Planning a trip to Scotland in September
As the wedding butterflies quiet down, I started itching for a holiday. We knew that finding time in our busy schedules would prove tricky given we’d already had a busy first half of the year. Until 2024, I had held an Indian passport and the list of countries accessible to me without a lengthy visa process remained rather short and confined to the Schengen area. My brand new German passport offered wider possibilities and The UK suddenly became attractive. Neither of us had ever been to Scotland and the wide range of hikes combined with a good Scotch whisky made it an easy pick. Here’s everything you need to know about planning a trip to Scotland.
Getting to and around Scotland
Flights & Stays
We used Skyscanner to find the best flights for our trip. We are at the age where we actively elect to return on a Saturday so we can use the Sunday to relax before our first work day 🙈. KLM remains our preferred airline not only because of the air miles program but also because of their service. They are probably the last remaining airline that still includes a light snack in the airfare. The baggage add-ons are transparent and easy to understand as well.
We used Booking.com to book all our stays. We booked approximately 6 weeks before our intended travel date and that’s quite late even for us. Most of the properties were already booked out and the remaining ones were priced based on high demand. We learned from fellow travellers that it’s often the case that you’ll see properties opening up last minute as travellers tend to cancel their flexible bookings based on their adjusted routes. I wouldn’t advise to wait for this scenario.
Driving in Scotland
We are long-term users of Sixt and always rent through them. We made some errors in our calculated pick up and drop off times (we were really stress-booking this holiday) and there were no available cars when we arrived. A bit of eyelash fluttering helped and they took pity on us honeymooners. We ended up with a manual KIA despite booking an automatic. Adjusting to the right-hand drive took a day or so, but my husband is a rather excellent driver.
We stayed in Applecross - a 90 minute drive from the Isle of Skye - when hiking Fairy Pools and Old Man of Storr. The NC-500 is a scenic route, but be prepared to have your driving and reflexes tested. You’ll wonder how these roads are for two-way traffic. It can get cramped and tricky when you cross paths with campers. Always remember to pull over at the passing place on your side of the road in the direction of travel. Never cross over and wait on the other side even if you are the first to reach the passing place.
Can you pay contactless in Scotland?
We did not withdraw any cash before or during our stay in Scotland. We missed out on a cafe we really wanted to eat at in Edinburgh because their contactless system was down 🤷🏻♀️. There are plenty of ATMs around but we didn’t see the point of holding currency we don’t use often. At the Kelingrove Art Gallery in Glasgow (free entrance) the parking meter accepted only cash. My husband made the executive decision to park nevertheless and we ended up paying a £50 fine 🙈! Internet is indeed not the best in Scotland, especially as you move further towards the highlands and you’ll find many parking meters slow or non-functional.
Dining & Drinking in Scotland
Restaurants & Whisky Tours in Scotland
We made our reservations at the Edinburgh Chart Room and The Palmerston a few weeks in advance. The Palmerston was fully booked for dinner the day we went, but we were able to walk-in and secure a lunch spot at Makar’s Mash. It goes without saying - if you are eating fancy, make a reservation. For small cafes and restaurants, walk-in should be fine.
If you are passionate about whisky or just hoping to discover it, you might be intrigued by the distillery tours. If you head to the distillery belt, you could even distillery hop! Most distillery tours tend to be fully booked. We were unable to secure a spot at Talisker or Balvenie and ended up with Glenlivet.
Read my posts about eating & drinking in Scotland
All the (vegetarian) food we ate in our 11 days in Scotland
Our Distillery Tour Experience - Glenlivet “Reflection”
Sports & Weather
Playing Golf in Scotland
Scotland being the birthplace of golf, you might find yourself fancying a round or two while you’re there. I was thinking of surprising my husband with a round but found it difficult to (a) find available tee times and (b) fit them into our road trip. Some clubs have a lottery system, so read up and plan in advance. We did not end up playing any golf this time around, but definitely plan to be visit again so my husband can play his favourite sport.
Hiking in the Highlands
The Scottish countryside is blessed with beautiful landscapes. Even if you are not the strongest hiker, put on some sturdy boots and head out. You should carry at least a light rain jacket and add a warm layer or two if you plan on climbing a few hundred metres.
Hiking in Scotland
From easy to difficult, Scotland has a wide range of hikes to offer for all types of hikers - new and experienced.
Read more
September weather & midges in Scotland
We read all the posts about packing our rain jackets - umbrellas are no match for the Scottish wind. But we were extremely lucky. Despite the occasionally overcast skies, we did not see any rain during our stay in Scotland. Of course, it’s a totally different story if you are hiking! We were soaked during our climb to the top of Ben Navis and also on our hike to see the Old Man of Storr.
It was too late in the year for midges. We were told that we might still encounter them so we asked everywhere we went if we needed extra protection. But in the end we did not need any nets or sprays.
Tech & Gear
Do you need to bring plug adaptors?
I bet my husband we wouldn’t need them as hotels come with USB sockets. He was extremely annoyed to find me correct 😂 Of course, carrying a plug adaptor is never a bad idea but don’t be too hard in yourself if you do indeed forget to bring one (like my husband did).
Where to find camera gear in Scotland?
I realised the night before our flight that I had possibly left my Canon battery charger in my office in Düsseldorf. It was no longer possible to order a replacement from Amazon. I tried my luck finding a charger in both Edinburgh & Glasgow but had no luck. I tried Wex Photo Video in Edinburgh and Jessops in Glasgow. They were very friendly and helpful. If you are only looking for film, you’d definitely have an easier time. I saw plenty of Portra 400 at Jessops.
Hopefully this post answered most of your questions about planning a trip to Scotland. If there’s something I didn’t cover that is burning a hole in your mind, drop me a comment and I’ll happily respond.
Read my other posts about visiting Scotland
COMING SOON
11 days in Scotland for our honeymoon
Hiking in Scotland: Ben Navis, Fairy Pools, and Old Man of Storr
All the (vegetarian) food we ate in Scotland
The Glenlivet Reflection Distillery Tour Experience
48 hours in Edinburgh
Shopping in Scotland
Should you get an Explorer Pass for Scotland?
Glenfinnan Viaduct: All aboard the Hogwarts Express!
