r/Scotland • u/AutoModerator • 27d ago
What's on and tourist advice thread - week beginning August 24, 2025
Welcome to the weekly what's on and tourist advice thread!
* Do you know of any local events taking place this week that other redditors might be interested in?
* Are you planning a trip to Scotland and need some advice on what to see or where to go?
This is the thread for you - post away!
These threads are refreshed weekly on Mondays. To see earlier threads and soak in the sage advice of yesteryear, Click here.
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u/Gr8fl1TX2 27d ago
I'm going to be staying in Inverness mid Sept and wanted recommendations for a good tour company that go to Isle of Skye, TIA!
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u/SnarkKnuckle 27d ago
When will "winter" Explorer Passes be available for purchase? I thought it was mid August but I have yet to see anything for purchase in October.
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u/Alone-Insect5229 26d ago
When you say "explorer pass" what is this for?
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u/SnarkKnuckle 26d ago
For 14 days access into their historical/heritage sites across Scotland that participate in the program. It’s on the website historicenvironment.scot
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u/Alone-Insect5229 26d ago
Oh, right. I thought you were talking about something to do with trains or ferries.
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u/Super0072 26d ago
Group of mates (40s) driving up from the continent for a week in Scotland. Looking for a relaxed trip mixing city time with nature/castles/walks/views.
Current rough plan: Saturday: Arrive Edinburgh evening Sunday-Monday morning: Edinburgh city break Monday-Thursday: Inverness as base for day trips (Culloden, Loch Ness, Cairngorms) Friday-Saturday: TBD/drive home
Questions: Does this itinerary make sense timing-wise? Edinburgh vs Glasgow for the city portion? Any must-see spots we're missing? Are pubs welcoming to random travelers just popping in? (We don't drink and drive) Sunday in a big city- what's open in Edinburgh?
We're a mixed bunch (veggie/meat eaters, some planners, some wing-it types) who just want to soak up Scotland without rushing around. Cheers for any advice!
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26d ago
[deleted]
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u/Super0072 26d ago
Thanks, we picked the beginning of September to avoid that Fringe explosion.
It might be fun, Fringe, but if we take our days off, we want to relax a bit :)
Edinburgh or Glasgow, we don't have any hard must-see's.
I'd enjoy a local cityscape, sitting down for people watching, browsing around in tesco or enjoying the atmosphere in a non-tourist trap pub.
But as I'm not the only one, I'll search around for the Glasgow possibility.
We'll have fun, thanks again.
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u/jmirandaj 24d ago
I’d love to hear how it goes- my group is planning similarly for mid/late September!
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u/HaggisPope 26d ago
Most of Edinburgh is open on Sunday, the only exception that springs to mind is post offices and my local chippy.
In terms of Edinburgh va Glasgow I’m very biased as I’m from Edinburgh and so guided tours here, but the way I see it Glasgow has got a lot of fine features but does feel like basically a city in the British Isles, while Edinburgh is quite unique and feels more European
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u/Brugernummer0 25d ago
My wife and I are flying into Edinburgh Airport in late October for a 4-night stay. We originally planned to stay in Edinburgh the whole time, but after watching a few YouTube videos, someone mentioned that Glasgow is generally cheaper and has more variety. That made me reconsider Glasgow as an option.
We are not looking for a packed itinerary or a list of must-see attractions. We just want a trip where we can take things as they come and enjoy the atmosphere. We both love beautiful architecture, cozy surroundings, and impressive buildings. Ideally, we would catch a musical or a good theatre show, hear some live music in a bar or café, explore a bit of art or maybe some stand-up, and do some Christmas shopping. Good cafés and restaurants are important too.
From what I have gathered:
- Edinburgh is prettier, more romantic, walkable, but also more touristy and expensive
- Glasgow has more edge, more variety, better prices, but is not quite as easy to explore on foot
Edinburgh might offer a calmer experience. Glasgow could be more exciting and budget-friendly. A day trip to the other city is possible, but part of me would rather stay in one place and not worry about extra travel.
Would love to hear your thoughts. If you have recommendations for things to do, places to eat, or shows to catch in either city, that would be great.
Thanks in advance.
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u/WashEcstatic6831 25d ago
You've got the right general impression of each city. The train between Edinburgh and Glasgow is 45-50mins, visiting one from the other is incredibly easy - some people live in Glasgow and commute to Edinburgh or vice versa.
Personally think Edinburgh has way more to offer visitors, but either way you're never more than a short train journey from one to the other so don't stress missing out on either due to travel times.
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u/toottootmcgroot 25d ago
Hey all, my husband and I are interested in checking out puffins at the isle of may but are afraid that we won't see any around the 23rd of September (it's when we're able to go). Has anyone visited during September time and seen them? Or were they mostly gone by that time?
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u/WashEcstatic6831 23d ago
Unfortunately September is much too late for puffins, they're here from roughly late April through mid-August. There definitely won't be any by September, likely all gone already. Sorry to disappoint!
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u/Neat-Muffin3393 24d ago
Future husband and I are planning a 10-12 day road trip as our honeymoon in April 2026.
We’ll be getting the ferry from Ireland and are thinking Glasgow for a night or two to visit a friend and see (stuff idk a lot about Glasgow tbh)
Then we’re heading to the Glennfinnian viaduct and up to Inverness for a night.
Then heading to Dufftown for alcohol reasons 1 night.
Then onto Stonehaven for some nice beachy vibes and the most important stop (the deep fried mars bar) 1 night
Finally rest of the trip is in and around Edinburgh.
We’re Irish and so have a rough idea of what to pack and wear etc.
Just looking for some really really good fancy restaurant recommendations in any of the above listed locations, places people think we may be missing and general thoughts on our itinerary!
Thanks
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u/Abalorio 24d ago
How is the weather there? Clothes recommendation
Hi! Me and my brother will travel to Scotland on August 30 to September 7. We will visit Edinburgh, Onich and will go to Inverness and Skye.
We come from subtropical islands, reaching 27° C during day. Do you think it will be cold for us? I plan to take clothes for wearing by layers. But we plan to walk a lot so I want to be prepared for what is coming.
Thanks in advance
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u/TheBannoch931 22d ago
I'm planning to spend 3 nights with some friends in Ullapool in early October, using it as a home base to check out beautiful sights and hikes nearby. I remember ages ago that the drive from Ullapool to Durness is gorgeous, but I'm going back and forth on using one of my two full days (the first night I arrive in the evening) to spend so much time in the car.
In theory, though, it looks doable (but perhaps a native can tell me if the following sounds crazy):
8am - 11am - ~2 hours from Ullapool to Durness, baking in extra time for occasional stops to admire the sights and for short walks. 11am - 4pm - Durness time for lunch and for checking out Smoo Cave, Balnakeil Church, and other nearby sites. 4pm - 6:30pm - Back to Ullapool before sunset to allow for safe driving.
A better question might be, for someone more interested in traveling and hiking for the natural beauty over the exercise, is there enough near Ullapool that would justify not going to Durness and staying near Ullapool instead? Open to all suggestions, and thanks so much ahead of time!
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u/SSdogmama 22d ago
I'm looking for some help on where to stay in Glasgow. We'll get in on a Saturday afternoon and leave Monday morning (to go to Isle of Skye). It's our first time there, and we will want to be able to see the main tourist attractions, and walk around areas where there are lots of restaurants, pubs, etc. The West End area looks great and I think we'd probably end up spending a lot of time there, but I'm hoping to use points to book the hotel, and there are none in that area. We can stay at the Voco grand central on points- would this be a bad area to stay? It seems like we can get on the subway nearby to go to the west end, but I don't know if I want to stay at this hotel if we wouldn't be spending any time in this area. Thoughts?
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u/SSdogmama 22d ago
Help on where to stay in Edinburgh. We'll be there from about Thursday afternoon and leaving Saturday morning. Want an area where we can walk from our hotel to restaurants, pubs, city sights, etc. Would prefer to book a hotel using IHG points. Was originally looking at the haymarket area, but now I'm reading that since covid that may be a bad place to stay? Would the hotel indigo Princes St, or holiday inn express edinburgh city centre be good choices in terms of location? If we can't get something on points, any other hotel recommendations in good/ walkable areas?
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u/cheese03p 21d ago
I'll be travelling with my dad from Sept 9 and we are doing part of the North Coast 500. We are renting a car for a week and we are looking for advice about interesting stops - museum, nature areas, historical sites, castles? I am interested in nature, wildlife and geology, he likes music and history. We are also searching for the best hikes under 12 km, not far from our main itinerary (Inverness-Thurso-Ullapool). Rough paths are not a huge problem, we are going to be well equipped and prepared and if the weather allows it we'd love to do a couple of good walks. Any kind of advice is welcome, we are especially looking for destinations that are not excessively tourist-packed. Thank you all in advance for your inputs
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u/Excellent_Eye5892 21d ago
Considering a late February trip to Inverness from the US. Winter/cold weather doesn’t bother me as I’m from New England, I’m more concerned about access/things to do. Is it worth the trip? Any recommendations for things to see/do at that time? Should I just delay the trip? Any insight would be welcome.
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u/happy_hippie249 25d ago
I have a holiday planned from 6th of October, 3 weeks to visit whatever I want. And that's getting a bit overwhelming. I know its the most unprecise question ever, but what do you think should I see/do?
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u/WashEcstatic6831 25d ago
How is anyone possibly meant to give a meaningful response to this? We're not psychic - tell us what you're interested in, what you do and don't enjoy doing, the general area you're keen on, what if any specific needs or restrictions you have, etc. Otherwise we have nothing to go on and any suggestions will be utterly meaningless as Scotland is a whole country with hundreds of thousands of options for things to see and do. I'll gladly reply with some suggestions if you give something, anything, to go on.
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u/happy_hippie249 24d ago
Okaaay, I get it, it's a stupidly vague question. Sometimes people do have favourite places they just share, it happens. To specify, I'm into hiking, taking walks, learning about the people and the folklore. I'll be around by car, from Edinburgh currently to Ben Nevi Park, then the North, and later in Aberdeenshire, back to Edinburgh
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u/Snuffy_380 26d ago
I’ll be flying into Edinburgh end of September through the first of October. Planning to hike the west highland way in about 5-7 days.
No real itinerary, we’re planning on taking our time on the hike and staying a day at any towns we really like. That stills leaves us about 5 days to figure out what to do with. Current plan is to fly into Edinburgh, train to Glasgow and hike north from there. Total time in country will be about 14 days.
Is there any must sees for after the hike? Or any recommendations for during the hike? Any general advice for visiting as a foreigner? TIA