferry from Mallaig. Known for the Old Man of Storr, the Quiraing and the Fairy Pools, and for Portree’s colourful harbour.

Our tip: visit the Fairy Pools early in the morning or in the evening, when it’s much quieter. The island gets very busy in summer, so ensure to book accommodation well ahead.

Isle of Skye Road Trip

The North Coast 500

A 516-mile loop starting and finishing in Inverness, taking in the Bealach na Bà pass, white-sand beaches and remote villages. It is busy in summer, so allow at least a week and don’t try to rush it.

Our tip: stop at the Norse Bakehouse in Tongue, and camp right on the beach at Clachtoll.

Read our Guide to the NC500

A view from Ullapool Hill in Ullapool on the western coast of Scotland.

Outer Hebrides

A 130-mile chain of islands off the west coast, with Gaelic culture, empty roads and some of the best beaches in Europe.

Lewis and Harris share one island but feel very different: Lewis has wide moorland and the Calanais Standing Stones, Harris has mountains, Harris Tweed and beaches like Luskentyre.

Further south, the Uists, Barra and Vatersay are quieter still. Ferries run from Ullapool to Stornoway and from Uig on Skye to Tarbert.

Our tip: with kids, don’t miss the dune playpark behind Eoropie Beach on Lewis, and try North Harbour Bistro on Scalpay.

Read about our family road trip to Lewis and Harris

History, Castles & Clans

Castles are everywhere in Scotland, from Edinburgh and Stirling to Eilean Donan, set where three sea lochs meet, and the ruins of Urquhart above Loch Ness. Culloden Battlefield, near Inverness, is where the 1745 Jacobite Rising ended in 1746, and its visitor centre explains how that day changed Highland life.

Many of our guests, particularly from North America, come to trace their family roots. If your family name links to a clan, we can build a route around the castles, glens and graveyards connected to it.

Learn more with our articles on:

Castles to Visit in Scotland
The Clans of Scotland

Food & Drink

Scottish food is at its best when it’s local and simple: seafood straight off the boat, venison, Highland beef and, of course, whisky from more than 150 distilleries.

Our tip: the haggis, neeps and tatties at The Flying Stag in Braemar is our son’s favourite, and he’s worked his way through a few!

Take a look at some of our articles:

A Taste of Scotland
Whisky Lovers Guide to Scotland

Or explore one of our Winter road trips, Scotland’s Winter Table – combining a road trip to the West Coast and Skye, with exceptional dining experiences.

Scottish Haggis Serving For A Traditional Rabbie Burns Night Dinner

Wildlife

Red deer and golden eagles in the Highlands, dolphins in the Moray Firth, and puffins on the north coast cliffs in the breeding season. And Highland cows, which you’ll often see from the road.

Our tip: Chanonry Point on the Black Isle is one of the best places in the UK to watch dolphins from the shore, or catch a boat from Oban to the Summer Isles for the change to spot Orca’s.

Where to Find Highland Cows in Scotland

Festivals & Events

From the Edinburgh Fringe and Highland Games in summer to Up Helly Aa in Shetland every January, there’s usually something happening.

Some of our favourites are smaller and quirkier, like the World Porridge Making Championship in Carrbridge.

Scottish Festivals and Events

Some questions you might have before travelling to Scotland.

Is Scotland easy to drive around for first-time visitors?

Yes. Scotland is a lovely country to explore by car, and you don’t need to be an experienced driver to enjoy it. We drive on the left, and some Highland roads are narrow and winding, but most visitors soon get used to them. Take your time, use passing places correctly and don’t try to cover too many miles in a day.

How many days do you need for your first trip to Scotland?

We’d recommend at least five to seven days if you want to explore beyond Edinburgh and Glasgow. Three or four nights is enough to discover Highland Perthshire and Glencoe, while a week gives you time to venture further west towards Skye. If you have ten days or more, you could consider the Outer Hebrides or a longer Highland road trip.

Can I get a transfer from Glasgow to Nomadic Scotland?

Yes. We offer transfers from Glasgow to our home base in Perth, where you can collect your Defender and meet the team.

Can you explore Scotland without joining a guided tour?

We think so! A self-drive holiday gives you the freedom to explore at your own pace, stop when somewhere catches your eye and spend longer in the places you enjoy.
At Nomadic Scotland, we help plan your route before you arrive, including recommendations for places to stay, things to see and good places to eat. You’ll have the freedom of travelling independently, with local advice and support whenever you need it.

Do you need a 4×4 to explore the Scottish Highlands?

No. Most Highland roads, including the North Coast 500 and routes around Skye, are public roads suitable for ordinary cars. You don’t need a 4×4 to drive them.

We love our Land Rover Defenders for their comfort, space and character, particularly on longer journeys. And if you’re planning to camp, our rooftop tent package makes it easy to combine driving with nights outdoors.

Can you combine hotels and rooftop tent camping on a Scotland road trip?

Yes, and it’s something we often recommend. You might spend a couple of nights camping beside a loch or on the coast, then enjoy a night in a Highland hotel with a proper bath and a good dinner.

Our Camp Nomad package includes a rooftop tent and camping equipment, and we can help you find campsites and hotels along your route. You don’t have to choose between camping and a little comfort.

Plan Your Trip With Us

We’re based in Perth and help guests plan their route, choose the right vehicle and find places to stay, from campsites to country hotels.

Every hire includes route-planning advice and 24/7 WhatsApp support while you’re on the road.