Scotland Road Trip Itinerary (7–10 Days, 525 Miles): Castles, Points & Stays
My first trip to Scotland was a mix of wonder and learning curves—adjusting to driving on the left, unexpected parking stress, and under-researching places like Aberdeen. It was unforgettable in the best (and most honest) ways. Since then, I’ve learned a lot about planning smarter, using points more effectively, and creating a Scotland road trip itinerary on points that helps me travel with more intention and save more money.
If you read my first post about Scotland (Scotland Road Trip Itinerary: 400 Miles, Lessons & Points Tips), you’ll know how rewarding and challenging the journey was. In this post, I’ll walk through how I’d plan my Scotland road trip itinerary now: where I’d book differently, how I’d use points to save more, and what I’d change to make the experience even better—from flights and accommodations to saving more points and avoiding stress along the way.
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Award availability, transfer partners, hotel participation, and route schedules can change. The examples in this post are for illustration and may vary by date and program rules. Always confirm terms, fees, and availability before transferring points or booking.
Scotland Road Trip Itinerary (7–10 Days, 525 Miles)
Overview
- Edinburgh to Fort William: about 3.5 hours
- Fort William to Isle of Skye (Portree): about 2.5 hours
- Isle of Skye to Inverness: about 2.5 hours
- Inverness to Edinburgh: about 3.5 hours
Suggested Day‑by‑Day
- Days 1–2: Edinburgh (Edinburgh itinerary focus)
Old Town and New Town highlights, a relaxed pace to adjust after the flight. Consider a points stay near the Royal Mile for easy walking and an early night. - Days 3–4: Fort William (Scotland castle road trip highlight)
Base for a castle stay. Scenic drives and photo stops en route. Keep time for a slower dinner and early morning views. - Days 5–6: Isle of Skye (Isle of Skye itinerary)
Remote vibes, hikes, and waterfront strolls. Parking can be tight in high season. Book lodging with parking included when possible. - Days 7–8: Inverness (Inverness hotels on points)
Central base with easy walking along River Ness. If you want to pack lighter, plan laundry here. - Days 9–10: Return to Edinburgh
Build in buffer time for weather, last‑minute shopping, or a museum visit before departure.
Best Way to Travel Scotland: Car vs Train
Scotland offers a few well-known road trip routes, like the famous North Coast 500 (NC500) and the South West Coastal 300. While these are stunning options, I still prefer to create my own tailored route based on specific destinations I want to explore. I’ve mapped out my DIY Scotland road trip route, which spans about 525 miles—just the right distance for a 7–10 day trip.
Costs and Time (example numbers for planning)
| Option | Approximate Cost | Time and Flexibility | When It Wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public transport (train + bus) | About $181 per person | Longer trips with multiple stops and schedules to juggle | You are staying mostly in cities and do not plan remote stops |
| Rental car (10 days) | About $354 total | Highest flexibility and easier access to remote areas like Skye | You want viewpoints, castles, and scenic detours |
Planning Note
Prices vary by season and booking window. These are example figures used to compare trade‑offs. Add your own dates to refine the math.
Where to Stay in Scotland on Points and Cash
This trip blends points redemptions in cities with cash stays where points options are limited. Use Stay22 to compare cash rates, location, and parking details. When a property participates in points programs or portals, verify the latest partnership before you transfer.
Edinburgh: Pre‑flight and Post‑flight Stays
A quick 16‑minute drive from the airport and on the route north. Standard Room Reward: around 30,000 Hilton points. Perks: complimentary parking and dinner options at The Shore Grill and Fish House.
- City Alternative: Moxy Edinburgh Fountainbridge
A modern, affordable option if you prefer to be close to the city’s sights.
Edinburgh: Explore the City
When it comes to exploring the city, I’m sticking with Hilton Edinburgh Carlton for its prime location, comfort, and great breakfast.
Standard Room Reward: 30,000 points or free night certificate. If you’re not stocked with Hilton points, consider these options:
- IHG: Kimpton Charlotte Square, Hotel Indigo- Princess Street, Intercontinental- The George
- Marriott: W Edinburgh, Sheraton Grand Hotel and Spa, Edinburgh Marriott Hotel Holyrood
Fort William: A Castle Stay
Standard Room Reward: 110,000 points or free night certificate
At least once a year, I see Hilton credit cards offering free night certificates, even on no annual fee cards. Be on the lookout!
Standard Room Reward: 95,000 points or free night certificate
For a more remote relaxing feel, try an island stay!
Booking With Points
Luxury properties and castle hotels may or may not be bookable with points at any given time. Partnerships and redemption rates change. Use flexible bank points, portals, or free night certificates where eligible. If you see a strong redemption or a certificate window that fits, book it and move on.
Isle of Skye (Portree)
A luxury bed and breakfast with free cooked and continental breakfast and parking. Walkable to town.
- Upscale alternatives
Cuillin Hills Hotel for panoramic views. The Cúil at Thistles on Skye for a romantic VRBO getaway.
Inverness
There are a few points hotel options in Inverness, though I’ll note that there are additional properties near the airport that I haven’t included here.
Expected points price: about 50,000 to 55,000 Marriott points per night, with lower rates sometimes available. Riverside setting, about a 10‑minute walk to High Street. On‑site parking is typically paid and limited.
Expected points price: about 15,000 to 20,000 IHG points per night. East of the city along the NC500 route. Free parking.
Expected Points Price: 15,000–25,000 points per night
This Accor hotel, located on Church Street near River Ness, also offers on-site parking. Booking through the Capital One travel portal might be simpler than navigating Accor’s website. The Mercure stands out as a solid value, especially if you catch it at an off-peak rate.
Why I Sometimes Choose a Short‑Term Rental in Inverness
At the halfway mark, an apartment with a washer and dryer can be more valuable than a free breakfast. A Superhost listing in the city center with self check‑in and a king bed keeps logistics easy.
Like this one: Airbnb: Inverness City Centre Apartment with Elevator
This highly rated, Superhost-listed flat is a Guest Favorite and offers self-check-in, a king bed, two additional beds, and an in-unit washer and dryer—all in the heart of the city. With a 4.96-star rating, I’d feel confident booking it for both comfort and convenience. Sometimes a washer and dryer is worth more than a free breakfast!
Award Flights to Scotland: How I Search and Book With Points
Award flights do not always appear in a simple home‑to‑destination search. Break the problem into steps. One‑way bookings often add flexibility and let you lock in the best long‑haul first.
🔍 Step 1: Find Nonstop Flights to Scotland
Start by learning nonstop routes from the United States and Canada to Edinburgh or Glasgow. Check seasonality, since some routes operate only part of the year. Some direct options include:
- American Airlines:
JFK (New York) to EDI (Edinburgh)
PHL (Philadelphia) to EDI (Edinburgh)
DFW (Dallas/Fort Worth) to GLA (Glasgow) - United Airlines:
EWR (Newark) to EDI (Edinburgh)
ORD (Chicago) to GLA (Glasgow)
IAD (Washington, D.C.) to EDI (Edinburgh) - Delta Airlines:
JFK (New York) to EDI (Edinburgh)
ATL (Atlanta) to EDI (Edinburgh) - Air Canada:
YYZ (Toronto) to EDI (Edinburgh)
This list covers a good number of carriers, but there are plenty of other routes you can consider as well. Look for direct flights from major hubs in the U.S./Canada to your destination. Once you’ve found options, you’re ready to move on to the next step.
🌍 Step 2: Check Routes from Your Home Airport
Look for nonstop flights from your home airport into major European hubs. For example, from Raleigh–Durham, NC (my home airport), there are options into Paris or Frankfurt. From there, it is usually a short hop to Scotland.
✈️ Step 3: Add Positioning Flights if Needed
A positioning flight is a short hop that gets you from your home airport to a larger hub with better routes and availability. From there, you can book the long-haul flight to Scotland and then connect onward.
For example:
- If you’re flying from a smaller U.S. airport, you might first position to JFK, Newark, Chicago, or Washington D.C. to catch a transatlantic nonstop.
- Another strategy is positioning to a major European hub like Paris (CDG) or Frankfurt (FRA), then taking a short direct flight into Edinburgh or Glasgow.
Why break it up? Searching your full route in one go often returns “no availability.” By isolating the long-haul transatlantic flight first (the biggest puzzle piece), you secure the hardest segment. Then, you layer in the smaller flights around it — like stacking blocks until the trip fits together.
- Start with the long-haul transatlantic flight first — it’s the hardest piece to book with points.
- Add a short domestic positioning flight to reach a hub like JFK, ORD, or IAD if needed.
- Consider a European hub stop (CDG, FRA, AMS) for more award options into Edinburgh or Glasgow.
Think of it as building with blocks: lock in the big block across the ocean, then fit the smaller ones around it.
🧰 Tools I Use for Award Flight Searches
When researching award flights, the right tools are essential. Here are some of my favorites:
- Seats.aero: to scan availability across programs The free version offers solid functionality and lets you see which routes have availability for the best points prices. I use this one so often I upgraded to the pro version!
- Points Path: (Chrome extension) to see points vs cash on Google Flights
- Flight Connections: for direct flight routes between airports, helping you plan positioning flights or locate non-stop options. The free version is more than enough for casual planning.
🧭 My Flight Booking Strategy to Use Points & Miles
When narrowing down flight options, I focus on two main priorities: minimizing unnecessary connections and finding opportunities to upgrade or save points without compromising comfort.
Start with One-Way Flights
I always start by searching for one-way flights. This allows me to prioritize the most important (and often most expensive) segment first: the transatlantic flight. From there, I build the rest of the itinerary around it.
Finding the Best Flight Options
Luckily, I found a couple of options that suited my needs (BONUS: I was able to add on my positioning flight for little to no extra points cost):
- Option 1: Economy Class (Virgin Atlantic via Air France)
RDU → CDG → EDI
12,000 Virgin points + $176 outbound / $301 inbound in taxes & fees
- Option 2: Business Class (United via Lufthansa)
RDU → FRA → EDI
80,000 United miles + $47.70 in taxes & fees (thanks to my United credit card, I get a discount on miles!)
My pick
Business class on the way there and economy on the way home. The overnight lie‑flat seat avoids a groggy first day. For the return, the low points price offsets the higher UK departure taxes.
Final Cost of Flights Per Person (example math)
Total cash: about $348 in taxes and fees
Total points: about 92,000 transferable points
- The Lufthansa business class flight (80K miles) ensures a comfortable overnight ride in a lie-flat seat. While it’s not Lufthansa’s new Allegris business class, it still makes a huge difference in arriving well-rested. Thanks to my United credit card, I get a discount from 88,000 miles to 80,000 miles, making this an even better deal. I can transfer 80,000 Chase or Bilt points to United Airlines to book it.
- Then for the return, the 12,000-point Air France flight is unbeatable. Even with UK departure taxes ($301), it’s still a fantastic deal. I can transfer Chase, AmEx, Capital One, Citi, Wells Fargo, or Bilt points to Virgin Atlantic to book.
💡 Points Tip: Always check for transfer bonuses before moving points. Virgin Atlantic often runs promos, and since they partner with all major banks, you can stretch your points even further.
🎫 Award Travel Reminder
Award space changes frequently. Screenshot options you like, then book quickly once you confirm schedules and seat maps.
Scotland Packing Checklist (Printable + Essentials)
Read my complete Scotland packing list below, complete with real product photos to see exactly what I recommend
Packing It Up
My first Scotland trip taught me a lot—from navigating roundabouts to realizing how much smoother a trip goes with a bit of upfront planning. This time, I’m approaching it with more strategy, better use of points, and fewer avoidable hiccups. A few castle stays don’t hurt either.
Have you planned a trip using points and miles? What lessons have you picked up along the way? I’d love to hear your tips!
