Scottish Highlands Travel Guide: Essential Tips for Planning Your Trip (2025)

We planned an incredible trip to the majestic Scottish Highlands last year, now we want to share everything we learned to help you prepare for your own unforgettable journey. As travel bloggers who've explored this stunning landscape firsthand, we're excited to share our practical tips and cultural insights from our Highland adventure.

Planning a Trip to the Scottish Highlands

1. Weather and When We Visited

2. What We Packed

3. Money Matters

4. Wildlife Encounters

5. What We’d Recommend Booking in Advance

6. Staying Connected

7. Dealing With Daylight

8. Meeting the Locals

9. Food Adventures

10. Local Drinks

11. Staying Safe

12. Our Highlands Highlights

1. Weather and When We Visited

We visited in May and truly lucked out with weather! While we were anticipating rain every day and mild temperatures (15-20°C/59-68°F), we had sunshine almost every day with average temperatures around 70°F. We loved our springtime hikes among the wildflowers, and were amazed by the late spring sunsets that lasted until nearly 10 PM. If you're considering winter, we met locals who told us it's perfect for snow sports and cozy pub evenings.

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2. What We Packed

Our biggest lesson? Layers were absolutely essential. Here's what worked best for us:

• Our trusty waterproof jackets and pants (while we got lucky with sunny weather in early May, we wanted to be prepared to hike in the rainy Isle of Skye!)

• Sturdy waterproof hiking shoes (We both got a pair of these shoes which were perfect for both hiking and city exploring)

• Warm layers (we each packed a fleece mid-layer which were perfect for chilly evenings)

• Thermal base layers (essential for our early morning hikes - top & bottom)

• Hats, gloves, and warm socks (the last thing we wanted was to let the cold keep us from exploring the beautiful nature)

• Quick-drying outdoor clothing (a lifesaver after getting caught in the rain)

👀 Check out everything we packed for our trip here!

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3. Money Matters

We used British Pounds Sterling (GBP) throughout our trip. While our credit cards worked in most places, we were glad we carried cash - especially when we found that charming cafe in Glencoe that only accepted cash payments!

💡Inside Tip: When signing up for a free Charles Schwab checking account, enjoy unlimited ATM fee rebates at any ATM worldwide!

4. Wildlife Encounters

We had incredible encounters with Highland wildlife! We saw many Highland Cows (Scottish Coos) throughout our road trip, and managed to stumble upon a baby sheep alongside our hiking trail in Isle of Skye. Word of warning though - those infamous midges in summer are no joke! A local recommended Smidge repellent and midge nets may even be necessary if visiting in the summer months.

👀 Discover the Top 15 Best Things To Do in the Scottish Highlands!

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5. What We’d Recommend Booking in Advance

Here's what we're glad we reserved ahead:

• Our B&Bs in Oban, Portree, & Inverness (rooms fill up fast!)

• Rental car (got a better rate booking early)

• If you’re into seafood, make sure you book a reservation at this incredible restaurant in Oban (average meal cost is around £25)

• Urquhart Castle (online reservations are required even to park within the castle grounds)

• The scenic West Highland Line train journey to Mallaig (aka the Hogwarts Express when booking the Jacobite steam train!)

6. Staying Connected

We learned quickly that mobile coverage could be spotty. The offline maps we downloaded were essential when we lost signal in Glencoe. Most of our B&Bs had WiFi, though it wasn't always the fastest.

Insider Tip: Download eSIM and avoid those hefty roaming fees! We used Airalo on our trip and it cost us $5 for 7 days of coverage 😱 Get $3 off with code NBV8668 by signing up here!

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7. Dealing with Daylight

We were on British Time (GMT/UTC+1 in spring) and couldn't believe how long the days were! We loved having daylight until 9 PM for evening activities and generally slept when the sun was down (10pm-6am) in order to maximize daylight activities throughout our trip.

8. Meeting the Locals

The Highland hospitality we experienced was incredible! Some tips from our experience:

• Only about 2.5% of the Scottish population speaks Gaelic, with the largest concentration being in the Highlands. While most everyone you encounter will speak English, their thick accents and Scottish phrases may have you thinking its a different language. Below are some phrases to keep in mind throughout your trip:

  • Aye = Yes

  • Nae = No

  • Cheers = Thank you/Goodbye

  • Wee = Small/Little

  • Bonnie = Beautiful/Pretty

  • Haste ye back = Come back soon

👀 Discover the Top 15 Best Things To Do in the Scottish Highlands!

• Everyone we met was happy to chat and share local tips

• A friendly "hello" went a long way on hiking trails

• We always followed the Scottish Outdoor Access Code when hiking

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9. Food Adventures

Our favorite Highland dishes included:

• Haggis (we were skeptical but loved the vegetarian version cooked fresh for breakfast at our B&B in Isle of Skye!)

• Fresh Scottish salmon at Fig & Thistle in Inverness

• Cullen skink (creamy fish soup) on a rainy day

💸 We typically tipped 10-15% in restaurants when a service fee wasn't included. Unlike the US, tipping is only expected for exceptional service.

• The best Aberdeen Angus beef you’ll ever taste (Miller & Carter Steakhouse has 3-course meal specials starting at £29.95)

• Homemade shortbread from a local baker

• Our favorite dessert: Cranachan, a delightful mix of whipped cream, honey, fresh raspberries, and toasted oats, often served with a splash of Scotch whisky

Honorable mention: Sticky Toffy Pudding! Which, isn't really Scottish, but it's also not really pudding 🤣 It's a British dessert of moist sponge cake, warm toffee sauce, and a side of ice cream!

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10. Local Drinks

We discovered some amazing local beverages:

• The Talisker Distillery whisky tour changed how we appreciate single malts (open 10am-4:30pm, closed Tuesdays)

• If you're a fan of gin, ask a local bartender for Harris Gin. It's a perfect balance of bitter juniper and pine notes with sweet fruit flavors of mango, grapefruit, and orange.

• We loved the craft beer at Isle of Sky Brewing Company. However, we should note that the experience at a Scottish brewery is not the same as what you would expect in the US. Many breweries are simply a storefront for selling bottled brews and do not have a liquor licenses that allows you to drink the beverages on the property. This was the case for Isle of Sky Brewery, however, a local lent us a bottle opener and we were able to enjoy our brews outside along the water!

• The tap water was pure and delicious! Due to it’s origins from lochs, springs, and reservoirs its one of the cleanest water supplies in the UK, if not the world!

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11. Staying Safe

While we felt very safe throughout our trip, we always:

• Checked weather forecasts before our hikes

• Packed extra supplies (saved us during a longer-than-planned walk)

• Let a family/friend know our hiking plans

• Took it slow on those single-track roads

• Avoided driving at night due to lack of street lights (driving on the left side of the road is hard enough!)

• Kept emergency numbers handy

12. Our Highland Highlights

Our favorite spots included:

• Watching the ‘Hogwarts Express' at the Glenfinnan Viaduct

• Searching for Nessie at Loch Ness

• The breathtaking views of Glencoe at Three Sisters and Hagrid’s Hut

• Our magical two days on the Isle of Skye (we’d recommend 2 full days minimum!)

👀 Discover the Top 15 Best Things To Do in the Scottish Highlands!

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Our Highland adventure was everything we hoped for and more. The stunning landscapes, rich history, and wonderful people we met made it unforgettable. We hope our experiences help you prepare for your own Highland journey. Just remember to respect the environment, embrace the local culture, and always be ready for any weather!

Happy Adventuring!

J&L