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Our favorite itinerary through Edinburgh, St Andrews, the Highlands, and the Isle of Skye
Scotland holds a special place in our hearts this year. Lillie just celebrated her wedding in St Andrews, so it felt like the right time to put together our favorite Scotland recommendations and how to immerse yourself in Scottish culture. St Andrews is also hosting the 155th Open Championship next July, and now is the perfect time to start planning if you’re thinking about attending.
Whether you’re hoping for a reset in the Highlands, looking for a more active trip with hiking and time outdoors, or planning a heritage tour, Scotland has so much to offer. Below are our top recommendations for our favorite itinerary and how to experience Scotland like a local, including Edinburgh, countryside stays at two iconic properties, St Andrews, and the Isle of Skye.
Edinburgh: Start in the Capital
We like to have our clients start in the capital. Edinburgh is walkable, easy to navigate after a transatlantic flight, and gives you a grounding in Scottish history before heading north. Our favorite properties here are 100 Princes Street, Gleneagles Townhouse, and The Balmoral, a Rocco Forte Hotel, with 100 Princes Street at the top of our list: it’s a boutique, design-forward property in an enviable spot next to the National Gallery, and some rooms look straight out at Edinburgh Castle.
For experiences, we love a private whisky tasting, an insider Harry Potter tour, crafting your own gin, and an early morning walk up Arthur’s Seat before the crowds arrive. Save an evening for The Kitchin, Tom Kitchin’s Michelin-starred restaurant in Leith built around seasonal Scottish produce, and another for The Devil’s Advocate, a lively restaurant and whisky bar tucked into a Victorian pump house in one of the closes off the Royal Mile.
St Andrews: The Home of Golf
Just an hour from Edinburgh, along Scotland’s rugged east coast, sits St Andrews. While best known for golf, the charming town has it all: cobblestone streets, medieval ruins, sweeping beaches and centuries of history with a surprisingly lively collection of restaurants, pubs and shops. Spend the morning walking the expansive West Sands beach, explore the ruins of St Andrews Cathedral and Castle, and wander through town. And, of course, even non-golfers should make their way to the Old Course, where the famous Swilcan Bridge and the Royal & Ancient clubhouse form one of Scotland’s most iconic views.
For a stay in the heart of it all, Rusacks St Andrews sits directly beside the 18th hole of the Old Course and pairs a clubby, character-filled atmosphere with some of the best golf views in town.
Just beyond the course, the Old Course Hotel offers a larger resort experience, complete with extensive golf and renovated spa facilities and views across the links toward the sea.
The newest addition is Seaton House, bringing a fresh luxury option to St Andrews from its enviable position overlooking the Old Course.
Into the Countryside
After a few days along the coast, head inland for an entirely different side of Scotland. Gleneagles is the quintessential Scottish country escape: a grand estate surrounded by rolling countryside where days can be as active or indulgent as you like. Beyond its three golf courses, guests can try falconry, horseback riding, shooting, off-road driving and countryside walks before returning for afternoon tea, a treatment at the spa or dinner at one of the hotel’s restaurants. Conveniently located about an hour from Edinburgh Airport, it is also an exceptionally easy addition to a Scottish itinerary and a wonderful place to begin or end a trip.
Continue farther into the Highlands and the landscape becomes wilder and more dramatic. In the village of Braemar, The Fife Arms is a destination in itself: a Victorian coaching inn transformed into one of Scotland’s most distinctive hotels. Its interiors are filled with an extraordinary collection of art and antiques, while the surrounding Cairngorms invite days spent hiking, fishing, stalking, picnicking and exploring Highland estates. Where Gleneagles embodies the polished Scottish country estate, The Fife Arms feels more eccentric, romantic and deeply rooted in the Highlands. Together, they offer two very different interpretations of Scottish country life and also a beautiful contrast to the seaside charm of St Andrews.
Over the Bridge to Skye
Isle of Skye is known for some of the most dramatic scenery in Scotland, with rugged mountains, sea cliffs, and waterfalls around every turn. It’s home to the Cuillin, the most striking mountain range in the country, and to some of Scotland’s deepest Gaelic and clan history, from Dunvegan Castle to the island’s role in Bonnie Prince Charlie’s escape after Culloden. Our go-to experiences on Skye are a private guided hike to the island’s most famous viewpoints, a long seafood lunch overlooking the water, and a private tasting at Talisker Distillery on the shores of Loch Harport. Skye takes some effort to reach, so logistically it’s easiest to have a private driver take our clients from Gleneagles or The Fife Arms, with a stop at Eilean Donan Castle just before crossing the Skye Bridge. Our top pick is Kinloch Lodge, the historic Macdonald family home on the shores of Loch na Dal, named the best hotel in Scotland last year.
We also love the Cuillin Hills Hotel, set above Portree Bay with views across to the Cuillin mountains. Most of Skye’s best sights are in the north and west of the island, and our favorite itinerary looks like this:
Day one: The Old Man of Storr, then Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls, then the Quiraing
Day two: The Fairy Pools, then Talisker Distillery, then Dunvegan Castle
On the way out: Inverness, with stops at Culloden Battlefield, Loch Ness, and Urquhart Castle
Until Next Time, Scotland
From Edinburgh to the Isle of Skye, we’d love to curate your next Scotland trip. Get in touch to start planning, and with the Open coming to St Andrews next July, now is the perfect time to book.
