This post was originally published on A Globe Well Travelled in 2018. The content has been revised and updated with fresh information.
If I think hard about all the reasons why I wanted to visit Scotland, the spectacular natural scenery tops the list.
During my 10-day Scotland road trip with my husband and a few of our Aussie friends, I’m happy to say that it completely lived up to my expectations! There were parts of the countryside that were so jaw-droppingly gorgeous that it was hard to believe that what we were seeing was real.
As the official trip organiser for our group, I planned to fill our Scotland itinerary with as many quintessential Scottish activities as possible. Here are 9 unforgettable Scotland bucket list activities that you absolutely cannot miss!
Quick summary:
From tasting haggis to exploring castles, spotting highland cows, and feeding reindeer, this guide shares 9 must-do activities that will make your Scotland trip truly memorable.
Recommended tours & tickets:
🍽️ Haggis Tasting with Scottish Spirits in Edinburgh – Traditional or veggie haggis plus Scotch whisky & gin.
🪄 Harry Potter Walking Tour in Edinburgh – Explore J.K. Rowling’s inspirations and magical filming locations.
🏞️ Scottish Highlands Day Tour from Edinburgh – See spectacular Highland landscapes on a city day trip.
🐮 Highland Cow & Blackness Castle Tour from Edinburgh – Meet iconic “hairy coos” and visit a historic fortress.
🏰 Highlands Lochs & Castles tour from Glasgow – Discover the stunning West Highlands on a small-group day trip.
🥃 The Scotch Whisky Experience in Edinburgh – Learn the whisky-making process and enjoy tastings.
🏕️ Stay at Delny Glamping near Inverness – Cosy farm-based pods with breakfast and animal encounters.
Best things to do in Scotland:
1. Try haggis in Scotland (yes, there’s a vegetarian version!)
This one was somewhat of a challenge for Rob and I, seeing as we’re both vegetarian (and haggis is definitely not veggie-friendly!). For those who don’t know, haggis is a traditional Scottish dish made from miscellaneous sheep organs minced with onion, oatmeal, and a few other things. It’s often served with “neeps and tatties” (mashed turnips and potatoes) and also looks somewhat like a plated turd. Sounds pretty gross, right?
Luckily, Glasgow surprised us by having loads of vegetarian and vegan options at restaurants, and we ended up finding a vegetarian haggis with a delicious whiskey sauce at Ubiquitous Chip in Hillhead. It was surprisingly tasty! I’m not sure what the ingredients of their secret recipe were, but veggie haggis usually substitutes lentils or vegetables for the sheep bits. A 100% better option, in my opinion!
🍽️ You can book a haggis paired with whiskey & gins tasting at a distillery in Edinburgh. This 2 hour sampling experience includes a meal of traditional haggis (including a veggie option) with neeps and tatties, plus three locally made Scottish spirits!
2. Seek out some Harry Potter magic
There’s no better place for Harry Potter fans to seek out some Hogwarts magic than in Scotland. My activity of choice was to visit Glenfinnan Viaduct in the highlands, where you can watch the Jacobite Steam Train resembling the Hogwarts Express as it makes it’s way over the spectacular bridge shown in a few of the movies.
J.K. Rowling was also inspired by the streets of Edinburgh for some of the book series. Take a walk along Victoria Street for a Diagon Alley experience, then stop in at The Elephant House (if you can manage to get a seat!) to check out the cafe where the author spent much of her time writing the books.
🪄 If you want to get fully immersed in the magic, Potter fans can choose to do a Harry Potter walking tour in Edinburgh – this tour hits all the spots that inspired J.K. (including a graveyard that inspired several character names) plus stories and fun facts about the book series!
3. Marvel at Scotland’s natural scenery in the Highlands
The Scottish Highlands are one of the best places to visit in Scotland, and the landscapes up north were 100% gorgeous. As we drove around the country, we stopped countless times to take photos. I think the most spectacular part of our trip was Isle of Skye (especially when we visited Neist Point Lighthouse and hiked up to Old Man of Storr!), but the scenery around Glencoe, Loch Ness, and Cairngorms National Park were all beautiful, too.
🏞️ If you’re only planning to stay in the major cities, it is possible to see this scenery on a day trip – take a look at a Scottish Highlands day tour from Edinburgh to visit the highlands from the city.
4. Say hello to a highland cow
As if regular cows aren’t already adorable, highland cows take their cuteness to the next level! With a thick head of ginger hair and lengthy horns, these gentle beasts can be found all over the highlands. We spotted the guy above as we were driving around Isle of Skye, and quickly jumped out of the car for a few photos. Adorbs!
🐮 From Edinburgh, you can book a Highland Cow & Blackness Castle tour that visits a farm outside of the city for an up close cow encounter! You’ll also visit the historic Blackness Castle and stop in for cake at a local brasserie on the way back to the city.
5. Explore Scotland’s best medieval castles
Castles are scattered all over Scotland – it would be impossible to visit the country without seeing one. We visit three castles (yep, three!) and we could have visited more if we weren’t all castled-out by the end of our trip.
Dunvegan on Isle of Skye was probably my favourite of the Scottish castles as the interior displays were all in good condition and the gardens were super lovely. Urquhart at Loch Ness was a close second and a completely different experience as it sits mostly in ruins. Eilean Donan in the highlands came in third, as it had the best exterior photo ops but the interior displays weren’t quite as great.
🏰 If you’d like to see some of Scotland’s most picturesque castles without driving, you can book an Oban, Glencoe, Highlands Lochs & Castles Small Group Day Tour from Glasgow.
This full-day adventure takes you through the scenic West Highlands in a 16-seat Mercedes mini-coach, visiting the haunting glen of Glencoe, Loch Lomond, and the ruins of Kilchurn Castle, plus stops in Inveraray and Castle Stalker — a day packed with quintessentially Scottish scenery!
6. Taste authentic Scotch whisky at a local distillery
Scotch Whisky can only be called Scotch if it’s from Scotland, so of course you should try some while you’re there. The Isle of Islay is most famous for whisky, but there are distilleries all over the country.
We stopped in at Talisker, the oldest distillery on Isle of Skye, and also at Tomatin, near Inverness. Although we didn’t do any guided tours, the distilleries both had visitor centers, shops, and tasting bars where we could sample the goods.
🥃 In Edinburgh, you can learn about the production of Scotch at The Scotch Whiskey Experience. This popular Scotland tourist attraction near the Royal Mile allows visitors to sample some of the best local whiskys on a guided tour and tasting.
7. Hear the sound of bagpipes and see traditional Scottish kilts
The kilt is considered formalwear for men in Scotland, so you may spot people attending important events wearing them. We saw a handful in Glasgow, but it wasn’t until we arrived on Isle of Skye that we finally found a man in a kilt that was playing the bagpipes! As we turned up at the Kilt Rock viewpoint (such an appropriately named location), a busker stood by the cliffs and played us some Scottish tunes.
In Edinburgh, it was much more common to see buskers dressed in the full kit playing music on the streets. I loved hearing the sounds of bagpipes drifting through the city each day.
8. Stay in cosy Scottish accommodations
There’s nothing more British than a Bed & Breakfast, and Scotland has plenty of them. With decor that would seem appropriate in your grandmother’s lounge room, these cutesy accommodations are sure to warm your heart. If you can bag one that includes a full Scottish Breakfast, you’ve hit the jackpot.
If you’re wondering where to stay in Scotland, I recommend checking out our Scotland road trip itinerary which included a few B&Bs, a traditional Highland Lodge at Cairngorms National Park, and a private cottage on Isle of Skye.
🏕️ The Delny glamping pods pictured above, which are located on a farm near Inverness, was our most unique stay in Scotland. I absolutely loved interacting with the farm animals, and the included fresh breakfast was a delightful way to start the morning before we ventured out to see more of the Scottish Highlands!
9. Feed reindeer in Cairngorms National Park
I must admit, feeding a reindeer was just as amazing as it sounds! In Cairngorms National Park (between Edinburgh and Inverness) there is a free-roaming reindeer herd. These animals were brought to Scotland in 1952 to reintroduce the species which had been hunted to extinction about 8 centuries ago.
The Cairngorm Reindeer Centre in the national park runs walking tours to their giant paddocks, where you can actually hand feed the animals, then wander between them and take photos while they graze!
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