Spending diary: six days in Scotland
Scotland has been voted the ‘most beautiful country in the world’ and it’s easy to see why. It’s a country that has it all, from epic landscapes to smokey whiskies and everything in between, it has little something for everyone – including me. In September, I went on a six-day train voyage that took me from Glasgow to Ben Nevis and back down to Edinburgh where I tracked my spending. On that trip, I experienced a slice of the Scottish life and I loved it.
But before I post guides onto the site, I wanted to get real about money. Whenever I plan a trip, I struggle to find resources that give a clear insight into the actual costs of trip. Instead, I spend hours trawling through websites totting up prices. This is the reason why I’m sharing my spending diary, to help the next traveller smoothly plan their dream trip.
Pre-trip spending
Before jumping on a train, or boarding a plane, there are always some pre-trip costs. These will typically include transport and accommodation.
- Trains: £135.87 for five train journeys across Scotland. This included a one-way ticket from London Euston to Glasgow Central, a return ticket from Glasgow Queen Street to Fort William, an express train from Glasgow Queen Street to Edinburgh Waverley and a ticket from Edinburgh Waverley to London Kings Cross.
- Accommodation: £280.87 for five nights across several hotels. The average cost was £50 a night. However, hotels in Fort William were a tad pricey, so this pushed up our spend.
Total pre-strip spending: £416.74
Spending in Glasgow
- 2:00pm: I arrived in Glasgow central and made a beeline for a coffee shop (£3.00). There I set up camp for 30 minutes before I checked into my hotel and dumped my very heavy rucksacks.
- 3:00pm: After I’d checked in and freshened up, I headed for a wander around the city. This included a refreshing stroll along the river Clyde.
- 5:00pm: I headed to the Pot Still my first Scottish pint (£3.20). I also sampled a dram of Caol Ila (£5.45) and newsflash, I have a new favourite smokey whisky.
- 7:00pm: After a drink or two, I dove into Wagamamas (£16.10) for a quick bite.
- 8:00pm: Then I headed to the Bavaria Vrauhaus. I originally wanted to eat here but couldn’t because the kitchen was closed. Instead, I opted for a few beers (£11.95).
- 9:00pm: Finally, I headed back to the Pot Still for a final whiskey (£3.70) before I dashed to the supermarket for some groceries (£3.55)
NB: This wasn’t a solo trip! I toured around Scotland with my partner but he prefers a life offline.
Total spend: £46.95
A whole day in Glasgow
- 9:00am: I had breakfast at the Riverhill coffee bar. I had a coffee, bagel and split a cupcake with my partner (breakfast was kindly paid for by my boyfriend because it was my birthday). After breaky, I bought an all-day metro ticket (£4.20) and headed to Rennie Mackintosh’s house (£8.00) and the Hunterian Gallery.
- 1:00pm: For lunch, I headed Oran Mor, an arts and entertainment venue, for the Play, a Pie and Pint (£15.00). After the play, I had a nice chilled pint in the venue’s sunny courtyard (£4.10).
- 3:00pm: I wandered around the Hunterian Museum (free).
- 6:00pm: I had dinner at Finnieston (paid for by my boyfriend).
- 9:00pm: Before leaving Glasgow, I had a finally whisky at The Pot Still. This time, I treated my befriend (£15.00).
Total spend: £42.20
Spending in Fort William
An afternoon in Fort William
- 8:00am: I jumped on the train to Fort William. Because it was an early start, I nabbed breakfast at the station (4.00).
- 12:00pm: After a four hour train journey, I arrived in Fort William. Here, I stayed in a Travelodge (it was the only affordable accommodation option when we booked). In order to get rid of my bags, I paid for an early check-in (£5.00). Then, I grabbed a supermarket meal deal for lunch (£3.50). After, I headed onto a boat on a seal cruise around Loch Linnhe (£18.55).
- 5:00pm: Back on dry land, I sat behind the bar for a drink or two at The Garrison West (£14.00). Naively, I didn’t realise that all the restaurants in Fort William where booked (or short on staff), so it was fish and chips for dinner for us (£9.85).
Total spend: £54.90
Climbing Ben Nevis
- 8:00am: Before I embarked on the hike up Ben Nevis, I stopped at the supermarket for supplies (£4.80).
- 5:00pm: After I’d made it down the mountain, I stopped for a drink at the Ben Nevis Inn – a small pub at the bottom of Ben Nevis (£6.20).
- 8:00pm: Back at the hotel, I showered and refreshed myself after a long day. Then, I headed out to grab some grub. Once again, I didn’t have the foresight to book a table, so I grabbed whatever carbs I could find at Cafe 115 (£12.20).
- 9:00pm: A final pint and a dram of whisky at the Ben Nevis bar (£11.65) – I deserved to celebrate the day after all.
Total spend: £34.85
Spending in Edinburgh
An afternoon in Edinburgh
- 7:00am: It was another early start because we had another early train. Today I grabbed a spot of breakfast at the cafe inside the station (it was the only place open) (£4.65).
- 1:30pm: After a walk around Edinburgh, I stopped for a pub lunch (£18.61).
- 5.00pm: After I’d checked-in, I spent the evening at a folk session at the Sandy Bell’s pub. There, I spent my Friday night listening to live music that was performed by local residents.
Total spend: £50.00
A morning in Edinburgh
- 10:00am: I headed for my dream breakfast at the Edinburgh Larder (£18.00). Before I jumped on the train home, I went for a long walk around the university, Arthur’s Seat, and the Royal Mile where I picked up a few souvenirs for family and friends (£4.69).
Total spend: £22.69
My overall trip spending
During our six-day trip, we spent a total of £251.59 on food, drinks, attractions and tickets. This averages out to £41.90 per day, I’d budgeted £50 per day, so overall we came in under our budget. There are definitely areas where I could cut spending but it’s not every day you’re on holiday!
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