Round Trip Scotland: Self-Launched Edition
8 days · Scotland
Bavaria Fernreisen charges £1,690
No-markup version: ~£710 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An 8-day DIY loop of Scotland hitting the same big-hitters as the coach tour — Edinburgh, Perth and Scone Palace, a whisky tasting, the Cairngorms, Dunrobin and the Castle of Mey, a full day across Orkney's neolithic sites, Skye's Old Man of Storr, Glen Coe, Inveraray and Loch Lomond — but on public trains, buses and ferries with hostel and guesthouse beds instead of a guided coach. Booked yourself, this loop comes in at roughly a third of the operator's package price, and you get to actually linger at the stops (a common complaint on the original tour is tight time at sights). Costs are approximate budget-traveller estimates in GBP; book ferries and Skye/Orkney beds early in summer.
Day-by-day
Arrive Edinburgh — Old Town wander
Edinburgh
Land or arrive into Edinburgh and check into a hostel near the Royal Mile or Tollcross. Spend the afternoon walking the Royal Mile from Edinburgh Castle down to Holyrood, then loop via the curved, colourful Victoria Street in the Grassmarket — the shopfronts here inspired Diagon Alley. Cheap and cheerful dinner: a pie or fish supper, or a hostel kitchen cook-up. Pick up a ScotRail/Stagecoach ticket plan for the week and pre-book your Orkney ferry tonight if you haven't already.
🚌Airport bus (Lothian 100) into the city ~£5.50 single, or tram ~£7
🛏Castle Rock Hostel or Kick Ass Greyfriars, dorm beds from ~£22/night
- →Walk the Royal Mile and Grassmarket
- →Stroll Victoria Street
- →Free walking tour of Old Town (optional, tip-based)
Perth, Scone Palace and into the Cairngorms
Perth / Aviemore
Take an early ScotRail train from Edinburgh Waverley to Perth (~1h20, ~£10 if booked ahead). Hop a local bus or taxi out to Scone Palace, crowning place of Scottish kings, with its grounds and Moot Hill (~£15 entry). Continue by train up the Highland line to Aviemore (~1h30, ~£12 advance). In the evening do a self-booked distillery tasting at the Cairngorm Whisky Centre or arrange a tour at a nearby Speyside-adjacent distillery — book direct or via GetYourGuide (~£20-30). Overnight in Aviemore.
🚌ScotRail Edinburgh–Perth ~£10 advance, Perth–Aviemore ~£12 advance
🛏Aviemore Youth Hostel (Hostelling Scotland) or a village B&B, ~£25-30 dorm/B&B
- →Scone Palace and grounds
- →Highland train ride through the Cairngorms
- →Whisky tasting (self-booked, ~£25)
North to Thurso via Dunrobin Castle
Thurso
Ride the Far North Line from Aviemore to Golspie or Brora (~2h30, ~£15 advance) — one of the UK's most scenic rail routes, hugging the coast past the Dornoch Firth. Visit Dunrobin Castle, a fairytale French-style chateau with falconry displays (~£15), then continue north to Thurso. If time allows, detour by local bus to the Castle of Mey (Queen Mother's home, ~£13, seasonal opening — check days). Overnight in Thurso, base for Orkney.
🚌ScotRail Aviemore–Thurso ~£15-20 advance; local bus to Castle of Mey ~£5 return
🛏Thurso Youth Hostel or Sandras Backpackers, ~£25-30
- →Far North Line scenic rail journey
- →Dunrobin Castle and gardens
- →Castle of Mey (bus from Thurso, check opening)
Orkney Islands day trip — Skara Brae, Ring of Brodgar
Orkney / Thurso
Walk or bus to Scrabster and catch the NorthLink ferry across the Pentland Firth to Stromness (~1h30, foot passenger ~£20 return, book ahead). On Orkney, take the local X1/T11 bus or join a small minibus day tour from Kirkwall (~£45-55) covering Skara Brae (Historic Scotland ~£10), the Ring of Brodgar, the Standing Stones of Stenness and the Churchill Barriers. Optional extras: St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall (free), Kirkwall's shops for whisky and knitwear, and the Italian Chapel on Lamb Holm (~£3.50). Evening ferry back to Scrabster and overnight in Thurso.
🚌NorthLink Scrabster–Stromness foot passenger ~£20 return; Orkney local bus/tour ~£10-50
🛏Back in Thurso — Thurso Youth Hostel, ~£25-30
- →NorthLink ferry to Orkney
- →Skara Brae prehistoric village
- →Ring of Brodgar and Standing Stones of Stenness
- →Churchill Barriers and Italian Chapel
- →St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall
West to Skye via Inverness, Loch Ness and Eilean Donan
Isle of Skye
Long travel day west. Take the train or Citylink bus from Thurso to Inverness (~3h30, ~£20 advance). If you want the Loch Ness fix, hop the Citylink 917 bus down the Great Glen and stop at Urquhart Castle ruins (~£12) and the Falls of Shin viewpoint en route. Continue on to Kyle of Lochalsh/Eilean Donan Castle (~£15, photogenic 13th-century castle, ~£12 entry) and across the Skye Bridge to Portree. Overnight in Portree — book well ahead in summer.
🚌Citylink/Stagecoach Thurso–Inverness ~£20; Citylink 917 Inverness–Portree ~£15-20
🛏Portree Independent Hostel or Skye Backpackers, ~£28-35 dorm
- →Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle ruins
- →Eilean Donan Castle
- →Skye Bridge crossing into Portree
Old Man of Storr, Kilt Rock and Portree
Isle of Skye
No car needed: catch the local Stagecoach 57A or the seasonal Skye bus to the Old Man of Storr trailhead, then hike the 45-60 minute path up to the iconic rock pinnacle (free, moderate climb — bring waterproofs). Continue by bus to Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls viewpoint. Back in Portree, wander the harbour with its pastel houses and grab a fish and chips or a pub dinner. Optional: book a self-drive or small-group boat trip to spot seals and sea eagles (~£30).
🚌Stagecoach local bus Portree–Storr ~£6 return; walkable in Portree
🛏Portree Independent Hostel, ~£28-35
- →Hike to the Old Man of Storr
- →Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls viewpoint
- →Portree harbour and old town
Glen Coe, Inveraray and Loch Lomond to Glasgow
Glen Coe / Loch Lomond / Glasgow
Take the Citylink bus from Portree to Fort William (~3h, ~£20) under Ben Nevis, then the Glasgow-bound Citylink 915/916 which runs straight through dramatic Glen Coe — ask to hop off for photos at the Three Sisters, or simply enjoy the ride. Stop at Inveraray on Loch Fyne to see the castle (~£17) and the whitewashed town. Continue to Luss or Balloch on Loch Lomond and take a one-hour boat cruise (~£15-18, book on arrival or ahead). Finish in Glasgow for a quick wander of George Square and the Merchant City, then train back to Edinburgh (~50min, ~£13).
🚌Citylink Portree–Fort William ~£20, Citylink 915/916 Fort William–Glasgow ~£20, ScotRail Glasgow–Edinburgh ~£13
🛏Back in Edinburgh — Castle Rock Hostel or similar, ~£25
- →Glen Coe drive/photo stop
- →Inveraray Castle
- →Loch Lomond boat cruise
- →Quick Glasgow city stroll
Edinburgh farewell
Edinburgh
Final morning in Edinburgh: climb Arthur's Seat for free panoramic views (1.5-2h round trip), or if it's raining duck into the National Museum of Scotland (free) or the Scottish National Gallery. Grab a last coffee on Victoria Street and head to the airport by bus or tram. If you want a bit more, book extra nights in the same hostel directly — much cheaper than an operator add-on.
🚌Lothian 100 airport bus ~£5.50 or tram ~£7
🛏—
- →Arthur's Seat hike (free)
- →National Museum of Scotland (free)
- →Last wander of the Royal Mile
Self-launched vs. Bavaria Fernreisen
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Bavaria Fernreisen | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£710 | £1,690 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £980 per person (58%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Bavaria Fernreisen-style trips? Check them out here.~£710
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Round Trip Scotland: Self-Launched Edition cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £710 per person for 8 days in Scotland. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Bavaria Fernreisen?+
Yes — Bavaria Fernreisen charges around £1,690 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £710 — a saving of roughly £980 (58%) per person.
How long is the Scotland trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Scotland.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, adventure, hiking trip through Scotland, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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