10 Must-Pack Items for a Hassle-Free Scotland Trip

Flights booked, accommodation sorted – now it’s time to start thinking, what to pack? Your packing list may change depending on the season you plan to visit Scotland, but there are some essentials that you’ll want to bring, no matter when you go. Whether you're heading to Scotland for a few days or a couple of weeks, we’ve rounded up 10 must-pack items to make your trip as hassle-free as possible! 

If you’ve done your research, you already know that the weather in Scotland is unpredictable. Even when the forecast shows sunshine, you might still be greeted with some rainfall. Don’t plan your travels around the weather; instead, make sure to pack waterproofs. To stay comfortable, we recommend bringing an umbrella, a raincoat, and waterproof shoes. If you’re planning to spend a lot of time exploring nature, consider adding waterproof trousers – they’re a game changer when navigating Scotland's rugged wilderness, especially when joining our award-winning 5-day volunteer trip to the Isle of Skye, where you'll spend lots of your time in the outdoors and exploring in the afternoons.

Whether you’re going to spend your time in the Highlands or exploring cities and towns, good walking shoes are essential. Exploring by foot is a great way to discover any hidden gems in cities and towns and staying comfortable and avoiding blisters is key.

If you’re travelling to Scotland from outside the United Kingdom, be aware that the charging sockets are different in here. Most hotels and buses have charger points that accept USB-plugs, but it’s good to have a UK charger with you. If you don’t manage to get a grab of one before your trip, charging sockets are widely available in shops across Scotland. Make sure to grab one from the bigger cities or towns before heading up to the Highlands and Islands.

The tap water in Scotland is one of the cleanest in the whole world, and that being said, perfectly drinkable. In addition, many places around Scotland have taps where you can fill up your water bottle whilst you’re exploring. You can find out your nearest tap conveniently from this map by Scottish Water. Not only does this save you some pennies, but it’s also environmentally friendly.

If you’re planning a trip to Scotland in summer, and planning to spend some time in nature, you will guarantee an encounter with some of our not-so-famous locals, midges. Though they are not dangerous in any way, they are extremely frustrating. Midge-repellent will assist you with getting peace from these nasty wee creatures. You’ll be able to buy it from Scotland.

Hoping to see some wildlife on your visit to Scotland? If so, make sure to pack your binoculars! Scotland is known to have a wide variety of wildlife, so whether you’re hoping to spot eagles, seals, orcas, red deer or even whales, keep your eyes open whilst touring around the country.

Binoculars are particularly handy when you're joining one of our locally guided multi-day tours that use ferry crossings as their main transport to reach and explore the Scottish islands. We're lucky to have had numerous dolphin and orca sightings over the years, so we encourage you to bring a pair with you!

While most places in Scotland accept card payments, it is still possible to encounter places that only accept cash, especially in the Highlands. Therefore, it is good to have a wee bit of cash on you, just in case.

We’re well aware that we just advised you to pack all your waterproof but trust us on this, you should still pack sunscreen! When the sun is out, it can be beaming even in the winter months, so to avoid getting sunburnt whilst exploring, add some sunscreen on your skin.