Scotland Itinerary – 7 Days of ‘Must See’ Things, Including St Andrews

Make the most of your week in Scotland

Scotland is a gorgeous country with world-class scenery, all of which is right on your doorstep when you stay at Cameron House. Be it the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond, the archaic charm of Edinburgh’s streets, or the bustling social hub of Glasgow and all the whiskey distilleries in between, Scotland is waiting to be discovered.

We’ve put together the ultimate 7-day itinerary of things to do in Scotland to make sure you get to explore the culture, the sights, and the experiences of a lifetime when you visit us.

Day-by-day:

• Day 1: Arriving at Cameron House
• Day 2: Exploring Edinburgh
• Day 3: Discovering St Andrews
• Day 4: Exploring the Scottish Highlands
• Day 5: Whisky and Castles Day
• Day 6: Glasgow, Scotland’s Cultural Hub
• Day 7: Short Hike and Departure

All locations and activities featured here are reachable by car, and by train, depending on your travel preferences.

When you plan a trip to Scotland, consider Cameron House Resort as your home to return to after your adventures. 

Day 1: Arrival & Relaxation at Cameron House

The Cameron House Resort team are experts at making you feel settled and at home so that you can make the most of every moment.

Check-in with us, relax, and let us take care of your every need. Take an afternoon loch cruise after check-in to soak in the splendid views across Loch Lomond and relax in the shadow of Ben Lomond – one of Scotland’s most recognisable peaks.

And all the travelling will no doubt ignite your appetite for local cuisine, prepared exclusively by our in-house Chef for a culinary experience like no other. 

Finish your relaxing cruise by attending one of our seven restaurants dotted around our Loch Lomond resort. Be it a contemporary dining experience such as that offered within the Cameron Grill, or a more casual affair within The Tavern – we have a menu for every taste and fancy.

To finish off your day of relaxation, why not take a stroll around our meticulously maintained grounds, wander  by the shore of the loch, or enjoy a light exploration of the surrounding estate woodland before settling in for the night.

Day 2: Exploring Edinburgh

For your second day with us in Scotland, we recommend taking a trip to the East Coast of the nation to experience our capital; Edinburgh. Aside from being the administrative centre for the Scottish Government, Edinburgh is packed full of exciting experiences, historic landmarks, and unique architecture that are a wonder to see in person.

Begin by driving to Edinburgh, or alternatively you can drive to Glasgow and get the train – depending on your preferences. The  drive itself can take 1 hour and 40 minutes to 2 hours from Cameron House but is worth every second when you arrive.

The first place we recommend is Edinburgh Castle and The Royal Mile. The castle, perched atop an extinct volcano, can be seen from almost anywhere in the city and has a rich history to explore for those interested. 

Tourism Tip: every day at 1pm the castle’s cannons blast throughout the city to mark the turning of morning into afternoon. Certainly worth seeing!

The Royal Mile is the primary ‘shopping’ district  of the city and is lined with all kinds of wonderful shops, museums, and important historical landmarks. A quick stroll down its length is certainly something we think all tourists and visitors will enjoy. Some great stops to consider on The Royal Mile are:

• Oink Oink; for a great lunchtime pulled pork roll (pulled pork, haggis and apple sauce is heavenly).
• Royal Mile Whiskeys; a great place for a quick look at famous Scotch whiskey.
• St Giles Cathedral; a gothic wonder of a building right at the heart of the mile.
• The Chocolatarium; just off The Royal Mile for those who have a sweet tooth.

Just to name a few. There are plenty of stops for history lovers too, such as:

• The Museum of Edinburgh
• The Museum of Childhood
• The People’s Story Museum

Not to mention the Scottish Parliament building that is definitely worth a visit. Don’t  be shy on your gander and explore all the wynds and closes linking streets that Edinburgh has to offer.

Finally, over-shadowing the city is the famous Arthur’s Seat. Arthur’s Seat  is great for those who love a hike and it has many different routes to follow; some paved, others you’ll need good boots for, all of which offer panoramic views over the city.

Getting to the top of Arthur’s Seat can take anywhere from 1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the route you take. Arthur’s Seat is also a great place to take a picnic on a nice sunny day.

When you’ve explored the city for the day, there’s no better way to bring to an end than a delightful meal at Cameron House when you get back – followed by some evening relaxation.

Day 3: Discovering St Andrews

The third day of your Scotland trip is for St Andrews; a scenic seaside town steeped in rich Scottish history. Aside from the illustrious St Andrew’s University, there’s plenty to do and see within the town.

Travelling to St Andrews is easiest by car, and will take in excess of 2 hours from Cameron House, depending on the route you take. With this in mind, you’ll want to leave early in the morning to get the most out of your day.

When you arrive at the lovely town, two must-see traveller’s destinations that should be on everyone’s list are St Andrew’s Castle and St Andrews Cathedral Ruins. As a distinct part of the town’s unique character, these historical landmarks will not only take your breath away but will also intrigue you with their past. 

After you’ve seen and learnt about the town’s history, a walk along the famous West Sands Beach you may recognise from Chariots of Fire is another must-do activity. Take in the  captivating sea views and get lost in the tranquillity of the place.

As an added bonus for golf lovers, St Andrews is home to The Old Course – which is definitely worth a visit if you are interested in the sport.

With a long day of exploring the town and everything it has to offer, a beautifully crafted hot meal will be waiting for you back at Cameron House so that you may recharge for Day 4.

Day 4: Exploring the Highlands

For the fourth day of your trip to Scotland, it’s time to take to the highlands and explore the untamed, magnificent scenes that make Scotland famous the world over.

The plan for the day is to embark  on a scenic drive through the Scottish Highlands that’ll lead you to the stunning vistas of Glencoe; about a two hour drive North via the A82. And there’s plenty to see and do on the way, such as:

• Making a stop at Firkin Point; just North on the A82 of Inverbeg and South of Stuckgowan. This is a great view point that overlooks Loch Lomond and Ben Lomond.
• Checking out the Inveruglas Pyramid further up the A82 in the shadow of Ben Vorlich.
• Stopping to take in the Falls of Falloch; just North of Inverarnan on the A82, sitting at the eastern slopes of Ben Lui
• Have a break at the Green Welly Stop in Tyndrum; a great place for picking up souvenirs.
• After Tyndrum there are a few viewpoints to consider:
  • The Loch Tulla Viewpoint; further up the A82 after the Loch Tulla Bridge.
  • Lochan na h-Achlaise Viewpoint (there’s two, one in the South and one in the North, both on the A82).
  • Loch Ba viewpoint (just North of the Loch Ba Bridge)
  • Rannoch Moor viewpoint
  • River Etive Bridge (closer to Glencoe than Tyndrum).
• The Glencoe Viewpoint is a must-see on this trip! It comes not long after the River Etive Bridge after you pass through Altnafeadh.

From the Glencoe viewpoint, there are a few options depending on what you enjoy. For the  history buffs, you  can visit the memorial of the MacDonald Massacre and the Glencoe Folk Museum – both within Glencoe itself.

For Harry Potter fans, you can find Hagrid’s Hut just off the A82 at Loch Achtriochtan (follow the brown ‘Visitor Attractions’ sign post at the Loch Achtriochtan Car Park turn-off). You can also find the Glenfinnan Viaduct (and catch a sighting of the Harry Potter train) by following the A82 North to Fort William, and then turning onto the A830.

Otherwise, there are plenty of places to rest for a quick bite in Ballachulish further up the A82 from Glencoe.

To finish the day, you have a few options:

• If you’ve made good time reaching Glencoe and it’s time for you to turn back, you can take the longer route which lets you see more of the Highlands. Follow the A82 until it meets the A828 at Ballachulish Bridge and continue on the A828 down the coast of Loch Linnie until you reach Portnacroish.
• At Portnacroish you can make a brief stop to see Castle Stalker.
• Continue down the A828 until you pass Oban Airport and reach Connel (across Connel Bridge).
• You can then follow the A85 back to Tyndrum where you can follow the same route back to us at Cameron House.

If you don’t have much time, and want to get back, you can come back to us the way you drove up.

Either way, we’ll have gorgeous food coupled with a selection of beverages awaiting your return. And for those who are back a little later, we have room service available.

Day 5: Whiskey & Castle Tour

What 7 day Scotland itinerary would be complete without exploring some of our  castles and popping in to visit one of our famous distilleries? Day five is all about both.

There are a whole host of distilleries and castles within a good driving distance from Cameron House, such as:

• Stirling Castle 
• Lennox Castle
• Buchanan Castle 
• Balloch Castle
• Mugdock Castle
• Carrick Castle
• Knockderry Castle
• Glengoyne Distillery
• Oban Distillery
• Inverleven Distillery
• Deanston Distillery
• Tullibardine Distillery

And many, many more. But for the closing few days of your trip, we want to couple Stirling Castle and Glengoyne Distillery.

Due to their proximity to main roads, you can visit the distillery first, then Stirling Castle before making your way back to us for the evening – or you can do it in reverse. It’s totally up to you! If you want to cram in a little more sightseeing and don’t mind visiting a hidden, overgrown gem of a castle ruin, then consider:

• Visit Glengoyne Distillery for a tour in the morning, then grab some lunch.
• Drive up to see Stirling Castle in the afternoon.
• Make a pit-stop to Buchanan Castle ruins on the drive back to Cameron House.

However, there’s also the option to:

• Visit Stirling Castle in the morning, then grab a bite to eat in Stirling.
• Visit the Glengoyne Distillery in the afternoon for your tour.
• Go off the beaten track a little to see Mugdock Castle before routing down via Dumbarton Castle and back up to us at Cameron House.

If the whiskey tour is more your thing, then considering distilleries situated further away is always an option such as Tullibardine Distillery. Visiting Tullibardine will still allow you to take a detour on your way there or back to see Stirling Castle and Buchanan Castle ruins depending on the route you take.

At the end of the day, we’d recommend pairing at least one castle and one whiskey tour in the same day – any more than that and the day can feel a bit rushed (due to the driving distances involved). And after you’re finished with your day, our world class food and luxury comfort await at Cameron House.

Day 6: Visit Scotland’s Cultural Hub

When it comes to the end of the week, focussing on activities fairly close to us is best – so you can enjoy the rest of your time in Scotland at a relaxed pace. Day 6 is all about exploring the culturally rich city of Glasgow at the heart of the nation. From its vibrant nightlife, to the variety of shopping experiences, to its intriguing museums, Glasgow has a little bit of everything for everyone – which makes it a great place to visit as your holiday draws to a close.

The initial drive from Cameron House to Glasgow doesn’t take too long compared to other places on our itinerary, it can take anywhere from 40 minutes to an hour depending on traffic. For those who don’t want to drive all the way in or don’t want to look for parking in Glasgow, you can drive to Balloch Train station and take the train all the way to the city centre.

You’ll want to:

• Follow the A82 until you reach the M8.
• Take the M8 to Seaward St in Kinning Park. Take the exit for M74 from the M8.
• Take Scotland St and Wallace St to the Bridge Street Subway station.

Bridge Street subway station is a great place to park, and has lots of connective links to other regions in the city (without getting too far into the city centre with your car). You can buy a day pass on the subway that gives you unlimited travel for the day, and use the subway to reach everywhere on the itinerary.

First stop: Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum

Take the subway from Bridge street to Kelvinhall subway station, which is a short 10 minute walk through the leafy West End of Glasgow to the museum. Entry is free, but donations are always welcome!

At the museum you can explore multiple floors of historic artefacts, priceless works of art, and finish up with a coffee at the museum’s cafe – and visit the gift shop for a memento.

The West End is also a great place to stop for a bite to eat. Enjoy an eclectic range of cuisines with restaurants that serve everything from Korean food to Jamaican cuisine lining either side of Byres Road (right next to the Kelvinhall Subway).

Second Stop: Buchanan Street & Argyll Street

Taking the subway from Kelvinhall after you are finished exploring the West End, you’ll want to stay on it until Buchanan Street – the shopping hub of the city. Here you will be able to shop all of the big high street brands up and down the length of the street. As you explore the shopping district you can walk down to St Enoch Shopping Centre to pick up some gifts for loved ones, before venturing down Argyll Street – another key shopping street in Glasgow.

Be it high end jewellery in the Argyll Arcade, the various music shops, comic book shops, high end clothing stores, you name it, Glasgow has it!

The best bit? After you’ve shopped for your loved ones, you can easily walk to the third stop!

Third Stop: Glasgow Cathedral & Necropolis

To the immediate east of the city centre is where you can find one of the oldest Cathedrals in Europe and the oldest structure in the city of Glasgow. Built in the 12th century, you can learn all about the Cathedral’s rich history with a quick tour before exploring the Necropolis.

Be sure to check out the viewpoint right at the top of Necropolis for a view across Glasgow and the Clyde Valley like no other!

If you have time left over:

• The Riverside Transport Museum located in the West End (near Partick, by the River Clyde) will take you through a detailed history of transport in Scotland, from the first cars to classics!
• The Clydeside Distillery, near the SSE Hydro and on the banks of the Clyde itself. This is great to do some tastings.
• Tennent’s Brewery, located to the east of the city centre, is a great place to learn about the history of Scotland’s most famous beer (as well as sampling the beverage).
• Visit Ashton Lane; a gorgeous, quaint hidden gem in the West End home to a fabulous mix of restaurants and pubs (including an Innis & Gunn taproom).
• Visit the Botanic Gardens. At the top of Byres Road, not far from Hillhead Subway station you can find the Botanic Gardens; home to the renowned glasshouses filled with exotic plants, including the domed Kibble Palace. The perfect place to enjoy an ice cream whilst taking in the beauty of the gardens, or whilst wandering down to the nearby River Kelvin.

When you’ve experienced enough of Glasgow, Cameron House awaits your return for a scrumptious dinner with us to end day six.

Day 7: Hiking & Goodbyes

For your last day with us and in Scotland, venture into nature at your own pace with some tranquil hiking. Staying relatively close to Cameron House is best for your final day, to reduce travel times so you don’t miss out on the peaceful moments a good walk can bring you.

For those wanting an easy, gentle hike to finish off their 7 days in Scotland, a walk up Conic Hill is a great choice (read our in-depth guide to Conic Hill for additional tips and info). . Just north of Balmaha, it is a mere 25-30 minute car journey.

• Start by leaving on the A82
• Take the A811 to Main St (B858) in Stirling
• Take the B837 to Conic Hill

For those who want more of a challenging hike, Ben Lomond is a must! It is a bit further away, so you may want to get up a bit earlier and get breakfast with us before leaving. To get there you’ll want to:

• Start by leaving on the A82
• Take the A811, then the B837 to the West Highland Way in Stirling
• This will take you to the Ben Lomond car park

For those interested in history, The Ben Lomond area also has a range of historic landmarks and memorials you can visit. Otherwise, you’ll have a gentle climb to the peak of Ben Lomond – which can be demanding at times so be sure to wear adequate footwear.

After a day of hiking, Cameron House awaits to take care of you for your final night in Scotland.

Book Your Ultimate Scottish Getaway

When choosing to visit our wonderful country, you’ll want to rest your weary soul after a day of exploring in luxury, comfort, and style – with everything you need to refuel!

Cameron House is a premium resort designed to cater to your every need. Be it a delicious seasoned steak at the end of the day, or something light for your breakfast before setting off – we have something at one of our resort restaurants for everyone.

And let’s not forget our range of resort activities, such as golf, 4×4 adventures, jet skiing, falconry, and much, much more. Don’t forget that when  you’ve finished your day, we also have a range of spa options that will help you relax and recharge.

When you choose to holiday in Scotland, choosing Cameron House means choosing a luxury resort that will provide memories to last a lifetime.