Scotland
Castles, Highlands and the Hogwarts Express crossing the Glenfinnan Viaduct: Our road trip through Scotland, driving on the left.
- Posts
- 9
- Photo spots
- 12
- Travel years
- 2023
- Latest
- 10/04/23
Scotland welcomed us with pubs and live music, then refused to let go with castles, cliffs and lonely single-track roads through the Highlands.
From Edinburgh via Dunnottar Castle, Loch Ness and the Whaligoe Steps to the Isle of Skye, the Glenfinnan Viaduct and Glen Etive: Here are all posts from our Scotland road trip, including the first nervous kilometres of driving on the left.
- Photo spot
- Stage
- Route (straight line)
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8 stages as a list
Posts from Scotland
· 1 min
Doune Castle - Stirling Castle - Basel
The Scotland trip ends royally: Doune Castle from Game of Thrones and Monty Python, imposing Stirling Castle, and our last 14.43 pounds spent at the airport.
· 2 min
Glen Etive
James Bond vibes in the Skyfall valley: We recreate the famous film photo and end up on a small farm in Auchtubh in the evening, card game included.
· 2 min
Glenfinnan Viaduct
The Jacobite Steam Train steams across the Glenfinnan Viaduct. Harry Potter goosebumps included, plus Loch Shiel aka The Black Lake.
· 1 min
Eilean Donan Castle - Old Man of Storr
The picture-book castle of Eilean Donan, a clipped wing mirror on the way, and the windy hike to the Old Man of Storr on the Isle of Skye.
· 1 min
Oldshoremore - Stoer Lighthouse - Ullapool
A stormy day in the Highlands: Wild waves on the paradise beach of Oldshoremore, narrow single-track roads with a sheep in the mirror, and Stoer Lighthouse.
· 3 min
Dunrobin Castle - Whaligoe Steps - Duncansby - Kinlochbervie
A packed day in Scotland's far north: Dunrobin Castle, the Whaligoe Steps, John o' Groats and Duncansby, until we reach Kinlochbervie late in the evening.
· 2 min
Johnshaven - Golspie
Dunnottar Castle on its cliffs, Highland cows by the roadside, and a hunt for a sharp photo of Nessie that ends in the tourist trap of Urquhart Castle.
· 2 min
Edinburgh - Johnshaven
Edinburgh with pubs, stone houses and bagpipers, then the first nervous kilometres driving on the left and the 3000-year-old Standing Stones of Lundin.
· 1 min
Basel - Edinburgh
The Scotland trip begins with an evening flight, the castle lit above the city, local beer, two single malts and a pub where everyone ends up dancing.
12 photo spots
All on the map →Doune Castle
56.1852° N 4.0503° W
The castle is known from Game of Thrones and Monty Python. Here we picture ourselves back in some of the film scenes shot there.
Duncansby Stacks
58.6320° N 3.0300° W
Best time: Afternoon · seabirds in early summer
Jagged sea stacks in the surf at Scotland's northeastern tip. The short clifftop path from the lighthouse keeps opening new angles.
Dunnottar Castle
56.9459° N 2.1972° W
Best time: Golden hour · drone
A castle ruin on a headland above the North Sea, sheer cliffs all around. Best seen from the meadow to the south.
Dunrobin Castle
57.9822° N 3.9453° W
Best time: Morning
A fairytale castle with pointed turrets on the east coast, surrounded by formal gardens. A subject even from outside.
Eilean Donan Castle
57.2739° N 5.5164° W
Best time: Blue hour · low tide
Scotland's most photographed castle on its little tidal island. At low tide the castle and stone bridge reflect in the wet flats.
Glen Etive
56.6296° N 4.9214° W
Best time: Evening light · autumn colours in October
The lonely glen from "Skyfall". A single-track road winds 20 km between mountain cones and the river down to Loch Etive.
Glenfinnan Viaduct
56.8763° N 5.4312° W
Best time: Late morning for the steam train · May to October
The famous railway viaduct from the Harry Potter films. From the viewpoint hill the Jacobite steam train rolls straight through your frame.
Old Man of Storr, Isle of Skye
57.5066° N 6.1735° W
Best time: Sunrise · all year
Skye's iconic rock pinnacle above the east coast. After roughly 45 minutes of climbing, the view opens over pinnacles, lochs and the sea.
Oldshoremore Beach
58.4781° N 5.0898° W
White sand and bright blue, clear water. On our visit it is windy and rainy, so we watch the wild waves instead.
Standing Stones of Lundin
56.2133° N 2.9612° W
Best time: Low sun
Three massive standing stones in the middle of a field, no fence, no visitor centre. First stop heading north.
Stoer Lighthouse
58.2400° N 5.4026° W
Best time: Sunset
A lighthouse at the end of a narrow, winding road. The path to the Old Man of Stoer is often muddy, but the view is worth it anyway.
Whaligoe Steps
58.3457° N 3.1615° W
Best time: Late morning · with a swell
365 steps cut into the rock, down to a tiny harbour between cliffs. The sea roars at the bottom.