7–10 Day Scotland Road Trip Itinerary (400 Miles): Castles, Lessons & Hidden Gems

Planning a 7–10 day Scotland road trip itinerary? On my first 400-mile route, we based ourselves in three cities: Edinburgh, Inverness, and Aberdeen. Each one gave us a different perspective on Scotland and formed a nice driving circle.

In this post, I’ll walk you through exactly how our trip played out:

• Which two cities I’d absolutely stay in again (and why)
• Which city I wouldn’t repeat (and where I’d stay instead)
• The hidden gems along the way — including Portknockie’s Bow Fiddle Rock and Cullen’s seaside charm — that I’ll be returning to next time

Think of this as a real 7–10 day Scotland road trip itinerary with a bonus filter: you’ll not only see what we did, but also how I’d refine the route and stays if I were planning it again today — and I am, for my upcoming trip.

Curious how I’m reworking this itinerary using points and miles options? Check out my next post:: Scotland Road Trip Itinerary (7–10 Days, 525 Miles): Castles, Points & Stays

400-Mile Scotland Road Trip Route Map

We rented a small economy car with Hertz and mapped out this Scotland road trip route:

• Edinburgh → Inverness (3 hrs) – Scenic, roundabouts galore but worth it.
• Inverness → Aberdeen (via Portknockie & Cullen) (3 hrs) – A detour that became a highlight.
• Aberdeen → Edinburgh (2.5 hrs) – Straightforward, with a lunch stop in Dundee.

This loop covered about 400 miles, making it manageable for a 7–10 day trip. Not as expansive as the North Coast 500 or my later 525-mile itinerary, but still full of castles and coastal views.

Flights to Scotland: What I Paid & What I’d Do Differently

I flew Delta from RDU → BOS → EDI and paid in cash: $1,161.75 for economy. Looking back, this was a huge missed opportunity to use points. Today, I’d book a similar route with points using transfer partners and pay far less out of pocket.

👉 For how I now book smarter flights with points, see my updated itinerary:

Driving in Scotland: Lessons Learned

Left-Side Driving & Roundabouts – Intimidating at first, but manageable after a few days (I say this even though my husband was the driver!)

Manual vs Automatic Rental – We booked manual because our group driver was comfortable with manual driving. Juggling the left side driving and roundabouts plus shifting gears turned out to be more stress than it was worth though. Next time, we’d 100% go automatic.

Navigation Tech – Our rental car’s head unit didn’t sync with phones. I ended up navigating manually, which slowed us down. Double-check this before you leave and bring any needed cables.

🫠 Lesson Learned: When in doubt, book the automatic. Scotland’s roads are adventure enough without extra shifting.

Where We Stayed: 3 Cities, 3 Verdicts

Edinburgh

We stayed for two nights on the front end of the trip to explore Edinburgh. As we circled back to Edinburgh to fly home, we stayed at another Hilton property for one night. 

Hilton Edinburgh Carlton

What’s Great About It:

• ⭐️ Location: Absolutely unbeatable. Turn left and you are pretty much at the Royal Mile, making it super easy to dive into Edinburgh’s charm.
  
• 🍳 Hilton Diamond Perks: Access to the Executive Lounge with free food and drinks—both alcoholic and non-alcoholic.
  
• 🥣 Breakfast: One of my favorites—made-to-order oatmeal (my travel breakfast comfort food!) and a solid spread to start the day.
  

What Could Be Better:

• 🚗 Parking: Parking was a bit of a headache, especially near the Royal Mile. The hotel offers discounts for nearby garages, but I wish I had called ahead to avoid confusion about where to go.
  
• 🛞 Car Rental: We had a rental car for the entire trip, but honestly, we didn’t need it for Edinburgh. The city is very walkable, and the car was parked for most of the time.

Would I stay again? Yes, and I plan to. This is where I want to be when exploring Edinburgh.

Lessons Learned: If you’re planning to stay in Edinburgh, you might not need a rental car. Skip the hassle and consider a taxi or Uber from the airport. Rent a car when you head out of the city for your road trip, especially if you’re sticking to city-based adventures.

DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh City Centre

What’s Great About It:

• 🅿️ Parking: It offers self-parking, which is a huge bonus if you’re driving (£18/day for our stay- check for updated rates)
  
• 🍪 Comfortable Stay: The standard DoubleTree experience—chocolate chip cookies at check-in and a solid, comfortable stay.
  

What Could Be Better:

• 📍 Location: It’s a bit removed from the Royal Mile and central attractions. Perfect if you’re just staying a night before your flight home.
  
• 🎧 Vibe: Not as charming or exciting as the Hilton Edinburgh Carlton, but it was still a great experience.

Would I stay again? As a quick stop, yes. But for sightseeing, the Carlton wins.

Lessons Learned: This is a great option for a quick stay or if you’re just passing through. But if you’re looking to be right in the action of Edinburgh, I’d still prefer staying near the Royal Mile for easier access to all the city has to offer.

Inverness

Airbnb at Market Brae Steps (Close to High Street)

• ⭐️ Location: excellent, steps from High Street.
• 🧺 Bonus: washer/dryer was essential
• 🚶‍♀️ Challenge: steep steps to get to High Street- this may not work for everyone.

Would I stay again? Probably not this exact flat, but only because I had a bad experience with the host. I would absolutely strive to stay in that area again as it was perfect for shopping, walking, and dining.

Lessons Learned: If you’re renting an Airbnb, make sure to check for accessibility details like stairs, especially if you’re traveling with mobility concerns or a lot of luggage. We had no idea before we got here that our main route to and from High Street would require a higher heart rate.  

Looking for where to stay nearby? Here’s a map of hotels and vacation rentals in the area — compare points options and cash rates side by side.

Note: This map uses affiliate links through Stay22. If you book through it, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Aberdeen

Hilton Aberdeen TECA

• ⭐️ Hilton comfort and decent points value (~30,000 points).
• 😕 Downsides: location felt uninspired, and the city didn’t capture the magic of Scotland for me.

Would I stay again? No. Next time, I’d trade Aberdeen for a stay in surrounding Aberdeenshire, the beautiful countryside. Aberdeenshire was much more of the Highland Scottish country I had been searching for.

Hidden Gems in Scotland on this Route

Portknockie: Bow Fiddle Rock

A jaw-dropping natural rock arch on the coast — easily one of my favorite stops. It wasn’t even on our radar, but good old Google Maps found it while on our driving route. Absolutely worth a detour!

Cullen Skink & Coastal Charm (Cullen)

A charming fishing village with a cozy welcoming feel. Famous for its local dish, Cullen Skink (a smoked fish and potato soup). We tried award-winning Cullen Skink and delicious sandwiches from Lily’s Kitchen Cafe.

My original plan was to stay in Cullen for those coastal views. We cut it from our itinerary and I wish we hadn’t!

Here is my actual Google Review of Lily’s Kitchen Cafe:

If you’re planning to stay in Cullen, this map shows real-time prices for hotels, VRBOs, and vacation rentals.

Note: This map uses affiliate links through Stay22. If you book through it, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Castles & Highlights (Add These to Your 7–10 Day Itinerary)

Edinburgh Castle Tour: Is It Worth It? (Yes.)

Just a short walk from the Hilton Edinburgh Carlton. We almost skipped it to avoid crowds—so glad we didn’t. Edinburgh Castle headlines most Scotland trips for a reason: panoramic views, the Crown Jewels, layered history, and The Prisons of War. Consider a guided Edinburgh Castle tour for richer context and skip the guesswork.

Urquhart Castle (Loch Ness): Ruins with Views

A favorite stop of mine! Not only is it beautifully situated over the water, but it also has ties to the Grant Clan—part of my ancestry—which made it even more meaningful. There’s a café on-site too if you’re in need of a snack.

Crathes Castle (Aberdeenshire): Painted Ceilings & Walled Garden

A genuine hidden‑gem detour: historic interiors, vivid painted ceilings, and a serene walled garden you’ll want to linger in. It felt personal and less crowded than the headliners.

Quick tips

• Leave time to stroll the gardens.
• Great stop when transiting between Inverness/Coastal Moray and Edinburgh.

Bonus Stop: Aberdeen Beach
While I didn’t enjoy staying in Aberdeen, the beach itself made for a quiet stroll. If you’re already passing through or headed into Aberdeenshire, it’s a beautiful spot to stretch your legs and take in the sea air.

Edinburgh Highlights Nearby

The Royal Mile

A lively stretch packed with cathedrals, shops, restaurants, and street performers—there’s always something to see and do here.

Arthur’s Seat

An ancient volcano turned scenic hike! Many guides describe it as an easy walk, but in my opinion, it’s more moderate to challenging. It’s over 800 feet high with a continuous climb. I walk daily and still found parts of it tough. That said, if you’re prepared with water, proper shoes, and a sense of adventure, the views from the top are spectacular.

Inverness Highlights Nearby

Loch Ness

The drive around Loch Ness is about 67 miles and takes around 2.5 hours. While the view isn’t scenic the entire way (thanks to hills and trees), there are plenty of scenic pull-offs along the route.
My tip: Make a stop at Urquhart Castle—you’ll get gorgeous views over the loch and a chance to explore fascinating castle ruins.

Culloden Battlefield

Ideal for Outlander fans (guilty!) or anyone with an interest in history. The visitor center was incredibly informative, and the gift shop was one of the best I’ve seen.
Nearby: Clava Cairns, the ancient stone circle that inspired the “Craigh na Dun” time travel stones in Outlander.

Food & Shops That Stood Out

Edinburgh

Edinburgh Larder Cafe
Just two minutes from the Hilton Edinburgh Carlton, this cozy spot serves up fantastic coffee, hearty breakfast, and a welcoming atmosphere. It felt like a comforting little pocket of joy.

Gordon’s Trattoria
The best Italian food you can find in Scotland! This delicious meal is only a three minute walk from Hilton Edinburgh Carlton.

Johnnie Walker Store- Princess Street
For a great gift idea, visit the store for  limited edition whisky in a personalized bottle. My in-laws loved this!

Inverness

Good Craic Cafe (Inverness)
Friendly service, great food, and early hours made this one of our repeat visits. The avocado and egg on sourdough was my go-to—and seriously, the portions were so generous I still wonder how they make a profit!

I also did a Google Review of this gem. See it here:

Ablekids Press (Inverness)
A unique little bookstore tucked along the Market Brae steps. They specialize in bilingual children’s books and made for the perfect take-home gifts for my daughter. I haven’t seen anything quite like it anywhere.

Lily’s Kitchen Cafe (Cullen)
Home of the award-winning Cullen Skink (and I see why!). This tiny spot serves up rich, creamy smoked fish and potato soup, along with delicious sandwiches. A cozy lunch stop after exploring Bow Fiddle Rock.

Packing & Prep

A quick reminder: Scotland = unpredictable weather. Bring layers, waterproofs, and comfy walking shoes.

👉 Internal link: [Scotland Packing List: What to Wear, Essentials & Seasonal Tips with Printable]

Packing It Up: 3 Cities, My Verdict

Of the three cities we stayed in:

• Edinburgh – Stay again (but skip the car).
• Inverness – Stay again, loved it!
• Aberdeen – Wouldn’t repeat. Instead, I’d stay in Cullen, Portknockie, or Aberdeenshire for coastal or country views.

This 400-mile Scotland road trip is proof you don’t need the full NC500 to have an unforgettable adventure. With castles, coastlines, and hidden gems tucked into every turn, it’s a perfect starting point for a 7–10 day Scotland itinerary for first-time visitors.

Want to know how I plan to re-do my Scotland itinerary with a greater focus on points and miles? Check out these posts: