Scotland in 7 Days: Edinburgh, Glasgow and the Highlands
A balanced one-week Scottish journey combining urban culture, Victorian architecture, and the majestic scenery of the Scottish Highlands around Inverness, Loch Ness, and the Cairngorms National Park.
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Intercity route legs
Day-by-day itinerary
Historic Edinburgh Arrival
EdinburghArrive in Edinburgh and walk through Princes Street Gardens up to the medieval Royal Mile. Visit the free Scottish National Gallery.
Edinburgh Castle & Holyroodhouse
EdinburghTour Edinburgh Castle early, explore Grassmarket, and visit Holyrood Park beneath Arthur Seat.
Fast Train to Glasgow & West End
GlasgowTake the 50-minute ScotRail train to Glasgow Queen Street. Explore Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and enjoy the live music pubs of the West End.
Scenic Highland Train to Inverness
Inverness & Scottish HighlandsBoard the scenic ScotRail train through the Cairngorms mountain pass to Inverness. Walk the tranquil Ness Islands suspension bridges.
Loch Ness & Urquhart Castle
Inverness & Scottish HighlandsTake the local bus to the dramatic cliffside ruins of Urquhart Castle overlooking Loch Ness. Enjoy dinner and live Scottish folk music in Inverness.
Culloden Battlefield & Moray Coast
Inverness & Scottish HighlandsVisit Culloden Moor historical reserve or take a day excursion along the scenic Moray Firth, spotting resident bottlenose dolphins from Chanonry Point.
Highland Return & Departure
EdinburghTake the morning train back to Edinburgh or fly directly out from Inverness Airport.
✂️ What I Would Cut If Short on Time
If short on time, reduce Glasgow to a day trip from Edinburgh (50 minutes on ScotRail) to maintain 2 full days in the Highlands.
Make this trip cheaper
These options use the current typical minimum fare in our route records. They are not guaranteed quotes, and prices can change before booking.
Make the itinerary fit your trip
Change the days in each city, leave out stops, and update the estimate without changing the published itinerary.