46 days in Scotland Itinerary

Inverness, often described as the Gateway to the Highlands, is a thriving commercial and industrial center.

Visit Fort George and Culloden Battlefield for their historical value. Shop till you drop at Ferintosh Community Market and Castle Gallery. Venture out of the city with trips to Dunrobin Castle and Gardens (in Golspie), Dornoch Cathedral (in Dornoch) and Tarbat Ness Lighthouse (in Portmahomack). There's lots more to do: look for gifts at Loch Ness Centre & Exhibition, examine the collection at The Highlanders' Museum (Queen's Own Highlanders Collection), steep yourself in history at Urquhart Castle, and get to know the fascinating history of Glen Strathfarrar.

To find more things to do, maps, and other tourist information, refer to the Inverness road trip planning site .

San Francisco, USA to Inverness is an approximately 17.5-hour flight. You can also do a combination of flight and train. Due to the time zone difference, you'll lose 8 hours traveling from San Francisco to Inverness. Prepare for a bit cooler weather when traveling from San Francisco in August: high temperatures in Inverness hover around 65°F and lows are around 48°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 14th (Wed) so you can travel to Thurso.

Thurso is a town and former burgh on the north coast of the Highland council area of Scotland.

Your inner history buff will appreciate The Castle and Gardens of Mey and Grey Cairns of Camster. Your cultural itinerary includes sights like Wick Heritage Museum and Castle Sinclair Girnigoe. Explore Thurso's surroundings by going to Duncansby Head (in John O'Groats), Strathnaver Museum (in Bettyhill) and Canisbay Parish Church (in Canisbay). There's much more to do: take an in-depth tour of Castlehill Heritage Centre, visit a coastal fixture at Dunnet Head Lighthouse, contemplate the waterfront views at Melvich Beach, and see the interesting displays at Laidhay Croft Museum.

For ratings, other places to visit, where to stay, and other tourist information, read our Thurso trip maker website .

Traveling by car from Inverness to Thurso takes 2.5 hours. Expect a daytime high around 61°F in August, and nighttime lows around 50°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 18th (Sun) early enough to drive to Durness.

Durness is a village and civil parish in the north-west Highlands of Scotland. Get a sense of the local culture at Balnakeil Craft Village and Castle Varrich. Your inner history buff will appreciate Dun Dornaigil Broch and Rosal Clearance Village. You'll find plenty of places to visit near Durness: Scourie Bay (in Scourie), The Culkein Store (in Stoer) and Kinlochbervie (Sandwood Bay Beach & Oldshoremore Beach). And it doesn't end there: shop like a local with Lotte Glob, snap pictures at Kylesku Bridge, kick back and relax at Durness Beach, and engage your brain at Durness Deep Time.

To see more things to do, where to stay, and tourist information, go to the Durness trip website .

You can drive from Thurso to Durness in 2 hours. In August, plan for daily highs up to 64°F, and evening lows to 49°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 23rd (Fri) so you can go by car to Ullapool.

Ullapool is a village of around 1,500 inhabitants in Ross-shire, Scottish Highlands. Your cultural itinerary includes sights like RhueArt and Stoer Lighthouse. Shop till you drop at An Talla Solais and Ullapool Market. Venture out of the city with trips to Assynt (Ardvreck Castle & Inchnadamph Old Parish Church Museum, Kirkton, Assynt), The Rock Stop Coffee Shop and Exhibition (in Unapool) and Lochinver (Clachtoll Broch & Achmelvich Beach). And it doesn't end there: make a trip to Coire Mhic Fhearchair, get engrossed in the history at Ullapool Museum, trek along Lael Forest Walks, and identify plant and animal life at Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve.

To find ratings, more things to do, where to stay, and tourist information, go to the Ullapool trip maker .

You can drive from Durness to Ullapool in 2 hours. Expect a daytime high around 64°F in August, and nighttime lows around 49°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 28th (Wed) to allow time to drive to Gairloch.

Gairloch is a village, civil parish and community on the shores of Loch Gairloch in Wester Ross, in the North-West Highlands of Scotland. Museum-lovers will appreciate Gairloch Heritage Museum and Russian Arctic Convoy Project. Step out of Gairloch to go to Garve and see Corrieshalloch Gorge National Nature Reserve, which is approximately 1 hour away. There's lots more to do: look for gifts at Perfume Studio, explore the activities along Gruinard Bay Caravan Park, trek along Beinn Eighe Mountain Trail, and admire the natural beauty at Inverewe Garden.

To find more things to do, where to stay, other places to visit, and tourist information, use the Gairloch trip itinerary maker .

Getting from Ullapool to Gairloch by car takes about 1.5 hours. In August, daily temperatures in Gairloch can reach 61°F, while at night they dip to 50°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 2nd (Mon) early enough to go by car to Mallaig.

Mallaig ; is a port in Lochaber, on the west coast of the Highlands of Scotland. Get some cultural insight at Eilean Donan Castle and Glenfinnan Viaduct. Get some historical perspective at Ardnamurchan Point and Lighthouse and Brochs at Glenelg - Dun Telve & Dun Troddan. Venture out of the city with trips to All The Goodness (in Ardelve), Strome Castle (in Lochcarron) and Balmacara Estate and Lochalsh Woodland Walks (in Balmacara). There's lots more to do: contemplate the long history of Glenfinnan Monument, explore the ancient world of Castle Tioram, explore the different monuments and memorials at Camas nan Geall, and make a trip to Bealach na Ba Viewpoint.

To see other places to visit, maps, photos, and other tourist information, read Mallaig trip builder app .

Getting from Gairloch to Mallaig by car takes about 3 hours. Expect a daytime high around 59°F in September, and nighttime lows around 50°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 5th (Thu) early enough to travel to Dumfries.

Dumfries is a market town and former royal burgh within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland.

Appreciate the collections at Lakeland Motor Museum and Hawkshead Grammar School. Visit Stott Park Bobbin Mill and Hill Top, Beatrix Potter's House for their historical value. Venture out of the city with trips to Bowness-on-Windermere (Blackwell, The Arts & Crafts House & The World of Beatrix Potter), Askham (Stuart Broadhurst Ceramics & St Michael’s Church) and Sizergh Castle (in Kendal). There's lots more to do: browse the eclectic array of goods at Orton Farmers' Market, make a trip to Townend, take in the exciting artwork at Thornthwaite Galleries, and steep yourself in history at Shap Abbey.

To see where to stay, ratings, reviews, and more tourist information, refer to the Dumfries vacation planner.

You can drive from Mallaig to Dumfries in 5 hours. In September, daytime highs in Dumfries are 61°F, while nighttime lows are 52°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 14th (Sat) to allow enough time to drive to Edinburgh.

World Heritage-listed Edinburgh combines ancient and modern in a uniquely Scottish atmosphere.

Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and Palace of Holyroodhouse are good opportunities to explore the local culture. Your inner history buff will appreciate The Real Mary King's Close and Edinburgh Castle. Change things up with a short trip to Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow (about 1h 45 min away). Next up on the itinerary: take a tour of Royal Yacht Britannia, get curious at Camera Obscura and World of Illusions, enjoy the sea views from Calton Hill, and take in the dramatic natural features at Arthur's Seat.

To find reviews, photos, and tourist information, read Edinburgh trip itinerary builder app .

Drive from Dumfries to Edinburgh in 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus; or take a train. Traveling from Dumfries in September, expect slightly colder with lows of 47°F in Edinburgh. Finish your sightseeing early on the 21st (Sat) so you can travel back home.