Visiting Scotland: A Guide

Scotland has long captivated travellers as a land of mist-laced glens and deep lochs, craggy peaks and ancient forests, rolling moorlands and vast rivers. But it’s also a living, breathing country with cultural heritage, varied landscapes and diverse communities. In Scotland, galleries house classic artworks and street-art-adorned façades brighten cityscapes. Ceilidh bands play in village halls, and whisky is sipped in quiet pub corners. With 15 UNESCO sites, there’s history to be found in castle ruins and industrial cities, and views to be admired from Munros (mountains over 3,000 ft tall) and on dune-backed beaches.

On a map Scotland can look deceptively small, but winding roads and twisting railways take time to traverse. The key to a great trip? Slow down. Resist the urge to see it all too quickly. Relax on journeys through remote landscapes, Leave No Trace on walks in nature, linger in historic towns and get to know the locals, absorbing the rhythm of Scottish life.

Read on for our guide to Scotland—where to go, things to see and do, and how to get around.

Highland Titles

Places to visit and things to do in Scotland

Scotland is split into distinct regions, each with its own character. For mountains, lochs and remote moorland, the Highlands are a must, while Scotland’s cities offer history and culture. The Hebrides and the East Coast are perfect for wild coastal scenery and tiny fishing villages, and Speyside and the Scottish Borders offer softer landscapes, whisky trails and castles. But, with all those options, how do you choose where to go?

Mike Swigunski

The Scottish Highlands

The Highlands are the largest geographical area in Scotland, stretching from the southwest of the country to the far north and northeast along the Highland Boundary Fault. They are also home to some of Scotland’s most famous landscapes, including Ben Nevis, Glen Coe, and Loch Ness.

The North and West Highlands are particularly dramatic, with mountains plunging into the sea, remote peninsulas and train journeys that rank among the best in the world. Fort William is a useful hub with access to Lochaber Geopark, Glen Nevis, Mallaig and the West Highland Line. If history is more your thing, Eilean Donan Castle and the battlefields of Culloden are worth a visit.

The East Highlands, including the Cairngorms, are quieter but equally striking, home to rare wildlife like the Scottish wildcat and some of Scotland’s best hiking trails, alongside skiing in winter.

Paolo Chiabrando

The Scottish islands

Scotland’s islands are as varied as they are numerous. There are over 790 islands, with 93 inhabited and there are four major island groups:

• The Inner Hebrides include (amongst others) Skye, Mull, Iona, The Small Isles (Eigg, Rum, Muck, Canna), Islay, Jura, Tiree, Colonsay, and the Firth of Lorn islands (including Seil, and Luing.

• The Outer Hebrides include Lewis, Harris, North Uist, South Uist, Grimsay, Benbecula, Eriskay and the Monach Isles.

• The Northern Isles include the Orkney Islands and Shetland Island, which are both island groups in their own right.

• The Islands of the Clyde include the islands of Arran, Bute and Ailsa Craig (amongst others).

Due to their size, popularity and beauty, the islands are often busy in the high season, with accommodation filling up quickly and limited alternatives due to their location.

The Isle of Skye is one of Scotland’s most visited destinations, famous for the Quiraing, the Fairy Pools, and the Old Man of Storr. As it's connected by the Skye Bridge, it can be visited all year round. But summer can be crowded and expensive, with hotels booking out months in advance. Alternatively, visit in the off-season for less tourists, cheaper accommodation and windswept vistas. For greater choice of accommodation, consider staying in Inverness with easy day trips to Skye, and opt for a guided tour, or explore at your own pace with coaches or trains.

Mull is famous for its beaches, wildlife-spotting, crafts and micro-bakeries. However, it faces similar issues to Skye in peak season, especially around Tobermory. To avoid this, base yourself in Oban and take day trips to multiple islands. Mull is just a short ferry ride away, from where you can also reach Iona, famous for its abbey, or Staffa, with its basalt columns and puffin colonies. Kerrera, just offshore from Oban, has walking trails and a ruined castle. If you’re short on time, private boat tours are available, or you can put together your own adventure using ferries and local buses.

The Outer Hebrides are the heartland of the Gaelic language, offering a more remote experience, with beaches that rival the Caribbean (if a little less warm). Orkney and Shetland are unique island groups, with important archaeological sites like Skara Brae on Orkney, and their Viking heritage on show in the dialects, place names and Shetland’s Up Helly AA festival.

Christian Attard

Scotland’s East Coast

Often overlooked in favour of the west, the East Coast has Victorian towns, fishing villages, and a pastoral landscape. The Kingdom of Fife is the ancestral home of Scotland’s monarchs and is famed for world-class golfing. It is home to the Fife Coastal Path, a long-distance footpath, passing through fishing villages like Anstruther (home to Anstruther Fish Bar and The Wee Chippy, two of Scotland’s best fish and chip shops).

Further north, Aberdeenshire is packed with cliffside villages, long stretches of beach and numerous castles, including the royal residence, Balmoral. If whisky is your thing, head to Speyside, home to over half of Scotland’s distilleries. You can visit Glenfiddich, Macallan, or smaller independent distilleries. The region’s seafood, from smoked haddock to langoustines, is some of the best in the country.

carina. m

Southwest Scotland

Scotland’s southwest is one of the country’s most underrated regions, with coastal expanses and deep forests (and without the crowds of the Highlands). Ayrshire is the birthplace of Scotland’s most famous poet, Robert Burns, and offers sweeping beaches with views of the islands of Arran and Ailsa Craig, alongside royal golf courses. It’s also home to Scotland’s first accredited Craft Town, West Kilbride, with independent shops, galleries and delis.

Heading south, in Dumfries & Galloway, the coast gets rockier with huge tracts of forest and moorland. Galloway Forest Park is a designated Dark Sky Park, perfect for stargazing. Castles like Caerlaverock and Drumlanrig are well worth visiting, and the region is also known for its arts scene, with galleries and festivals throughout the year, such as Wigtown Book Festival in Scotland’s National Book Town.

Kristin Snippe

The Scottish Borders

Just south of Edinburgh,, the Scottish Borders (named for its location on the border with England) have gentle hills, crumbling abbeys, and grand stately homes. The Borders Railway makes it easy to visit without a car, with stops in Galashiels and Tweedbank—perfect for exploring Melrose Abbey and the home of Sir Walter Scott at Abbotsford House. Walking and cycling in the Borders is another highlight, with routes like St Cuthbert’s Way leading into England.

Cameron Gibson

Scotland’s Cities

Away from the wild landscapes and countryside, Scotland has lively cities that each offer something different.

• Edinburgh is the Scottish capital, and its jam-packed festival season is legendary, but the city is worth visiting any time of year for its medieval Old Town and photogenic streets, as well as the views from Arthur’s Seat.

• Scotland’s largest city, Glasgow is home to iconic music venues, such as the Barrowlands, huge green spaces and impressive architecture, alongside a world-class food scene.

• Aberdeen, known as the ‘Granite City, has a long maritime heritage and is the gateway to the northeast, located on a sandy stretch of North Sea beach (and nearby dunescapes).

• Sitting on the vast Firth of Tay, Dundee, once an industrial and manufacturing hub, is now a centre for design and the arts, home to the V&A Museum.

• Inverness, the ‘Capital of the Highlands’ is a compact city and convenient base for exploring the Highlands and Loch Ness, visiting historic sites like Culloden, and dolphin-watching in the Moray Firth.

• The city of Dunfermline is rich with history and home to Dunfermline Abbey, the final resting place of Robert the Bruce.

• Stirling boasts a hilltop castle, the National Wallace Monument, and a medieval past.

• Perth is known for its scenic riverside setting, easy access to Highland scenery and a thriving arts and culture scene, including the annual Perth Arts Festival.

Lāsma Artmane

Transport in Scotland

Scottish trains

Scotland’s rail network covers the major cities and rural areas of the country, with some of the world’s most scenic railway lines. ScotRail is the local rail operator within Scotland. These trains often don’t have allocated seat reservations (you can sit where you like), and many don’t have first class, but standard class is comfortable. Multiple other rail companies run routes between Scotland and England, such as CrossCountry, LNER and Avanti. There’s also the famous Caledonian Sleeper night train that runs from various towns and cities across Scotland to London, Crewe and Preston.

Scotland’s most scenic railway lines:

• The West Highland Line: From Glasgow to Oban on one branch, with Fort William and Mallaig on another branch, travelling through some of the Highland’s most striking scenery. Take a regional ScotRail service to explore more of this historic line and support local infrastructure. Read our blog about the West Highland Line.

• The Far North Line: Inverness to Wick/Thurso, passing through tiny Highland stations and clinging to the coastline.

• The Kyle Line: Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh, cutting through hard to reach areas of the Highlands with views of the west coast.

• The Borders Railway: Edinburgh to Tweedbank, an easy way to explore the Scottish Borders.

ScotRail

Scottish buses

Scotland’s buses fill the gaps where trains don’t go, and many routes are picturesque in their own right, like the journey from Fort William to Inverness along the banks of Loch Ness, or the route through Glen Coe.

There are a mixture of private coach services and local buses linking towns, cities and villages across Scotland. Coaches can be booked in advance but you can also buy tickets on the day from the driver or the ticket office, and operators including Citylink, Shiel Buses, West Coast Motors, Megabus and Ember.

Local buses are operated mainly by Stagecoach and First Bus, with some council or independently operated services in cities and rural areas. These services are usually paid to the driver, but tickets can be purchased through the operator’s app if they have one.

The majority of bus services in Scotland take contactless card payment, and are also wheelchair accessible. Timetables for both coaches and local buses can be checked on their respective websites, or you can plan journeys on Traveline Scotland.

Scottish ferries

Ferries make island-hopping easy. Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) operates most services on the West Coast, and foot passengers can turn up on the day and pay in many cases. You can also buy tickets and check timetables in advance on the CalMac website. If you’re taking a ferry for a day trip, the CalMac app is useful for checking live service updates. For sailings to Orkney and Shetland, Northlink Ferries operate services from Scrabster and Aberdeen.

Services are frequent to the bigger islands, with some smaller islands served by ferries that depart only a few times a week. All ferries are weather-dependent and can be disrupted due to bad weather, this is more likely in the winter months, but can happen year-round.

Max Hermansson

Best times to visit Scotland

Scotland is a country for all seasons. Each season offers something different, whether it's summer festivals, autumn’s golden foliage, winter’s snowy mountains and cosy hideaways, or spring’s wildflower meadows. No matter when you visit, there’s always something to do—whether it’s hiking, sightseeing, whisky-tasting, or exploring the country’s cultural calendar.

While summer is the most popular time, it also brings crowds and high prices, especially in tourist hotspots. Autumn, winter, and spring offer a quieter, often more affordable experience, with the added bonus of avoiding overtourism.

Summer (June–August)

Summer is Scotland’s busiest season, drawing visitors with long daylight hours (up to 18 hours in the north), mild temperatures averaging 15–20°C (59–68°F), and a packed calendar of festivals. Edinburgh’s world-famous festivals, including the Fringe and International Festival, take over the capital in August, while Highland Games take place in towns and villages across the country. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy hiking, island-hopping, and wildlife-spotting, with puffins nesting on coastal cliffs and dolphins visible in the Moray Firth.

However, summer also means crowds and high prices in popular areas like Edinburgh, Skye, and along the North Coast 500 route. In the West Coast, Highlands and Islands, midges (tiny biting insects) can be a major annoyance. If you plan to visit in peak season, booking well in advance (six months to a year) is essential.

Autumn (September–November)

Autumn is a fantastic time to visit, with fewer tourists, cooler temperatures (8–15°C / 46–59°F), and landscapes transforming into rich hues of red, orange, and gold. It’s also one of the best times for wildlife spotting—this is rutting season for red deer, and grey seals begin pupping along the coasts. The Cairngorms and Perthshire are particularly stunning at this time of year, with forests bursting with autumnal colours.

Whisky lovers will find distilleries in full production, making it the perfect time to visit Speyside or Islay for a warming dram. While daylight hours begin to shorten, the crisp air and quieter trails make it an excellent season for hiking and photography. Prices start to drop from peak summer levels, and midges disappear by late September.

Winter (December–February)

Winter in Scotland can be cold and dark, with daylight lasting as little as six hours in the north. Average temperatures range from 0–7°C (32–45°F), but it can feel much colder with wind chill, particularly in the Highlands. However, winter brings a different kind of magic: snow-covered mountains, frost-covered glens, and atmospheric train journeys through remote landscapes.

Skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts can hit the slopes in Glencoe, Cairngorm, and the Nevis Range, while those seeking a more relaxing trip can cosy up in traditional pubs with roaring fires. Scotland’s Hogmanay (New Year’s Eve) celebrations are world-renowned, with street parties, fireworks, and traditional ceilidhs. While some rural areas see seasonal closures, cities like Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen remain lively with Christmas Markets and festivals, such as Aberdeen’s Spectra light festival.

Spring (March–May)

Spring is a time of renewal, with longer daylight hours, blossoming wildflowers, and waterfalls at their most powerful after winter rains. Temperatures gradually rise to 7–14°C (45–57°F), making it an excellent season for hiking, wildlife watching, and outdoor photography. Bluebells and daffodils bloom in woodlands, while cherry blossoms brighten city parks.

This is one of the best times for hiking, as the trails are quiet and midges haven’t yet emerged. Wildlife is also abundant—March is a great time to see otters and eagles in the Hebrides, while April and May is lambing season. The Edinburgh Science Festival and Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival add cultural highlights to the season. Prices are lower than in summer, making it an excellent time to explore without the crowds, but May can book up quickly too.

Check out Byway trips to Scotland by train.

Piotr Musioł