What to book months ahead
Plenty of Scotland can be done on the spur of the moment. Some things cannot, especially from May to September. Here is what to book first.
Book as soon as you have dates
- Accommodation on Skye, Harris, Mull, Iona, Orkney and in Glencoe for May to September. Places with limited beds fill months ahead, and there is often nothing left on the day.
- Edinburgh accommodation in August (festivals) and over Hogmanay. Prices rise sharply as dates approach.
- Car space on summer ferries to Mull, Skye (from Mallaig), the Outer Hebrides, Islay and Arran, and NorthLink cabins to Orkney and Shetland.
- The Jacobite steam train, Fort William to Mallaig, which sells out for summer dates.
- Caledonian Sleeper cabins, especially for summer weekends.
- Automatic hire cars and larger vehicles, which are in short supply in summer.
- A private driver-guide, if you want one for peak dates. Good guides are booked up early.
Book a few weeks ahead
- Edinburgh Castle and Urquhart Castle timed tickets in summer.
- Boat trips to Staffa and the Treshnish Isles, the Isle of May and Mousa. They are weather-dependent, so pick a day early in your stay if you can.
- Distillery tours, especially small distilleries and premium tours.
- Skara Brae and Maeshowe in Orkney.
- Popular restaurants in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Portree and Oban for summer evenings.
- Citylink coaches on busy summer routes such as Glasgow to Skye.
No need to book
- Most landscapes, walks and viewpoints. Arrive early to find parking at busy ones.
- The free national museums and galleries in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
- Most ScotRail trains, though advance tickets on longer routes can be cheaper.
- Foot-passenger travel on most CalMac ferries.
Book flexibly
Ferries are cancelled in bad weather, and boat trips more often. Where you can, choose refundable or changeable accommodation and transport, and leave a spare day at the end of any island stay.