Scottish Road Trip: Epic Scotland Escapes (2023)

What’s the best way for a traveling nomad and Latina travel blogger like myself to be welcomed to the new city she will call “Home” you ask? Immediately, going on holiday of course! More precisely a Scottish road trip: Epic Scotland Escapes.

I couldn’t resist partaking in my first bank holiday (AKA what people in the UK call a public holiday) in England. Most locals leave for the long weekend and I decided to do the same and leave Manchester to visit the Scottish highlights.

See my Latina expat Manchester travel guide to combine this visit here.

Plan Your Visit

Getting Around

Car

A road trip in Scotland is personally what I would recommend if you have access to a vehicle. The drive from Manchester to either Edinburgh or Glasgow is only a short 4-hour drive and has you pass some lush green areas, farms, small towns and winding roads that will make the drive worth it. Additionally, a car will help you maximize your long weekend by allowing you to visit more than one place in Scotland.

Train

Trains to and from Scotland leave daily from main train stations and take anywhere from 3-4 hours to destinations such as Edinburgh or Glasgow from Manchester. Click here to find time tables and to book online.

Bus

Bus’ to Scotland’s main cities such as Edinburgh and Glasgow will take about a 5 hour journey from Manchester and can be really cheap if booked in advance. Click here to find time tables and to book.

Languages

English is spoken in Scotland so it’s fairly easy to manage getting around. Just keep in mind that they do have a strong English accent so initially you may think they are speaking a different language. Just kindly ask that they slow down if you aren’t understanding them and accept that they may also begin to speak louder because this clearly helps you better understand what people are saying. 😉

Scottish Road Trip Stops

Melrose

Used this town as a home base during my bank holiday in Scotland. This location was perfect for easy day trips since it’s conveniently located only an hour from many of the places I visited and has Airbnb options.

New Lanark

This small village is only an hour and half drive from Melrose (AKA where my Airbnb was). This former cotton mill is now an Unesco heritage site.

Don’t Miss:

Falls of Clyde and Wildlife Reserve
Lanark Loch
New Lanark Village

Tip: If driving, make a stop in the royal borough of Pebbles post your visit to New Lanark and enjoy a meal in this quaint Scottish country town for a feel of how locals live outside of the big cities.

Edinburgh

This compact and hilly city is the capital of Scotland and certainly a must on your list when visiting Scotland. There is quite a bit to do but if smart this can easily be accomplished in a day since everything is close and walk-able.

Don’t Miss:

Arthur’s Seat
Calton Hill
Forth Bridge
Royale Mile
Edinburgh Castle
The Old Town

Where To Eat: While I didn’t have a chance to eat at these places due to the Easter Holiday causing many to be closed or have reduced hours when I went, I heard from trusted sources these are places to eat at so I figured they were worth sharing.

Henderson’s – Perfect for lunch as its not fancy but healthy and wholesome.
Six by Nico – Meant to be an amazing fine dining experience.
Harajuku Kitchen – Delicious Japanese cuisine that isn’t fancy.
Bread Meats Bread – Yummy burger chain with a location in Edinburgh.

Jedburgh

This little boarder town between England and Scotland is a great stop to cut your journey back to England and get another taste of a traditional Scottish town.

Don’t Miss:

Jedburgh Abbey
Jedburgh Castle and Jail

Obviously, I have quite a bit I still want to see in Scotland such as Glasgow, Isle of Arran and Loch Ness but I have tons of bank holidays in my new home country that I will make sure to visit and add these cities to this post. (Keep your eyes peeled for more additions here.)

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Scottish Road Trip: Epic Scotland Escapes

Plan Your Visit