Photo: Gary Campbell-Hall, CC BY 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons
Nine days for two: four unhurried days on foot in Edinburgh, with the castle, the hills and a long dinner on the Shore, then five days by car north and west through Stirling, Loch Lomond, Glencoe, Skye and Loch Ness to Inverness. Slow mornings, one special evening and a lot of castles and lochs.
From average weather, 2021 to 2025: days that are warm but not hot, with few rainy days, score highest. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
The Old Town on foot, from the castle on its rock down to the palace. A slow day with time to stop, and a long street to wander at the end of it.
The castle stands on a volcanic rock above the city, with the royal apartments and the Honours of Scotland, the crown jewels, inside. Book a time ahead and arrive early.
Go when Morning, with a time booked ahead, before the crowds arrive.
Local tip Walk the full circuit of the walls for the views before you go into the rooms. The view over the New Town is as good as anything inside.
The High Kirk of Edinburgh, with a crown-shaped spire, tall stained glass and the carved Thistle Chapel. A quiet interior in the middle of the busy street.
Go when Late morning, once the castle is done.
Local tip Find the Thistle Chapel, a small, richly carved room tucked into a corner. Look up at the roof, which is carved like lace.
A thick, creamy soup of smoked haddock, potato and onion, a Scottish classic. A bowl and a slice of bread make a warm, filling lunch.
Local tip Look for it on the lunch menu of a small café off the Royal Mile.
The long street that runs downhill from the castle to the palace, lined with tall old houses and narrow alleys called closes. Duck into a few and see what is at the end.
Go when Afternoon, then again in the evening when the street is calmer.
Local tip Turn off the main street into the closes and wynds. The best views and the quietest corners are down the alleys.
The royal residence in Scotland, at the foot of the Royal Mile, with the ruins of an abbey beside it. Check ahead, because the rooms close when the royal family is in residence.
Go when Afternoon, then walk into the park.
Local tip Step out to the ruined abbey next to the palace. It is a short wander and a quiet place to sit.
Haggis is a savory pudding of oats and spiced meat, served with mashed turnip and potato. Order a small portion first, because it is rich.
Local tip Ask for it with a peppery sauce, as many Scots do.
A day of open air. An extinct volcano in the morning, a monument and a garden in the middle, and a small hill for the evening light.
An extinct volcano in the park beside the palace. The walk to the top is short but steep in places, and the view covers the city, the coast and the hills.
Go when Morning, on a clear day, with good shoes.
Local tip Take the long way up for a gentler climb, or stop at the first crag for much the same view. Take layers, because the top is windy.
A tall Gothic tower, built in honor of the writer Sir Walter Scott, on Princes Street. The stair to the top is narrow, so go only if that suits you.
Go when Mid afternoon, on a clear day.
Local tip The stair is narrow and steep, so go only if you are comfortable with that. The monument itself is worth a look from the gardens.
Sunken gardens under the castle rock, with lawns, statues and a flower clock. A good place to sit and look up at the castle.
Go when Afternoon, between the monument and the hill.
Local tip Sit on a bench on the sunny side and look up at the castle on its rock. It is the classic view.
A warm scone with jam and clotted cream and a pot of tea, the classic afternoon pause. Find a café with a view of the gardens.
A small hill of monuments, with an easy climb and a wide view over the city and the sea. A calm place to watch the light fade.
Go when Around sunset (about 9:18 PM), then stay as the lights come on.
Local tip The climb takes only a few minutes, and the view of the castle and the sea is worth it. Bring a layer in case the wind is up.
Scottish salmon, smoked or seared, with potatoes and greens. A light dinner after a day on the hills.
Local tip Choose a restaurant in the New Town and sit down early, while the light is still good.
A softer, greener day. A museum and an old graveyard in the Old Town, then a hidden village in a gorge and a garden for the afternoon.
A big museum of Scottish history, science and the natural world, with a grand glass hall. The roof terrace has a view of the castle and the old town.
Go when Morning, when it is quiet.
Local tip Start in the grand hall and choose a gallery or two. It is a place to wander, and an easy one for a wet morning.
An old graveyard with a view of the castle and the story of a loyal little dog, whose statue stands at the gate. A quiet stop between two busy streets.
Go when Midday, before lunch.
Local tip Walk in quietly, and be mindful that this is a graveyard. Look for the view of the castle from the far wall.
Stovies is a comforting stew of potato, onion and meat, cooked slowly. A traditional dish that suits a gray day.
Local tip Eat it with oatcakes and a small beetroot salad if it is on offer.
An old mill village tucked in a gorge on the Water of Leith, with stone houses and a river path. Walk the path toward Stockbridge.
Go when Afternoon, then walk the river path to Stockbridge.
Local tip The village is tiny and most of the joy is in the path along the Water of Leith, which feels far from the city.
A large, calm garden with glasshouses, tree-lined paths and a view back to the skyline. In late May the spring flowers are out.
Go when Late afternoon, when the light softens.
Local tip Walk up to the rock garden for a view of the city. The glasshouses are a good place to be if a shower comes.
Venison is a Scottish favorite, served rare or roasted with root vegetables and a rich sauce. A dinner for a cool evening.
Local tip Ask the server what the sauce is made from, and share a dessert after.
A slow last Edinburgh day, ending in the evening you have been saving: a long dinner by the old harbor at Leith, with the light still in the sky.
A village-like corner of the city with small shops, cafés and a river path. Take your time over a slow morning.
Go when Morning, with a coffee and no plan.
Local tip Walk the lanes behind the main street, then follow the river path for a few minutes of quiet.
Shortbread is a buttery Scottish biscuit, crisp and not too sweet. Have a piece with a pot of tea at a café in the village.
The royal yacht, now moored at Leith, with the rooms kept as they were. A glimpse of how the royal family traveled by sea. Check ahead for entry.
Go when Midday, before the walk to the Shore.
Local tip Take your time in the private rooms; they feel more like a family home than a palace.
In Scotland a fish supper is battered fish with chips, eaten hot from the paper. A simple, hearty lunch beside the harbor.
Local tip Add a splash of vinegar, and eat it on a bench by the water.
The old harbor of Leith, lined with restaurants and bars in former warehouses and with the water beside it. A fine place for the special dinner of the trip.
Go when Early evening (about 9:18 PM), with a table booked ahead.
Local tip Walk the quay first, then sit down for a long dinner. Ask for a table by the window or outside if the evening is mild.
Leith is known for seafood, from langoustines and mussels to fresh fish. A long dinner by the water makes a fine centerpiece for the trip.
Local tip Book a table ahead, and ask for a seat by the window.
The first day by car. A castle and a tower in Stirling, then west to a village on the shore of Loch Lomond. Collect the car this morning.
A castle on a high rock above the town, where Scottish kings and queens lived. The views from the walls reach across the plain to the hills.
Go when Morning, before the crowds.
Local tip Walk the walls and look across to the monument you will visit next. The Great Hall is the room to see.
A tall stone tower on a crag, built to honor the hero William Wallace. A spiral stair leads to a view over the valley, so go only if you are comfortable with it.
Go when Midday, if the weather is clear.
Local tip The stair is steep and tight. If you would rather not climb, the view from the car park is a fair one.
A Scotch pie is a small, round pie of spiced mutton in a crisp crust, served hot. A cheap, traditional snack for the road.
Local tip Eat it hot, with a cup of tea, on a bench near the monument.
A pretty village of stone cottages on the western shore of the loch, with a small pier and a pebbly beach. A calm place for an hour by the water.
Go when Afternoon, with a walk to the water.
Local tip Walk onto the pier and look across the loch. Keep an eye out for midges in still weather near the water.
Lamb from the Highland hills, roasted or slow-cooked, with potatoes and local vegetables. A hearty dinner by the loch.
Local tip Ask the server to recommend the lamb of the day.
A day of empty moor, a dramatic glen and a famous railway viaduct. The road is the point, so take it slowly and stop at the viewpoints.
A huge, empty moor of heather, bog and small lochs beside the road. It is a quiet, wild landscape, and a good place to stop and look back.
Go when Morning, on the way to the glen.
Local tip Stop at a safe lay-by and listen. The silence is the thing. Do not wander far from the road, because the ground is soft.
A steep-sided glen of high mountains and waterfalls, with a sad history told in the visitor center. Stop at the roadside viewpoints and check the weather before you walk.
Go when Morning, before the traffic builds.
Local tip Use the viewpoints beside the road, and check the weather before you set out on a walk. The mountains can change character quickly.
Scotch broth is a hearty soup of barley, lamb and root vegetables, a perfect meal for a mountain day.
Local tip Eat it with a thick slice of buttered bread.
A curved stone railway viaduct crossing a green glen, known from films. On some days in season a steam train crosses it, so check ahead for the schedule.
Go when Afternoon, and check ahead if you hope to see a steam train.
Local tip Take the marked path up to the viewpoint, and keep behind the barriers. The path is short, but it can be muddy.
A tower at the head of Loch Shiel that marks where Bonnie Prince Charlie raised his banner in 1745. The view down the loch is lovely in the evening light.
Go when Evening (about 9:18 PM), when the loch is calm.
Local tip Look down the loch from the foot of the tower. The light on the water is lovely late in the day.
A pub in the glen will serve pies, stews and fish, with a fire in the grate on a cool evening. Simple food after a long day.
Local tip Book a table ahead if it is the busy season.
West to the sea. A small castle on an island, then over the bridge to Skye, with a castle by the sea loch and the harbor town of Portree for the night.
A small castle on an island where three sea lochs meet, joined to the land by a stone bridge. One of the most photographed castles in the country, so go early.
Go when Early morning, before the tour coaches.
Local tip Walk across the bridge for the interior, but take your first photographs from the road, where the whole island is in the frame.
The west coast is known for its seafood, including sweet, plump scallops, often seared in butter. Look for them on the menu of a coastal café.
Local tip Ask whether they are from nearby waters.
The seat of Clan MacLeod for centuries, on a sea loch, with gardens beside it. The chief’s family still lives here.
Go when Afternoon, then drive on to Portree.
Local tip Walk the gardens by the sea loch as well as the castle. The setting is what makes it.
The main town of Skye, with a small harbor and colorful houses along the water. A good place to wander in the evening and have a quiet dinner.
Go when Evening, for a walk along the harbor.
Local tip Walk down to the quay for the view of the painted houses, and book a table early if you want a window.
Restaurants around the harbor serve local seafood, lamb and beef. Walk the quay and pick a place with a view of the boats.
Local tip Book ahead, because the town is small and busy in the season.
A day of wild scenery. A rock pinnacle, a string of pools under the mountains and a lighthouse at the far edge. Check the weather and road conditions ahead, and go gently.
A tall rock pinnacle on a ridge above the sea. The path is steep and can be muddy, so check the weather and wear proper shoes.
Go when Early morning, on a clear day. Check the weather ahead.
Local tip The path is steep and can be slippery. Go only if the weather is settled, and turn back if the cloud comes down.
A string of clear blue pools and small waterfalls beneath the Black Cuillin mountains. The path crosses streams that can run high after rain, so check conditions ahead.
Go when Mid afternoon, if the weather is settled and the water is low.
Local tip Wear boots, because the path crosses streams that rise after rain. Check parking and conditions ahead.
Oatcakes are plain, crumbly biscuits made from oats, and they are very good with a sharp Scottish cheese. A light lunch that travels well.
Local tip Pack it in your bag before you set out, because the cafés are far apart.
A lighthouse at the western tip of the island, reached by a steep path down a grassy headland. A place for the last light of the day, if the weather allows.
Go when Evening, around sunset (about 9:18 PM), if the weather is clear.
Local tip The path down is steep and the climb back is tiring. Take a layer, because the wind at the point can be strong.
A pub or inn on the island will serve soup, pies and stews, and the portions are generous. Simple food after a long walk.
Local tip Check ahead for a late table, because some kitchens close early on the island.
The way east along the great glen, past the loch and a ruined castle, to Inverness. End the trip with a quiet evening by the river.
A small village at the south end of Loch Ness, where the Caledonian Canal climbs through a flight of locks. Walk to the water and watch the boats.
Go when Morning, with a coffee beside the locks.
Local tip Watch a boat work through the locks, then walk along the water’s edge. You are at the foot of Loch Ness.
The ruins of a castle on a headland over Loch Ness. Walk the old walls and look down the loch, where the monster is said to live.
Go when Midday, when the loch light is bright.
Local tip Walk to the tower on the headland and look down the loch. If it is clear you will see a long way.
A traditional Scottish soup of chicken, leeks and sometimes prunes. A homey bowl beside the loch.
Local tip Ask for a slice of oat bread to go with it.
The moor where the last battle on British soil was fought in 1746. It is a quiet and moving place. Check ahead for the visitor center.
Go when Afternoon, with an unhurried hour.
Local tip Walk the path across the moor and read the flags that mark the lines. It is a place for quiet, not for noise.
The Highland capital, on the River Ness, with a riverside path crossed by footbridges. A calm place for a last walk and a last dinner.
Go when Evening, for a walk by the river.
Local tip Cross the footbridges and walk on both banks of the River Ness. The city center is small and easy on foot.
A table by the river for the last night of the trip. Order something Scottish, and finish with cranachan, a dessert of raspberries, oats and cream.
Local tip Book ahead and walk along the river before you sit down.
By average weather from 2021 to 2025, June to September are the most comfortable months for walking around Edinburgh. This plan is built for late May, which is a good month. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
It covers 9 days in Edinburgh, planned for late May. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.
It was planned for couples. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.
No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.
Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.
Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.
Each day has about 1.1 to 80.0 miles between its stops, and 273.2 miles in all across 9 days. A short hop is a walk and a longer one a ride. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.
8 days in the Scottish Highlands and Skye by carAbout 80 km awayAn easy add-on
4 days in Manchester and LiverpoolAbout 360 km away
3 days in Lerwick for Up Helly AaAbout 440 km awayOther guides with a page about Edinburgh. Each one opens in a new tab.
WikivoyageEdinburgh, the free travel guideCondé Nast TravelerEdinburgh travel guideTime OutThings to do in EdinburghThe GuardianEdinburgh travel featuresPhoto: Enric, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Stephencdickson, CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons · Photo: No machine-readable autho…, CC BY-SA 3.0 on Wikimedia Commons · Photo: wfmillar, CC BY-SA 2.0 on Wikimedia Commons
Make it yours in a minute, then move days around and add what you want.
A trip idea · Updated October 2026
Want your own days planned like this? Plan your own trip on the web or get the Archie app.
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