With its fairytale castles, beautiful lochs, and romantic highlands, Scotland has always been a place full of magic and superstition. We spent the last week in Scotland on our 2nd honeymoon celebrating our 20 year wedding anniversary. It’s the first time we have been away from all our boys in 18 years. Of all the places we have been, Scotland has been my absolute favorite. It truly felt like taking a step back in time. There is no place more magical than the Scottish highlands. Here is my ultimate guide through the fairytale country of Scotland, and how to plan the perfect Scotland vacation.
Day 1: Edinburgh, Scotland
We flew into Edinburgh, Scotland. There are several airports you can fly into it just depends on where you would like to start your road trip through Scotland. We found that Edinburgh was the perfect place to start our Scotland vacation. There are so many amazing hotels to stay in, but we chose the Hilton Edinburgh Carlton because of its perfect location in Old Town. Another great hotel option in Old Town is The Scotsman Hotel. We spent the afternoon getting all settled in at our hotel. That evening we went out to explore and do a little souvenir shopping. While in Scotland, you must bring home a beautiful Scottish scarf and a wool coat. There are so many cute souvenir shops and restaurants in Old Town Edinburgh. We decided to have burgers and fries at a little cafe called Byron, and they were absolutely delicious. They were still celebrating the Queen’s Jubilee when we were there so Brandon had the Elizabethan Burger. We are big Outlander fans so after dinner we explored a few of the filming locations in Edinburgh. Here are a few of the places we explored: Bakehouse Close(where Jamie’s printshop was located), Tweeddale Court(Claire reunited with Fergus)Tolbooth Tavern, World’s End Pub, and the Palace of Holyrood House.
Day 2: Edinburgh, Scotland
We woke up early the next morning to explore the fairytale streets of Edinburgh. It was raining a little that morning, but we grabbed our umbrellas and headed out. We had the streets to ourselves so it turned out to be the perfect morning. We walked down the famous Royal Mile and Victoria Street. We took pictures in the rain at the beautiful Vennel Viewpoint. One of the most beautiful views of Edinburgh Castle. Around every corner was something new to see and explore. We decided to stop at The World’s End Pub for lunch. As an Outlander fan, we could not wait to eat here. It’s such a neat pub inside with so much old world charm. The fish and chips and Mac and cheese are amazing.
After lunch, we visited Edinburgh Castle. You can purchase tickets online or right at the gate to the castle. Edinburgh Castle is amazing! It’s a must see on any Scotland vacation. We spent several hours exploring the castle and learning all about its history. We then decided to head back to the hotel to get ready for dinner. I planned a special anniversary dinner at The Witchery by the Castle. It was the most romantic restaurant I have ever been to. I highly suggest making reservations ahead of time. We had the most delicious dinner. We ended the day by going to watch a movie at the Scotsman Picturehouse. It’s an old time movie theatre located in the famous Scotsman Hotel in Old Town Edinburgh. It was like taking a step back in time. The movie theatre shows both new and old movies. You can even order popcorn and drinks. We had the most amazing day in Edinburgh.
Day 3: Outlander Filming locations near Edinburgh
The next morning we set out on an Outlander adventure. We visited 5 different filming locations in this order:
1. Midhope Castle: I could not wait to visit Midhope Castle or Lallybroch to all the Outlander fans. It was like a dream come true. This castle was one of the places I was most looking forward to visiting. They were filming the next Outlander season while we were there. If you notice the blue storage container in the background of my pictures, it’s part of the set for the next season. I can’t wait to watch the next season to see what happens here. Midhope Castle is only about a 30 minute drive from Edinburgh. There is a small parking lot right at the entrance to the castle. It only costs 6 pounds to enter, and is open from 9:00-5:00. You can buy your tickets online or at the entrance to the castle. Be sure to check the website to make sure it is not closed for filming.
2. Blackness Castle: Next, we headed to Blackness Castle or Fort William to all the Outlander fans. It’s only a short drive from Midhope Castle. There is so much history that took place here. It was built in the 1400s and was even used during WWI. You can’t help but wonder what it was like here hundreds of years ago and who walked through this castle. Blackness Castle is also used in several episodes of Outlander.
3. Doune Castle: We were so excited to visit Doune Castle. It’s in two of our favorite shows. In Outlander it’s known as Castle Leoch, the house of Clan MacKenzie. It’s also in Game of Thrones as Winterfell in the first episode. Unfortunately, when we visited it was still under construction so we were not able to tour the castle. It should be open soon. It’s such a neat castle with so much history. We hope to visit on our next Scotland vacation.
4. Drummond Castle Gardens: Drummond Castle Gardens are the most beautiful gardens I have ever seen. After watching Outlander, I could not wait to visit these gardens. In the show, they are used as the Palace of Versailles gardens. We visited the gardens at the end of the day and had the place all to ourselves. It started to rain a little, but it just made the gardens more magical.
5. Falkland Village: Falkland Village or Inverness to all the Outlander fans is such a cute and quaint village. This cute village was used as 1940s Inverness in Outlander, and as soon as you enter the village you feel like you have taken a step back in time. There are several Outlander locations in Falkland: The Bruce Fountain (Where the ghost of Jamie looks up at Claire), Mrs. Baird’s B&B (It’s actually called The Covenanter Hotel and you can even stay in the same room as Claire and Frank), Farrell Furniture Store: This is actually called Fayre Earth and its the same window Claire looked in and saw the blue vase. It’s the perfect Scottish village to visit on your next Scotland vacation.
We had a delicious dinner and the most amazing Scottish waffles at The Covenanter Hotel. Since the Outlander room was booked for the night, we decided to head north to our next destination on our Scotland vacation. We stopped for the night at the most magical hotel. The Hilton Grand Vacations Craigendarroch is not far from where the Queen spends her summers at Balmoral Castle. The hotel and lodges are set in the most beautiful location. It was the perfect place to stop for the night before our adventures the next day.
Day 4: Craigievar Castle, Balmoral Castle, and Culloden Battlefield
Craigiever Castle: We woke up early the next morning, and headed to Craigievar Castle. Nestled on a picturesque hillside in the Scottish Highlands, this elegant pink castle is so beautiful and enchanting. Craigievar Castle is said to be the inspiration for Walt Disney’s Cinderella Castle. The castle is open for tours from 10:30-4:00, but the castle grounds are open from dawn to dusk. We arrived early and had the entire castle to ourselves. There is a parking lot right next to the castle with a machine to pay for parking. This is my favorite castle in Scotland, and a must see on your next Scotland vacation.
Balmoral Castle: Balmoral Castle is the Scottish holiday home to the royal family. When the Queen is not in residence, you can tour the castle. We were there during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. There is a parking lot next to the entrance to the grounds of the castle. You are given a map to help explore the entire grounds and castle. The castle grounds are so beautiful and peaceful. I can see why the Queen loves it here so much. You can only tour a few rooms of the castle. My favorite part was getting to see all of the Queen’s ball gowns on display. They were so gorgeous. There is also a cute cafe where you can have lunch and tea. We had the most wonderful time and its a must see on your next Scotland vacation.
Culloden Battlefield: After watching Outlander, we could not wait to visit the Culloden Battlefield. The battle of Culloden took place on April 16, 1746. It was here that a tired Jacobite Army made its last stand against the British. The Jacobites fought to restore the exiled James VIII as King and were led by Prince Charles Edward Stuart, James’s son; George II’s government army (led by the Duke of Cumberland, George’s son) was equally determined to stop this happening. This battle would change the history of Scotland and the highland culture forever. There is an amazing museum that I suggest visiting before you explore the battlefield to give you an idea of everything that happened on that terrible day. Then you are able to walk along the trails of the battlefield that tell you the story of how the battle transpired. There are flags to show where the Jacobite and English soldiers where located in the battle. There are also stones to mark where the different clans lost their lives in the battle.
After leaving the battlefield, we headed to the most amazing hotel, The Culloden House Hotel. At the time of the Jacobite uprising in 1745-46, Bonnie Prince Charlie used Culloden House as his lodging and battle headquarters prior to the fateful battle on Culloden Moor. Today, it has been turned into the most beautiful hotel with an amazing history. The Culloden House is one of the most magical places I have ever stayed. I felt like I had stepped back in time. We went outside before dinner to take a few pictures and it started to rain. I ran for the hotel and the bagpipes started playing as I was running and it felt like I was transported back in time. If you are visiting the battlefield, you must stay here. It is such a beautiful and romantic historic hotel.
Day 5: Isle of Lewis: Calanais Standing Stones and Gearrannan Blackhouse Village
After an amazing breakfast at The Culloden House Hotel, we headed for the ferry in Ullapool to take us to the Isle of Lewis. From Ullapool it’s a two and half hour ferry ride to Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis. You are also able to bring your car over, which is what we did. The ferry is amazing and even has a cafe and coffee shop. We did have one slight problem. After checking the weather, we found out that a tropical system would be passing over the island when we were there. The wind and rain was so crazy. The ferry ride was a little rough, but once we got to the island the winds had really picked up. We didn’t let that stop us because we only had a day on this island before our next stop. We headed straight to the Calanais Standing Stones.
Ever since watching Outlander, I couldn’t wait to visit the stones in Scotland. Brandon lost me at the stones and thought well I guess she’s gone, just like in Outlander. He finally found me. I was so excited to see them that I raced ahead of him. You are able to get right up to the stones and wander through them. I did touch them but I guess I’m not able to travel through time. The Calanais Stones are absolutely amazing. The stones are over 5000 years old. They are older than the famous Stonehenge. They were an important place for religious and ceremonial activities. There is a visitor center with a small museum that tells the history of the stones. You can even have a bite to eat at the small cafe. It is such a magical and mystical place! Its a must see on your next Scotland vacation!
Next, we headed to Gearrannan Blackhouse Village. On a hilltop overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, is a group of traditional Scottish houses. Black houses or at least their ruins are found all over Scotland. This village of black houses remained occupied until 1974. As you walk around and look inside the black houses you are instantly transported back in time. It’s amazing to see how they used to live back then. You can even stay the night in one of the black houses. There is also a cute cafe and gift shop in the first black house. After our visit, the weather was starting to get bad so we headed back to our hotel. There are not a lot of hotel choices on the island. We stayed at the Caladh Inn, and it was perfect. We had a nice dinner and then headed back to get some rest before the next day’s adventures. There is so much to see and do on this island. I would recommend staying a few days to enjoy everything the Isle of Lewis has to offer.
Day 6: Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle, Eilean Donan Castle, and the Isle of Skye
The next morning we woke up early to catch the ferry back to Ullapool. We enjoyed a delicious breakfast and coffee on the ferry. After we arrived back on the mainland, we headed to Urquhart Castle which overlooks Loch Ness. Urquhart Castle is the perfect place to stop and search for Nessie. When I was little, I remember my grandparents visiting Scotland and telling me all about visiting Loch Ness and looking for Nessie. We sat for hours as they told me about their trip. I never thought I would actually get to visit the places they told me about. I know they were looking down on me and smiling. Urquhart Castle is located on the banks of Loch Ness and has so much incredible history. There is a museum at the entrance where you can watch a movie about the history of the castle before you head out to explore the ruins. Urquhart Castle really is the best location to spot the mystical Loch Ness Monster. We had the most magical time.
Next, we headed on to Eilean Donan Castle. It is one of the most breathtaking castles in all of Scotland. It was Brandon’s favorite castle we visited. It is situated on a small island in the western highlands of Scotland. There is a beautiful footbridge that connects the castle to the mainland. It is said to be the inspiration for the Disney movie Brave. It was raining when we visited, but it made it that mush more magical. Its not far from the Isle of Skye bridge so if you are visiting you have to stop and visit this amazing castle.
After exploring this amazing castle, we headed across the bridge to the Isle of Skye. The Isle of Skye is one of the most magical and enchanting places I have ever been. The Fairy Glen was our first stop. It was like something out of a fairytale or Lord of the Rings. My parents visited this place a few weeks before us and hid a little treasure for us to find. We had the best time searching for the treasure and exploring this magical place. Brandon climbed to the very top of the highest peak. It definitely felt like we were in a movie. We ended the day staying at the Cuillin Hills Hotel and it was the most magical hotel on the island. We had an amazing dinner and just relaxed and enjoyed the rest of the evening.
The next morning after a delicious breakfast we headed to the Glenfinnan Viaduct to watch the Jacobite Train also known as the Harry Potter Train cross the bridge on its journey through Scotland. It crosses twice a day at 10:45 and 1:15. Unfortunately the morning we went it was raining so hard and it was so foggy that we could not even see it. We hope to bring our boys back next summer to see it because they love Harry Potter!
So we headed on to the next stop of our Scotland vacation, Inveraray Castle. Ever since watching Downton Abbey, I could not wait to visit this magical castle in the Scottish Highlands. Inveraray Castle or Duneagle Castle for all the Downton Abbey fans is in one of the most beautiful areas in the highlands. We fell in love with this castle. We had the most amazing day touring the castle, exploring the gardens, and having lunch in the cute tea room at the castle. When we returned home, Brandon’s uncle sent him all their family history from Scotland. We found out that his ancestors were from the Clan Campbell and lived in this castle. We had no idea when we visited this castle. Now I know why I have so many redheads!
It was finally time to head back to Edinburgh. We spent the night in the magical Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh. Known as The Caledonian it was built in 1903 and is one of Edinburgh’s most significant landmarks. There were amazing views of Edinburgh Castle from our room. We stayed in the rest of the evening and enjoyed an amazing dinner in this gorgeous hotel.
Day 7: Princess Street and Ross Fountain
After having an amazing breakfast at the Waldorf, we headed to the Princess Street Gardens to see the Ross Fountain and the amazing views of Edinburgh Castle. This was our last stop before we had to leave Scotland. I kept telling Brandon that I have to see this fountain before we leave Edinburgh. I’m so glad we made it. Ross Fountain was built in the 1800s and is in the heart of Princess Street Gardens. The best part is the amazing views of Edinburgh Castle. It was a great way to end our amazing Scotland vacation.
Scotland is the most magical and beautiful country I have ever traveled to. I hope you enjoyed my ultimate guide through the fairytale country of Scotland. I hope you have the most magical time on your Scotland vacation.
Read more about fairytale places to visit in Europe:
Ultimate Guide to the Fairytale town of Cochem, Germany