Edinburgh to Edinburgh: Into the Highlands

Edinburgh
 
There is no better place to start off your adventure than from Scotland’s capital city, Edinburgh. Holding a dramatic and historic setting, Edinburgh is the second most visited city in the United Kingdom, and there is so much to see you won’t even have time for boredom! Generally, most places of interest are accessible by walking. However, if you have a chance to get away from the hectic city centre and visit places such as the picturesque Portobello beach or the Edinburgh Royal Botanic Gardens, Lothian Buses offers affordable public transport.
 
If you are planning on staying around Edinburgh for a couple days before setting off on your trip to the Highlands, it’s preferable to avoid having any kind of vehicle in the city. Parking fees are, to say the least, excessive and the whole city is filled with signs and yellow lines that indicate no parking from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm unless you hold a resident permit. Parking overnight though, is free.
 
When it comes to accommodation, Edinburgh is not the cheapest city. If you’re not on a budget, there are many delightful hotels and service apartments, but if you are trying to save some money, hostels are your best option..
 
What should you visit in Edinburgh? It all depends on your priorities as a tourist, of course, but some landmarks you simply cannot miss, such as the Royal Mile or the Grassmarket. The Royal Mile is one of the oldest streets in Edinburgh, where the origins of this city lay and curiously where many witch burning rituals were carried out.
 
Walking the Royal Mile from start to finish could take you hours, unless you’re up for a run! This street runs downhill between two significant locations: the beautiful Edinburgh Castle, which you should visit either early in the morning or late afternoon so you can avoid the crowd, and Holyrood Palace, the Royal Family’s official residence in Scotland, located right by the Scottish Parliament building. Throughout this lengthy street, you will stumble upon many other historic landmarks such as the magnificent St. Giles Cathedral, the monument dedicated to David Hume and several closes and courts, which you should undoubtedly explore.
 
If you find yourself around the castle, you will easily spot the signs that indicate Grassmarket, take the stone stairway and… voilà! A totally different part of the city, where you can walk amongst its colourful stone houses and dreamy cafes, so have your camera ready!
 
If there is something that really makes Edinburgh stand out from other cities, that is how seamlessly its architecture blends the character of the medieval Old Town with the singularity of the Georgian New Town. When visiting the New Town, a stroll through Princes Street, Calton Hill and Dean Village is essential. These three spots, one next to each other, will give you a chance to admire the contrasts between the old and new town.
 
Although Princes Street is best known for being Edinburgh’s main shopping street, don’t let this fool you. This street will astonish with its gardens and stunning views to Edinburgh Castle, and up Calton Hill where the whole city is laid out before you. Situated a few minutes away from Princes Street, Dean Village, also known as the oasis of Edinburgh, is a former village on the water of Leith. In the past, the village was the site of an important mill, and a number of its medieval buildings remain intact to this day which adds to the picturesque charm of the area.
 
Lastly, if you are a film enthusiast, Edinburgh is for you. From George Heriot’s School, which inspired J.K. Rowling to write Harry Potter, The Elephant House, a café where she used to spend time writing her novels, to many spots that were memorialised in films such as Trainspotting, Sunshine in Leith or The Avengers: Infinity War.
 
The Highlands of Scotland are a very isolated area of the country and finding supermarkets or service stations is no easy task, although not impossible. It is better to be safe than sorry, so try to collect as many supplies for the trip as possible before taking off. Don’t forget to fill up the water and gas tank as well. Once you’re all set, it’s time to hit the road!
 
Pitlochry
 
A little over an hour and a half north of Edinburgh you’ll come across the Victorian town of Pitlochry. If you’ve got a bit of time to spend exploring Scotland, you may want to base yourself here for a little while. Not only is Pitlochry right in the centre of Scotland, it’s also surrounded by stunning scenery and handy to excellent walking and climbing opportunities.
 
For those who are only planning to spend a short amount of time in Pitlochry, the town’s two whiskey distilleries are top attractions. Edradour is the smallest traditional distillery in Scotland, and boasts the last single malt whiskey from a farm distillery still in production today. This privately owned distillery functions much as it did when it was founded in the early 19th century, and only produces a very limited amount of whiskey per week. Blair Athol Distillery is even older but it has embraced modern innovations, and incidentally has a series of tours available which are very well reviewed. Remember, if you’re intending to sample a dram or two, make sure you’ve sorted out a sober driver.
 
Cairngorms National Park
 
Shortly after you leave Pitlochry, you’ll begin driving alongside (and then into) Cairngorms National Park. Voted one of the top 20 places to visit in the world by the National Geographic Traveller Magazine, there’s no denying that Cairngorms has been dealt a stellar hand by nature. Ancient forests, majestic mountains and cascading waterfalls abound, and you might even be lucky enough to spot reindeer, golden eagles or capercaillie during your time in the park.
 
If you’re planning to visit in winter, don’t forget to pack your skis. CairnGorm Mountain is the most popular ski spot in the United Kingdom, with 30km of ski runs and an onsite Snow School. The snowy season varies a bit according to weather, but typically it goes from December through to April.
 
Just half an hour after you leave the natural glory of Cairngorms National Park, you’ll find yourself at the final destination for this leg - Inverness.

Inverness
 
Inverness, the capital of the Highlands, is almost a 5 hour drive from Edinburgh. Inverness Castle is right in the heart of the city overlooking the River Ness, along which you can walk following a historic trail. There are plenty of pay and display areas to park so leaving your motorhome for a bit will not be a concern.
 
Inverness elegantly combines old and new with excellent spots for shopping and dining like the Victorian Market and Eastgate Shopping Centre, while those who’d love to connect with historic sites will be keen to witness Culloden Battlefield and Clava Cairns.
 
Loch Ness
 
Although it’s most well known as home to a mythical monster, Loch Ness has plenty of real world reasons for you to visit. Extending for approximately 24 miles (38 km), driving along the widely known Loch Ness could take you almost 2 hours, and this is without including the countless times you will pull over and hop out of your vehicle to behold this amazing creation of nature. Once more, there is no need to worry about your motorhome: there are plenty of parking areas with access to either lookout points or paths that lead to the many rocky beaches along the Ness.
Don’t hesitate to stop as many times as you like - every corner is well worth exploring.
 
If you are interested in seeing more than just natural landscapes, the ruins of the Urquhart Castle are located halfway along the river. First built in the 13th century, Urquhart Castle played a role in the 14th century Wars of Scottish Independence, and was finally destroyed in 1692. Today, it’s one of the most visited castles in all of Scotland and it’s right off of the A82, so make sure to park up your motorhome rental for a while and explore these storied ruins.
 
There are many campsites specifically for motorhomes and campervans such as Loch Ness Shores Camping and Caravanning Club Site or Borlum Farm Caravan & Camping Park, but here is a secret tip for you: look out for picnic areas or parks. There are a few along the river, most of them slightly hidden, where you can park overnight for free and wake up to incredible views. There are a couple of these small lakeside parks towards the end of the river, just a few minutes away from Fort Augustus.

Fort Augustus
 
Whether or not you’re one of those people who need to start their morning off with a good cup of coffee, Fort Augustus is an ideal place to stop for breakfast while you charge your electronic devices or use the free Wi-Fi provided by the VisitScotland tourism office. You might also want to fill up both the water tank and gas tank, or enjoy a stroll around this charming little village dedicated to Loch Ness and its monster Nessie.
 
Fort Augustus is an important tourist small town inhabited by roughly 700 people, mostly known for its location at the southern tip of the Ness. Fort Augustus offers spectacular views and although it might seem tiny, it has everything you need, from cafes and restaurants to craft or souvenir shops, and even a museum.
 
Isle of Skye
 
With a population of around 99,000 inhabitants, Skye is the second largest Scottish island after Lewis & Harris Island as well as one of the top spots to visit in Scotland.
 
The Isle of Skye thrives mainly on tourism and agriculture but craftwork, whiskey distillation, fishing and forestry are also a big part of the island’s economy. Even though the main attractions of the island are its landscapes and scenery, its wildlife doesn’t lag behind. Otters, seals, red deer and golden eagles are just some of the impressive creatures that can be seen on and around the Isle, as well as the Highland Cow, famous for their particularly long reddish hair. Highland cattle are easily found around the whole island, they usually come up in the mornings to fenced areas by the side of the road - don’t be scared to pet them!
 
While there are particular spots on the island that you should not miss, almost every corner is actually worth stopping at, so take it easy and enjoy. However, we do have an itinerary for you, which includes most of the key locations on the island, and the best part is that you can take as long as you want to visit them, since touring the island from end to end only takes about three hours.
 
When you get to Kyle of Lochalsh, be sure to have your camera ready: the bridge you’ll cross to get to the island will delight you with some exceptional views. Once on the island, Broadford will be your first stop. It’s Skye’s second largest village and it has one of the most idyllic beaches, where you’ll likely come to understand why Skye is called Cloud Island. Light in this particular area is misty, giving everything an otherworldly cast.
 
Following the A87 along the coastline, you will come across most of the next attractions below. Only 40 minutes away from Broadford, Portree is the largest town in the Isle of Skye and serves as a centre for tourists.  Surrounded by hills, two of Portree’s main attractions are its colourful harbour and its many cafes with sea views.
 
Around 20 minutes outside of Portree, you will encounter The Old Man of Storr, distinctive rock formations surrounded by hills. If you drive 10 more minutes, you will get to one of the most iconic spots on the island: the 90 meter Kilt Rock, a sea cliff said to resemble a pleated Kilt, and Loch Mealt, an inland loch lying very close to Kilt Rock.
 
The last stop in our route is located slightly further away, to be precise, around an hour and a half away. This is Neist Point, the most westerly point on the Isle of Skye and one of the most essential destinations due to the stunning clifftop scenery and the lighthouse that was built in 1900. This is where you’re likely to spend the most time since the hike down the cliff to the lighthouse and back up takes around 45 minutes. Do not hesitate to take the long walk; the views from the top of the main cliff and the lighthouse are entirely worth it.
 
If you happen to be an animal lover and would like to have a unique experience, a small farm and a craft shop can be found right before reaching Neist Point’s parking area. The owners of this cottage are lovely and very approachable, they will let you pet the tiny lambs and sometimes even feed them a bottle! Don’t forget to also take a look at their original art creations, all made with local wool.
 
If you manage to complete the route successfully, then it won’t be long until the sun goes down. If you prefer to take no chances, Portree tends to be the best option to spend the night, not only because of the scenic spots you can park your motorhome at but also because there are plenty of cafes with great views like Café Arriba where you can enjoy a nice breakfast in the morning before heading out.  Oh! And if you still have a bit of energy, Portree is also an excellent spot to get a taste of Scottish culture and enjoy some local folk music in the evening.

After all your incredible travels, it’s now time to head home. The drive from Portree back to Edinburgh could take up to 7h, so if you’d like to avoid getting stuck in traffic due to rush hour you might want to head out as early as possible.
 
One of the most special things about touring the Scottish Highlands is having the chance to choose your own experience. Sure, you might start out with a plan and an itinerary, but thanks to the freedom of a motorhome rental you can shift and change travel plans as the whim takes you. After all, there’s so much beautiful country in the Highlands that you’ll want to explore as much of the glorious landscapes as you possibly can. Scotland is a real journey for the senses and the soul - rest assured that this trip will remain with you for many years to come.