Best 10-day Scottish Highlands itinerary (No Car Needed!)

The Highlands are Scotland’s crowning glory. This mountainous region draws many visitors for its promise of solitude, glorious landscapes and castle ruins.

This 10-day Scottish Highlands itinerary is an adventure from west to east, showcasing the varied landscapes they have to offer, all without a car. It’s perfect if you want to see the Highlands properly without rushing or hiring a vehicle.

Starting in Fort William, you’ll encounter the rugged peaks and myriad lochs of the west coast before turning inland past Loch Ness to Inverness, the capital of the Highlands, using the same public transport routes I’ve taken myself on multiple trips.

You’ll have a chance to do day trips to the North Highlands, including areas often missed without local knowledge. Then heading south to the Cairngorms National Park, you’ll explore one of the most accessible high-altitude landscapes in the UK. 

This is a car-free itinerary, featuring some of the UK’s most scenic train journeys and easy bus rides with realistic travel times and base locations that work. You can adapt it if you prefer to do a Scottish Highlands road trip, but this route proves it’s far from essential.

Car-free Scottish Highlands Itinerary overview + map

This practical Highland trip is built around Fort William, Inverness, Aviemore and Pitlochry as transport hubs. Here’s a quick overview of your itinerary: 

• Day 1: Arrive in Fort William 
• Day 2: Glenfinnan day trip from Fort William 
• Day 3: Inverness via the Great Glen by bus 
• Day 4: Torridon & Applecross day tour 
• Day 5: Dunrobin Castle day trip by bus  
• Day 6: Loch Ness or the Isle of Skye day tour 
• Day 7: Inverness to Aviemore via the Highland Main Line 
• Day 8: Day in the Cairngorms National Park
• Day 9: Aviemore to Pitlochry train 
• Day 10: Pitlochry to Edinburgh train 

An epic 10-day itinerary for the Scottish Highlands

💡Quick disclaimer: all public transport timings are correct at the time of writing, but please do check Traveline Scotland, Scottish Citylink and ScotRail for the most up-to-date schedules.

Day 1: Arrive in Fort William 

Your Scottish Highlands adventure begins in Fort William, the gateway to the West Highlands and the Outdoor Capital of the UK. 

To get here, it’s a direct train service up the West Highland Line from Glasgow or the Caledonian Sleeper from London. You’re in for a treat as it’s considered one of the most beautiful railways in Scotland. Book your ticket online in advance and reserve your seat, as it’s busy. 

The journey is 4 hours from Glasgow, so relax and watch as the increasingly rugged scenery rolls past your window. I suggest catching the 8:22 am train so you have the afternoon in Fort William. 

🏠 Where to stay in Fort William (2 nights): The Garrison Hotel is a stylish, modern hotel just 12 minutes away from the station. 

Fort William

Fort William is the largest town and main hub in the West Highlands. The Caledonian Sleeper terminates, and the Jacobite steam train departs from here, so it has plenty of restaurants, pubs and hotels. 

It sits at the foot of Ben Nevis, the UK’s tallest mountain. While I don’t recommend hiking up it without proper prep, you can do the next best thing and take the Nevis Gondola up Aonach Mòr Mountain – the eighth-tallest mountain. It’s open year-round (weather permitting). 

If you took my suggested train, you’ll arrive in Fort William at 12:12 pm. First, drop your bags off at your hotel. I’ve always found my hotel will let me leave my bag with them before check-in time at 3 pm. 

Jump on the number 41 bus to Glen Nevis Visitor Centre (tap your bank card to pay on board). An adult day pass to ride the gondola is £28.95. Once you’ve bought your ticket, grab lunch at the Trails End Café & Bar before you ride or at the Snowgoose Restaurant at the top. 

The gondola takes 15 minutes. From the top, you have panoramic views across the Great Glen, Ben Nevis, and the surrounding Nevis Range. Consider this your official introduction to the Scottish Highlands!

Day 2: Glenfinnan day trip 

Today, you’re visiting Glenfinnan. This tiny village is one of the most scenic in Scotland and among my all-time favourite places to visit. To get there from Fort William, it’s a direct 30-minute train.

Sitting at the top of Loch Shiel, it’s most famous for the Glenfinnan Viaduct and the Jacobite steam train. You might already recognise it as the Hogwarts Express if you’ve watched the Harry Potter films. But that’s not all to this village, as you’ll soon see. 

Glenfinnan Viaduct 

The Jacobite steam train operates from April to October, so if you time it right, you can see it cross the Glenfinnan viaduct. 

It runs once a day from April to May and September to October and twice a day from May to September. The morning outbound service from Fort William departs at 10:15 am and crosses the viaduct at around 10:45 am. 

Aim for this time so you’re not waiting around when the afternoon service runs at midday, as the crowds are bigger. The outbound train from Fort William is also facing you, which is a much better photo! 

To get there in time, catch the 8:15 am train from Fort William to Glenfinnan. Walk towards the Glenfinnan Dining Car, where you’ll see a sign pointing you in the direction of the viewpoint.

Follow the trail along the side of the glen with sweeping views of Loch Shiel in the distance. It takes about 30 minutes and leads you straight to the viaduct viewpoint. 

You’ll get there with an hour to wait. If you think that’s overkill, a lot of the good spots were taken when I arrived on my last trip, and people had CHAIRS. It will only fill up over the hour. 

If your trip falls outside the Jacobite timings or you don’t mind missing it, then you can disregard the above and rock up whenever it suits you!

Glenfinnan 

Most visitors come to see just the viaduct and miss out on the rest of Glenfinnan, but you won’t. 

Stroll under the viaduct and through the glen towards the car park, where you’ll find the Glenfinnan Visitor Centre. Inside is a cafe, a gift shop and a free exhibition about the Jacobite Rebellion. 

In 1745, Charles Stuart, ‘Bonnie Prince Charlie’, raised his standard near Glenfinnan and Highland clans swore fealty to his cause. 

Outside the visitor centre is a small but surprisingly steep hill with a brilliant view of the viaduct on one side and Loch Shiel on the other. 

Wander along the shores of Loch Shiel, and ponder the Glenfinnan Monument, an 18-metre tower with a statue of a Lone Highlander. It was built to remember the Highlanders who lost their lives in the rebellion. 

In the afternoon, you could go for a short walk along the loch, watch the Jacobite on its return journey and do a wildlife boat trip with Loch Shiel Cruises. Or head back to the station for cake at the Dining Car before your return train.

Day 3: Fort William to Inverness 

It’s time to leave Fort William and travel to Inverness via the Great Glen. 

Inverness is the capital of the Highlands with public transport links to Edinburgh, the West Coast and the Far North. Many top day tours depart from here, making it an essential base for your car-free Scottish Highlands itinerary if you want to reach remote areas. 

The Scottish Citylink 919 is the direct coach from Fort William to Inverness, getting there in about 2 hours. It’s a scenic journey tracing the Great Glen Fault and skimming along the edge of Loch Ness. 

If possible, sit on the right-hand side for loch views and a glimpse of Urquhart Castle. You could get off, but it’s awkward with luggage, so I recommend returning on a day tour of Loch Ness later. 

If you take the bus departing at 9:35 am, you’ll be in Inverness at 11:44 am, which will give you time to explore the city. Remember to book your tickets online at Scottish Citylink in advance. 

🏠 Where to stay in Inverness (4 nights): Glen Mhor Hotel is located on the Ness Bank and is a great Inverness base. It’s part of Uile-Bheist Brewstillery, which has a bar with live music or discover more accommodation options.

Culloden Battlefield 

Culloden Battlefield is the most important landmark in Inverness, so that’s where I suggest spending your afternoon. 

First, drop your bags off and catch the number 1B bus for Culloden Moor departing at 12:55 pm. It’s just 40 minutes to the battlefield. The Inverness Zone 1A DayRider is £6.20, and is the best-value ticket. You can buy it online at Stagecoach. 

The battlefield is where the Jacobites, led by Charles Stuart, fought and lost against the British government forces in 1746, putting an end to the rebellion once and for all. 

The field is marked by a line of red and blue flags indicating where the two armies met. You’ll find the restored 18th-century Leanach Cottage and a modern visitor centre, which covers the history of the rebellion and what happened to the surviving Highlanders. 

Hint: Clan culture, Highland dress and speaking the language were banned on pain of death. At the far end of the field is a collection of memorials dedicated to the fallen clan members.

Entrance to the visitor centre costs £12.50, and it takes about 2 hours to see inside and out. There’s also a cafe for refreshments. You could stay here and wait for the bus back. If you want more, why not visit the Clava Cairns?

Clava Cairns 

Tucked away in a shaded meadow, the Clava Cairns are a series of Neolithic standing stones and three cairns (round stone piles) from 4,000 years ago. Two of the cairns have passages to their centre, and it’s thought they were built to align with the midwinter solstice. 

If you’re an Outlander fan, rumour has it that the Clava Cairns inspired Craigh na Dun, where Claire goes back in time after touching the stone. While I can’t promise any time travel or hunky Highlanders called Jamie Fraser, it’s still a special site to explore, and it’s free. 

To get there from the battlefield, you’ll need to follow a winding country lane down the hill. It’s about 30 minutes away with a view of Nairn Viaduct. Be careful of traffic. 

I use this Walkhighlands route for directions. It’s listed as a circular route, but I just did it from the end of stage 4 to stage 6 and returned the way I came.

Day 4: Torridon & Applecross day trip 

While parts of the Highlands are well-connected, some of the most beautiful remote areas are too tricky without a car, including the northwest coast. But you don’t have to miss out! That’s why I suggest doing this small group day tour to Torridon and the Applecross Peninsula. 

I did this Scottish Highlands tour and wasn’t sure what to expect, but the scenery took my breath away. It was also the closest I’ve got to the North Coast 500 without driving. 

The tour begins with a journey across the Beauly Firth to the Black Isle and drives west through the dramatic heart of the Northern Highlands. Your first stop is the Glen Docherty Viewpoint, which gives you a brilliant view of the road winding down towards Loch a’ Chroisg. 

As you follow the road through Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve, you’re surrounded by the rugged Torridon Peaks. It’s spectacular on a clear day. On my trip, I had low-hanging clouds, so it was scenic in a moody way. 

Hugging the coast of Shieldaig and the Applecross Peninsula, you’ll stop for lunch at the village of Applecross. It’s tiny, with one pub and a few food stands, but as it’s on the NC500 route, it’s very busy. 

Your guide will always phone ahead to reserve a table if you’d like to eat here. I had a hearty vegetable soup. Back on the road, you’re treated to views of Skye and Raasay before a final stop at the iconic Eilean Donan Castle. 

Day 5: Dunrobin Castle day trip 

Today is a slightly more laid-back trip to Dunrobin Castle, the largest stately home in the Northern Highlands. The original castle dates back centuries, but it was redesigned in the 1800s to look like a French chateau, and the gardens were inspired by Versailles. 

(Not-so) Fun fact: it’s the ancestral home of the Duke of Sutherland, who played a large role in the Highland Clearances from 1810 to 1820. 

Crofting families were forced out of their homes to make way for sheep farming. It’s why much of the Highlands is empty of people even today. 

The quickest way to get to Dunrobin Castle from Inverness is by bus. The X99 goes from the bus station to Dunrobin Station, taking 1 hour and 20 minutes. If you catch the 10:50 am bus, you’ll have time to look inside the castle and see the falconry display at 2:30 pm. 

Buy your entrance ticket online or at the door (I did the latter). It’s £15.50 for an adult ticket, and includes the gardens. There are 189 lavish rooms, including the costume room, which is rumoured to be haunted! The only thing that spooked me was the faint smell of damp…

Editor’s tip: You could instead do this tour of Dunrobin Castle, John O’Groats and the Duncansby Sea Stacks today if you don’t find it too tour-heavy. 

Isle of Skye & Eilean Donan Castle day tour 

The Isle of Skye is best explored over at least two days, but if you’d like a quick snapshot of the iconic landscapes, a small group tour with Rabbie’s is a good option. 

Departing from Inverness at 8 am on this Skye day tour, you’ll follow the road along the length of Loch Ness to Eilean Donan Castle. On my tour, we had a brief stop to look at some Highland Cows. 

If you’ve already seen inside the castle, you can find a good spot to take some photos from the outside. I preferred to do that both times, as you can’t take photos inside!

Then, you’ll cross the Skye Bridge and drive up to Sligachan Old Bridge. Lunch is in Portree. I had an enormous doughnut from MacKenzie’s Bakery, which was fantastic. The toastie was a bit meh. 

If you’re hoping to get iconic views of the Old Man of Storr, you will be a bit disappointed. This is only a quick photo stop from the road, and it was mostly covered with clouds during my visit. 

The stops at the Quiraing and Kilt Rock were spectacular, but you won’t have enough time to explore. If you want to see more of Skye, I have a Scotland by train itinerary which includes a stay on the island. It gives you many more of the highlights without a car.

Day 7: Inverness to Aviemore 

Today, you’re leaving Inverness and travelling down to Aviemore, the gateway to the Cairngorms National Park and the East and Central Highlands. 

Aviemore is a direct 30-minute train journey from Inverness. As the largest town in the Cairngorms, it has the most hotels and restaurants, plus easy public transport links. 

Aim to catch a morning train, so you have time for an activity in the afternoon after you’ve dropped your bags off and had some lunch. 

🏠 Where to stay in Aviemore (2 nights): The Cairngorm Hotel is opposite the train station and bus stop, offering free breakfast on Booking.com. 

Cairngorm Mountain 

The best thing to do near Aviemore? Visit Cairngorm Mountain for panoramic views of the national park. Though remote, it’s easy to reach from Aviemore. 

The 30 bus departs from outside Aviemore Station and takes less than 30 minutes to reach Cairngorm Mountain. In summer, you can go tubing, mountain biking and hiking. In winter, it’s transformed into a ski resort. 

It’s also home to Scotland’s only mountain railway. You can take the funicular up to the summit for incredible views down towards Loch Morlich. It was closed for maintenance when I was there, so I hiked it. That’s an option too if you’d like the challenge, but don’t miss the last bus back!

Day 8: The Cairngorms 

You’ve seen the Cairngorms from above, so it’s time to see a new side to the UK’s largest national park, with two of my favourite things to do: exploring Loch Morlich and meeting the Cairngorm Reindeer Herd. 

Loch Morlich 

Set at the foot of the Cairngorm Mountains, Loch Morlich is a large freshwater loch surrounded by sandy beaches and pine forests. 

It has a yacht club and watersports centre, making it a popular summer destination. There’s also a campsite with free toilets. 

If you don’t fancy watersports, I recommend wandering through the forest. The easiest trail is the two-hour loop around the loch on a flat, well-marked path. You could also extend it to do the out-and-back trail to the Green Lochans. 

I just did the Loch Morlich loop as I had booked to see the reindeer later that day and didn’t want to go too far. The autumn colours were just beginning to show, and the air was crisp and fresh. 

The loch is based in Glenmore, through which the number 30 bus passes on the way to the Cairngorm Mountain. Catch a morning bus to give yourself time to explore before seeing the reindeer. The visitor centre is also in Glenmore.

Cairngorm Reindeer Herd 

The Cairngorms are home to the UK’s only free-roaming reindeer. A herd of around 150 roam its vast tundra plateau after their introduction in 1952. 

Scotland isn’t the Arctic, but the Cairngorm plateau has a subarctic environment that’s ideal for reindeer to thrive in. Mikel Utsi, who brought over the first herd from Sweden, was surprised there weren’t reindeer here already.  

You can see the reindeer in two ways: in the paddock in Glenmore or on a hill trip. The latter is best if you want to see them closest to the wild, and tours run from February to December. 

From February to December, it’s not possible to see the reindeer on a hill trip without a car, as they’re too high up in the mountains. In summer, you can, if you don’t mind a 45-minute walk to get to the meeting point. 

Tickets cost £25 for an adult, and you should book around a month in advance as they sell out quickly. If you’re walking, get to the visitor centre about an hour before to check in, and they’ll tell you where the meeting point is. 

You’re not allowed to touch the reindeer (they don’t like it), but you can feed them. They have such soft noses, and each one has a distinct personality that is a joy to watch!

Day 9: Aviemore to Pitlochry

Say goodbye to the Cairngorms and head south to Pitlochry in Highland Perthshire. It’s about an hour on the direct ScotRail train. Aim for the 10:31 am train to give you enough time to explore this pretty Victorian town. 

It’s best to book your ticket in advance and reserve your seat unless you don’t mind standing. I’ve always found it to be a busy train!

Once you’ve arrived, drop your bags off at your hotel and make a plan for the rest of your day. Lucky for you, I have a few ideas. 

🏠 Where to stay in Pitlochry: The Old Mill Inn is a boutique inn with luxury amenities, while the Fisher’s Hotel has an excellent breakfast and elegant rooms. 

Blair Castle & Gardens 

Blair Castle is a 15-minute train journey or just under 30 minutes on the 87 bus from Pitlochry. Set within 220 acres, the whitewashed castle was renovated in the 1700s and 1800s, though the oldest part dates back to 1269. 

It’s the ancestral home of the Dukes of Atholl, who still own it today. Inside, the rooms are lavishly decorated in the 18th-century Scottish baronial style. 

The grounds have a restored Georgian walled garden, the Hercules Garden and Diana’s Grove, a woodland where I spotted red squirrels scampering in the trees. 

Blair Castle & Gardens are open from April to October, and tickets cost £18.75. I booked mine online. In summer, a lone bagpiper plays on the hour between 11 am and 3 pm daily. You can also feed the resident red deer on weekends.

Pitlochry 

Back in Pitlochry, there is plenty to see. The town sits on the River Tummel and has a working hydroelectric dam. Its visitor centre is free to visit, and you can walk across the top of the dam for panoramic views of the river and Loch Faskally. 

On one side of the dam is a fish ladder, which was built to allow salmon to swim upstream to spawn. Around 4,500 pass through it every year. 

Pitlochry is surrounded by the Tay Forest Park, so explore some of the nearby woodlands. Black Spout Wood is a short walk away from town and has a hidden waterfall. 

On the other side is Faskally Wood, which has an easy circular trail around Loch Dunmore. It’s spectacular in autumn when the leaves turn. In October, it hosts the Enchanted Forest. 

For something to eat, I love Hettie’s Tea Room with its huge selection of teas and cakes bigger than my head! I still think about that Victoria sponge. 

The Old Mill Inn is a pub with guestrooms inside a former watermill. In summer, it has a tent in the garden with live music and wood-fired pizza.

Day 10: Pitlochry to Edinburgh 

The end of this Scottish Highlands itinerary! Today is just an easy train journey to Edinburgh. It’s direct and takes just under 2 hours. 

Leaving the Highlands behind, you skim through Perth, curve round to Stirling, then turn east for Edinburgh. 

🏠 Need a place to stay in Edinburgh? I recommend Motel One Edinburgh Royal as it’s right by the train station and the airport buses.

Final thoughts 

I hope you enjoyed this Scottish Highlands itinerary! This 10-day route gives you a full taste of the Highlands from the rugged glens and the islands of the west to the forests and subarctic mountains of the east. 

In this itinerary, you see some of Scotland’s most scenic castles, legendary lochs and the most spectacular scenery. 

If you need a hand planning your trip, I offer custom Scotland itineraries. I’ll work with you to create your perfect trip, so you don’t waste time or miss what matters most.