Love this? Share it!

If you’re looking to travel Scotland by train and bus, I’ve got the perfect 10-day itinerary for you! Featuring popular destinations like Edinburgh, Inverness, Isle of Skye, Fort William, and Glasgow, this 10-day Scotland itinerary helps you see and experience the best of what this little, yet magical country has to offer. Keep scrolling to read more!

The BEST 10-Day Scotland Itinerary (By Train + Bus!) | The Wanderful Me

Psst, this post contains affiliate links. Read our disclosure.

Scotland is one of my all-time FAVORITE countries! The dramatic landscapes, coastal villages, vibrant cities, friendly locals, and unique culture continue to draw me back again and again.

As an American living in the UK, I try to visit as often as possible, most recently doing a 10-day Scotland trip that took me to Edinburgh, Inverness, Isle of Skye, Fort William, and Glasgow.

That said, as someone who can’t drive a manual car (I’m just a girl!), I had to figure out how to get around Scotland via train and bus… which was far easier than I thought it would be!

If you’re looking to plan a 10-day Scotland trip by train and bus, I’m here to share with you where I went, how I got between each destination, and tips on how to best travel Scotland via public transport.

Psst, need more inspiration on where to visit in Scotland? Take a peek at my blog on 15 exceptional places to visit in Scotland!

The Best 10-Day Scotland Itinerary By Train + Bus

Some quick notes before we jump into the itinerary! These will help you plan the best possible Scotland trip.

Note 1: You’ll notice I use XX nights instead of XX days for each destination on this 10-day Scotland itinerary. I find that this better clarifies how long you should actually spend in each place!

Note 2: This itinerary is flexible! Use it as inspiration and determine where you’d like to go based on your unique travel style and needs.

Note 3: Travel between each destination will be either train, bus, or a combination of the two. Understand that while Scotland is small, it does take quite a bit of time to get between places due to the mountainous landscape.

Note 4: This 10-day itinerary could also be used to plan a Scotland road trip!

With that said, let’s get into it!

Psst, if you’re not ready to travel around Scotland via train + bus, as this involves quite a bit of planning and preparation, why not check out this 3-day tour from Edinburgh? It takes you to the Isle of Skye, Glencoe, and Loch Ness. Plus, everything is organized for you, including transportation, accommodation, and guides. Easy peasy! Click here to check it out.

Edinburgh (3 nights)

For my 10-day Scotland trip, I started out in the beautiful (and spooky) city of Edinburgh! As Scotland’s capital, there are a ton of amazing things to do here, like Edinburgh Castle, National Museum of Scotland, Harry Potter tours, and more.

I recommend you spend three nights in Edinburgh, depending on when you arrive in Scotland. If you arrive in the morning, this gives you basically three days to see and do as much as you can.

Things to Do in Edinburgh

I have a number of awesome Edinburgh blogs that’ll help you plan your visit. Check ’em out below! (They will open in a new tab so you don’t lose your place here.)

If I were to visit Edinburgh for only a short time, I’d focus on:

  • Doing a free city tour to learn about Edinburgh’s history (they also take you to many places on my list of the best things to do in Edinburgh)
  • Going on a nighttime ghost tour (my favorite takes you to Edinburgh’s “underground city”)
  • Walking the Royal Mile (from Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood House)
  • Visiting the National Museum of Scotland (truly incredible — and free!)
  • Go up Calton Hill (the view here is sooo worth it!)
  • Check out the Grassmarket and Victoria Street (if you like pubs, there are some great ones around here)
  • Simply walk around Edinburgh Old Town (the “closes,” or tiny offshoot streets, are so cute)
This is Calton Hill! How beautiful is that view?

Where to Stay in Edinburgh

Where to Eat in Edinburgh as a Vegan

Edinburgh is one of the most vegan-friendly cities! You won’t go hungry here if you primarily eat a vegan or vegetarian diet.

My favorite places to eat as a vegan in Edinburgh are The Auld Hoose (great pub with hearty vegan options), Black Rabbit (amazing breakfast sandwiches), Paradise Palms (dirty, delicious vegan food), and Novapizza (incredible vegan pizza).

Edinburgh → Inverness

Next up on this 10-day Scotland itinerary is the pretty city of Inverness! There are both train and bus options when determining how to get from Edinburgh to Inverness.

I recommend getting an afternoon train, as the journey is very nice. The train takes about 3.5-4 hours, while the bus takes around 4 hours.

Personally, I like to use Omio to book all transportation, including train and bus travel. This app is super handy and it keeps all of your tickets in one place. Click here to browse Edinburgh to Inverness train and bus tickets.

Inverness (2 nights)

Popular due to its access to the famous Scottish Highlands, Inverness is a great place to base yourself if you’re looking to do a day trip to popular sites like Loch Ness, Fort Augustus, Jacobite Steam Train (aka the “Harry Potter” train), and Urquhart Castle.

With your full day in Inverness, I definitely recommend booking a day trip into the Highlands. Here are some great tours to explore:

Where to Stay in Inverness

Where to Eat in Inverness as a Vegan

Depending on what day tour you do, you most likely will eat lunch on your tour. However, for dinner, I recommend checking out J Sakura Asian Fusion Cuisine (great sushi), Number 27 Bar and Kitchen (awesome mezzes), or the Black Isle Bar (fabulous wood-fired pizza).

Inverness → Portree (Isle of Skye)

Get ready for a beautiful travel day! Going from Inverness to small seaside town of Portree on the Isle of Skye is kind of long but worth it. This journey involves both a train and a bus, specifically:

  • Booking a train from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh and…
  • Getting a bus from Kyle of Lochalsh to Portree on the Isle of Skye

All in all, this journey takes about 4-5 hours depending on how long your stop is in Kyle of Lochalsh. Personally, I spent an hour here. I was with my sister so we explored, walked around, and grabbed a coffee from the local cafe.

Use Omio to book your train from Inverness to Kyle of Localsh and Citylink Scotland to book your bus from Kyle of Lochalsh to Portree.

Inverness at dusk! Such a pretty little city.
Train views going from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh!

Portree (2 nights)

Portree is a perfect place to spend a couple nights when visiting Scotland for 10 days! The Isle of Skye itself is well worth a visit, as it features incredibly dramatic landscapes, stunning beaches, cool castles, amazing waterfalls, and some interesting histories.

Things to Do in Portree

While Portree is a great place to spend some time, I recommend booking a day tour that takes you to all the top places to visit on the Isle of Skye, such as Kilt Rock, Neist Point Lighthouse, Talisker Distillery, and the famous Fairy Pools.

This full day Isle of Skye tour from Portree ticks all the boxes! However, note that it only runs from middle of April to end of October, so if you’re visiting outside those months, you may have to figure out how to get around on your own.

There is a pretty good bus system around the Isle of Skye but your best option is to rent a car in Portree for one day and explore yourself!

If you have some extra time in Portree, I recommend:

  • Walking up “The Lump” for some beautiful views of Portree’s colorful homes and surrounding landscapes
  • Hiking Scorrybreac Trail’s circular route for gorgeous scenery, wildlife, and views of Isle of Raasay
  • Climb up the Apothecary’s Tower to see Portree Harbor from above

Where to Stay in Portree

Where to Eat in Portree as a Vegan

Though it may be small, Portree actually has a pretty good selection of restaurants, cafes, and bars! As a vegan, I ate at Caberfeidh Bar and Restaurant (fantastic pizza), Taste of India (okay Indian food), and Relish Cafe (nice cake and coffee).

Portree → Fort William

The next destination on this 10-day Scotland itinerary is Fort William, the famous hiking town where thousands stay to summit the highest peak in the UK, aka Ben Nevis!

To get from Portree to Fort William, you will need to jump on the Citylink Scotland bus 915, which takes around 3 hours. I recommend getting the earliest bus at 7:30 AM or the mid-morning bus at 10:35 AM. This ensures you have the entire afternoon to explore Fort William!

Click here to visit Citylink Scotland and view the Portree-Fort William bus schedule.

Fort William (1-2 nights)

Fort William is first a foremost a hiking and outdoorsy town! If you’re not into outdoorsy stuff, I recommend you spend just one night here, as there’s not a ton to do except walks, hikes, and explorations.

Instead, stay in Fort William for one night and head to Glasgow for two nights! Glasgow is a bigger city where you’ll find more things to do.

Things to Do in Fort William

If you do decide to stay in Fort William for two nights, I recommend you hike to Steall Falls! This is a gorgeous waterfall is nestled in the middle of a majestic valley.

It’s also Scotland’s highest waterfall and it was featured in Harry Potter! How cool is that? You won’t regret seeing the views, immersing yourself in nature, and exploring the great outdoors that Scotland is known for.

To get to Steall Falls without a car, you’ll need to grab Bus 42 from the Fort William Bus Station Stance 7. This it’ll take you to Glen Nevis Lower Falls, where you can walk 3.5 miles to Steall Falls.

This is an out-and-back trail that’s 7 miles total — depending on your fitness level, speed, and how long you stay at the falls, it will likely take around 3.5-4.5 hours.

Alternatively, if you’re up for the challenge, you could hike Ben Nevis! The same bus (Fort William Bus 42) takes you to the Glen Nevis Youth Hall, where the Ben Nevis trailhead begins.

This is definitely more a challenge but also worth it. On a good day, the views from Ben Nevis are insane! The most popular route up Ben Nevis is a 9 mile (14.5 km) out-and-back trail that takes around 7-9 hours.

The incredible view from Ben Nevis on a clear day!

Other great things to do in Fort William include:

  • Explore the West Highland Museum — Discover local history, Jacobite artifacts, and Highland culture
  • Walk Fort William’s High Street — Browse cute shops, stop in a local cafe, or have a cold pint in a pub
  • Go on a Loch Linnhe Boat Cruise — Spot some seals, admire the views, and enjoy your time on the water
  • Try Your Hand at Climbing at the 3 Wise Monkeys — A great activity for everyone, including families

Where to Stay in Fort William

Where to Eat in Fort William

When I was in Fort William, I ate at the Wildcat Cafe (plant-based cafe — great for lunch and coffee), Black Isle (great stone-baked pizza), and The Geographer (hearty food, like casseroles, soup, and burgers).

Fort William → Glasgow

The last stop on this 10-day Scotland itinerary is the vibrant city of Glasgow! To get from Fort William to Glasgow, I highly recommend taking the train.

This journey is particularly impressive, taking you where no roads go into the Scottish Highlands, as well as the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park. It’s genuinely one of the most beautiful train rides I’ve ever been on!

The morning train from Fort William to Glasgow typically departs at 11:40 AM. It takes around 4 hours, arriving in Glasgow around 3:40 PM. (Check the schedule, as this train doesn’t seem to go every day of the week!)

Click here to book your Fort William-Glasgow train ticket with Omio.

Insane views from the Fort William to Glasgow train!

Glasgow (1-2 nights)

Though not my favorite city due to its busy-ness and industrial aesthetic, there are no doubt a broad spectrum of great things to do in Glasgow! It’s the perfect place to end your 10-day Scotland trip.

Things to Do in Glasgow

  • Explore Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
  • Walk Around the Botanic Gardens
  • Visit the Riverside Museum
  • Stroll Buchanan Street
  • Tour the Glasgow Cathedral and Necropolis
  • Catch a Show at the SSE Hydro
  • Explore the West End’s Ashton Lane

Where to Stay in Glasgow

Where to Eat in Glasgow

Glasgow is SUCH a great vegan-friendly city! If you’re looking for some truly delicious vegan and vegetarian eats, check out Suissi Vegan Kitchen (incredible Asian-style dishes), The Flying Duck (vegan comfort food), and Falafel To Go (cheap, delicious wraps).

Where to Next?

Depending on where you’re going next, you can either fly out of Glasgow, grab a train or bus back to Edinburgh if that’s your departure city, or take a train down to London, where you can essentially go anywhere in the world from!

I hope you loved this 10-day Scotland itinerary by train and bus! Personally, I think it features the best of what Scotland has to offer while traveling the country via public transportation.

From Edinburgh and Inverness to the Isle of Skye, Fort William, and Glasgow, this will be one incredible trip to remember for a lifetime.

Do you have questions about this 10-day Scotland itinerary by train and bus? Stick ’em in the comments below! I do my best to read and reply to every comment, answering questions and providing helpful Scotland travel advice!

Sophie xx

Not sure what to check out next? Readers love these posts:

Love this post on a recommended 10-day Scotland itinerary by train and bus? Pin it!

As mentioned above, this post contains affiliate links. Which means if you make a purchase through the links, this site receives a small commission at no extra cost to you. Read our full disclosure here.


Love this? Share it!