Fabulous lakes and gloomy medieval ruins, romantic castles and picturesque landscapes, wonders of technology, and the monster of Loch Ness, which the locals sincerely believe in. How do so many contrasts fit in such a small Scotland? Contrary to expectations, it all looks harmonious, and you can be sure of this if you hire a car and go on a road trip.
Indeed, Scotland is full of winding roads with simply divine scenery. Wide and straight highways, sharp curves with steep slopes, narrow single-lane routes with blind turns – here everyone will find the perfect road trip idea. If you’re looking to take a road trip to Scotland, check out five great itineraries and their major highlights.Â
Edinburgh to Loch Lomond
Distance: 77.4 miles
Recommended travel time: 2-4 hours
The Scottish capital is the best place to start your road trip. Upon arrival, pick up a car hire Edinburgh Airport and hit the road. You can choose from two routes – the first one goes through Glasgow and the second allows you to visit Stirling along the way. If you love sea views, choose the second option.
When leaving Edinburgh, take the A90 motorway which then turns into the M9. On the way, you can stop by Linlithgow Palace and find plenty of viewpoints overlooking the coast. When approaching Loch Lomond, nature becomes more intense and wild. Its coastline is about 100 miles long. Of course, not everywhere there’s a road, but most of the coast allows you to admire the picturesque views.
The freshwater body of water is surrounded by hundreds of hills and ancient castles. What’s more, more than 30 islets of Loch Lomond complete the wonderful scenic view. As a result, the whole landscape looks like it came off the cover of a Victorian novel.
North Coast 500
Distance: 516 miles
Recommended travel time: 2-3 days
This route stretches across the vast Scottish Highlands for 500+ miles round trip from the city of Inverness. Driving through the wild, you first come to Loch Ness, which is definitely worth seeing, whether you believe in the Loch Ness Monster or not. Then head west to Kyle – it will take a couple of hours. From here you can reach the Isle of Skye via a land bridge. This part of the Hebrides is not part of the itinerary, but you should definitely stop by this region. The impressive Cuillin Mountains hide behind mist-shrouded castles and expanses of countryside.
Then, take the North Coast 500 back to the mainland and continue north through Ullapool. This is one of the most beautiful villages in the UK with a port of snow-white fishermen’s cottages and the harbor of Loch Broom. After rounding the northwest coast, stop for the night at Thurso. The next day, you can continue your journey all the way to Inverness.
Tarbet to Oban
Distance: 57 miles
Recommended travel time: 3-5 hours
The biggest problem with traveling the West Coast of Scotland is knowing which road to take. Once finding one route, you will immediately abandon other traditional roads. A similar dilemma arises for riders who come to Tarbet on the A82 along Loch Lomond, north of Glasgow.
On the A82, turn right and you will find yourself on a winding coastline heading to Crianlarich and then onto the impressive road to Glencoe. However, if you turn left onto the A83, you will have a completely different ride on small mountain roads. Instead of icy grandeur, you will see lush greenery stretching along the lakes.
The ride is a real delight as the track winds through small towns and villages, skirting Loch Long, ascending Glen Cro, then descending Glen Kingglas, and winding around Loch Fyne again. The A83 then meanders along the west bank of Loch Fyne south to Lochgilphead where it intersects the A816 towards Oban.
Balloch to Inverness
Distance: 171 miles
Recommended travel time: 4-5 hours
Two highways lead to Inverness. A9 is the main one for freight traffic, while A82 offers a nice route for travellers. It starts north of Glasgow and resembles a traditional suburb for the first few miles. But then, as the road passes along the western shore of Loch Lomond towards Tarbet, trees and hills appear around. There is something especially exciting about the sudden change of landscape from the bustle of the city to the big sky, trees, rocks, and water, shrouded in mist.
As the A82 turns to the right of Tarbet, it narrows into a terrifying chain of curves winding under the trees along the lake, and then shoots into the sky again, approaching Crianlarich. Coniferous thickets are replaced by deciduous forests near Mount Ben Mor, with the browns and purples of nature blending together.
Crocketford to Newton Stewart
Distance: 39 miles
Recommended travel time: 1-2 hours
Dumfries and Galloway is an unfairly overlooked Scottish gem. Stretching from the far end of Moffat in the east across the M74, the county is no different in landscape. The centre of the region is dominated by Galloway National Park, with forests, heather fields, and lakes. The A712 highway passes through its centre.
On this road, everyone will find something unique in the style of the Scottish outback. Outside Dumfries, the highway splits from the A75 and the first 4 miles is an unremarkable road through farmland and dry stone walls. However, after Brooklands, the first rocky slopes appear, and the road begins to bend strongly until New Galloway, where coniferous forests and mountain slopes replace houses and farms. It feels like you have crossed a border and entered another world: the road is getting wider and taking on a dramatic vibe. After returning from the deceitful forest road to the A712, the last spurt to Newton Stewart is ahead.
Summing it up, Scotland is full of beautiful roads. You can choose one of our road trip ideas, or create your own unique route. The choice is yours!
