A Week in Scotland: Castles, Whisky, & the Wild Beauty of the Highlands

We landed in Edinburgh, picked up our rental car, and immediately began our road trip through the Highlands. Our first stop was Stirling Castle, a historic fortress perched high above the city with sweeping views.

From there, we continued to The Glenturret Distillery, Scotland’s oldest working distillery—and, fittingly, home to the whisky that had just won Whisky of the Year. We did a private tasting and tour, followed by a long lunch at The Glenturret Lalique Restaurant, a Michelin-starred spot that felt like the perfect welcome to Scotland.

Afterward, we drove on toward Inverness, the gateway to the Highlands. The scenery along the way was stunning—winding roads, rugged peaks, and that endless Highland light. We arrived in time to stretch our legs along the River Ness and explore the peaceful town center before turning in for the night.

The next morning, we set off for Loch Ness, where we explored Urquhart Castle, perched right on the water’s edge. Then came one of my favorite surprises of the day—a short, quiet hike in Glenmoriston, with views over the lake. We barely saw another person the entire time, just rolling hills and the soft sound of wind through the grass.

From there, we continued our drive toward Isle of Skye, stopping first at the picture-perfect Eilean Donan Castle, one of Scotland’s most photographed landmarks. By evening, we made it to Skye and managed to catch a sunset at Neist Point Lighthouse, where cliffs drop dramatically into the sea. It was breathtaking.

If I could relive one day of travel forever, it would be this one. The weather was sunny, and clear—perfect for a full day of hiking. Although it was incredibly challenging hiking all of these hikes in one day (I wouldn’t recommend it to most), we definitely earned our dinner.

We started with a stop in Portree, Skye’s colorful harbor town, before heading to the Old Man of Storr—easily the island’s most famous hike and understandably crowded, but the views were so worth it.

Next, we drove to Brothers Point, a hidden gem where we had the trail completely to ourselves. Peaceful, wild, and dramatic—it was one of our favorite hikes ever.

We made quick stops at Mealt Falls and then tackled The Quiraing, a rugged, otherworldly landscape overlooking the sea. Every turn felt like a painting.

That night, we had dinner at The Three Chimneys, an intimate, Michelin-starred restaurant that instantly became our favorite of all time. The drive there, through golden evening light over the moors, was pure magic.

After breakfast, we visited Talisker Distillery for a whisky tasting with sea views, then began the scenic drive south through the Highlands.

We took the Glen Etive Road (a must for any James Bond fan—it’s featured in Skyfall) and admired the Three Sisters of Glen Coe, stopping at pull-offs just to sit by waterfalls and soak it all in. We even watched kayakers brave the rapids while we enjoyed the mountain views.

By late afternoon, we had arrived in Oban, a charming port town on the west coast. We wandered along the waterfront and ended the night with classic fish and chips by the harbor.

We left Oban and drove toward Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, where we spent the day biking through scenic trails and lakeside paths. After our 20+ mile-ride, we celebrated with a well-earned beer (and wine for me!) in the adorable town of Aberfoyle.

Then it was time to head to Edinburgh, where we checked into the Kimpton Charlotte Square—a beautiful hotel that I can’t recommend enough. We ended the day with dinner and whisky at Whiski Bar, soaking up the city’s cozy, lively energy.

Edinburgh is such a walkable city, full of history and atmosphere. We started the morning strolling through Princes Street Gardens, then climbed Calton Hill for panoramic views. Lunch at El Cartel hit the spot (the tacos were fantastic), followed by a visit to Edinburgh Castle, which dominates the city’s skyline.

Right after, we stopped at the Scotch Whisky Experience, where we learned more about Scotland’s whisky regions and enjoyed a tasting—a fun and flavorful way to cap off our castle visit.

Dinner was at The Scran & Scallie, a Michelin Bib Gourmand gastropub serving comforting Scottish fare. We ended the night in true Scottish style—with a nightcap and live bagpipes at a local pub.

Before our flight, we wandered the nearby shopping streets and grabbed lunch at the Lebanese restaurant attached to the Kimpton, BABA—an unexpected gem and one of the best meals of the trip. Then it was time to say goodbye to Scotland and head back home.