15-day tour in Scotland - 15 essential places to visit

Why choose to tour Scotland?

Because I wanted wide open spaces, wild coasts, magnificent landscapes with mountains, lakes, cliffs, islands… Also because I wanted to discover a culture steeped in legends and stories, a rich and varied heritage… Because I had always heard that it is a real experience to go to Scottish pubs, to drink and dance with them… For all these reasons, in August 2015, it was decided: we were going on a road trip in Scotland.

When to go for a 15-day tour in Scotland?

Obviously, we do not choose Scotland for the sun! It is important to remember that going to Scotland is to take sweaters, hats and rubber boots!

Scotland has a temperate oceanic climate. I had read that summers are generally cool (15 to 20°C on average) and damp, and that winters are very harsh, even more so in the north of the country. In theory, the period from May to September is the best time to visit Scotland . In fact, we went in August, and for 15 days, it rained every day except the last (in Glasgow). Not to alarm you, but we even experienced temperatures around 8°C in the Highlands.

So, based on my experience in 2015, I would say that there are really only two seasons in Scotland : the season of extreme cold (from November to March) and the season of bearable cold (from April to October). And Scotland must inspire a great deal of passion, affection, and fascination for tourists to brave all its precipitation!

What transport for a 15-day tour in Scotland?

After comparing quite a few organized tours, self-drive tours and other themed tours to combine or personalize, I couldn't find the right alternative that would allow me to visit all the places I had pre-selected (see below). below) and which would also allow me to contact the Scottish people to share with them their culture and their gastronomy.

I concluded that the car is the only way to visit even the most remote corners of Scotland and the most convenient for eating and sleeping wherever you want.

A road trip in Scotland is freedom, yes, but it's also an experience!

Indeed, in Scotland we drive on the left and it is quite surprising especially when we approach the first roundabouts which disturb our automatisms and our habits ...

The advantage in Scotland is that even the craziest motorists learn by force to be careful and to drive slowly.

Indeed, the higher you go in the Highlands, the more the road network deteriorates. The country roads (fortunately little used) quickly turn into small winding paths very narrow. In fact, they are so narrow that only one car can drive them. Yes, but these are two-way streets! It is therefore to be able to allow cars to pass each other that the Scots have planned Passing places. These are spaces on the side of the road that allow you to stop to let the car pass in front. Know that these sidings are also useful in front of a flock of sheep ...

Also know that in Scotland, it is better to anticipate and fill up with gasoline as soon as you have the opportunity. Indeed, gas stations are quite rare in some parts of Scotland, so it is better to plan.

What budget for a 15-day tour in Scotland?

AIE Aie Aie ! It is the subject that annoys.

When we went in 2015 the pound sterling was strong and as the prices were also hefty our budget, despite the cold, got very hot and melted very quickly!

Everything was expensive there: gasoline, food, restaurants and even whiskey. The Scottish national drink is taxed at almost 70% in Scotland. We therefore paid more expensive bottles of whiskey in Scotland than in France. But it was too stupid to visit a distillery and not bring back a souvenir ...

Since visiting Scotland is expensive, here's how we managed to limit costs and tour Scotland in 15 days on a small budget :

- Take your own vehicle for its road trip in Scotland even if you have to travel more than 3 km and take a ferry, it is still more advantageous than taking a plane and renting a car there. Don't forget your GPS!

- Go by car with 2 couples to share the transport costs. So by taking a single car, we halve the costs of the motorway, gasoline, parking and as a bonus we have a good time!

- Find some cheap places to eat (I will tell you about some good little restaurants later), go nibble in pubs, stop for fish and chips by the side of the road or have a good, hearty breakfast to eat light afterwards ...
- Find some cheap places to sleep : see below my selection of Bed and breakfast and bycheap hotels for my 15 day tour in Scotland.

Tour of Scotland in 15 days – 15 must-see places

What to see in Scotland ? Which castles to visit in Scotland ? Which distilleries to visit in Speyside ? Where are the most beautiful landscapes in Scotland ? What are the must-sees in Scotland ? I asked myself all these questions to determine the 15 must-see places on my 15-day tour of Scotland.

Here are the 15 essentials I defined when planning my 15-day itinerary in Scotland :