Things I Wish I Knew Before Visiting Scotland for the First Time

I must confess, Scotland wasn't that high up on my travel bucket list. Mostly because I had been to Ireland a few times and I {wrongfully} assumed they would be basically the same. Spoiler alert: they are not! I'm glad that I allowed myself to experience it for myself. The dramatic landscapes, winding roads through the Highlands, tiny villages, castles, lochs, waterfalls and endless views felt like something straight out of a movie. I mean, we simply stopped pointing out waterfalls we'd see because there were just so many of them! Scotland really did surprise me in ways I wasn't expecting.

Not in a bad surprise way, but in a good way. Scotland ended up being one of those destinations that felt easier, friendlier, and more relaxed than I anticipated. But there were definitely some things I wish someone had told me before I boarded that plane. 

If you're planning your first trip to Scotland, here are some things I wish I knew ahead of time that would have saved me time, stress, and maybe a few moments of standing in the rain.

Things I Wish I Knew Before Visiting Scotland for the First Time

Make Dinner Reservations Ahead of Time

I typically don't over plan when I travel. And I'm not a foodie, so keeping things like "hot new restaurants" on my radar is just not a thing I even think about. I like having the flexibility and room to change plans as we go. But one thing I learned quickly in Scotland is that you can't always assume you'll just wander into a restaurant and get a table. 

This was especially true in places like Fort William. 

Fort William is a common stop for travelers heading through the Highlands, hiking, visiting Glen Coe, or using it as a base for nearby adventures. Because so many visitors pass through, restaurants can fill up quickly, especially during those peak travel months.

After long travel days, there is nothing worse than being hungry and realizing every place has a waitlist or is fully booked for the evening. 

Restaurants in Scotland are VERY strict about their seating policy and will not hesitate to turn you away if you haven't planned ahead and made reservations. We ran from restaurant to restaurant in the rain just looking for a place that had a table. 

I wish I had known this before we traveled. It really didn't need to be something we planned months in advance, even just a few days before. Even if you are someone who likes flexibility, having dinner figured out removes at least one of those decisions for you at the end of a long day. And honestly, having some dinner is better than having no dinner.

You don't have to have every meal planned out, but if you are staying in popular towns {like Edinburgh, Fort William, and Portree}, you should book ahead.

Future you will be glad that you did.

Reserve Ferries Before Your Trip

Scotland has some incredible islands that are absolutely worth visiting, and some connector ferries {like the one from Mallaig to Armdale} that will get you to Skye, you can't assume you can just show up and get on. 

I learned that pretty quickly! Ferry reservations, especially for vehicles, can fill up faster than expected. We are even from a state {Washington} that has an active ferry systems and we should have known better. Our alternative would have been a 3 hour drive back around and over a bridge, and boy am I glad we got the literal ONE remaining spot on the ferry on the final ferry of the day.

So whether you're heading to places like the Isle of Skye, Mull, or other islands, ferry schedules become a very important part of your itinerary. 

The last thing you want is to organize your route around a ferry crossing only to discover that there's no room for you. 

Even if you're traveling in the shoulder season, I would still recommend checking schedules and reserving in advance whenever possible. 

It doesn't mean you need to map every minute of your trip, but locking in transportation logistics can save a lot of headaches later.

Don't be Afraid of Driving

I say this as a passenger princess, but having already driven around Ireland {as a passenger} I felt like I knew what to expect. 

If you've driven around Ireland, you know a bit of the hesitation. 

Don't miss this post if you are going to be driving around Ireland soon. This is what NO one tells you!

And if you are renting a car in Ireland, here is everything you need to know. 

There are tiny roads, stone walls and cars that just seem to appear around blind corners. Roads are so narrow that you're wondering if two vehicles could physically fit at the same time. 

I kind of assumed that Scotland would be more of the same.

Surprisingly, driving in Scotland was easier than either of us expected.

Yes, you're still driving on the left side of the road, and yes, there are these single track roads in some areas, but overall, we found that Scotland was less intimidating. 

Many roads actually felt wider and easier to navigate. Traffic outside the larger cities wasn't as difficult to manage and there were a lot of passing areas that Ireland just didn't have.

Make sure you choose an automatic car rental because if you aren't used to a manual car, now isn't the time! Make sure you don't choose a car that's too big. Smaller is always better. And take your time. Allow the faster cars to pass and don't feel pressured.

Having a car in Scotland gives you freedom that would be hard to replicate otherwise, so it's worth figuring it all out. 

Some of the best moments actually happen when you pull over and stop at those unexpected viewpoints or at the small farm stands for fresh food and pastries. 

Don't miss this post: What to know about driving in Scotland

Don't Over Plan Your Days

I know it's tempting. There are so many "must see" things in Scotland and you want to hit them all. If you try to do everything, you are going to create a schedule that feels more exhausting than enjoyable. 

Some of our favorite moments weren't planned at all. They were pulling over in a field to see the Highland coos, stopping for coffee in a small village or wandering through the streets to find a hole in the wall thrift shop. Heck, I even loved spotting the farm stands and wish I had more cash on hand to put in their honesty box so I could get their farm fresh eggs and homemade pastries.

Scotland is one of those places that rewards you for slowing down. Instead of planning every moment, have a list of priorities and then also a list of things in the area, but leave room for spontaneity.

You may just discover that your favorite place wasn't even in your itinerary. 

Don't Just Spend One Night Everywhere

This might be my biggest piece of travel advice for any location, but especially when planning a Scotland itinerary. It's easy to fall into the trap of moving constantly. 

On paper it seems efficient because you're seeing more places, but in reality it's exhausting to constantly be moving and packing up. 

Having extra time somewhere allows you to settle in, enjoy slower mornings, and explore without constantly watching the clock and having to check in and check out of places.

Scotland deserves a slower pace. You don't need to see everything in one trip.

Don't Skip the Grocery Store

One of my favorite travel habits is visiting grocery stores in other countries. 

And Scotland's grocery stores are actually surprisingly fun. I think many travelers overlook this, especially if they are focused on restaurants. But grocery stores can save you money and make travel easier. 

They are perfect for:

• picnic lunches
• road trip snacks
• breakfast supplies
• easy dinners
• trying local foods

There's something fun about wandering the grocery aisles and seeing what people actually buy and eat every day. 

Some of our favorite snacks and meals came from grocery store finds.

Plus, if you are staying somewhere with a kitchen or even just a mini fridge, having food options is a great way to save money on the budget.

Download Offline Maps Before You Go

We rely heavily on maps when traveling, especially while driving. 

Cell service can disappear quickly in those rural parts of Scotland, so make sure you have your maps downloaded offline. 

Not only are offline maps good for driving, they are also great for hiking and for exploring towns when you don't have cell service or WIFI. 

It's simple, only takes a few minutes, and can prevent a lot of stress. Because trying to figure out where you are while sitting on a remote road with no signal will test anyone!

Bring Waterproof Shoes

Scotland can be wet even when it isn't actively raining. We went in September and it wasn't super rainy and they had had a relatively dry summer, but there were still bogs and muddy trails with damp fields and wet grass.

No one likes wet socks, so make sure you pack waterproof shoes that are light {you don't need heavy hiking boots unless you are really doing some serious hiking-I wore these} and wear socks that don't get wet if your shoes leak. These are our favorite hiking socks.

Get Cash

I find that I don't often need a lot of cash when I travel. Most places will take credit card. However, I did find that there were several instances that I wish I had had cash. 

I spent FAR too long trying to get the parking meter to accept our credit card. But I have heard that the fines for not paying a meter are pretty ridiculous, so you want to make sure you have cash for that. 

Public restrooms in Scotland are often met with a fee and a turnstile. You can tap to pay on some, but not all. Trust me, you don't want to be stuck having to go and not have any cash on you.

And finally, the thing that I wish I had more money for were the honesty boxes I stumbled upon while visiting the Isle of Skye. As we drove in the countryside, we found several boxes along the roadside that contained fresh eggs, breads, jams and homemade pastries. Some mentioned that they took PayPal, but I couldn't get mine to work internationally. 

Have cash. You will use it! You just don't need too much!

Scotland ended up being one of those places that I've traveled to that surprised me in the best way possible. The scenery was incredible, the people were friendly, and there was something about the slower pace that felt refreshing. But if I could go back and give first time me some advice, this would be it. 

And don't forget to leave room for Scotland to surprise you. 

What are some of the things you knew before you traveled to Scotland for the first time?

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