What Not to Do in Scotland: 14 Mistakes to Avoid
What Not to Do in Scotland: 14 Mistakes to Avoid
Most of the mistakes we see on tour are small ones: a plan that's too tight, a jacket left in the car, a bank card that won't work in a village café. None of them will ruin your trip, but together they can make it harder than it needs to be. Here are the 14 our guides see most often, and what to do instead.
Don't plan by map times, don't spend your whole trip in Edinburgh, and don't arrive without a waterproof. Drive on the left, use passing places properly, carry a little cash, and be ready for midges in summer. Try the haggis, talk to people, and never call Scotland "England".
- CurrencyPound sterling (£)Scottish and Bank of England notes both work here
- TippingAbout 10% for table serviceCheck the bill for a service charge first
- DrivingOn the leftSingle-track roads have passing places
- PlugsUK three-pin, 230VBring a Type G adapter
- Time zoneGMT, BST in summerClocks go forward late March, back late October
- MidgesLate May to SeptemberWorst on still, damp evenings in the west
Start with Jim's quick guide
Jim spends his working days helping visitors make sense of Scotland. Press play for his short summary, then use the guide below for the detail and the useful links.
You can also watch the video on YouTube.
Getting around: give the journey room to breathe
Scotland looks small on a map. Its roads, ferries and viewpoints tell a different story, and most of the best moments on a trip come from the stops you didn't plan.
1Don't drive on the right
We drive on the left in Scotland. Take extra care when you pull out of a car park, turn onto an empty road or set off again after a stop, because that's when visitors drift to the right. At roundabouts, give way to traffic coming from your right. On single-track roads, pull into a passing place on your left to let oncoming cars through, or wait opposite one on your right, and let faster traffic behind you pass. Passing places are for passing, so never park in them.
Road Safety Scotland has a clear guide to driving on the left. If the driving would stop you enjoying the view, our guide to whether to drive or take a tour looks at both options.
2Don't build your itinerary around map times
A drive that looks like two hours can easily take three on winding Highland roads. Add time for comfort stops, weather, roadworks and the places you'll want to photograph. If you have a ferry or a timed ticket, work backwards from its check-in time and leave a margin. Phone signal is patchy in the Highlands and on the islands, so download offline maps before you set off.
3Don't only stay in Edinburgh
Edinburgh deserves its place in your plans, but it's a starting point, not the whole country. Even one day beyond the city gets you into the Highlands, and our Loch Ness day trip from Edinburgh takes in Glencoe and Loch Lomond on the same day. There are more ideas on our page of day trips from Edinburgh.
4Don't try to see every famous place in one trip
Edinburgh, Glasgow, Skye, Loch Ness, the North Coast 500 and the Outer Hebrides don't fit into a relaxed week. Pick a region, or one route that flows, and you'll spend less time packing and driving and more time actually in Scotland. As a guide, three days is enough for Skye, and five lets you add Oban and Glencoe, which is what our 5-day Skye, Oban and Loch Ness tour does. Our guide to how many days you need in Scotland goes into more detail.
Weather, money and practical things
You don't need expedition kit for ordinary sightseeing. You do need layers, a few checks before you go, and room in your bag for both rain and sunshine.
5Don't arrive without a waterproof
The weather can change quickly, especially in the Highlands, on the islands and by the coast. A proper waterproof jacket over a couple of warm layers works far better than one heavy coat, and it's worth having in every season. Check the forecast again on the day, and expect summer to be mild rather than hot. Our guide to Scotland by season covers what each month is like.
6Don't forget sun protection, or midge repellent
Cool air doesn't mean the sun is weak. The Met Office notes that UV can be strong enough to burn in the UK, particularly from April to September, so pack sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat. In summer, pack insect repellent too. Midges are tiny biting insects that gather on still, damp days, mostly from late May to September and mostly in the west Highlands and islands. A breeze keeps them away, so a windy viewpoint is usually fine. The Met Office UV guidance has more.
7Don't keep buying bottled water
Bring a refillable bottle. Tap water in Scotland is treated and monitored by Scottish Water, which also runs free Top Up Taps around the country. Don't drink from streams, though. Clear water isn't always safe water.
8Don't rely on cards alone, or tip like you're at home
Scotland uses the pound sterling. Three Scottish banks print their own notes, which look different from Bank of England notes but are worth the same, and both are used everywhere in Scotland. Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere, but carry a little cash for small cafés, honesty boxes and car parks in remote places. If you're heading on to England, spend your Scottish notes first, as some shops there are unfamiliar with them. UK Finance explains the different banknotes.
Tipping is smaller than in the US. For table service in a restaurant, around 10% is normal if the service was good, but check the bill first, because many places already add a service charge. Nobody expects a tip for a drink at the bar, and in a taxi most people round up. If you'd like to thank your tour guide at the end of the day, that's always appreciated, but it's never expected.
9Don't assume everything opens late, or has a lift
Opening hours vary with the place, the season and the day of the week. Rural cafés, shops and attractions often close earlier than visitors expect, and popular sites like Edinburgh Castle can need tickets booked in advance. Check the attraction's own website, especially on Sundays and outside summer. Hotels and B&Bs are often in older buildings too, so if stairs or step-free access matter to you, ask about your room before you book. VisitScotland's accessible travel pages are a good start.
Food, people and good manners
A friendly question is almost always welcome here. Treat Scotland as a living country rather than a film set and you'll find the conversations get much more interesting.
10Don't dismiss haggis before you try it
Haggis is savoury, peppery and much less mysterious once it's on the plate. Try it with neeps and tatties, as part of a cooked breakfast, or in a modern dish. Most places also serve a vegetarian version. While you're at it, whisky is spelled without an e in Scotland, and it's fine to add a drop of water.
11Don't call Scotland "England"
Scotland and England are separate countries within the United Kingdom, with their own history, laws, schools and traditions. Calling Scotland "England" won't win you any friends. A loch is a loch, not a lake, and the Scots are Scottish, not English.
12Don't be shy about talking to local people
Ask for a recommendation, check how to say a place name, or have a chat in the pub. Accents vary a lot across Scotland, so it's fine to ask someone to repeat themselves. A friendly, direct approach often leads to the best tips of the whole trip.
13Don't make the kilt or the accent a punchline
There's no need to ask what's under the kilt, and a put-on Scottish accent rarely goes down as well as you'd hope. Admire the tartan, ask a real question about it, and use your own voice.
Don't skip Scotland's beaches
14Don't leave the coast out of your plans
Mountains, lochs and castles get the headlines, but some of Scotland's best places are on the coast. Luskentyre on Harris, Achmelvich in Sutherland, Calgary Bay on Mull and the Silver Sands of Morar are all very different, with pale sand, clear water and huge skies. Our 5-day Outer Hebrides tour from Edinburgh stops at Luskentyre, and our guide to Scotland's most beautiful beaches has more ideas.
They're also exposed, natural places. Tides, facilities and access vary, so check before you go and take everything home with you.
- Carry a warm layer, even on a bright day.
- Check access, parking and toilets before you set out.
- Keep your distance from wildlife and take your litter away.
Enjoy Scotland properly
Pack for changing weather, plan a realistic route, respect the places and people you meet, and leave room for the stop you didn't plan. You'll see more by trying to see less, and you'll probably leave with a good reason to come back.
Three easy ways to see more of Scotland
If you'd rather watch the scenery than the road, travel with a guide. These tours follow the advice above: get out of Edinburgh, choose one route that flows, and leave time for the stories between the famous places. Our scheduled tours never have more than 16 travellers.
Loch Ness Day Trip from EdinburghThe Highlands, Fort Augustus on Loch Ness, Glencoe and Loch Lomond in one guided day.From £96 pp50% depositView tour →
Isle of Skye 3-Day Tour from EdinburghTwo nights on Skye via Glencoe and Loch Ness: the Old Man of Storr, Fairy Glen and Eilean Donan.From £248 pp25% depositView tour →
Isle of Skye 5-Day TourKilmartin, Oban, Glencoe, two nights on the Isle of Skye, Loch Ness and Inverness.From £396 pp25% depositView tour →Not sure which trip suits you? Browse all our Highland tours, or see our private tours of Scotland and sample private itineraries if you'd like a trip built around you. Accommodation isn't included on our multi-day tours, but we're happy to help you book it.
Scotland travel questions
Is it hard for visitors to drive in Scotland?
It's manageable for most confident drivers, but it takes concentration. You'll be driving on the left, using roundabouts and sharing narrow single-track roads with passing places. Give yourself time to adjust, don't drive tired, and read Road Safety Scotland's visitor advice before you pick up a car. If driving would stop you enjoying the trip, a guided tour is a good alternative.
What currency does Scotland use?
Scotland uses the pound sterling (£), the same as the rest of the UK. Scottish banks print their own notes, but they're worth the same as Bank of England notes and both are used everywhere in Scotland. Cards and contactless payments are accepted almost everywhere.
Do you tip in Scotland?
Yes, for table service. Around 10% is normal in a restaurant if the service was good, unless a service charge is already on the bill. You don't need to tip for drinks at the bar, and most people round up in a taxi.
What should I pack for sightseeing in Scotland?
Comfortable shoes, a waterproof jacket, a few warm layers, a refillable water bottle and sun protection cover most days. In summer, add insect repellent for midges. You only need specialist kit for activities like hill walking.
When are midges worst in Scotland?
Midges are at their worst from late May to September, on still, damp days and in the early morning and evening. They're most common in the west Highlands and islands. A breeze keeps them away, and repellent helps.
How much of Scotland can I see in a week?
Fewer bases usually make a better trip. In a week you could see Edinburgh, Skye and Loch Ness comfortably, but not every region. Include real driving times, meal stops and ferry check-in times, and leave room to enjoy the places themselves.
Can I drink water from a Highland stream?
No, it isn't a good idea. Water that looks clear can still carry bugs from animals upstream. Tap water in Scotland is treated and safe, and Scottish Water runs free Top Up Taps for refilling bottles.
Keep planning your trip
Last updated September 2026 by the Scotland's Wild team.
