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How many days in Scotland? 7 days, Edinburgh to Skye and Loch Ness
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Scotland looks compact on a map, but Highland roads are slow, often single-track, and the light and weather decide your day. Give it seven days: two in Edinburgh, then a loop through Glencoe, the Isle of Skye and Loch Ness to Inverness. A hire car gives the most freedom; trains and coaches work for the main towns but not for Skye's viewpoints.
Short answer
Five days fits Edinburgh plus a fast Highland loop with one night on Skye. Seven gives Skye two full days, which matters when rain can wipe out an afternoon.
The 7-day plan, day by day
Day 1: Edinburgh: the castle and the Royal Mile
Morning. Be at Edinburgh Castle for the 9:30 opening with a timed ticket booked online (about £20-24). Allow 2 hours for the Crown Jewels of Scotland, the Stone of Destiny and St Margaret's Chapel, the oldest building in the city.
Afternoon. Walk down the Royal Mile, about 1.8 km of closes and wynds, stopping at St Giles' Cathedral (free, donations welcome) and the underground Real Mary King's Close (tours about £22). At the bottom is the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the King's official Scottish residence.
Evening. Climb Arthur's Seat, the 251-metre extinct volcano in Holyrood Park, in about 45 minutes for sunset. Then eat in the Grassmarket, where pubs like The Last Drop sit beneath the castle rock.
The one o'clock gun fires from the castle every day except Sundays, Good Friday and Christmas Day; be on the ramparts at 12:55 if you want to see it.
Day 2: New Town, Dean Village and Leith
Morning. Start at the free National Museum of Scotland on Chambers Street, whose rooftop terrace gives a castle view, then cross into the Georgian New Town. Walk George Street and Princes Street Gardens to the Scott Monument (287 steps, about £10).
Afternoon. Follow the Water of Leith path 15 minutes from the West End to Dean Village, old mill buildings by the river. Continue on foot or by tram to Leith, the port district, and the Royal Yacht Britannia (about £20), moored at Ocean Terminal.
Evening. Leith's Shore has some of the city's best seafood. Back in town, climb Calton Hill at dusk for the classic view down Princes Street to the castle.
In August the Edinburgh Festival Fringe fills the city; prices for rooms can triple, so book months ahead or avoid that month.
Day 3: Stirling Castle and Glencoe
Morning. Collect a hire car and drive 1 hour to Stirling Castle (about £19), the favourite royal residence of the Stuart kings, with restored Great Hall and palace rooms. The Wallace Monument is a 10-minute drive away.
Afternoon. Head north on the A82 past Loch Lomond and across Rannoch Moor to Glencoe, about 2.5 hours. Stop at the Three Sisters viewpoint and the free Glencoe Visitor Centre, which tells the story of the 1692 massacre.
Evening. Stay around Glencoe village or drive 30 minutes on to Fort William. The Clachaig Inn in the glen serves pub food and dozens of whiskies under the mountains.
Without a car, take a train from Edinburgh to Glasgow and the scenic West Highland Line from Glasgow Queen Street to Fort William, about 3h45.
Day 4: Glenfinnan Viaduct and the road to Skye
Morning. Drive 30 minutes west to Glenfinnan and walk 15-20 minutes up the hill path to watch the Jacobite steam train cross the viaduct used in the Harry Potter films; in summer it usually passes around 10:45 and again in mid-afternoon. The Glenfinnan Monument stands at the head of Loch Shiel.
Afternoon. Continue to Mallaig (about 45 minutes) and take the CalMac ferry to Armadale on Skye, about 45 minutes; book the car space in advance in summer. From Armadale it is about 1h15 to Portree.
Evening. Portree's coloured harbour houses are the classic photo. Book dinner ahead, as Skye's restaurants fill early in season.
If you would rather ride the Jacobite than watch it, book a seat (from about £60-70 return) as soon as sales open in early spring.
Day 5: Isle of Skye: Storr, Quiraing and Neist Point
Morning. Start early at the Old Man of Storr, 15 minutes north of Portree, a steep 3.8 km return walk (about 1.5-2 hours) to the rock pinnacle; the car park costs about £6. Continue along the Trotternish coast past Kilt Rock waterfall.
Afternoon. Walk part of the Quiraing, a landslip ridge with views to the mainland; the full loop is 6.8 km, about 2.5 hours. Drive to Dunvegan Castle, seat of the MacLeod chiefs (about £18), and the Fairy Pools near Glenbrittle for a short walk to the waterfalls.
Evening. Finish at Neist Point lighthouse on the far west tip for sunset over the Minch. It is about 1 hour back to Portree on single-track roads.
On single-track roads, pull into passing places on your left to let cars by, and never park in them. Expect 30-40 km/h average speeds.
Day 6: Eilean Donan, Loch Ness and Inverness
Morning. Cross the Skye Bridge (free) and stop 15 minutes later at Eilean Donan Castle (about £12), on a tidal island where three lochs meet. Then drive about 1h15 through Glen Shiel to Loch Ness.
Afternoon. Visit Urquhart Castle (about £15), the ruined fortress on the loch shore, or take a 1-hour boat trip from Drumnadrochit. Continue 25 minutes to Inverness.
Evening. Walk the River Ness and the Ness Islands footbridges. Then hear traditional music at Hootananny on Church Street, which has live sessions most nights.
The Culloden Battlefield visitor centre (about £14) is 15 minutes east of Inverness.
Day 7: Cairngorms and Pitlochry, back to Edinburgh
Morning. Drive south on the A9 into Cairngorms National Park. Stop at Aviemore or the Rothiemurchus estate for a walk round Loch an Eilein, about 1 hour on a flat path.
Afternoon. Continue to Pitlochry for the salmon ladder at the dam and a tour at Blair Athol or Edradour distillery (about £15-25). From here it is about 1h30 to Edinburgh.
Evening. Return the car and spend a final evening on Rose Street, a lane of pubs behind Princes Street. For whisky, the Bow Bar on Victoria Street has hundreds of malts.
Without a car, the train from Inverness to Edinburgh takes about 3h30 and stops at Aviemore and Pitlochry, so you can still break the journey.
Only have 5 days?
With 5 days, do one Edinburgh day, then Stirling and Glencoe, one day on Skye, and Loch Ness on the way to Inverness, taking the train back. You lose Leith, the Fairy Pools and the Cairngorms.
Got extra days?
Add Glasgow (50 minutes by train from Edinburgh) for its museums and music, the North Coast 500 from Inverness, or a ferry from Oban to Mull and Iona.
Where to stay in Scotland
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Edinburgh Old Town hostels / Highland hostels | Hostels on the Royal Mile and Cowgate; SYHA hostels in Glencoe, Portree and Inverness. | £40-90 |
| Mid-range | Edinburgh New Town / Haymarket | Georgian streets, 10 minutes' walk to the castle, trams to the airport. | £130-220 |
| Mid-range | B&Bs in Portree, Fort William and Inverness | Family-run, with a full Scottish breakfast included. | £110-180 |
| Comfort | Edinburgh five-star / Highland country houses | Grand hotels on Princes Street, or castle and lodge hotels by the lochs. | £250-500 |
Getting around
Edinburgh is walkable; the airport tram to Princes Street takes about 35 minutes (about £7.50), and Lothian buses cost about £2.20 a ride. In the Highlands a hire car is easiest, from about £40-70 a day; drive on the left. ScotRail trains link Edinburgh, Stirling, Inverness and Fort William, and Citylink coaches reach Portree and Glencoe. CalMac ferries need booking in summer.
What to eat in Scotland
Breakfast is the big meal: a full Scottish with black pudding, tattie scones and haggis, usually included in B&Bs. Try haggis, neeps and tatties at least once, Cullen skink (smoked haddock soup), and fresh langoustines and scallops on the west coast. Pub mains cost £15-22. For a sweet, cranachan mixes cream, raspberries, honey and toasted oats. Whisky is everywhere; a dram in a bar is £5-10.
Best time to visit
May to September, with highs of 15-20°C and long days; in June it is light until about 23:00 in the north. Midges bite on the west coast from June to August, so pack repellent such as Smidge. April and October are quieter and cheaper but wetter, and many Skye businesses close from November to March.
Month-by-month weather for Scotland →
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | £45 | £85 | £170 |
| Food & drink | £30 | £55 | £95 |
| Sights & tickets | £15 | £30 | £50 |
| Local transport | £15 | £35 | £70 |
| Total per person, per day | about £105 | about £205 | about £385 |
Approximate 2026 prices in pounds sterling; Edinburgh charges a visitor levy of 5% on accommodation for the first 5 nights, and fuel costs more in the Highlands.
Before you go
Common questions
Can I visit Scotland without a car?
Yes, for Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling, Inverness and Fort William, which are linked by ScotRail trains. Skye is harder: Citylink coaches reach Portree, but the Storr, Quiraing and Neist Point need a car or a small-group tour. Many visitors combine trains with day tours.
Do I need to book the Isle of Skye in advance?
Yes, from May to September. Skye has limited beds and they sell out months ahead, especially in Portree. Book accommodation first, then plan your route around it. Also book the Mallaig-Armadale ferry if you have a car, and reserve dinner tables, because there are few restaurants outside Portree.
Is Loch Ness worth it?
The loch itself is long, dark and deep, and the best way to enjoy it is from Urquhart Castle or on a short cruise. Do not expect a monster: the exhibitions in Drumnadrochit are fun but touristy. If you are short of time, the drive along the loch on the way to Inverness is enough.
What about the weather?
Expect rain on some days at any time of year, and four seasons in one afternoon in the Highlands. Pack waterproofs, layers and proper shoes for walks such as the Old Man of Storr. Keep one flexible day so you can move a hike if the cloud is down.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.
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