While vacationing with my HGV Max membership, whenever I begin to speak, my Scottish accent often becomes the topic of conversation. This commonly leads to an HGV Member saying, “I/we’ve always wanted to visit Scotland, but we don’t have the first clue how to go about planning a visit, or what to do; but it’s on our bucket list. So when’s the best time to go?” Now that I am an HGV Explorer writing travel tips for fellow Members, I thought I’d draft this guide to my home country.
Scotland Geography Explained: Where Cities, Highlands, And Resorts Are Located
Scotland is part of the United Kingdom, which also includes England, Northern Ireland and Wales. The country occupies the northern part of the mainland UK, and stretches to around one-third of the landmass and most of the coastline. It has a population of around five million, roughly one-twelfth of the UK population, because of its rugged terrain that resists development.
The capital city of Scotland, Edinburgh, is located on the east coast. It’s pronounced ”Ed-In-Burr-Aah” and though spelled similarly, is absolutely not pronounced the same way you would say Pittsburgh!
A one-hour drive north from Edinburgh along the coast leads you to Dundee, and another hour further north brings you to Aberdeen.
Heading west from Edinburgh is Glasgow (pronounced “Glaz-Go” - the “w” at the end is silent), a city with Scotland’s largest population. Thirty minutes north of Glasgow you’ll come to the central city of Stirling; and another 30 minutes by road takes you to Perth.
Inverness is a little more than two hours by car from both Aberdeen and Perth. England is about an hour south of Glasgow by road through the Scottish borders.
Understanding Scottish Dialects: There Are Variations
There are huge dialect differences from city to city and from east to west and north to south in how words are pronounced, and with that come some brilliant and fascinating Scots words and phrases. Different areas of Scotland can have brilliant and completely different words in the “Auld (old) Scots” language for the same thing in the English language.
For an introduction to the intricacies of the Scottish dialect, I recommend this article from Backstage.com, which gives you an introduction to the Scottish dialect.
Now that the questions on geography and language are answered, the next question I’m usually asked is, “How do I get to Scotland?” Well, that’s easy! Visit Scotland is a major source for all kinds of information for, funnily enough, visiting Scotland!
Which Airport Should You Fly Into When Visiting Scotland?
There are five main international airports to choose from your trip to Scotland, plus many regional ones. The main airports to consider are:
Aberdeen (ABZ) → Northeast Scotland Primarily serves Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire.
Edinburgh (EDI) → Central Belt (East) Serves Edinburgh and southeastern Scotland; it’s Scotland’s main international gateway.
Glasgow (GLA) → Central Belt (West) Serves Glasgow, western Scotland and is often preferred for trips tied to the West Highlands, Loch Lomond and western routes.
Inverness (INV) → Scottish Highlands Considered the primary gateway to the Highlands, including access to areas like Loch Ness, Cairngorms and the northern Highlands.
Glasgow Prestwick (PIK) → West Coast / South Ayrshire Serves Prestwick, Ayrshire and parts of southwest Scotland.
While Edinburgh and Glasgow have some direct connections to North America, the others have easy connections to many nearby international hubs in England and Northern Europe.
Choose From Four Hilton Grand Vacations Resorts
The Craigendarroch Lodges and Suites are about an hour’s drive west of Aberdeen Airport (ABZ) on Royal Deeside. It is within the Cairngorms National Park.
Coylumbridge Highland Lodges are located a 40-minute drive south of Inverness Airport (INV).
Dunkeld House Lodges are located just east of the A9 Perth to Inverness road, so about a 120-minute drive, northwest of Edinburgh (EDI) south of Inverness, or 150 minutes north of Glasgow (GLA).
The Kenmore Club is located on the northeast end of Loch Tay, but west of the A9 road, with similar driving times to the Dunkeld House Lodges.
The Best Times Of The Year To Visit Scotland
Weather-wise, in the summer months (June/July/August), you are likely to experience daytime temperatures in the high 60s. In May and September, temperatures are probably in the high 50s, and in April and October, around 50°. In other months, you may experience any type of weather on a given day, but the high 30s/low 40s will be the norm, with daylight between about 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
What To Do And Where To Go: Getting The Best Value For Your Money
Many of the iconic must-see images of Scotland are sourced from two main bodies: the Historic Environment Scotland and the National Trust for Scotland. Buying an annual pass is a fantastic way to save money because the more you visit, the more you save, since you only pay a one-time annual fee. You’ll also gain many other additional benefits.
But not all Scottish must-sees are owned by the big two! For example, no historical visit to Scotland would be complete without a visit to Stirling. Slap bang in the middle of Scotland, a memorable day is to be had by visiting Bannockburn (site of the famous battle in 1314, where King Robert the Bruce fought the English), Stirling Castle and the Wallace Monument (in memory of Sir William Wallace as portrayed in the movie, “Braveheart”).
Then there are the iconic Kelpies and the nearby Scottish canal, the Falkirk Wheel. A visit to these sites would be ideal on back-to-back days visiting Falkirk and Stirling. You could also choose to see the iconic and stunning Dunnottar Castle in Aberdeenshire.
If you search Perth, Scotland (it being central Scotland), on the Hilton.com website, you will see where the country’s Hilton portfolio of hotels are located.
Driving In Scotland: What You Should Know
In Scotland, we drive on the left-hand side of the road, and the driver’s seat is on the right-hand side of the vehicle, nearest the road’s center line. Most rental cars here are manual shift, but you can request an automatic transmission. When navigating, there are a few rules to be aware of:
The Highway Code governs the do’s and don’ts of driving.
Know what the procedure is for roundabouts.
Alwayskeep left to allow faster vehicles on dual carriageways to pass on the right.
Do not undertake other vehicles.
Heed road signs regarding bus lanes, speed limits, average speed and road lines (see the Highway Code at 1 above).
Do not speed.
Do not drink and drive (as the limit is really low).
Always stop at red traffic lights; there are no turns on reds, even if nothing is coming!
Do not park on double yellow lines or on sidewalks (pavements).
Only overtake if you are 100% sure it is safe to do so.
Seatbelts are compulsory.
Discover The Many Ways To Get Around Scotland
Aside from renting your own car, there are several other ways to travel through Scotland, including ScotRail — the national train service
Traveling by bus offers more choice. Traveline Scotland is your guide to public forms of transportation from ferry service to trains and buses. You can also explore using Scottish Citylink, Flixbus and Megabus for more options. If you prefer Uber, it only operates in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
My Top Recommendations For Things To See And Do
There’s lots to see and do, and here are a few highlights to get you started on researching your favorite activities. These are links of note to help you plan and get the most out of a trip to Scotland.
Scotland’s History As Told In Books
If you’d like to pick up a good book to read about on the history of Scotland, I’d suggest starting with this list:
“Scotland: History Of A Nation” by David Ross
“Scotland: The Autobiography: 2,000 Years Of Scottish History By Those Who Saw It Happen” by Rosemary Goring
“Scottish History (Strange But True)” by Noreen Hamilton and John Hamilton
“Scottish History For Dummies” by William Knox (yes that is Scottish humour, not an insult — honest!!!)
A Final Tip For Travelers
Before your travels, remember to speak to your U.S. cell phone provider to ensure you have an international data roaming package added to your plan; otherwise, you will be relying on Wi-Fi only, which is never great when abroad.
Key Takeaways
Scotland is easy to explore in one trip thanks to short driving distances between cities, Highlands and Hilton Grand Vacations resorts.
Choosing the right airport matters—Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Aberdeen each support different Scotland itineraries.
Hilton Grand Vacations Members have four resort options in Scotland, placing them near national parks, lochs and historic sites.
May through September is the best time to visit Scotland for mild weather, long daylight hours and festivals.
Planning ahead saves money with heritage passes, driving knowledge and international mobile data setup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the best month to visit Scotland?
A. May, June and September are ideal months to visit Scotland, offering mild weather, long daylight hours and fewer crowds than peak summer.
Q. Do I need a car to travel around Scotland?
A. Renting a car is the easiest way to explore rural Scotland and reach Hilton Grand Vacations resorts, though trains and buses work well between major cities.
Q. Is Scotland a good destination for first-time international travelers?
A. Yes. Scotland is English-speaking, safe, easy to navigate and compact — making it ideal for first-time international trips.
Q. Where can Hilton Grand Vacations Members stay in Scotland?
A. Members can stay at Craigendarroch Lodges & Suites, Coylumbridge Highland Lodges, Dunkeld House Lodges and The Kenmore Club.
Q. What should Americans know before driving in Scotland?
A. Drivers should be comfortable driving on the left, navigating roundabouts and following strict speed and parking rules.
