Why Choose This Edinburgh Highlands Itinerary 6 Days?
Starting your Edinburgh Highlands itinerary 6 days in the capital, immerse in Scotland's dramatic north without haste. This plan covers Edinburgh's icons and Highland highlights, accessible by scenic trains and drives.
Our AI-optimized Edinburgh Highlands itinerary 6 days ensures smooth transitions, iconic sights, and local flavors like whisky tastings and fresh seafood. It's the ideal framework for a week-long Scottish escape.
Your Complete Edinburgh Highlands Itinerary 6 Days
This guide outlines a seamless Edinburgh Highlands itinerary 6 days, blending city history with Highland wilderness.
Day 1: Arrival in Edinburgh & Royal Mile
Begin your Edinburgh Highlands itinerary 6 days with the capital's ancient spine.
Royal Mile
Edinburgh's Ancient Artery
From Castle to Palace, lined with closes and kirks, where bagpipes skirl and tartan shops tempt with clan histories.
Why You Should Visit:
Shop tartans, visit hidden wynds, and feel the Highland pulse. The Mile's gradient reveals layered eras—from medieval wynds to Georgian closes—pulsing with street performers and ghost tours, setting the tone for your Edinburgh Highlands itinerary 6 days.
All day
Walk from station
3 hours
How to Reach:
From Edinburgh Waverley station, emerge onto the Mile's cobbled incline, passing Greyfriars Kirkyard’s spectral tales.
Insider Tip:
Detour into Writers' Museum for Burns and Scott lore. Hunt for the Heart of Midlothian to spit for luck, a quirky local rite.
St. Giles' Cathedral
Thistle Kirk of Scotland
Gothic heart of the Reformed Church with crown spire and Thistle Chapel's intricate stalls honoring knights.
Why You Should Visit:
Admire stained glass and Reformation history. The cathedral's nave, site of John Knox's sermons, echoes with Scotland's turbulent faith journey, perfect for your Edinburgh Highlands itinerary 6 days.
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Walk from Royal Mile
1 hour
How to Reach:
Midway along the Royal Mile, a short ascent to the crown spire piercing the skyline.
Insider Tip:
Visit during evensong for choral echoes. Seek the Prestonpans tapestry depicting the Jacobite rising.
Day 1 Dining: Haggis Haven
Taste Scotland's national dish, neeps and tatties steaming hot amid historic surrounds.
The Witchery
Gothic dining with local specialties like haggis bonbons in candlelit vaults.
Oink
Street-style hog roast rolls, a quick bite with Highland pork.
Day 2: Edinburgh Castle & Arthur's Seat
Conquer the fortress and hike for vistas in your Edinburgh Highlands itinerary 6 days.
Edinburgh Castle
Scotland's Fortress Heart
Perched on volcanic rock, home to the Stone of Destiny and the Honours—Scotland's crown jewels—amid ramparts scarred by sieges.
Why You Should Visit:
Witness the Honours and hear the one o'clock gun. The castle's esplanade hosts the Tattoo, but daily, its dog cemetery and war museum add poignant layers to the martial pomp.
9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Walk uphill
2.5 hours
How to Reach:
Uphill walk from Royal Mile, past whisky shops and kilted pipers.
Insider Tip:
Join a free guided tour for juicy tales. Time your visit for the gun salute, echoing across the Forth.
Arthur's Seat
Dramatic Hill Summit
Ancient volcano in Holyrood Park with 360-degree cityscapes, from the Pentlands to the Firth of Forth, dotted with ruined forts and grazing sheep.
Why You Should Visit:
A invigorating climb rewarding with sweeping Lowland vistas. The hill's basalt cliffs and wildflower meadows make it a microcosm of Scotland's rugged beauty, perfect for picnics at St. Anthony's Chapel ruins.
All day
Bus to park
2 hours
How to Reach:
Bus 35 from city center to park entrance, then a steady ascent through gorse.
Insider Tip:
Take the Radical Road path for rugged adventure. Pack a flask of Irn-Bru for the summit toast.
Day 2 Dining: Summit Snacks
Refuel with hearty bites after the hike, with city views.
The Tower
Rooftop bar with Scottish tapas like Arbroath smokies.
Howies
Hearty bistro classics, from Cullen skink to cranachan.
Day 3: Train to Pitlochry & Highland Gateway
Travel to Perthshire's forests and lochs in your Edinburgh Highlands itinerary 6 days.
Pitlochry
Theatre of the Highlands
Victorian resort town with dam, theatre, and trails through ancient Caledonian pines, gateway to the wild north.
Why You Should Visit:
Explore the fish ladder and forest paths for gentle Highland immersion. Pitlochry's blend of whisky distilleries and heather moors offers a soft introduction to the rugged beauty ahead.
All day
Train from Edinburgh
3 hours
How to Reach:
ScotRail from Waverley to Pitlochry (2 hrs), stepping into pine-scented air.
Insider Tip:
Watch salmon leap at the dam. Hike to Black Spout Falls for a misty cascade.
Day 3 Dining: Forest Forage
Local venison and berries in woodland inns.
Fern Cottage
Cozy spot with foraged mushrooms and game pies.
The Claymore
Pub with Highland malts and tattie scones.
Day 4: To Inverness & Loch Ness
North to the Great Glen for monster myths in your Edinburgh Highlands itinerary 6 days.
Loch Ness
Legendary Deep Lake
Search for Nessie on cruises amid dramatic glens, with Urquhart Castle's ivy-clad ruins brooding on craggy shores.
Why You Should Visit:
Blend myth with Highland scenery on a boat tour. The loch's peaty depths and surrounding heather moors fuel folklore, while sonar exhibits at the centre add a modern twist to the monster hunt.
Varies by tour
Train to Inverness + bus
Full day
How to Reach:
Train from Pitlochry to Inverness (2 hrs), then bus along the Great Glen to Drumnadrochit.
Insider Tip:
Visit Urquhart Castle ruins for photo ops. Stop at the Clava Cairns for an Outlander-inspired stone circle wander.
Urquhart Castle
Lochside Romantic Ruins
13th-century fortress on Loch Ness's shores, partially submerged and offering panoramic views from its broken towers.
Why You Should Visit:
Explore battle-scarred walls and drawbridge. The castle's strategic perch and Jacobite history make it a romantic Highland icon, enhancing your Edinburgh Highlands itinerary 6 days.
9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Bus from Inverness
1.5 hours
How to Reach:
Short bus ride from Drumnadrochit, arriving at the loch's edge amid pine-scented air.
Insider Tip:
Climb the Grant Tower for Ness views. Time for sunset when the ruins glow against the water.
Day 4 Dining: Lochside Larder
Fresh trout and whisky by the water's edge.
The Fiddlers' Rest
Inverness spot with Ness salmon and live folk music.
The Mustard Seed
Riverside with local game and Ness views.
Day 5: Isle of Skye & Fairy Pools
Ferry to the mist-shrouded isle for otherworldly beauty in your Edinburgh Highlands itinerary 6 days.
Fairy Pools
Enchanted Waterfalls
Crystal-clear pools and cascades tumbling from Cuillin peaks, fed by mountain streams in a glen of heather and birch.
Why You Should Visit:
Hike to shimmering falls for mythical vibes. The pools' turquoise hues and folklore of fairy maidens create a magical Highland escape, ideal for photos and dips in summer.
All day
Train/bus to Kyle + ferry
2 hours
How to Reach:
Train from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh (2.5 hrs), Skye Bridge to Portree, then bus to Glen Brittle.
Insider Tip:
Go early to beat crowds; wear wellies for slippery paths. Nearby Sligachan for a post-hike dram.
Old Man of Storr
Iconic Rock Pinnacle
Dramatic basalt column rising from Trotternish Ridge, a 50m sentinel amid cliffs and sea views, formed by ancient landslides.
Why You Should Visit:
Trek the path for epic vistas. The Storr's brooding presence and panoramic Sound of Raasay views capture Skye's rugged soul, a must for your Edinburgh Highlands itinerary 6 days.
All day
Bus from Portree
2 hours
How to Reach:
Bus from Portree along Trotternish, parking at the trailhead with views of the Quiraing.
Insider Tip:
Sunrise hike for golden light on the pinnacles. Watch for golden eagles soaring overhead.
Day 5 Dining: Skye Seafood
Fresh catches from Atlantic waters, with island views.
The Three Chimneys
Michelin-starred with foraged Skye ingredients like langoustines.
Portree Chippy
Waterside fish and chips, battered in local beer.
Day 6: Glen Coe & Return to Edinburgh
Traverse massacre glens to cap your Edinburgh Highlands itinerary 6 days.
Glen Coe
Dramatic Massacre Valley
UNESCO geopark of towering basalt peaks, waterfalls, and heather moors, site of the 1692 MacDonald massacre amid raw Highland scenery.
Why You Should Visit:
Drive or hike through cinematic glens. The valley's brooding mountains and tragic history, featured in Skyfall, offer profound natural and narrative depth.
All day
Bus/train to Fort William
3 hours
How to Reach:
Bus from Portree to Fort William (3 hrs), then A82 drive through the glen, passing Three Sisters peaks.
Insider Tip:
Stop at the massacre memorial for context. Hike the Devil's Staircase for panoramic rewards.
Eilean Donan Castle
Highland Iconic Keep
Picturesque 13th-century castle on a tidal island, rebuilt in the 20th century, with bridges and loch views.
Why You Should Visit:
Tour the clan rooms and battlements for romantic Highland vibes. The castle's postcard-perfect setting against Skye mountains makes it a cinematic farewell to the wilds.
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Drive from Glen Coe
1.5 hours
How to Reach:
A87 east from Skye, crossing the bridge to the island's causeway.
Insider Tip:
Visit at high tide for moat magic. Catch the Highland cow photo op.
Day 6 Dining: Glen Comfort
Hearty fare in mountain inns before heading south to Edinburgh.
Clachaig Inn
Walker’s pub with real ales and venison pies.
The Isles of Glencoe Hotel
Lochside dining with smoked salmon platters.