Scotland by Road: A Journey of Scenery, Service & Surprise
View from Idrigill - Isle of Skye
This has been a strange year for me. Due to COVID, the start of my solo venture, and trying to save money, I hadn’t taken a proper holiday in years. I would return to my hometown or sometimes go skiing, but I never considered those true holidays.
However, this year, I think I may have outdone myself. In January, I went skiing with my parents and their friends, and then I went on my first trip with my partner to Budapest. In June, we spent a week in my hometown. August brought two concerts, one in Munich and the other in Vienna. September was our two-week road trip to Scotland. For Halloween, we are heading to Saturnia. In November, we’re combining a business trip to San Francisco with a few personal days, and we’re still deciding on Christmas and New Year’s Eve plans.
Yes, all those years without holidays seem to be catching up with me this year. But today, I want to talk about our road trip to Scotland. I’ve tried to organize a trip like this for years, and I finally found someone crazy enough to do it with me.
Planning
Planning a road trip by yourself and making it memorable takes time and a lot of Googling. Since Chatty (aka ChatGPT) became my best friend, I asked it to create an itinerary based on our preferred landing and take-off times, what we wanted to see, and how long we wanted to drive each day.
From there, we adjusted the plan based on hotel availability and what each location offered in terms of accommodations, restaurants, and activities. I wanted the trip to be as authentic as possible, so I focused on booking unique inns and out-of-the-ordinary accommodations rather than traditional hotels.
This is where my project management skills kicked in.
After completing a Coursera course on Project Management by Google in February 2024, I created a Trello board for the trip. My partner was convinced I had gone a bit overboard, but applying my knowledge of project management saved the trip and made it a success.
The Final Itinerary
After finalizing the details, this was our itinerary:
Day 1: Landed in Edinburgh, spent the afternoon wandering the city’s charming streets and iconic spots.
Day 2: Full day in Edinburgh, soaking in history, culture, and some hidden gems.
Day 3: Collected our rental car, drove to Pitlochry, and checked into the delightful The Old Mill Inn.
Day 4: Journeyed to Loch Ness, with a scenic stop at Aviemore to stretch our legs.
Day 5: Explored Urquhart Castle, then headed to Portree, Isle of Skye, for a cozy stay at Bracken Hide.
Days 6-7: Toured the Isle of Skye, from breathtaking landscapes to a visit at Talisker Distillery.
Day 8: Drove to Fort William, with a must-see stop at Glenfinnan Viaduct to catch a glimpse of the Jacobite Steam Train.
Day 9: Took a nostalgic ride on the Jacobite Steam Train, then journeyed to Oban.
Day 10: Indulged in a tour at Oban Distillery, sipping on smooth whiskies.
Day 11: Headed to Stirling, where we explored the historic castle.
Day 12: Returned to Edinburgh, ready to fly back with hearts full of memories.
The Trip
The schedule wasn’t too crowded, which allowed us to relax and enjoy each location. Both of us had visited and lived briefly in Edinburgh before, so we took it easy, walking around and exploring at our own pace. I took charge of finding dining spots, and I’m proud to say I managed to pick excellent restaurants at almost every location.
The true adventure began when we picked up the rental car and set off for the Highlands.
I’m used to breathtaking scenery, living in Switzerland, and being raised in a national park in Italy, but I have to say, Scotland was magical. The early autumn colors were stunning, bringing a smile to my face without me even realizing it.
Unfortunately, I got sick during the trip, and I was afraid I’d end up stuck in bed. Thankfully, after dosing up on paracetamol, warm milk with honey and whisky, and a long, hot shower, I managed to recover and fully enjoy the experience.
We were also very lucky with the weather—only one rainy day, and the rest was sunny with temperatures around 20°C.
Check-In Experiences
One thing that stood out to me, as a hotelier, was the strictness of check-in rules. A couple of times, we arrived a bit early and were denied check-in altogether.
Check-in is typically around 3 or 4 pm, and we arrived around lunchtime. The first time, I was sick and possibly running a fever. We knew it was a long shot, but the staff kindly explained that the room wasn’t ready and offered to store our luggage. They even recommended a nice restaurant nearby. We went into town, had a lovely lunch, and returned around 4 pm to check in. I immediately crashed into bed to recover (and thankfully did!).
The second time, on the last day of the trip, we arrived around lunchtime again, hoping for an early check-in. However, at this five-star hotel in Stirling, not only was early check-in unavailable, but the parking information on their website was also incorrect. We paid for parking and then set off to enjoy lunch and visit the castle.
These experiences made me think about the guest experience at my Relais and how much we try to accommodate early check-ins whenever possible. Comparing the two, the first property, with its 30 private cabins, was accommodating and helpful, while the traditional 50-room hotel left us feeling unwelcome.
When guests at our Relais arrive early, we always try to accommodate early check-ins if the room is available. Of course, we’ve had guests expecting to check in at 9 am, which isn’t feasible, but in medium-to-large properties, it’s usually possible to rearrange reservations and accommodate early arrivals.
Enjoying Local Cuisine
Being Italian and having grown up around delicious food, I can be quite picky about where I eat. I carefully vetted different restaurants, and I was lucky enough to find some great spots that offered both traditional and modern twists on local cuisine.
For the first time, I tried haggis and black pudding, and I have to admit, I enjoyed them! While I probably won’t seek them out outside of Scotland, it was nice to explore and savor new flavors. We dined in different kinds of restaurants, from pubs to Michelin-recommended spots, and it was nice to see the varying levels of service.
Local Highlights
Planning our trip involved deciding which must-see locations to prioritize and which could be skipped if necessary. We created a Google Maps list of musts and mights to understand distances and allocate time.
We kept our itinerary flexible, deciding on activities day by day, which gave us plenty of freedom. Apart from a few set plans, like visiting the Glenfinnan Viaduct to see the Jacobite Steam Train, we could fully enjoy our free time.
Tips for Travelers
If you have your heart set on certain experiences, like distillery visits or the Jacobite Steam Train ride, I highly recommend booking them in advance.
For example, I wanted to book the Jacobite Steam Train tickets early because I knew they would sell out quickly, but due to maintenance issues, I had to check the website almost daily. By late August, I set an alarm to check the website twice a day, and it paid off. I managed to get the tickets I wanted and even secured my preferred seat choice.
The same goes for whisky distilleries. While there are around 150 distilleries in Scotland, you’ll want to book in advance if there’s a specific one you’d like to visit, like we did with Talisker and Oban. We booked fairly late, so we couldn’t choose the exact day or type of tour, but nonetheless, we enjoyed them. Plus, they offer a 10% discount per ticket to use in their shop, and trust me, the prices for the whiskies are a bargain.
Conclusion
This journey was a dream of mine, and despite being sick for part of it and wanting to do more than my body allowed, I truly enjoyed it and will remember it forever. It gave me insights into hospitality and tourism in general. It felt like a fairy tale most of the time, and thankfully, the weather was gracious, allowing us to fully enjoy our time there. It also reminded me why guest experience matters, from authentic accommodations to warm check-ins. So, here’s to seeing What’s Next!
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