We’ve been back from Scotland for a couple months now and we’re still daydreaming about some of our fun adventures. If you’re planning a trip, you must add some of these Scotland experiences to your itinerary. You won’t regret it!
5 Scotland Experiences You Can’t Miss
Hiking on Isle of Skye
Be sure to pack your hiking shoes if you’re heading to Isle of Skye! This is by far the best hiking we did in Scotland.
Old Man of Storr
Old Man of Storr is probably the most famous hike and for good reason. The spires of rock loom in the distance as you begin the hike and get even more dramatic as you approach. Once you reach the first large set of majestic rocks, you can tailor the hike for what works best for your schedule. Loop around the rocks and make your way back down if you’re pressed for time or keep heading up for more 360 degree views. Be sure to arrive early to secure a parking spot at the trailhead. It definitely gets busy! And be prepared for varying weather. We were there on a party cloudy day and avoided the rain, but it can get quite wet and windy.
The Quiraing
Another must-do hike on Isle of Skye is the Quiraing. While the main Quiraing path is a loop of about 6.8 km, you can really make this hike what you want it to be. There are also paths that go behind the carpark and up the other side of the mountain so you definitely have options. We did Old Man of Storr, Quiraing, and the next hike on this list all in the same day so we didn’t complete the full Quiraing loop. However, as you can see from the photos below, you don’t need to do the entire hike to get the dramatic views!
Fairy Glen
We’d call Fairy Glen more of a walk than a hike, but it’s also a nice spot to get out and stretch your legs. Keep an eye out for fairy doors as you wander the paths!
Visiting Harry Potter Film Sites
Harry Potter in Edinburgh
With Edinburgh’s Elephant House carrying the title of “Birthplace of Harry Potter,” you can count on a lot of Scotland experiences involving Harry Potter.
Depending how you feel about JK Rowling, you may want to skip some of the Edinburgh attractions related to her writing of the book, such as the Elephant House. We did stop in to to try their “butterscotch beer,” but in our opinion, it doesn’t come anywhere close to the taste of the official Butterbeer at the Studio Tour in London or the Universal theme parks in Florida. We didn’t visit any of the other Rowling-related spots in Edinburgh, but there are several: Spoon is where she wrote most of the first book. The Balmoral Hotel is where she wrote Deathly Hallows. Her handprints can also be found at the Edinburgh City Chambers.
Even if you skip the JK spots, HP fans can’t miss exploring Greyfriar’s Kirkyard. Here you’ll find the graves that inspired some of the Harry Potter character names: Thomas Riddell, the Potter family, William McGonagall, and Elizabeth Moodie (Mad-Eye Moody).
Additionally, the famous Victoria Street is said to be an inspiration for Diagon Alley.
The Jacobite Train at Glenfinnan Viaduct
Probably the most famous of the Harry Potter Scotland experiences is seeing the Jacobite steam train cross the Glenfinnan Viaduct. The Jacobite was used to film the “Hogwarts Express” train and this film location is one of the most iconic. The train wasn’t running when we were there but we still hiked up to the hill to get the best photo viewpoint from the movies.
When the train is running, you can access the latest information here, including the timetable and pricing for riding. Do your due diligence before booking, though. We’ve read very mixed reviews about the train itself and the level of service for the price. Hiking up to watch the train go by on the viaduct is free, but expect a large crowd!
Hagrid’s Hut Film Location
Hagrid’s Hut is no longer located at the film scene but you can still visit the spot for photos. There are two options to get there. For a longer hike, follow this route on All Trails which take syou to Signal Rock and An Torr, ending at Hagrid’s Hut location. After seeing the film spot, you can take a shortcut back to the carpark.
If you’d prefer to get there more quickly, you can park at the same carpark and walk a short route over some wooden walkways to the Clachaig Inn. From there, it’s about five more minutes on foot. You could also park at the Inn and start from there but I’m not sure what their rules are for parking if you’re not a guest.
We had a lot of fun with this photo opp, and got a little help from AI as well!
Other Harry Potter spots we didn’t get to: Loch Eilt is the scene of Dumbledore’s resting place in Deathly Hallows. And Steall Falls was a film location for the dragon challenge scenes in Harry Potter & Goblet of Fire.
Meeting the Reindeer in Cairngorm National Park
This was by far the favorite of all our Scotland experiences! To meet the reindeer, you’ll need to sign up for a hill trip through the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre. These hikes take place almost every day of the year with the exception of January and part of February. You’ll meet your guides near the national park and they’ll lead you on a walk amidst the reindeer herd. The reindeer were reintroduced to the park in 1952 and are free-ranging inside an massive enclosure of about 1,200 acres. On your hill trip, you’ll walk (sometimes with reindeer friends right beside you) for about 20 minutes out into the enclosure and then you’ll stop for the reindeer feeding.
The guides provide instruction before the feeding begins, because it’s important you do not touch the reindeer. This part of the hill trip can last up to an hour. You basically get to take your time, hang out with the reindeer, and see them in their element. They’re such beautiful creatures! And every single one has a name. If you make a new friend, look at the ear tag number and your guide will be able to tell you its name.
Hill trips cost £28 for adults (with a little bit of a discount during the summer months). Oh, and appropriate shoes are a must in case it’s muddy. The Cairngorm Reindeer website has all the details you’ll need to prepare.
Flying an Owl at the Loch Lomond Bird of Prey Centre
While driving to the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre we passed Rothiemurchus Falconry. We didn’t have time to stop that day, but it put falconry on our radar. After some research, we found the Loch Lomond Bird of Prey Centre which was on our route near the end of our road trip. It’s only £10.58 per adult to enter and the fly-a-bird experience is only an additional £13.22 per person.
The experience is limited to a maximum of six people and the day we visited it was just the four of us who were traveling together. We each got to take a turn flying Gonzo the Spectacled Owl. It was a lot of fun! We stayed for the 2:00 pm flying show where we got to see more birds flying with the handler. And, of course, you can also learn a lot just from the exhibits which include dozens of other birds. It was a fun afternoon and the staff members are very knowledgable and obviously care about the birds well-being.
Dramatic Castles Around Every Turn
In Scotland, castles are basically part of the scenery. The most famous is probably Edinburgh Castle. A visit is definitely a great way to spend a few hours while in the city and you’ll learn a lot about Scotland’s history. There is so much to see, you could probably spend all day there if you’re a history buff. Entry costs £23.50 for adults and we recommend visiting right when it opens to beat some of the crowd.
With more than 2,000 castles throughout the country, you’re sure to have some on your road trip route route. Sometimes we pulled off just for a quick photo and to get out of the car for a few. Eilean Donan Castle is located in the Highlands and we stopped there on our way from Inverness to Isle of Skye. The ruins of Old Inverlochy are in Fort William and we took a quick walk around after popping into Highland Soap Company Visitor Centre. Side note: the soap shop is a fun pit stop as well.
Aside from Edinburgh, the only other castle we paid an entrance fee for was Dunvegan. We bought the gardens-only ticket, however, so we just explored the grounds and didn’t go inside the castle itself. With a water garden, rose garden, walled garden, and woodland paths, there is plenty to see whether or not you enter the castle. But if you have the time, the garden + castle ticket is only a few additional pounds to the garden-only price.
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