What Not to Do in Scotland: 17 Mistakes to Avoid

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What Not to Do in Scotland

Are you planning a trip to Scotland for the first time? This guide will show you what not to do in Scotland, including some of the biggest mistakes that tourists make that can ruin your trip.

I’ve now been to Scotland several times, and on each visit, I end up staying even longer than before! Scotland is a destination I absolutely love, and I know I’ll keep coming back in the future to explore more of this beautiful country. If you’re visiting Scotland soon, these are my top tips to know before you go.

Scotland is home to incredible cities, charming small towns, historic castles, rugged mountains and lochs, and wild coastlines. It’s a destination that has something to offer for everyone. But I don’t want you to be disappointed or ill-prepared for your trip to Scotland, which is why I’m sharing big mistakes to avoid.

Now let’s take a look at what not to do in Scotland, and the most common mistakes to avoid:

1. Underestimating the weather

One of the main mistakes many first-time visitors make in Scotland is underestimating the weather. Even if you’re visiting during the summer, you might be surprised at how chilly it can get. This is especially true the further north you go. No matter the season, you’ll want to pack lots of layers for Scotland.

I personally love visiting Scotland in the spring and the fall, when there are fewer tourists. However, the weather can be very cold, and you’ll want to be prepared for it. And if you’re visiting in the winter, you’ll definitely want to make sure you bundle up and pack plenty of warm, heavy-duty clothing for your trip.

2. Trusting the weather forecast

Another weather-related tip: you can never trust the weather forecast! Your weather app might say that it’s going to be sunny all day, but in reality, that can just as easily mean on-and-off rain showers.

The weather in Scotland can be unpredictable. On a recent trip to the western coast of Scotland, it alternated between raining, hailing, being extremely windy, and then being perfectly calm and sunny just about every hour. So you’ll want to take the weather forecast with a grain of salt and prepare for anything.

3. Not packing a good waterproof jacket and shoes

Since the weather in Scotland can be so crazy, you’ll definitely want to bring a good waterproof jacket and comfortable, water-resistant walking shoes. This is a destination where you can prioritize comfort over style, especially if you’re traveling outside major cities and will be walking or hiking a lot.

I should also note that when it rains in Scotland, it can often be so windy that an umbrella is just about useless. This is why it’s important to have a heavy-duty rain jacket you can use instead.

4. Confusing Scotland with England

This is a huge no-no. Yes, Scotland is part of the United Kingdom, along with England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. But Scotland is not England, and confusing the two won’t go over well with the locals.

The Scottish people have a very strong national identity, and most consider themselves “Scottish” first and foremost, and “British” as an afterthought. England is their neighbor to the south, but it’s totally different than Scotland — I’d say the differences are as strong as Canada and the United States.

5. Driving on the wrong side of the road

Renting a car can be a good idea in Scotland if you want to explore more of the country independently. Unless you opt for organized tours, it’s also a necessity to have your own car to get around more rural parts of the country like the Scottish Highlands, where public transportation is not always available or practical.

However, if you do rent a car, it’s important to remember that Scotland (and the rest of the UK) drives on the opposite side of the road to the US and most other countries. This can take some getting used to. If you’re a confident driver, it shouldn’t be an issue, but it’s something to always keep in mind.

6. Only visiting Edinburgh

Edinburgh is amazing, but it shouldn’t be the only place you visit on your trip. The first time I came to Scotland, I spent three days just in Edinburgh, and while it was incredible, I immediately wished I had more time to see the rest of the country. And I ended up coming back later that same year to do so!

I think two or three full days is a good amount of time for Edinburgh, but you should really plan to spend at least a week in Scotland, and that will give you more time to explore other parts of the country.

7. Not anticipating the crowds

I mentioned earlier that I love visiting Scotland in the spring and fall because there are fewer crowds. If you visit during the summer, you should expect bigger crowds, especially in Edinburgh. August is the most insane month in Edinburgh, because it’s when the weeks-long Fringe Festival takes place.

But honestly, Edinburgh can be pretty full of tourists any time of year. I recommend pre-booking tickets for the city’s most popular attractions, like Edinburgh Castle, because it often sells out.

8. Taking a day trip to the Scottish Highlands

I talked about this in my guide to the best day trips from Edinburgh and the best day trips from Glasgow, but I really recommend against a day trip to the Scottish Highlands from either of these cities. The Highlands are located pretty far north, and you really need multiple days to do them justice.

Many tour companies do offer day trips to the Scottish Highlands, but you’ll spend most of the day sitting on a bus (expect three to four hours of driving each way) and actually experience very little. If you’re really short on time, it is an option, but there are many better day trips that don’t require as much time in transit.

9. Cramming too much into your itinerary

On a similar note, a big mistake that visitors make is trying to cram too much into their itinerary. You could easily spend several weeks in Scotland and still not see everything the country has to offer. So it’s important to understand that with limited time, you can only see and do so much, and accept that.

You’ll have a much better time if you just pick a few destinations to focus on rather than trying to pack in too much. For example, with one week, I would stick to no more than three different destinations.

10. Not getting a local eSIM

If you’re traveling to Scotland from abroad, getting an eSIM is a must. You can use your existing phone plan while in Scotland, but you might rack up expensive data roaming charges or pay a high daily rate for it.

I’ve now used Airalo in more than a dozen countries and counting, and I cannot recommend it enough! It saves you so much money by getting you connected with a local eSIM you can use for high-speed data abroad, without impacting your existing phone plan or phone number. And it’s so easy to use.

11. Being shy to talk to the locals

As a whole, the Scottish people are friendly, open, and welcoming. You definitely shouldn’t be afraid to strike up a conversation, ask for directions, or ask for recommendations — most people are happy to chat!

Yes, the main language here is English, even though Scottish accents can sometimes be very thick, and people might use a lot of regional dialect or slang. About one-third of the population also speaks Scots (which is very similar to English), and a small part of the population speaks Scottish Gaelic.

12. Assuming restaurants, shops, and attractions stay open late

A big mistake that some tourists make is assuming that restaurants, shops, and attractions stay open late in Scotland. Coming from New York, I’m used to things staying open late or being open 24/7. But even in Edinburgh, I noticed that many places have a tendency to shut down somewhat earlier than I expected.

And this is especially true when you’re outside major cities. In smaller towns and more rural areas, restaurants often close by 8 PM (people eat dinner earlier), and the same goes for grocery stores. It’s also important to note that many places have reduced hours on Sundays, or they close entirely.

13. Calling whisky “Scotch”

Okay, I don’t drink whisky, so I honestly would have had no idea that this is a faux pas. But apparently, in Scotland, it’s always just called “whisky” – saying “Scotch” is an American thing.

Whisky is a big deal in Scotland, and if it’s something you’re interested in, there are lots of distilleries to tour and places to sample it. Oh, and it’s always spelled “whisky” here, not “whiskey” like in the US.

14. Skipping the local cuisine

Scotland might not be the first place you think of as a “foodie” destination. It’s certainly not France or Italy. And with a lot of familiar chain restaurants and fast food places that you’re probably used to in the US, it can be tempting to stick with what’s familiar and enjoy the local cuisine. But that’s boring!

While in Scotland, you have to try the national dish, haggis. It sounds scary (it’s sheep heart, liver, and lungs mixed with onions, oats, and spices), but I’m told it’s delicious. (I’m a vegetarian, so I wouldn’t know!) Other popular local dishes in Scotland are fish and chips and mutton-filled Scotch pies.

15. Buying bottled water

One more mistake related to food and drinks: buying bottled water in Scotland. The tap water is perfectly drinkable throughout the country, so this is just a waste of money (not to mention, a waste of plastic.)

I recommend packing a refillable water bottle for your trip to Scotland. The drinking water everywhere is fresh and crisp, so there’s really no reason to spend extra money buying bottled water here.

16. Relying too closely on Google Maps driving times

If you’ll be driving around Scotland, it’s important to know that you can’t rely too much on the driving times that Google Maps (or any other maps app) gives you. It often takes a lot longer to actually go places.

This can be because of traffic or road work, or when you’re in more rural areas, it can be because of the narrow, winding roads, which might require slower driving in poor weather conditions. So if Google Maps is telling you something is two hours away, it’s safe to assume 2.5 or even three hours to get there.

17. Not booking ferries in advance

Finally, one mistake to avoid if you’re visiting any of Scotland’s islands is not booking your ferry tickets in advance. Scotland is home to over 900 islands, and roughly 100 of those are inhabited. Although some, like the Isle of Skye, are connected to the mainland by bridge, most require a ferry to get there.

And the car ferries often book up in advance, especially during the summer months. So it’s always a good idea to pre-book your ferry tickets, rather than arriving without them and being turned away.

Mistakes to Avoid in Scotland

This guide showed you what not to do in Scotland.

With some advance planning and knowing what to expect, you can have an amazing time in this beautiful country. And now that you know the biggest mistakes to avoid during your trip, you’ll be prepared.

Enjoy your trip to Scotland!

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