Scotland's cities are full to the brim with history and atmosphere but it's the countryside in between that captures most visitors' hearts. The scene for road trips to rival James Bond's flight across the Highlands in Skyfall can be found on the outskirts of Edinburgh, Glasgow and other major cities.
Driving in Scotland is a great way to escape the crowds and get off the beaten track. You can stop off in charming country pubs, go to ruined castles and churches, and find solace in quiet glens far from the crowds.
There are five road trip itineraries that include the epic grandeur of Skye, culture-packed Edinburgh, and the distillery of Speyside. The stories of Scotland unfold right in front of you as you travel along the way.
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Allow 7 days for Inverness Castle.
The most well-known driving route in Scotland is the wild northern coastline. The loop around the north end of Scotland is called the North Coast 500.
If you follow the route anti-clockwise, you can go past the moors and beaches of the east coast before hitting John O'Groats and Dunnet Head. You can see the beauty of the north coast from the west as you travel past cliffs and outlying villages. The views as you travel down the west coast are some of Britain's best.
Taking the route at a more leisurely pace will give you the chance to seek out fine local foodstuff such as venison, smoked fish and craft beer, while activities such as sea kayaking on the west coast or scrambling up the lonely peaks of As synt are a great way to throw yourself into Northern
It is a good idea to book your accommodations well in advance of the peak season.
Allow four days for Fort William–Fort William.
If you don't want guaranteed sunshine, Skye has everything. A riot of craggy peaks, towering sea stacks and waterlogged shorelines is what this island off the west coast has to offer. You can take the bridge to the island in one direction and return to the mainland via the ferry.
A classic counter-clockwise loop begins with a visit to Portree, the largest town on the island, followed by a tour of the Trotternish Peninsula. The Cuillin Hills and the Duirinish Peninsula are both great places to hike and eat.
There are castles, almost Caribbean-looking beaches and some of Britain's best wild swimming spots, as well as side-trips by ferry to the surrounding Small Isles, which offer great bird-watching.
The Spittal of Glenshee can be reached in 4 days.
The home of the Highland Games and the Scottish home of the British Royal Family are both located in Northeast Scotland. The North East 250 is inspired by the success of the North Coast 500 and takes in big-ticket attractions but also shines a light on an often overlooked region.
The village of Spittal of Glenshee is a good starting point if you want to ski in winter. The biggest national park in Britain, the Cairngorms National Park, contains some of the UK's highest peaks and is a great place to hike.
Aberdeen is the oil-rich city of the North East 250. It is a route lined with castles, beaches, appealing small villages and historic estates, and stops along the way to sample local delicacies.
If you try to hit them all, you'll be here for months.
One of Scotland's last remaining malting floors is visited by small group tours at Balvenie.
Allow one day in the area.
There are more famous road trips than the one that follows the A7 north from the English border past Hawick and Galashiels to Edinburgh. The landscape used to be a battlefield for cross-border raids, and it ends at Edinburgh's hulking castle.
Tweed, tartan and glasswork are celebrated in educational centers, as well as an interesting mining museum. Mountain bikers can hit the trails at Glentress and Innerleithen, as well as fishing for salmon on the Tweed's wooded banks.
The ruined abbeys and author Walter Scott's fabulous country house are more cerebral than the moorlands of the Scottish Borders.
To get up on top of the landscape, be sure to park the car and walk bracingly.
Glasgow–Fort William is a distance of 386 km.
The city of Edinburgh is close to the rugged terrain of the Highlands. Glasgow's high culture and lively pubs are worth an overnight on any trip to the region, but don't stay up too late to see the hills turn to mountains.
The route takes in the popular walking country of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs. You can see majestic views, excellent seafood, ancient standing stones, historic towns and kayaking off and on the Lochs.
Glen Coe has a beautiful natural beauty and a tragic history of Highland betrayal, while Fort William is the most challenging peak in Britain.
Some road trips follow major "M" or "A" roads while others use smaller roads for long stretches. These can be difficult to get around in the winter because they are often tight and hedge-lined. The police in Scotland are strict when it comes to speeding and drinking and driving. There are many petrol stations in the Highlands and on the islands.
Many places to stay on popular routes like the North Coast 500 will only accept two or more nights in the summer. Taking a day or two to explore the local area at each overnight stop is a good idea. The distances provided are not directly between the start and end points because we assume you will be taking diversions to explore and make regular stops.
The first article was published in June of 2020.
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