Driving tour of Scotland

The Driving tour of Scotland is in the United Kingdom. It would take about two days to drive this route non-stop, but it would be best to allow 7 - 10 days to have a relaxed tour, seeing the sights on the way.

Understand

One way of looking at Scotland is to think of it as divided in two parts: the first is the Highlands whereas the second is known as the Lowlands and contains the industrial heartland. Traditionally the Highlanders spoke Gaelic while the Lowlanders spoke Scots. The "central belt" cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh house the vast majority of Scotland's population. They're worth a visit for their culture, architecture and history. Heading up into the Highlands there are relatively few people, small villages, just the occasional town, and great sights to enjoy.

Prepare

General

Rainy days and midges are the main threats to your visit. Both are annoying rather than dangerous - the small flies don't carry diseases but will bite you leaving an itchy spot for a few days. The rain is what makes the landscape so lush and green, so try to be philosophical about it!

It is best to plan your stops in advance, as there are limited places to sleep in some locations, and it would be best to book accommodation a month or two in advance.

Roads and Bridges

Most arterial roads in Scotland are bidirectional. However, many country roads remain to be narrow, single-track roads. It is highly advisable that people not used to driving on single-track roads do not learn to do so on dangerous roads in busy tourist hotspots. Single-track roads have many "passing-places" where you can wait for oncoming traffic to pass, or they can wait for you to pass. Be considerate to other drivers, and decide whether it will be easier for you to move into a passing-place or for them to do so.

Many of the bridges on the A82 around Rannoch Moor are narrow. The road is mostly 7 metres wide but the bridges tend to be a fraction of this. Many drivers lose wing-mirrors from minor collisions of the wing-mirrors of adjacent cars. Therefore, when crossing the bridges don't move too far into the middle or you will lose your expensive wing-mirror.

The A82 becomes quite frightening between Tarbet and Ardlui, so be cautious and be comforted that this is one of the worst parts of the journey - you won't encounter anything as bad as this again as long as you stay on the main road.

Hillwalking

When walking in the Highlands, be vigilant as there are many bogs and marshes which you may accidentally step in and get stuck in. Wear wellies and preferably carry a hiking pole. Don't stray from the road too far, and never stray from the main path unless there is a bog in your way.

Get in

By car

From England, take the M6, then the A74(M) and M74 (from Birmingham) or the A1/A1(M), then the M8 and A8 (from London) to get into the Glasgow.

By plane

There are airports throughout Scotland, and Glasgow Airport 📍 (IATA: GLA) has regular international flights. However, nearby Edinburgh Airport 📍 (IATA: EDI) is the busiest in Scotland, again with regular international flights.

There are also other airports in Scotland, with services from international destinations or England:

Aberdeen Airport (IATA: ABZ), 57.201944°, -2.197778°.
Glasgow Prestwick Airport (IATA: PIK), 55.509444°, -4.594444°. mainly serving Spain and Italy.
Inverness Airport (IATA: INV), 57.5425°, -4.0475°.

By train

Wikivoyage has a guide to Rail travel in Great Britain The East Coast Mainline comes from London King's Cross to Edinburgh Waverley 📍, with trains running throughout the day. Getting from Edinburgh to Glasgow is easy, as there are many trains running regularly. There are also trains which run from London Euston to Glasgow Central 📍.

Drive

From Glasgow 📍 head north-west up the A82 towards Fort William, along the side of Loch Lomond 📍. At the visitor centre at Balloch 📍 admire the view down the loch. Stop at Luss 📍, a small honeypot village with a pleasant pier you can walk out over.
At Tarbet, slow down and take the sharp right-hand turn to continue North on the A82. If you continue round with the current road, you will be on the A83. The road from here to Ardlui is extremely winding, narrow in places and often hangs out over the loch so be cautious.
At Inveruglas 📍, just after the hydro-electric pipelines, park up for more loch views.
Just beyond Crianlarich 📍, at Tyndrum 📍 stop and try your hand at gold panning. Tyndrum is an excellent place to stop off and get a coffee, something to eat and to go to the toilet.
After Bridge of Orchy 📍, the A82 heads out across Rannoch Moor 📍, one of western Europe's largest remaining wilderness. Barren, spectacular landscapes!
Just before Glencoe, you can take a left into Glen Etive - famous for its portrayal in many films and TV series. This road is single-track, so continue on past to Glencoe if you don't feel comfortable with single-track road.
The road descends into Glencoe 📍. Admire the waterfalls at the Meeting of Three Waters. Admire the stone bridges on General Wade's military road. And more than all of these, admire the skyline above - a line of mountains to the left, and to the right the snaky spine of the Aonach Eagach ridge. Finally, at the bottom of the glen, stop and look out across the loch at mist-covered islets.
From Fort William 📍 you can climb Ben Nevis 📍, the highest peak in the UK.
Take the Road to the Isles, the A830, to the Glenfinnan Monument 📍 - an atmospheric spot at sunset. Optionally carry on to Arisaig 📍 (interesting museum), view the White Sands of Morar 📍, or visit the port at Mallaig 📍, with options to continue on ferries to the islands, including the Small Isles 📍.
Backtrack to the A82 and take the A87 to Kyle of Lochalsh 📍. Cross the bridge to the Isle of Skye 📍 for a tour of the island.
Head north to Torridon 📍 and walk some of the fine mountain paths here.
Head north via Gairloch 📍 and Poolewe 📍, maybe stop off at Poolewe Gardens. This coast enjoys warms waters from the gulf stream, and on a sunny day the beaches seem tropical. Ullapool is a small pocket of civilisation in this wilderness.
Keeping on northwards along the coast there's a spectacular landscape of mountains rising from a rumpled blanket of ground - evocative names like Suilven and Stac Polly. See bananas growing in northern Scotland at the Hydroponicum at Achiltibuie 📍.
Return south and eastwards along the A835 toward the highland capital of Inverness. Perhaps stop in on the Victorian spa resort of Strathpeffer 📍 for a break to enjoy the architecture.
Muir of Ord 📍, on the Black Isle (so named for its peaty soil) offers excellent (and free) distillery tours.
In Inverness 📍, walk along the mighty river Ness, cross the pedestrian suspension bridges, stroll by the cathedral.
Drive east along the A96 to visit Moray. The sheltered waters of the Moray Firth 📍 offer dolphin spotting boat trips, or visit the Findhorn Foundation 📍 - an eco-community complete with houses built from recycled whisky barrels and a hobbit-hole meditation room built into the ground. At the market town of Elgin 📍 see the statue of the Wolf of Badenoch.
Head south along the route of the River Spey into the depths of Speyside 📍. Stop at Craigellachie 📍 for a drink in the hotel's whisky room, then on to Dufftown 📍 for a free tour of the Glenffidich Distillery or the Speyside Cooperage.
Continuing south the placenames read like labels in a whisky cabinet - Glenlivet 📍, Tomnavoulin 📍, Knockando 📍, Tomintoul 📍.
Down again from the hills and you're at Balmoral Castle 📍 near Braemar 📍. Take a castle tour. Or time your visit right and visit the Braemar Highland Gathering in early September.
Optionally, head down the Glen Muick road from Ballater 📍 and take a walk through the Balmoral Estate to the summit of Lochnagar 📍. (Remember Prince Charles' book "The Old Man of Lochnagar"?) Anyway, this is a fine Munro to climb - much more rewarding than nasty old Ben Nevis. An easy ascent via estate track and good path leads you to a dip in the C-shaped summit ridge, giving fine views across the Grampians.
Drive south through the Spittal of Glenshee 📍 pass, to Blairgowrie 📍.
Optionally detour to Glamis Castle 📍 (pronounced "Glaams"), childhood home of the Queen Mother and a great castle to tour. Returning back onto the A93 you pass the Meikleour Beech Hedge 📍, the tallest row of trees in Britain.
From Perth 📍 continue down the A9 to Stirling 📍 - turn off beforehand into Bridge of Allan 📍 and visit the Wallace Monument 📍, a grand memorial to William Wallace. (And learn how inaccurate Braveheart really was!)
Visit Edinburgh 📍, Scotland's capital. Take a walk up Calton Hill 📍 to view the city, see the Old Town 📍 around the Grassmarket 📍 (try the eerie pubs) and the New Town 📍 just to the north of Princes' Street 📍 - together a World Heritage Site, or walk up Arthur's Seat 📍 - an extinct volcano and now a public park.
Finally, an hour's drive back to Glasgow 📍, renowned as the second city of the British Empire, and use any spare time enjoying this city's architectural sights. See some Charles Rennie Mackintosh buildings - House For An Art Lover 📍, Glasgow School of Art 📍, or the Hill House 📍 at Helensburgh 📍 are a good starting place. For some Victorian splendour visit the free museum at the People's Palace 📍 at Glasgow Green 📍, or take in the free museums at Kelvingrove 📍.

Alternative tours

North Coast 500

Stay safe

Other than basic precautions like locking your car and not leaving items in view, the Scottish Highlands are safe and friendly.

Related: Driving in the UK