Prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Waterproof shoes, a small umbrella, that classic Barbour coat, and you're ready to go.
Make at least some effort to learn the basic timeline of Scottish history so that you can place the sites you visit within a framework.
No matter where you make your home base in Scotland, be sure to get out and see the rest of this gorgeous country, even without a car.
Learn as much as you can during your stay, and if you can, take a distillery tour.
The "capital" of the Scottish Highlands at Inverness is home to the legendary Loch Ness & Urquhart Castle, which we greatly enjoyed during our visit.
While impressive, home to Edinburgh Castle, incredibly preserved buildings, and seemingly a million pubs, The Royal Mile is also wildly touristy.