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KARA // Whimsy Soul
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Under the desert sky ✨🏜 Our apartment has been SUPER cold the past few days & making me miss our week in Scottsdale last month. Especially the heat and all the towering saguaros, aren't they so fun?? 🌡🌡🌡 I've been writing up a storm over on whimsysoul.com and have a few new Scottsdale blog posts you should check out if you're planning a trip to Arizona. My favorite new post is my Scottsdale Bachelorette Guide! If you're a Type A planner like me and in charge of putting together a bach party for your lady next year, make sure to check my guide out and see why Scottsdale is like, the PERFECT place to party! πŸ‘°πŸ™Œ β € 757 17
You can take the girl out of Wisconsin but not the Wisconsin out of the girl. AKA we’ll always have a WAY too many coats in our closet, just in case! ❄️ πŸ§₯ #AbsolutPartner I’m teaming up with Planet Earth's Favorite Vodka @AbsolutVodka_US this holiday season to spread the word about their partnership with @onewarmcoat and how YOU can support them in warming 100,000 people in need this winter! Today is #givingtuesday so I challenge you to find an unused coat that can do so much more good donated than hanging out at the back of your closet. Look for donations bins in your city or learn more at absolut.com/holiday #partywithapurpose 326 6
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Scotland Travel Guide

  • October 29, 2017
  • 7 minute read
  • Contains Affiliate Links
fairy pools isle of skye orange skirt woman

Traveling to Scotland? It’s my favorite UK country, so you won’t be disappointed. Scotland is a place where you’ll see 8 rainbows in one day and the rolling green hills never stop. With Ireland and England next door, Scotland is seriouslyΒ overlooked. On our Ireland & UK road trip, it’s the one country I can’t wait to return to. The landscape is utterly unique to anything I’ve ever seen, the people are so friendly, the fresh seafood is to die for.. the best way to describeΒ Scotland is MAGIC. This is my ultimate Scotland travel guide to help you plan your trip to Scotland with ease!

My Ultimate Scotland Travel Guide is below. Read on to find my suggested itinerary, the best hotels in Scotland, top things to do and everything you need for a magical trip!

*follow Whimsy Soul on Instagram for daily adventure inspiration.Β 

scotland travel guide ideas

portree scotland

Suggested Itinerary

  1. Loch Lomond
  2. The Isles
  3. Loch Ness
  4. St. Andrews
  5. Edinburgh

Fly into Glasgow if you can asΒ Loch Lomond is just 30 minutes North of the city. Edinburgh is a short drive away, so you can also fly in there if needed, but this will add time to yourΒ journey.

Rent a car so you have the freedom to travel wherever you want. The roads are easy to drive on and it doesn’t take too long to adjust to the other side.

Download the Harry Potter audiobooks to play on your road trip. It makes is a 100% more fun,Β trust me.


Loch Lomond


Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park is a beautiful oasis of Scotish charm. Made famous by the song Loch Lomond, it attracts international visitors, but you wouldn’t know it. Nestled between Ben Lomond and other stunning hills, this lake is peaceful and serene. You can enjoy walking around it, boating on it, or even take a seaplane trip. I suggest starting here becauseΒ it’s a greatΒ way to jump into nature and start your vacation off to a relaxing start.

Loch Lomond Hotel

Book 2-3 nights at the Cameron House on Loch Lomond. This was my FAVORITE hotel of our entire 3-week honeymoon and I frequently think back on our time here and wish I could go back. This hotel looks like a castle, the interiors are beautifully decorated and they have the best free breakfast, ever. You NEED to spend a few nights here. Book here so you can earn free nights.

Happy Hour

Grab drinks at the Great Scots Bar. Make sure to grab a seat on the porch that overlooks the lake. They have fire pits, heat lamps, and blankets to stay warm on chilly days.

Dinner

Eat at the Boat House and try the seafood pizza for something new.

Things To Do

  • Walk around the Loch
  • Hike Ben Lomond (whole day activity)
  • Golf
  • Take a boat cruise around the Loch
  • Visit the Doune Castle
  • Book a seaplane tour
  • Learn how to do Clay Pigeon Shooting
  • Visit the spa at Cameron House
  • Have traditional afternoon tea at Cameron House
  • Go on a Pony Trekk

You can read my blog post dedicated to Cameron House here to learn more about this special place!

woman camel coat orange pants scotland outfit leaves
loch lomond scotland hotel cameron house
scotland outfit cable knit sweater loch lomond
giant cheese board scotland

The Isle of Islay


This is theΒ whiskyΒ isle. Well,Β theΒ famous one at least. There are distilleries all over Scotland, but The Isle of Islay is home to brands like Lagavulin. If whisky and distillery tours are your jam, make sure to visit this Isle! It’s a bit of a challenge to get there, so make sure you stay at least 2 nights to make it worth your time.

Transporation

Catch THIS ferry to the Isle. The trip will take about 2 hours and make sure to reserve in advance so you can grab a spot for your car.

Hotel

Stay at the Islay House in Port Ellen so you are near distilleries, the ferry and more food options.

Best Distilleries To Visit

  • Lagavulin – tours areΒ Β£6, orΒ£35 for the ultimate experience. I gave my husband a bottle of Lagavulin 16 on our wedding day. It’s a great tour to start with.
  • Bowmore – tours are Β£7 and tastings start at Β£20. This brand is a top-notch whisky brand, so head here if you’re a whisky nerd.
  • Laphroaig – tours are Β£10 and include a tasting of 3 drams. If you want to get your hands dirty try their Β£15 peat harvest experience. Or, if you want to go really big, do their Β£100 ultimate water tour which is over 4 hours long and allows you to live as a distiller for a day.
  • The Botantist gin – if you need a break from whisky, this gin is fantastic. It’s made from 22 different botanicals which are forged on the island. Tours are onlyΒ Β£5.

The Isle of Skye


The Isle of Skye was my favorite part of Scotland. The drive from the Low Lands to the Highlands will take your breath away. The seafood here is the best in the world.Β Make sure to stay at least 2 nights in the Isle of Skye to make enough time to relax and see everything.

Hotel

Stay at the Sligachan outside of Portree so you can wake up in nature.

Eat

At the Sea Breezes for the best seafood dinner of your life. Make sure to call for reservations – they usually book up fast each night.

Top Things To Do

  • Hike The Old Man Of Storr
  • Visit the Fairy Pools
  • Whiksy taste at Tasliker or visit a local brewery
  • Shop in downtown Portree for local wool goods
  • Tour the Eileen Donan Castle

Want more Isle of Skye ideas? Read my whole blog post dedicated to the Isle here.

My Ultimate Scotland Travel Guide is on whimsysoul.com today! Link in bio to read ✨ * * In the Isle Of Skye, we woke up before sunrise to make it to the Fairy Pools before anyone else. Everything in Scotland felt so magical. If you’re just a little curious about Scotland, make sure to check the blog post out… or just book tickets asap because I already can’t wait to get back. #scotland #lovescotland #whimsysoultravels #fairypools #isleofskye

A post shared by KARA // Whimsy Soul (@thewhimsysoul) on Oct 29, 2017 at 6:36pm PDT


portree scotland

fairy pools isle of skye orange skirt woman
old man of storr isle of skye
seafood platter
isle of skye scotland
scotland highland cow

Loch Ness


On your way down from the Isle of Skye, make sure to spend 1-2 nights along Loch Ness so you can go hunting for Nessie. Yes, I’m serious. There are a lot of fun to visit places made popular in songs, books and media. Just like Loch Lomond, Loch Ness offers plenty to see, do and eat for a relaxing few days if you are looking for more nature time.

Hotel

Stay at theΒ Loch Ness Lodge & SpaΒ for a luxurious stay on the loch. You’ll find sweeping views and stunning rooms.

Eat

Head to the charming Dores Inn for homebaked food and killer views of the area.

Things To Do

  • Visit theΒ Urquhart Castle
  • Hike theΒ Falls of Foyers
  • Hunt for the Loch Ness Monster
  • Cruise on the loch

St. Andrews


Are you a golf fan? If so, make sure to add a night or two at St. Andrews. We didn’t have time to stop here, but Robin was geeking out about the idea of playing a roundΒ at Royal St. Andrews.

Hotel

Lodge at the Macdonald Hotel for a luxury stay next to the courses.

Eat

Head to the Blackhorn for a great burger between rounds of golf.

Things To Do

  • Golf at the Royal St. Andrews
  • Tour the Eden Mill distillery
  • Visit the St. Andrews Castle
  • More golf?

Edinburgh


There are a lot of things to squeeze in while traveling to Scotland, but the best city is Edinburgh! Make sure to spend at least 3 nights here to allow time to explore the winding, magical streets of this city. Edinburgh quickly made my list of most beautiful cities in the world. Everything feels magical and almost out of Harry Potter which is understandable, considering JK Rowling wrote the first few books while living here)

Return Your Car at the airport and take the Airlink downtown. There is wifi on the bus, it takes about 30 minutes. You can buy your ticket onboard with cash.

Hotel

Stay at the Ibis Hotel for a good location, small but cute rooms and a decent free breakfast.

Eat

For food, my favorites were the Elephant House (where JK Rowling wrote) and Oink down Victoria Street for an amazing pulled pork sandwich.

Drink

Grab at drink at the Big Lebowski bar for the most creative themed bar I have ever been to. Make sure to try a few different cocktails, they are all so fun and unique.

Things To Do

  • Visit the Edinburgh Castle – go right away in the morning to avoid crowds.
  • Walk around Old Town Edinburgh for charming streets.
  • Stroll the Princes Street Garden.
  • Visit the National Gallery (it’s free!)
  • Hike to the top of King Arthur’s Seat


I hope this helps you plan an amazing trip to Scotland! We both fell in love with the country on our honeymoon and can’t wait to go back. If you have any questions or need advice about traveling to Scotland, please please leave a comment below and we’ll get back to you asap! Or, if you have tips to add, leave a comment!

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2 comments
  1. Skyler says:
    October 30, 2017 at 1:12 pm

    I can’t wait to go here! It seriously loos GORGEOUS. I’m very into the fall muted colors.

    xx
    -Skyler
    navigatingthis.com

    Reply
    1. Kara says:
      November 13, 2017 at 4:13 pm

      You would LOVE it here!!!! Put it on your list ASAP girlfriend!

      Kara

      Reply

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Under the desert sky ✨🏜 Our apartment has been SUPER cold the past few days & making me miss our week in Scottsdale last month. Especially the heat and all the towering saguaros, aren't they so fun?? 🌡🌡🌡 I've been writing up a storm over on whimsysoul.com and have a few new Scottsdale blog posts you should check out if you're planning a trip to Arizona. My favorite new post is my Scottsdale Bachelorette Guide! If you're a Type A planner like me and in charge of putting together a bach party for your lady next year, make sure to check my guide out and see why Scottsdale is like, the PERFECT place to party! πŸ‘°πŸ™Œ β € 757 17
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