It’s easy to take for granted what’s on our doorstep, so a couple of summers ago I decided it was high time to explore Scotland on a budget. As I haven’t driven a car since passing my test, booking onto a coach tour seemed a great way to see the sights and return home alive!
Initially worried that coach tours would only be for those aged 50+, I was pleasantly surprised to discover Haggis Adventures. They run budget backpacker tours targeted at those in the 18-35 age bracket – with no upper age limit. The standard accommodation is shared rooms in hostels, which is perfect for solo travellers! Private rooms are also available if you book early and are happy to pay a little more.
Haggis Adventures offer trips ranging from 1-10 days and I opted for their five day Highland Fling Tour. During the week I met some fantastic people and packed in an incredible amount of Scottish sightseeing. If you’re considering a similar way to explore Scotland on a budget read on for my recap!
Cost Breakdown (5 Day Highland Fling Tour)
Return UK Flights – £100
Tour Cost – £249 (£229 with a student card)
Return Airport Bus – £7.50
B&B Accommodation Prior to Trip– £30
B&B Accommodation During Trip– £96
Optional Activities – approx £79 for Highland Distillery, Jacobite Steam Train & Loch Ness Cruise
Food – approx £100
Total = £661.50
Budget Tip –Haggis Adventures often do sales on tours when the dates are nearby. So keep an eye on the site and you may be able to get 20% off your Highland Fling!
Day 1: Edinburgh to Loch Ness
My Highland Fling tour of Scotland ran in reverse, so after setting off from the main office in Edinburgh our first stop was at the Forth Rail Bridge. Here we were given ample time to take photos, pop to the bathroom and stock up on any snacks for our journey. We’d been pre-warned that any latecomers would need to treat us to a karaoke performance and with one couple loitering behind in the shop, it wasn’t long until the trip was kicked off properly with a fantastic rendition of Journey’s Don’t Stop Belivein’. It’s safe to say nobody was late again for the rest of the week!
Next we took part in some bus ‘speed-friending’. Swapping seats and introducing ourselves to others on the tour, it wasn’t long until everyone had met.
At the start of the tour there were around 20 people.On day three of the trip this increased by 10 as another group who were on the 10 day ‘Compass Buster’ tour merged with ours. The original group were mainly in their 20s and 30s, with lots of Australians, a few people from the US and Canada and a couple of other people from the UK. Two girls had travelled from Canada with their mother to learn more about their ancestry back to Scotland.
During the afternoon we picked up some lunch before making a further one hour stop at a re-enactment of a medieval Scottish village.
Journeying on the scenery became increasingly dramatic and we paused to take our first glimpse of Ben Nevis’ snow capped peaks.
We soon arrived at our home for the next two nights, Morag’s Lodge on the bank of Loch Ness. It’s a high quality hostel and I shared a room and bathroom with five others. Meals are a set price of £3.70 for breakfast and £7.50 for dinner. I really enjoyed the veggie lasagne. As I don’t tend to eat much for breakfast I popped to the local shops for some cereal and milk.
We had the option of paying £13 for an evening cruise of the Loch and pretty much everyone on the tour decided to go. You learn about the history of the Loch Ness monster while viewing a real-time radar picture of what is underneath the boat. Although we didn’t spot Nessie I still had a great time!
Day 2: Loch Ness to the Highlands
Another early start on day two and by 9am we’d set off on a mini hike of the hermitage forest. This scenic woodland is rumoured to be the inspiration for J.M. Barrie’s Neverland in Peter Pan.
We then made a brief pit stop to take a snap of the ruined Urquhart castle before hopping back on the bus.
Our next stop was the Clava Cairns, a series of three burial chambers from the Bronze Age. We also paid a visit to the Culloden Battlefield and learnt about Bonnie Prince Charlie and the 1746 Jacobite Rising.
Then it was onto the Clootie Well, a Celtic pilgrimage site at an ancient spring dedicated to Saint Curetán. Rags are dipped in the water and then hung onto the trees by those seeking to be healed.
After a brief stop-off for lunch it was on to the Tomatin whiskey distillery. It was fascinating to learn about how the wood from the barrels provides each whiskey with its own distinctive taste. We also got to sample some at the end!
Whiskey down the hatch it was time to head back to Morag’s Lodge. On our second evening we were put into teams to answer trivia questions and take part in challenges. This was one of the best nights on the tour and a great way to bond further with the group!
Day 3: Loch Ness to the Isle of Skye
Leaving Morag’s Lodge behind we travelled a short distance to do our good deed for the trip. We planted a tree in the HAGGIS grove, in aid of the ‘Trees for Life’ charity who are aiming to restore the ancient Caledonian Forest.
Next we travelled to Eilean Donan Castle and thankfully arrived just in time for a break in the weather. It was an incredibly beautiful spot.
Journeying further we reached the start of the Skye Bridge and walked across onto Skye itself.
Once on Skye we travelled to a small village for some fish and chips which the seagulls seemed pretty keen on too!
A short distance on and it was time for a short hike near the Old Man of Storr. Due to the wind it was very cold, but I would have happily spent more time taking in the spectacular views.
Back on the bus we travelled to Kilt rock which made for even more great photo opportunities!
The landscape of Skye was fascinating!
Our final pit stop for the day was the Sligachan River. We were encouraged to dip our faces into the water in the hope of being rewarded with eternal beauty. After having my face frozen all day by the chilly wind I decided to give that one a miss. However, our bus driver wasn’t one to pass up the opportunity!
We then travelled to Kyleakin village, our home for the night. It’s the home of a ruined fortress called Castle Moil. In good weather you can walk out to it, but it was a bit too muddy for me to try.
We stayed at Saucy Mary’s Lodge which was a more basic hostel than Morag’s Lodge. You can choose to eat at the hostel itself, but there were limited veggie options so I ventured to a local restaurant.
Day 4: The Isle of Skye to Oban
The next morning we arrived in good time to catch our ferry back to Mallig on the mainland. In Mallig we dropped off everyone who had prepaid £42 for a ride on the Jacobite train (better known as the Hogwarts Express!). Make sure to sit on the right hand side for the best views.
Those of us who weren’t on the train travelled to the Glenfinnan Viewpoint. From there we had a fantastic view of the train going across the Glenfinnan Viaduct as per the iconic scene in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. The Glennfinnan Monument also made for some stunning views.
Just after 5pm we arrived at our final hostel in the harbourside town of Oban. We were staying at Backpackers Plus, but unfortunately the hostel was over-booked so six of us stayed in a different building. The room key didn’t work and the main door of the building had to be left open, so security wise that was the low point of the trip. The main building seemed much better and had a great social atmosphere.
A few of us popped to a local restaurant for a curry, then we all met for a few drinks before heading out to the Ceilidh to experience a true Highland Fling. We were escorted to the dance by a bagpipe player, which made the evening even more special! The Ceilidh itself was great fun and the perfect way to end the last night.
Day 5: Oban to Edinburgh
The rain was near constant during our final day and with several people feeling worse for wear a lot of sleeping was done on the way back to Edinburgh! However, there were still plenty of dramatic landscapes to see.
We travelled to the beautiful Glencoe which featured in the James Bond film ‘Skyfall’ and learnt more about the myths and legends of the area, along with the ongoing feud between the McDonald and Campbell clans.
We also managed to get a picture of the whole group before leaving the highlands behind.
Our final stop on the tour was to Stirling and the William Wallace (aka Braveheart) monument.
We arrived promptly back in Edinburgh on schedule at 5pm. I’d definitely recommend staying an extra couple of days in Edinburgh in order to have time to explore the magical city itself. You’ll most likely have some new friends willing to explore it with you!
Does it Fit My Budget?
Flying from the UK the overall trip cost comes to approximately £660. For a more detailed overview please see the breakdown at the top of the post.
To reduce your costs I’d recommend checking for discounts on tours that are taking place in the near future and aligning them with cheap flights. If you have a student card you’ll also be eligible for an instant discount. You can also opt out of several activities which don’t take your fancy – I saved £42 by not doing the Jacobite train ride.
I highly recommend skipping the hostel breakfasts and picking up some cheap cereal/breakfast items locally. It’s also a good idea to take advantage of meal deals in supermarkets for lunch.
Overall Thoughts
Pros – It was fantastic to sit back and let someone else take care of all of the detailed itinerary planning. There’s a good balance of activities and it’s great that you don’t need to pay for those you don’t wish to do. It’s a brilliant way to meet new people and I would happily travel solo on a similar tour in future. As a vegetarian I didn’t struggle to find food and the accommodation was perfect for my price point. Our tour guide also created a great atmosphere and shared interesting stories about Scottish history and folklore.
Cons – Haggis Adventures run a wide range of trips , many of which overlap, so you may find the group changes across your trip which can dramatically change the group dynamic. Group tours have limited flexibility and personally I would have enjoyed more time hiking in Scotland’s landscapes.
In summary I had the most amazing week exploring Scotland on a budget with Haggis Adventures and I’d do it again in a heartbeat! The scenery was fantastic and making friends along the way was the best part. In fact I enjoyed it so much that last year I travelled with their sister company Shamrocker Adventures in Ireland.
Have you explored Scotland on a budget? Let me know your recommendations!
