5-Day Scotland Itinerary: Things to Do In Scotland
July 25, 2025
Scotch Whisky & Distilleries
You’d be doing your trip to Scotland a dis-service if you don’t schedule out some time to visit our world renowned Whisky distilleries (and there are a lot of them). Generally, in Scotland, we split our distilleries into West Coast and East Coast because the groundwater alters the flavours the Scotch will have.
For West Coast distilleries, you’ll find their Scotch to be peaty and smoky in flavour due to the peat-rich lochs and streams these distilleries source their water from. The overall climate also impacts how the whisky tastes, with Western distilleries often being founded in a maritime climate with sea air and higher humidity (which influences how the Scotch matures). Even the climate in which the barley is grown will impact the flavour.
Some West Coast distilleries to consider visiting:
- Jura Distillery (on Isle of Jura)
- Lagavulin Distillery (on the Isle of Islay)
- Oban Distillery (in Oban, on the mainland)
- Springbank Distillery (in Campbeltown, on the mainland)
- Talisker Distillery (Isle of Skye)
- Glengoyne Distillery (Highlands, near Glasgow)
For East Coast distilleries, their Scotch tends to be lighter, sweeter, with floral notes, as their water benefits from a distinct lack of peaty terrain. Instead, their Scotch is made from mineral rich water that gets its flavour notes from rock like Granite. Also, unlike the West Coast, the East Coast tends to have more stable weather, less humidity, and less salt content in the air.
Some East Coast distilleries to consider in your travels:
- Glenfiddich Distillery (Speyside, near Dufftown)
- The Macallan Distillery (Speyside, near Craigellachie)
- Glenlivet Distillery (Speyside, near Glenlivet)
- Glenmorangie Distillery (Highlands, near Tain)
- Dalwhinnie Distillery (Speyside, near Dalwhinnie)
- Balvenie Distillery (Speyside, near Balvenie)
We recommend taking a day to explore distilleries, and from Cameron House many are within an hour or two drive!
Scottish Castles
If people don’t come to Scotland for the Scotch, then they usually come for the castles (and like Whisky Distilleries, there are a lot of them). Each castle will have its own unique history, ties to Scottish Clans, and a story that you’ll be able to feel when you visit. Be it the old battle scars of wars long ago, or the majesty of a castle that’s stood for centuries, their allure is well earned!
If you are a history buff, then we’d recommend you take a day (or maybe even two) exploring the various castles around the country. For the castles that lie a bit further away from Cameron House, you can make a full day trip of going to see it.
If going to see castles, we’d recommend:
- Edinburgh Castle; the most famous of all Scotland’s castles. It has served as the seat of power for the nation since its construction, but Castle Rock that it sits upon has been occupied as far back as the Iron Age. It can be found perched above the city of Edinburgh and can be seen from almost every part of the city – a 1 hr 45 minute drive from Cameron House.
- Stirling Castle; another famous castle that most people think of when they think of Scotland. The castle is renowned for its crucial role in the Scottish Wars of Independence during the 12th and 13th centuries. It is a 50-60 minute drive from Cameron House in the city of Stirling.
- Buchanan Castle; less famous than Stirling or Edinburgh, this castle is a ruin located very close to Cameron House. Its majestic structure is found a 25 minute drive North East from Cameron House near Drymen.
- Castle Stalker; widely considered to be one of the most iconic castles Scotland has to offer due to its scenic surroundings and unique location off the coast of Portnacroish. This is one for a day trip with it being a 2 hour drive from Cameron House.
- Dunrobin Castle & Gardens; a picturesque castle situated in the Highlands (on the East Coast near Golspie). This turreted, opulent castle is a sight to behold and definitely worth the drive. However, if choosing to go here you’ll need to leave early and make a day of it (it is a 4hr 30 minute drive one way). It can be a fun Scottish road trip!
Scottish Regional Parks
The spectacular scenery that Scotland has to offer is unparalleled, and many folks choose to come here and enjoy it via hiking. While there are many places you can hike in Scotland, by far the best places are often within our national / regional parks. These pristine landscapes and magical vistas have been left untouched to preserve their beauty!
If you are a hiker, we recommend you take a look at hiking routes in:
- The Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park; right on Cameron House’s doorstep. The Trossachs are home to some of the most famous hiking regions in the country such as Ben Lomond, Conic Hill, Ben More, Ben Vorlich, Bne Ime, the Arrochar Alps and many more.
- Glen Coe National Reserve; a must-see
- The Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park; found to the south of Cameron House (about an hour’s drive), this regional park is full of rolling moors and unique landmarks such as the Barytes Mine, Windy Hill, Glengarnock Castle, Creuch Hill, Tam May Memorial, and Calder Mill waterfall among other hidden gems.
- The Pentland Hills Regional Park; located in the Lothians near Edinburgh to the East of the country. This region is great for hikes of all difficulties, and is full of interesting locations to visit such as the East Kip, Castlelaw Hill Fort, West Cairn Hill, Covenanters Grave, and more.
Day of Relaxation at Cameron House
Trying to squeeze as much in as you can for your itinerary can be fun, but you should always leave some space for downtime. At Cameron House, we have that covered. As a premium resort we have a full range of facilities and activities at your disposal to help you de-stress and enjoy your holiday.
Why not pop down to our spa for a treatment, or go at our luxury hot tubs and our sauna? Or maybe a round of golf is more your style? We have our own golf course where you can knock out some tees. We also have a variety of restaurants on our resort to cater to different tastes and offer a selection of cuisines.
Take a day to relax while you’re here!
Lastly; Considerations for your 5-day Itinerary
Scotland is full of intriguing places to go and gorgeous scenes to see, but it can be easy to get lost in everything you want to see and forget the logistics! There are some key considerations to take note of to make sure your experience with us at Cameron House and your experience of Scotland is as seamless as possible.
The first, don’t expect sunny weather all the time! We do get sunny weather, but it is often accompanied with a sprinkle of rain showers. In Scotland it rains on average over 200 days a year depending where you are (with the highlands and West Coast seeing more rain than the East Coast and lowlands). Always pack a raincoat and be prepared that it may rain, despite what the weather forecast says!
Scotland is also a fairly cold country due to the prevailing winds we get. If you are coming from further away in Europe or from the United States, it can be quite a big difference. Always be sure to pack warm clothes when you go on your day trips. Keep things like blankets, food, and water in your car also.
While Scotland is also a relatively small country, travel times can be quite excessive to remote regions you may want to explore. When travelling, always add a 30 minute buffer to your plans to account for travel times, especially if going to more remote regions.
A last consideration you should take note of is that during Summer time and good weather, things get very busy in Scotland and events or places get booked out very quickly. We have a very big influx of tourists during our months with good weather, so if you want to make any bookings we recommend a good amount of notice for them to ensure you get a spot!
Book your Ultimate Scottish Getaway
When visiting Scotland you’ll want a luxury resort that is close to all the sights you want to see, but is away from the bustle of the city. This is where Cameron House shines as the go-to option for accommodation. But we don’t just offer you a luxurious room, our resort has far more than that to offer!
Cameron House is a premium resort designed to cater to your every need. Be it a perfectly seasoned steak at the end of the day, or a hearty Scottish breakfast in the morning – we have something at one of our resort restaurants for everyone.
And let’s not forget our range of resort activities, such as golf, 4×4 adventures, jet skiing, falconry, and much, much more. When you’ve finished your day, we also have a range of spa options that will help you relax and recharge.
When you choose to holiday in Scotland, choosing Cameron House means choosing a luxury resort that will provide memories to last a lifetime.
