Scotland Itinerary 6 Days

What to expect from this blog

• Scotland's some of the best drive routes
• Beautiful Scotland's landscape - Photo are available but honestly you can't capture Scottish natural beauty in camera, it can only sense through experience.
• List of items which required for trip 
• Useful Safety Tips which is based on our trip incident
• This itinerary is based on friends outing so we covered many places which may not be possible for family  though you can cover all those places but you will require more days or you can skip few.

Overview

I had planned 12 days UK trip with my college mates who traveled from India and this trip was pending since long time as everyone of us engaged and busy with family life. However this year(early Aug 2018) we made it after 18 years college passout . We drove across UK which includes Scotland and Cornwall.

Specially Scotland trip planning was a lot confusing as there are many places and things are mentioned over internet and tourist website. Mostly i was looking for the places with combination of  most famous as well as some which are still hidden treasure. It took me almost six weeks for end to end planing for 6 days and finally made up the plan based various resources and blogs available over the internet.  When we finished our trip, we were absolutely amaze how beautiful is Scotland. Hence it's forced me write-down the blog which may help someone.  This is my first travel blog, so i will try my best.


We started from Glasgow and ended with Edinburgh.

The below is the drive route we covered during 5 days and the drive route is incredibly scenic.

• A82
• Glen Etive  - Single Road, Skyfall filming happened and simply amazing landscape.
• A87
• A890
• A9

Day 1 : Glasgow 

We started drive from London and reach to Glasgow by 3.30 pm. We choose Glasgow for stay and spend time on the following places which are one the top places to visit in Glasgow. The place we stayed in Glasgow was not so great but it was bargain.

1a. Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum - Free Entry (Post Code: G3 8AG)

Kelvingrove Museum has beuatiful architecture  and you can explore various galleries and discover everything from art to animals, Ancient Egypt to Charles Rennie Mackintosh and so much more.
Paid parking available at onsite.
You can find more information on https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/museums/venues/kelvingrove-art-gallery-and-museum


1b.George Square (G2 1DU)
George Square is surrounded by very well architecture buildings and good place to spend evening. There is close walk for Gallery of Modern Art, building itself impressive but it was close when we reached there. There are some good bar around the George Square, we had couple of pints at The Piper with live music.

  

Day 2 : Towards  Fortwilliam

We left Glasgow around 7 am, and decided do the breakfast on the way at local cafe . Our first stop was Loch Lomond

2a. Loch Lomond - Luss village(G83 8PG)

Loch Lomond is one of the largest lake in Scotland, I would not advise to stop early near Balloch where majority of tourist buses stop and becomes crowded. Go further, we specially stopped at Luss village which has ancient history and most houses built using stone. it's beautiful village and scenic lake walk. We spent around an hour at lake side then had great breakfast local cafe. You can also try freshly made smoke salmon sandwich @ Luss Smokehouse.

2b.Glen Etive ( Google map navigation: Glen Etive Estate Parking)

After Luss, we started heading towards Glen Etive via A82 and then off the road on single road. Though it's single road but pass through places available to giveaway. On this single road Skyfall filming happened, certainly this place is incredible scenic and there is river flow thorough out single road so we can stop anywhere and enjoy the nature. Go till the road finish you will reach to lake side car park. Please don't use postcode in Scottish highlands, use GPS coordination or exact map location.

2c. Three Sisters Mountain Walk (Google map navigation : Three Sisters Car Park)

 From Glen Etive we start back to A82 for Three Sister Car Park. It was heavily raining when we reached to Three Sister, but it seems based on reach Scottish weather is not predictable and rain is common so we were prepared. Though it was raining but we started walk on Three Sister, we been half way through to waterfall , but then didn't continue to lost valley. As it was heavily raining and rocky pathway with deep valley.

d.  Stay @ Fortwilliam
We stayed 3 nights at fortwilliam and our stay was exactly based at Ben Nevis mountain. We choose Fortwilliam base as you can drive and easily accessible for other visiting places in highland.

Day 3 : Ben Nevis Walk (Car Park at Ben Nevis Visitor Centre)

Ben Nevis is highest peak in Scotland and while you walk on top there is incredible beautiful view, waterfall. Certainly every ones will enjoy. Though you can walk till top but for new walker it's tough. Even temperature  on base 17-20 degree but on top it will be freezing. We all were not regular mountain walker but we started and reach to top in 4.5 hours. We had good walking shoes, winter jacket and rain protector. However we were lacking enough energy bar and water but on the way there plenty of spring waterflow so you use that water. While coming back it was very harder as on top it's rocky walk, as rain started and in half through one of my friend felt on elbow  which put us in scary situation.  He was suffering through intense pain and could not able move his hand. We took rest around 1 hour there and re-started coming back. We were so tired but somehow manage to come safely down. So be prepared well before you go on top. It was around 9 hours walk altogether for us(new walker).

Ben Nevis Top

Day 4 : Fortwilliam white water rafting and Urquhart Castle - Loch Ness

Ben Nevis walk totally drained our energy and one of our friend injured. However we had pre-booking for white water rafting with Active Highs Outdoor Activities in Scotland so gone with plan. Injured member missed the fun.

4a. White water rafting (Active Highs Outdoor Activities )

Initially it looked scary as two of us didn't know swimming but our instructor was very good and done the successfully. Actually when do it, it doesn't scare you much and instructor will be with you, certainly i will advise for those who are doing rafting for first time or with family.

4b. Urquhart Castle - Loch Ness

we had planned to go to Loch Ness but we had to dropped out as our injured friend's hand was paining more so visited Fortwilliam A&E wherein doctor did full scan and advised doesn't seem fracture but might be injury to elbow so recommended get fully treated when he goes back to India. Thanks to Fortwilliam A&E friendly staff who treated well.

Day 5 : Isle of Skye

 I couldn't able to find stay at Isle of Skye, though this place area wise quite big but very less population. But during summer this place fill with full of tourist. Hence you will need book your stay very well in advance.

As we have to come back in night so we started early 7 am.

5a.  Mealt Falls (Kilt+Rock+and+Mealt+Falls+Viewpoint)

Personally we didn't impressed with Mealt Falls as it said to be. Though we enjoyed drive from Fortwilliam to Skpe.

Mealt Falls

5b.  Quiraing walk (Google navigation point: Parking for Quiraing)

Unfortunately our friend was injured so could not able to do Quiraing walk but it's said that it;s very good walk. please do search for Quiraing.

5c.  Neist Point (Google navigation point: Parking+Neist+Point)

Neist point is beautiful location, be aware roads are not well developed as like in Scotland.

5d.  Night stay @ Achnasheen 

As we couldn't find place at Skpe so we had go back and find the place at Achnasheen village. Hardly four or five houses but very amazing location. Wild deer and river infront of cottage and it's very reasonable as well. We enjoyed the drive from Skye to Achnasheen via A890.

Day 6 : Edinburgh

We took A9 road for Edinburgh, and visited following well known places. By the time we reach to Edinburgh, guys were less interested to see city architecture as compared to natues' beauty.

6a. Camera Obscura 6b. Edinburgh Castle 6c. Old Town 6d. ST GILES’ CATHERDRAL

Trip Tips : 

1. Carry first aid kit

2. Even it's summer carry winter jacket if you are planning for walk

3. Rain protector

4. Proper walking shoes

5. insect repellent

6. Water and food stock in car. (Generally we did heavy breakfast in morning so don’t need to waste time for lunch and carry sandwiches for trip and then proper food in dinner )

7. fill up petrol every morning, generally petrol pumps are not very close.

8. Emergency Number 

9. Portable mobile charger.

10. Read every place before we visit

11. We stayed in cottages which provided bigger space and well managed kitchen.

12. Try local cafe food than proper restaurant 

13. Respect mountain when you walk

14. Drive carefully.