Need Help with Itinerary Ideas

A couple of thoughts:
Maybe one of the seven other possible travelers would be keen to drive.
You can do a day trip from Edinburgh to Stirling.
I don't know what parts of Iceland you visited (or what type of scenery you're used to seeing), but I'm going to just go ahead and say no, the scenery isn't similar. Also, Iceland is pretty much all scenery, while Scotland HAS very nice scenery, but visiting there is also about history, culture, architecture, food, etc.

I don't know if anyone would be willing to drive as I don't believe anyone in our potential group has ever been to the UK. Plus, if we did end up as a group of eight, I'm thinking that might limit us as far as car hire options are concerned.

Thanks for the input on the Highlands. Like I said, I'm trying to find a good balance of natural scenery, history, culture, architecture, etc. Would Inverness be a good base for day trips, such as Isle of Skye or Loch Ness?

and I'm curious if the scenery is similar.

It is not.

Would Inverness be a good base for day trips, such as Isle of Skye or Loch Ness?

Loch Ness is very close to Inverness (hence the name).

if the scenery is similar.

No, it is completely different.... There are a lot more trees for a start and you don't get the miles and miles of black volvcanic sandur on which nothing grows. You don't get the unpaved gravel roads eithe which includes the F-roads iun the interior that are closed in winter and resrtricted to 4x4 vehicles.

I've been to both countries and love them both (I'm heading back to Iceland in July and Scotland again next year), and they are entirely different. You will find that Scotland is less expensive than Iceland as well. It's not cheap, but definitely not as expensive as Iceland. 😊

Inverness is about a little under an hour away from Loch Ness by bus, but I can think of prettier places to go to than Loch Ness.

One thing you might want to consider is hiring a private guide or scheduling a private tour. There is a company called Rabbies that a lot of people use and recommend here on the forum. They have group tours to the Highlands and other places, but they will also do private tours for larger groups. and you could easily do it if you were using Edinburgh or Glasgow as a base, or even Inverness. With your limited time and having to use public transportation, that definitely might be something to consider.

You can find more information about their group tours here: https://www.rabbies.com/en-us/tours/scotland
For info on private tours, visit here: https://www.rabbies.com/en-us/private-tours

Edinburgh may not be a great base if it's coincident with the Fringe Festival. Stirling and Edinburgh would be somewhat redundant bases, since they're pretty close together.

Traveling with eight people sounds like a nightmare. If you do the public transport/day trip hires method, you can at least all go in the directions that interest each of you. Despite many attempts at planning Scotland (and Ireland, as well) via public transport, the number of things to be seen falls off a cliff compared to renting a car. There are strong counter opinions on these forums. If you're a gamer, I see there are simulators to help get used to left-hand driving.

I found Iceland to be entirely different than any part of Scotland. Maybe if you visited Scotland in January? I don't think there are midges in Iceland :-)

Despite many attempts at planning Scotland (and Ireland, as well) via public transport, the number of things to be seen falls off a cliff compared to renting a car.

I agree with jjgurley. If you don't want to go a group tour or private tour route, you'd be best off renting a car. If there is more than one available driver, you could always rent two cars if you wind up with eight people.

And I also agree that there is nothing to learn about driving on the left. Honestly, after the first 5 minutes, it will feel very natural. I always have trouble when I come back home because I've been driving on the left and then have to get used to driving on the right again, but that's all there is: just a 5-minute period to get used to it. I'm a 71-year-old female solo traveler, and if I can drive on the left with no problem, I think anyone can.

The single-track roads can be a bit tricky, but really, it's just a question of learning the etiquette involved. Here is one video that you might want to watch just to get an idea of what it's like: Driving on Single Track Roads

Part of the reason we would want to spend at least a couple of days in Edinburgh is that we want to attend the Tattoo. I don't really want to spend more that two or three nights there.

I am not opposed at all to exploring a group/private tour if we end up with 6-8 people. How customizable are they?

I have visited both countries, and I do feel the scenery is similar. (We are returning to Scotland next month. Thus, my return to this forum.)

I think there are more waterfalls in Iceland (or maybe we chose to visit more). We drove the Ring Road with some side forays, and the countryside and all towns except for Reykjavik seemed more remote and isolated to me than the Highlands of Scotland. We also toured the north coast of Scotland on a three-day tour with Rabbies. Perhaps because we travelled with others, the Highlands did not feel so remote.

With a group of eight (or even fewer), I would highly recommend Rabbies for venturing out from the larger cities you mentioned.

If relying on public transportation I would look at basing in Edinburgh, Oban and one other place (not necessarily Inverness).

From Edinburgh you could visit Stirling, Glasgow, North Berwick and more.

Travel to the coastal town of Oban via Glasgow on the scenic West Highland Line train. You could visit the Inner Hebrides islands of Mull, Iona, Lismore and Kerrera by public ferry or day tours. Book a private tour/rental car to Kilmartin Glen with its Cairns, Stones and Circles. In Oban you'll find the Dunollie Museum and Castle, Dunstaffnage Castle Ruin, the Oban Distillery and lots of great seafood.

From Oban you could travel by bus/trains to Pitlochry, Aviemore, Aberdeen or Inverness depending on your interests- neolithic sites, castles, history, ancestry, whisky, hiking, gardens, fishing villages... Or, if that's too much travel time, head to the tiny village of Glenfinnan on Loch Shiel with its beautiful views and famous Viaduct and the Monument. You could do a boat trip, a day trip to Maillig or Fort William.

IMO, Skye is not a day trip. And there are many more beautiful lochs to see in Scotland than Loch Ness.

So a couple of you have said there are better lochs than Loch Ness. Which would you recommend?

I am not opposed at all to exploring a group/private tour if we end up with 6-8 people. How customizable are they?

Group tours are what they are. Those are going to be specific and already planned out, but with regards to private tours, here is what their website says, and it sounds pretty customizable to me. All you have to do is send them an email, and they should be able to give you some idea of the cost and what you can do. I'm sure there is no obligation at that time.

That's why we design private tours that start with you: your interests, your schedule and your sense of adventure. Our local experts craft itineraries that go beyond the ordinary, blending authentic experiences with seamless planning. From a single day to a full week (or more), we provide everything you need: knowledgeable guides, comfortable travel, handpicked accommodation, and unique experiences. All tailored to you, with personal touches at every step. Perfect for small groups of 2 or more people.

With regards to Loch Ness vs. other lakes, Loch Lomond is probably considered the prettiest of all the lakes in Scotland. Here's a list of the most popular ones from Visit Scotland that you may want to look at to see. Loch Lomond is pretty easy to get to from Glasgow, which might make a difference

https://www.visitscotland.com/things-to-do/landscapes-nature/lochs

Here's my personal list of Lochs that are also accessible by public transportation:

• Loch Lomond (Luss or Balloch)
• Loch Shiel (Glenfinnan)
• Loch Morlich (Aviemore)
• Loch Fyne (Inveraray)

Several years ago when I was planning a solo trip to Scotland I thought I could do what I did in Ireland and just get a bus/train pass and see a fair bit of the country. It turned out it was going to be more difficult, and time consuming, than I thought. So, I rented a car. The first day was a little nerve wracking getting used to the left side driving, but I got used to it quicker than I thought I would, and ended up quite enjoying myself. So, don’t rule it out completely. If I can manage it on my own, I’m sure you can with friends to help guide you. With only ten days, and using public transit, I would suggest keeping to the southern half of the country in order to avoid wasting too much time on long transit rides. I would also suggest picking just two towns as bases to explore from, and making use of guided day trips to see the sights. Oban was suggested, and I think that would be a good choice as you could get a tour out to nearby islands. I’m not sure I would want to stay in Edinburgh during the fringe festival as I hear it can be pretty crazy. Glasgow is close, just an hour by train, and may be a good option. Another option might be to look at some shorter tours offered by Rabbies. Spend a few days on your own, then find a four or five day Rabbies tour to join.
I drove right past Loch Ness without stopping. Not a very interesting lake. Loch Lomond is pretty, though.