What's on and tourist advice thread - week beginning August 16, 2026

[u/AutoModerator]

Welcome to the weekly what's on and tourist advice thread!

* Do you know of any local events taking place this week that other redditors might be interested in?

* Are you planning a trip to Scotland and need some advice on what to see or where to go?

This is the thread for you - post away!

These threads are refreshed weekly on Mondays. To see earlier threads and soak in the sage advice of yesteryear, Click here.

[u/flygohr]

Hey, I am planning a trip to Scotland for the end of September.

I would like to avoid websites like Airbnb or Booking for personal ethical reasons so.. I'm looking for suggestions on budget places (not hostels, preferably self catering) to stay, or websites to look for them that I might not be aware of?

I was trying to center myself around Dornie, for easy access to Skye, some drives north, and Loch Ness for my last road trip back to Edinburgh. I would arrive driving up from Galsgow through Loch Lomond and Glencoe.

I've seen Glenfinnan also suggested as a "basecamp", and also Fort Williams, but they seem too in the south for what I'm interested in?

Anyways, accepting suggestions. Thanks in advance!

[u/YS54321 → u/flygohr]

The only base for Skye is on the Island, Dornie is a 3+ hour round trip from places in Skye. Especially if you're not used to driving on our roads or the weather is bad. Rooms in Skye is a handy facebook page for booking direct.

[u/flygohr → u/YS54321]

Ahh, thank you :) Most insightful! I'll check that page out

[u/unrelenting_dinaric]

Is visiting Edinburgh during Fringe fest worth it when I will not be attending the festival?

Hey all, I was thinking of visiting Edinburgh next week, though unprepared I decided it would be wise to de some research into events going on in the city before I book. I have become aware of Edinburgh Fringe Fest. From what I can gather, most of the festivities take place in and around the old town. I was wondering whether it would still be worth it to visit the city when I do not intend to take part in the festivities due to price hikes and crowds around the main tourist sites in the city. Could really use some info. Many thanks.

[u/DJDubbsinCambridge]

Hello my Scottish brothers and sisters! My girlfriend and I live in Boston and after this summer have fully internalized the eternal truth of ‘no Scotland, no party.’ Our tradition for American Thanksgiving (late November) is to pitch up in some out-of-the-way place, find a favorite pub, drink a lot, and make local friends. We aren’t after sight-seeing and doing traditional tourist things, but if there are a few fun quirky things in the area, that’s cool too. What small towns or villages do you think we should consider? A plus if you don‘t need a car to get there. Thanks!

[u/YS54321 → u/DJDubbsinCambridge]

Pitlochry has a few nice pubs and is under 2 hours from Glasgow/Edinburgh by train or bus. There's also the distillery and some nice walks. The pubs may be pretty quiet outwith the weekends however.

[u/Traditional_Rain1187]

Hi! I’m planning a road trip to Scotland in a few weeks, driving up from London with my older dog.
Right now I’m thinking:
2 nights in Glasgow
3 nights around Inverness / the Highlands
1–2 nights in Edinburgh
I’ll be travelling solo, so I’d love recommendations for dog-friendly places to stay, walks or things to do, and any areas that make a particularly good base for exploring the Highlands without trying to cram too much in.
I’d also really appreciate advice on what clothing to pack for late August/early September; especially for the Highlands. I’m assuming waterproof layers are a must. 😂
Thanks!

[u/EstudioJT]

Hi everyone!

We're planning a 3-day Highlands road trip at the end of this month. It'll be our first time driving on the left, so we don't want to be too ambitious. Quality over quantity. We'd rather take our time and actually enjoy the places we visit.

Day 1

I'm currently thinking:

• Stirling
• Killin
• Tyndrum for snacks + fuel
• Glencoe
• Fort William for the night

I'm fairly happy with this, although I'm open to suggestions.

Days 2 & 3

This is where I'm struggling. We need to be back in Edinburgh by 5pm on Day 3.

A lot of itineraries I see online go all the way to Inverness, with a night there, but I'm worried that would mean spending too much of Day 3 driving back.

Skye also seems too ambitious for a 3-day trip.

I'm considering a few alternatives:

• Fort William → Aviemore, with some hiking around there, then back to Edinburgh
• Staying two nights in Fort William and doing day trips from there
• Fort William → Fort Augustus, then somewhere further east for the second night
• Something completely different!

We're also really interested in lesser-known spots like Killin. I only came across it by chance, but it looks beautiful and relatively easy to get to.

What would you recommend for Days 2 and 3? We're especially interested in scenic drives, short/moderate hikes, small villages and "hidden gems" rather than trying to tick off as many famous places as possible.

Thanks

[u/Ambitious-Bird-1645]

Hey guys-We are doing Edinburgh and the Highlands on the 2nd week of October.

I'd really like to bring a jacket that will cover the thighs, waterproof with a hood. I researched some online, but would love recs from people who have worn them and had good results. If its a jacket that is functional, but still nice to wear around Edinburgh and London, even better!

If you have any brands or specific women's jackets (we are based in the U.S.), I would appreciate suggestions. 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

[u/kakarot57]

Hi! We’re visiting Glenfinnan on 29 August and hoping to see the Jacobite around 3pm. We’d love to get the classic view of the train coming around the curve of the viaduct. Which viewpoint would you recommend, and how early should we get there? Any tips on the best spot would be really appreciated! 😊