NorahI am a tried and true Scotland lover, and I have so much to say about this spectacular place. There is a LOT of activities to do while in Scotland, and in this guide I will be giving you, in my opinion, the absolute mandatory experiences in order to truly see and experience Scotland. Are some of these things touristy? Yes, absolutely. However, every part of this beautiful country should be explored and cherished, touristy elements included! In this post I will include my top 10 experiences and adventures for your first trip to Scotland! These are perfect for your Scotland adventure!
Here we go! In or particular order, here are your top ten Scotland experiences:
Hike Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh.
This very famous hike offers absolutely stunning views of the city, and is such an iconic and classic Scotland experience. We found it to be a bit steeper than expected, but the view at the top was really spectacular. There are multiple different ways to hike up the mountain, but I recommend the way your GPS will take you-this route was straightforward, easy to follow, and offered great views the whole way. Be warned-it is very windy at the top of Arthur’s Seat-hold on to your hat!
I have a whole blog post with a one day Edinburgh itinerary!
Walk along the Royal Mile, also in Edinburgh.
The Royal Mile is a historical and stunning strip of shops, restaurants, and museums right along the heart of Scotland’s Old Town area. Picture Diagon Alley, and you probably have a good idea of what the Royal Mile looks like. This area was beyond beautiful, and the amount of interwoven history in this region of the city was spectacular. Seriously-there is SO much to explore, from serial murderers to whisky tours to the Harry Potter of it all. Edinburgh is one of the most spectacular cities I have ever had the privilege of traveling to, and the Royal Mile is a big reason why the metropolis is so special. This area is a must visit on your Scotland adventure.
Try haggis.
Haggis is a traditional Scottish dish-it is a savory pudding made primarily of sheep’s heart and mixed with oatmeal and onion. It is traditionally served with potatoes and turnips. I know, I know. It sounds like a lot, but it is actually so incredibly good! It is warm and especially filling, which I really enjoyed in the chilly Scottish weather. I am vegetarian, but did not have an issue finding vegetarian haggis in the cities.
See a coo.
Coos are traditional Scottish Highlands cows, and they are just about the cutest things I have ever seen. They have especially thick fur because of the rough winters in the Highlands, but they are really spectacular creatures.
I thought that cos would be everywhere in Scotland, but they are actually not quite as common as you might think. Because of this, I really recommend stopping any chance you get to see them, because you do not know if it will be the last time!
It is difficult to give exact coordinates, but the coos in this picture were located on the main road between Inverness and Isle of Skye-we just happened to see them along the side of the road!
Visit Loch Ness.
This is turning into quite the touristy list, but you simply must visit Loch Ness on your first trip to Scotland. The extremely famous lake is absolutely stunning, and the chance to witness Nessy in the wild is unmatched. We stayed in the nearby town of Inverness, and really enjoyed the area. There is lots to do at Loch Ness, including a boat tour, swimming in the lake, or visiting Urquhart Castle. For anything in and around Loch Ness, I would recommend booking things well in advance.
Take a road trip through the Highlands.
My road trip through the Scottish Highlands was easily one of my very favorite travel experiences to date. I have a whole blog post about my experience, but I highly recommend spending some immersive time in the Highlands. The countryside is absolutely beautiful, and there are so many stunning castles to see, hikes to take, and roads to explore. I recommend starting in Inverness and then exploring some of the isles! Inverness is a good place to start for a Scotland adventure in the Highlands.
I have a whole blog post about my six day Scottish Highlands road trip, if you are interested in doing some trip planning!
Get out on the water.
There are so many ways to get out on the water in Scotland. For a long time, my friend and I were convinced we should do a basking shark tour, and completing one of those is still at the very top of my bucket list. We did complete a puffin tour, which was an absolutely amazing experience that I highly recommend.
See the Isle of Skye.
Yes, Isle of Skye is a very popular tourist destination. However, in my experience this is an absolute must do experience! I highly recommend putting in the effort to spend some days in this region and explore some of the otherworldly landscapes. My favorite hike was the Old Man of Storr, but there are literally hundreds of hikes and experiences to have! I personally believe this is a must on any Scotland adventure.
Explore Glasgow or Aberdeen.
These are really spectacular and interesting cities that are also worth a stop on your Scotland trip. Both cities have spectacular architecture, great food, and wonderful shopping. These cities are frequently skipped over on a first time trip to Scotland, but I believe they are spectacular!
Stay in a bothy!
Bothies are an iconic feature of the Scottish landscape. They are essentially backcountry shelters that are scoured all throughout the Highlands, but they have also become a string of cute Airbnbs and bed and breakfasts. We stayed in a small bothy for our last night on our Scotland road trip, and it was so, so fun, Think tiny house vibes with the moody Scotland weather-it was a dream. My only regret is not spending more time at the bothy.
Scotland is truly a country like no other, and one that I treasure so, so much. I hope that these activities can give you a starting point for an amazing trip and inspire your future adventures!
Be sure to check out my YouTube videos about my Scotland adventure!
