We had such a great time on our first trip to Scotland that we had to go back and explore more of the country. We arrived in Edinburgh first thing in the morning with no delays getting through immigration or picking up our bags. Picking up our rental car was a short walk from the terminal. Once we got our car we had to get the courage to hit the road! We were tired and now we had to drive on the left side of the road and everything was opposite.

Because we arrived so early in the morning and it was only a short drive to Dundee we decided to stop in Perth and visit Scone Palace. What a perfect spot to spend a few hours! a beautiful palace with gorgeous grounds to explore.

SCONE PALACE

DUNDEE

We spent one day in Dundee to recover from the travel and we enjoyed exploring the city and learning about the history of the jute industry at the Verdant Works Museum. At one time the industry employed more than 50,000 people. Mills would ship jute from India and process it into different products. The jute industry collapsed when mill owners began building mills at the source, India.

DUNNOTTAR CASTLE

We had read about Dunnottar Castle with breathtaking views and a nice walk along the coast to get to it and thought it would be the perfect stop on our drive to Aberdeen. Of course you can always drive to the castle, but what can be more amazing than walking along the coast and to come upon a castle perched on the cliffs. It looked like it was straight out of a fairy tale. We stopped in Stonehaven and followed a path that overlooked the town then followed the coastline to the castle. We were surprised at how crowded the castle was when we got there but when we looked at the parking lot and saw all the busses we understood why.

ABERDEEN

We had a busy day exploring Aberdeen! Seaton Park, St. Machar’s Cathedral, Brig O’Balgawnie Bridge, the University of Aberdeen and Blackwell’s Bookstore. We also went hiking in Forvie Nature Reserve.

SLAINS CASTLE

Did you know that the inspiration of Bram Stoker’s Dracula was Slains Castle. Stoker frequently spent time in the area and many believe the gothic atmosphere as well as the location of the castle on the cliffs was his inspiration. There are two ways to approach the castle, and both require some walking. There is a small parking lot off the main road with a trail to the castle, or you can park in Cruden Bay and take a trail along the coast to the castle. We had originally planned on the first option, but ended up in Cruden Bay by accident so chose to go that route.

INVERNESS

Our longest stay was in Inverness. There is so much to explore in the area, most within an hours drive of the city. The city itself can be seen in a day. Unfortunately the Inverness Castle which overlooks the city, was closed for renovations, but we enjoyed walking around the city and I throughly enjoyed Leakey’s Bookstore.

Glen Affric - hiking to Dog Falls and Plodda Falls - Plodda Falls was magnificent! There was a balcony directly over the the top of the falls that you could look directly down on the falls, super cool!
Clava Cairns - a 4,000 year old cemetery. A quick stop here on our way to Cawdor Castle.
Culloden Viaduct - This was near the cairns so we made a quick detour to the viaduct. It reminds me of the bridge in Harry Potter. The one that was filmed in Harry Potter is the Glenfinnan Viaduct and although we would have like to go there it was too far out of our way.
Cawdor Castle - This is a magnificent castle and gardens, well worth a stop. The castle is still inhabited by the Cawdor family and has been for over 600 years, and is only open from April to October.
Culloden Battlefield - I learned about this battlefield from watching Outlander, so when I found out it was right outside of Inverness we had to stop. It was well worth a visit, while the battlefield is basically just a field that you can walk around, the visitor center has an excellent exhibit on the history of the Jacobite movement.
Loch an Eileen - Located in the Rothiemurchus Forest, there is an excellent walking trail encircling the loch. There is even a small castle ruin on a small island in the middle of the loch!
Knockando Woolmill - I really wanted to visit a wool mill while we were in Scotland. There is such a rich history of wool mills, especially the tweed and tartan fabrics, and I discovered Knockando Woolmill. The mill is over 230 years old and was passed down through generations until 2000, when unfortunately it had fallen into ruin. A trust was set up to restore the historic site and the mill is fully operational again.
Glenlivet Distillery - A distillery tour is a must when you travel to Scotland and there are many to choose from.

ISLE OF SKYE

A stay in the Isle of Skye is a must if you are in Scotland, the scenery is absolutely breathtaking! We only had two days to explore this beautiful island, and we could have used a day or two more. Driving isn’t easy (although driving in Scotland overall isn’t easy), but the sites on the Isle of Skye are farther away.

Eilean Donan Castle - You can’t miss this castle as you get near the island and is a must stop, but be prepared for crowds. Getting there early in the morning or late in the day will save you from some stress, plus it makes for better pictures.
Armadale Castle - We drove to the southwest corner of the island, which seems like the less popular area of the island. Armadale Castle is well worth a visit. The castle is just a ruin, but the grounds are beautiful to walk around.
Old Man of Storr - This is a tough hike and super popular. Get there early if you want to get a parking space. Although it’s only a mile to the top, it’s a very steep climb, but the views are worth it.

Before we headed back we drove a little farther north so I could go to Shilasdair Yarn Shop, which was well worth it. If you’re a knitter and in the area, make sure to stop in and check out their selection of beautiful yarns. We had planned on stopping in Portree on our way back but it was way too crowded. We didn’t even want to attempt to find a parking space.

We just love visiting Scotland and once again had an amazing journey!

Jen & Brendan {August 2025}

Scotland