Staycations in Scotland: Cities, Highlands and Islands

Scotland rewards a little planning. Its two big cities are easy to reach and packed with things to do, but the Highlands and islands involve long drives, single-track roads and ferries, so a good staycation here usually means picking one area and staying in it. Here is how Scotland breaks down, with the best bases in each part.

City breaks

Edinburgh is the natural first trip, with its castle, the Royal Mile and the Georgian New Town all within walking distance. Our Edinburgh staycation guide goes into detail, including The Real Mary King's Close, the streets preserved beneath the Royal Mile.

Glasgow is only a short train ride away and feels completely different, with Victorian architecture, free museums and a big music scene (see our Glasgow guide). Stirling sits between the two, with a castle to rival Edinburgh's, and Aberdeen and Dundee are good bases for the north east.

Fife, Perthshire and the Borders

If you want countryside without the long drives, look at the areas just north and south of the central belt. St Andrews in Fife is a small university town with beaches and, of course, golf. Pitlochry and Aberfeldy in Highland Perthshire offer river walks, woodland and distilleries.

To the south, the Borders are one of the quieter corners of mainland Scotland. Melrose and Peebles are attractive towns on the Tweed, Melrose with its ruined abbey, both with walking and cycling on the doorstep, and Dumfries opens up the Solway coast.

The Highlands

The Highlands cover a huge area, so choose a base carefully. Inverness is the main town, a short drive from Loch Ness and Culloden; our Inverness guide has the details. Aviemore sits in the Cairngorms National Park with forest trails, lochs and the high Cairngorm plateau above, and Ballater is the gateway to Royal Deeside.

On the west side, Fort William is the base for Ben Nevis and Glen Coe, and Oban is a harbour town with ferries to the islands. Further north, Ullapool is a small fishing town at the edge of some of Scotland's wildest scenery. Campers should read our guide to the best campsites in the Scottish Highlands.

The islands

Skye is the most visited island and is linked to the mainland by a bridge. Portree, the island's main town, is the obvious base, with a colourful harbour and easy reach of the Trotternish peninsula. For a special stay, Kinloch Lodge is a former hunting lodge in the south of the island.

The Outer Hebrides are further but feel even more remote. Stornoway on Lewis is the largest town and the ferry port from Ullapool, and the islands are known for white sand beaches and standing stones. Islay is the whisky island, with its string of distilleries, and The Machrie is a good base there. Our guide to UK island staycations compares the options.

Practical tips for a Scottish staycation

Distances are longer than they look on a map, especially on single-track roads in the west. Allow extra time and don't try to cover too much. Ferries to the islands can fill up in summer, so plan them first. Midges are a nuisance in the west from late spring to late summer, so pack repellent.

Scotland's dark skies are a big draw in autumn and winter; our guide to dark sky staycations covers the best areas. For whisky lovers, see vineyard and distillery staycations, and walkers should read the best UK staycations for walkers.