Itinerary: 5 Days in Scotland
Read our recommendations for a relaxed 5 day trip to Scotland. Part of our Scotland Itinerary Series!
We’re back! And we’re continuing our series of itineraries..
Today’s post - recommendations for a 5 day trip to Scotland.
A few points to note:
Your experience in Scotland can be quite different depending on what season you’re visiting.
We have a whole blog post about that topic which you can read here.
Our personal preference? We recommend Autumn/Fall. Vibrant colours, fewer visitors and a low chance of midges!
We also highly recommend renting a car.
We understand that driving on the left can be scary for some people. Julien gets it, coming from France, where they drive on the correct side of the road(!). But it honestly isn’t that bad once you get going, and your brain will do the switch.
You might want to take the full cover insurance when renting a car as you will likely get close to the curb (something which may or may not have happened during his first trip to Scotland…).
Alas! Our itineraries are collections of what we genuinely recommend for how we like to travel.
We like to travel comfortably. We don’t rush to tick boxes. We like to take it all in and invest more on having a better experience.
Please proceed knowing these are honest recommendations from outlanders who fell in love with Scotland a decade ago, and are so very lucky to call this place home.
5 Days in Scotland..
If you only have less than one week in Scotland, and certainly do not wish to spend most of it on the road, this itinerary is for you.
We believe it is possible to be efficient with each precious day, yet still enjoy a leisurely paced schedule, in order to comfortably soak in as much of the beauty this country has to offer.
Let’s explore!
Day 1 & 2
📍 Edinburgh
Whether it’s your first, fourth, or fifteenth visit to Scotland, you simply must spend some time in Edinburgh.
It is one of the most beautiful and captivating cities we’ve ever visited.
It feels more like a village than a city, especially in the Old Town, which is where we would recommend spending your time if you’re only in the country only for a few days.
You will love exploring the many passageways and courtyards that line the Royal Mile, meandering along the ancient cobbled stone streets, and walking up (or down!) the famous Victoria Street.
You might like to partake in a spot of shopping. Find yourself a tailored suit from Walker Slater, or a tweed coat made in Scotland by Elizabeth Martin, available at the Scottish Textile Showcase.
There are many great shopping opportunities, and still many artisans making goods by hand, like Mackenzie Leather.
Why not getting yourself a kilt? You’ll find traditionally handmade kilts at Gordon Nicolson Kiltmakers. And for the ladies, they sell a beautiful range of tartan accessories.
For dinner, we recommend Cannonball, Howies or Under the stairs.
You can find plenty more recommendations in our Edinburgh Guide for Couples.
Day 3
📍 A castle hunt to Stirling
If you’re travelling to Scotland there’s a chance you’re interested in seeing some of our ancient castles and romantic ruins..
It’s a cliché for a reason - Scotland has an insane number of castles!
You won’t find more castles concentrated in one area than along the Firth of Forth, just north of Edinburgh. So what better place to spend a day castle-hunting!
You can start in the city, and drive either clockwise or counter-clockwise along the firth to Stirling, stopping to explore the castles that call to you en route. And it’s comfortably doable all in one day.
There are even a few some of you might recognise from the little known television production, what’s-its-name.. Outlander?
Here’s just some of the castles you could visit:
Midhope Castle & Hopetoun House
You could even go see the famous Pineapple!
And of course, the mighty Stirling Castle.
You can find our castle hunt map, along with pins for our other recommendations here!
Day 4 & 5
📍 Scottish Borders
You might be surprised not to find Glencoe or Skye in this guide.
They are magnificent parts of Scotland, of course.
But if you’re visiting for less than a week, going all the way to Skye would mean spending a lot of time driving.
We’d rather drive less and do more.
(Plus, you’ll come back to Scotland anyway, no one can come to Scotland just once!)
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The Scottish Borders is a true hidden gem of Scotland.
It’s the region lying south of Edinburgh, and as the name suggests, borders Scotland with England. It has an immensely rich history, in part due to it’s positioning, as well as incredible landscapes one might mistake for more rugged locations further north.
It is also overlooked by most visitors, which makes it a uniquely quieter and serene part of Scotland to explore.
And if you’re visiting in Summer, this region has far fewer midges. An important bonus!
So what is there to do in the Scottish Borders?
Let’s start with the rich history..
The region is home to four romantic ruined Abbeys: Melrose, Jedburgh, Kelso and Dryburgh.
Each are special for their own reasons, but our personal favourite has to be Dryburgh Abbey. Nestled on an idyllic bend on the river Tweed, the ruin is by far the most charming. And the surrounding countryside is unrivalled in its beauty.
You can even stay at the Dryburgh Abbey Hotel and wake up to a view of the ancient landscape.
A few miles down the road, and also situated on the river Tweed, you will find Abbotsford House.
This fairytale estate was once home to the beloved Scottish author Sir Walter Scott. Famed for more than just his excellent written work, Scott has been renowned for his role in romanticising Scottish culture during the dawn of the 19th century.
You can visit the house, the beautiful walled garden and take a scenic walk by the river.
And if the wondrous architecture of stately homes is what you’re after, Mellerstain House will tick the right boxes. Gazing upon the impressive façade as you take a leisurely stroll through the immaculate landscaped gardens will easily make you feel like a character on the set of Pride & Prejudice.
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A good and central place to stay would be the town of Melrose which offers great coffee and food options: Twelve Triangles (where you might bump into us) or Provender for a local fine dining experience.
And after discovering our architectural gems, we suggest spending your last day in the wilds of nature with a visit to an area we like to call ‘the mini Highlands’.
St Mary’s Loch sits at the heart of the Yarrow Valley, and is the largest loch in the region. It’s loved by locals for watersports and camping, but we love the area because of the impressive views (and of course, photography opportunities!).
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If, unlike us, you are particularly into hiking and are prepared for a more challenging climb during your trip, the Grey Mare’s Tail Waterfall hike is one of the best in the region.
An hour hike up and beyond the top of the waterfall will lead you to Loch Skeen. A truly remote and undisturbed loch surrounded by yet more rolling hills.
It’s a breathtaking view, made more impressive by the lack of tourists and immense solitude.
For well deserved rest and recuperation after your outdoor adventures we recommend heading to the town of Moffat.
Hugo’s is a great option for all day food, and The Black Bull Inn is a classic cosy pub steeped in history.
Driving around the area certainly makes for a proper day out in the Scottish countryside, but with far fewer visitors than the hot spots in the north of Scotland. Which is what makes it all the more enjoyable!
And finally, if you enjoy a dram of two of ‘liquid gold’ and wish to tour a distillery during your time in Scotland, fear not! The Scottish Borders is home to one of those too.
Glenkinchie Distillery is the lowland home of Johnnie Walker. We haven’t yet toured the distillery, but we do love their whisky and love being able to share a local dram with clients!
Et voilà !
Thank you for reading our recommendations for 5 days in Scotland! We hope this guide has inspired you for your travels.
And don’t forget - if you want to make your trip to Scotland even more significant we offer fun and relaxed couple photoshoot sessions in the Scottish countryside! You can have a romantic experience and bring home even more stunning memories of your time exploring Scotland as a couple.
Visit our website to learn more and request our availability to receive our complete brochure.
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When are you visiting and what are you most excited about seeing?
Much love,
Rose & Julien