This video is about our retirement roadtrip through the Scottish Highlands. On this trip we visit Edinburgh (click link for our full blog), St. Andrews, Inverness, the Isle of Skye, Falkirk, and many other locations around Scotland. We also share an amazing side trip to the Faroe Islands, which is just a short direct flight from Edinburgh. Both Scotland and the Faroe Islands should make your bucket list destinations list.
Our Scottish Highlands Vlog
Our hope is that this video gives you some great ideas on where to travel in 2024. We think a road trip through the Scottish Highlands offers an opportunity to connect with nature, immerse yourself in rich culture and history, and create lasting memories in one of the world’s most stunning landscapes. Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast, a history buff, or simply looking for a unique adventure, driving in Scotland through the Scottish Highlands has something to offer everyone.
Other Reasons You Should Visit Scotland
Here are several reasons why you should consider taking a Scottish Highlands road trip in 2024. We are so glad we went.
1. Breathtaking Scenery:
The Scottish Highlands have dramatic landscapes, including rugged mountains, deep lochs, lush glens, and wild coastline. The ever-changing scenery provides countless photo opportunities. We were overwhelmed with the beauty and had a hard time watching the road, especially while driving on the left!
2. Historic Castles:
Scotland is known for its castles, and the Highlands are home to some of the most iconic ones, such as Eilean Donan Castle, Urquhart Castle on the shores of Loch Ness, and the dramatic Dunrobin Castle. Eilean Donan was our personal favorite.
3. Distinctive Culture:
The Scottish Highlands have a unique cultural heritage with traditions like ceilidh dancing, tartan patterns, and the sound of bagpipes. You can also explore Gaelic culture and language in certain areas. We loved listening to the bagpipes.
4. Outdoor Activities:
The Highlands offer a wide range of outdoor activities, including hiking, mountain biking, fishing, kayaking, and wildlife watching. There are numerous trails and opportunities for adventure. We encountered a lot of rainy weather, so we hope to return again someday.
5. Whisky Tasting:
Scotland is famous for its whisky, and you can visit distilleries along your road trip route to sample some of the finest Scotch whiskies. We’ve done the Bourbon tour in Kentucky, so this was right up our alley.
6. Dark Skies:
The Scottish Highlands are known for their dark skies, making it an excellent destination for stargazing and astrophotography.
7. Harry Potter Connection:
Fans of the Harry Potter series can visit locations that served as inspiration for the books and films, such as the Glenfinnan Viaduct and the Hogwarts Express steam train route.
8. Friendly Locals:
The people in the Scottish Highlands are known for their warm hospitality and friendliness, making your road trip even more enjoyable. We met many great locals during our road trip.
9. History and Heritage:
The region is steeped in history, from the Jacobite uprisings to the Clearances. You can learn about this fascinating history by visiting museums, battlefields, and heritage sites.
10. Scenic Drives:
The Highlands offer some of the most scenic drives in the world, including the North Coast 500, which takes you on a loop around the northernmost part of Scotland. We must note that, while beautiful, the driving can be stressful on the narrow roads with many tour buses.
11. Abundant Wildlife:
The Highlands are teeming with wildlife, including red deer, eagles, seals, and even the possibility of spotting the elusive Loch Ness Monster.
12. Peace and Tranquility:
The Highlands provide a sense of isolation and tranquility that can be a refreshing escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life.
13. Local Cuisine:
Enjoy traditional Scottish cuisine, including haggis, neeps and tatties, seafood, and freshly baked goods at local cafes and restaurants.
Best Time to Visit Scotland
We have linked a great website to this button showing the weather for this location by the month. Click below to be taken to Weather-and-Climate.com.
Caroline Osborne
Hi John and Bev. I love following you on your travels and watching your videos. I just have a little comment on the England section on your website. Within this section you also include (very good) pieces on Scotland and Northern Ireland and show the Union Jack flag. Your section should therefore, properly, be labelled as the UK. It doesn’t bother me as I’m English 😃 but some friends in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland get a bit upset sometimes when people say they are English or from England!
Keep up the good work on the website and videos!
Caroline
Retirement Travelers
Thanks for the suggestion, but unfortunately, we don’t have enough content on each country, so we combined the articles on each one. So, Scotland has England, and Northern Ireland has articles on Scotland. Google doesn’t like us to have one article for each page, they want at least five. It’s a little convoluted, we understand. As we travel, we hope to do it differently in the future. Thanks for watching! John & Bev
Monica Noonen
Hi John and Bev!
We just booked our ticket today for our upcoming trip to Scotland. We are so excited and are very inspired by your Scotland Roadtrip video. Could you please share the places where you stayed during the 5 days?
Thank you so much for all you do!
Monica and John Noonen:)
rtravelers
Thanks and glad you are enjoying our channel and website. Hope you have a wonderful trip.
Edinburgh: The Hawes Inn. Outside of the city but very close to a train stop. Easy to get into town.
Inverness: Lochardil House. Interesting place a little away from city center.
Dunvegan: Tables Guest House
Last stop: MacDonald Forest Hills Hotel & Spa. Cool place out in the country in the middle of nowhere, but relaxing.
We really enjoyed the kelpies and the Falkirk wheel on the way back to Edinburgh. Could have easily spent many more days.
Enjoy and let us know how it goes.
John and Bev
PS. The driving can be a bit stressful on some roads. Driving on left, rain, lots of traffic, big buses, no shoulders, narrow roads, BUT beautiful scenery….