Hello fellow travelers! Seeking feedback on our itinerary for Sept 2026. Active family of 4 adults (two in our mid-60s and two adult sons). Flights and lodging booked. First visit to Scotland, interested in Scottish culture and heritage, amazing scenery, short-ish nature hikes, uniquely Scottish experiences, whisky tasting. London itinerary still needs fleshing out. Any advice much appreciated! :-)
Trip to Scotland and London – Sept 2026
Day 1 Arrive in Edinburgh from LA early evening (around 5pm). Check in to hotel in Murrayfield area, 4 nights (no car until we leave Edinburgh 4 days later). Pick up a few groceries. Find local pub/casual restaurant for dinner, stroll around a bit. Not sure we’ll have energy for much else after our long flight.
Day 2. Hop-on hop-off bus tour of Edinburgh; any recs for specific vendor? Interested in touring Edinburgh Castle and generally getting lay of the land for further exploration. Late afternoon/early evening: Johnny Walker Experience for whisky tasting late afternoon (around 4), with dinner afterwards at 1820 Rooftop Bar.
Day 3 Breakfast. Bus or tram to Arthur’s Seat for short hike to summit, enjoy views. Lunch at The Witchery. Real Mary King’s Close tour (1 hr). Edinburgh Gin Distillery tour. Dinner tbd (Royal Mile Tavern?)
Day 4 Breakfast. Visit any areas identified from bus tour, souvenir shopping (Haymarket? Victoria St.?). Other options: National Museum of Scotland or National Gallery; Royal Yacht Brittania (tour and possibly afternoon tea). Dinner tbd.
Day 5 Early breakfast. Check out of hotel. Pick up rental car (Arnold Clarke, Sighthill location). Drive towards Pitlochry. Tour Stirling Castle on the way (about 45-60 minute drive?). @ 3 hours for castle tour and lunch at café. Continue towards Pitlochry (about 1.5 hours drive). Check-in Westlands Inn. Explore town, walk by river. Tour Blair Athol Distillery. Dinner Fern Cottage.
Day 6 Pitlochry Highland Games! Games 10:30-5:30pm. Dinner tbd. (Moulin Hotel or Knockendarroch Hotel?)
Day 7 Check out. Drive towards Aberlour. Stop at Newtonmore for Highland Folk Museum, allow @2 hours for visit. Check in Aberlour hotel (either Mash Tun or Dowan’s, bookings at both for two nights, need to decide on one!). Stroll River Spey; short hike to Linn Falls. Whisky tasting Aberlour Distillery. Dinner tbd
Day 8 Culloden Battlefield, allow @ 2-3 hrs. Return to Aberlour; whisky tour and tasting at The Balvenie. Dinner Dowan’s restaurant.
Day 9 Drive towards Aviemore; Strathspey steam train (book afternoon steam tea if possible) at Aviemore station, round trip about 1.5-2 hours. Head to Newtonmore, stop at Leault Farm for working sheepdog exhibition (1 hr). Drive to Oban (about 2.5 hour drive?). Check in Kilchrenan House for 2 nights. Dinner: Ee-Usk. Ceilidh evening somewhere in Oban; recs?
Day 10 Three-island boat tour (Iona, Staffa and Mull) – all day. Dinner: Oban Fish & Chip Shop.
Day 11 Head toward Edinburgh (about 3 hr drive?). Stop for Kintail Birds of Prey experience (1.5 hours). Arrive Edinburgh, check in to Hilton Carlton for one night. Dinner? tbd
Day 12 Morning: Return rental car (Sighthill). Take LNER train from Waverly to London, about 4.5 hours. Arrive London, check in to apartment in Hammersmith for 4 nights. Pick up light supplies. Double-decker bus to explore London. Dinner: either Dishoom or restaurant near flat.
Day 13 Options: Westminster Abbey, National Gallery, Thames river cruise? Dinner: Covent Garden? Tbd
Day 14 Tower of London/Tower Bridge…Borough market? (or too crowded on a Sunday? can switch to different day) Dinner tbd.
Day 15 Day trip to Windsor Castle; should take up most of the day? Rest of day and evening tbd. Maybe catch a show or play?
Day 16 Last ½ day in London Souvenir shopping, leisurely breakfast or lunch somewhere. Head to Heathrow @ 3 p.m. for 6 pm flight home).