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Scotland Road Trip: Practical Guide on How to Plan It

Updated: Jan 30



St. Andrews, Scotland

Scotland is a country filled with colorful nature and castles. Its spectacular landscapes are a true gem in Europe and give visitors a taste of wilderness and history rarely found on the continent.


Hopping on a plane to spend a weekend in Edinburgh is good for getting a first impression of Scotland, but a road trip is definitely a better chance to delve deeply into the country's traditions and soul.


Here in this guide, you'll find everything you need to get started with your road trip planning, with practical information about documents, car rentals, and a pre-departure checklist, alongside a few suggestions on how many days to spend in Scotland, where to stay and how to visit the islands.


In case you need more help, you can check the services below:

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In this article:


Road Trip in Scotland: A Complete Guide

 



INTRODUCTION AND BASIC INFORMATION


Scotland has one of the best combinations of natural wonders and historical sights I've ever seen in Europe. Its capital city Edinburgh is a true dream, adding to an already diverse offer with its Victorian vibes and medieval-ish atmosphere.


To truly enjoy and understand a country like Scotland, there is no better way than to go on a road trip across it! The country has a proud history, radicated traditions, iconic music and costumes, and some of the best landscapes on the continent. And you see all this changing from North to South and from East to West - something you can only notice if you travel through it all!


Anyway, planning a road trip is never easy, and when it comes to Scotland, there are a few things you may want to consider! Let's see a few, we'll dive into more details in each dedicated section:


  • In Scotland, you will drive on the left side. This may not be a huge deal for some of you, but for non-expert drivers accustomed to driving right, it may.

  • Scottish weather can be extremely sloppy and windy. Conditions may vary significantly throughout the day, and even change drastically in a matter of minutes. Wind is an ever-present companion, especially in the Isles and up North.

  • If you are a shy driver and the only one who can drive, consider your options carefully to avoid distressing situations. We'll talk about roads in Scotland later on in this guide, but generally speaking, there are almost no motorways but lots of one-lane roads, lots of them!

  • Be ready to drive a lot - popular attractions and main sights are seldomly too far from each other, but reaching them on Scottish roads may take you some time.

  • Scotland is very kid-friendly - attractions and museums are always equipped with amazing activities to keep your kids entertained, and they can visit grazing cattle and sheep in their natural environment or in human-made shelters! I've seen so many families traveling with their kids and there are several opportunities and good room for variety. The only downside is the weather: make sure your kids are not too sensitive to wind gusts and rain!

  • Scotland tries to keep things accessible - people with reduced mobility or other disabilities are likely to find attractions and accommodations equipped to welcome them! Of course, this is not always possible, especially in the case of historical ruins or specific natural areas.

  • Feel like you need help with your Scotland road trip? Let me craft a customized itinerary for you or create a list of curated recommendations according to your tastes, preferences, and travel party Check the Services page here



Scotland, Isle of Skye


WHAT YOU'LL NEED


If you are planning a road trip around Scotland, there are a couple of things you need to bring with you, especially if you come from outside UK and EU.


PASSPORT AND VISA: since its (Br-)exit from the EU and following some new regulations, virtually every foreigner needs a valid passport and at least an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to visit the UK. Some others require a Standard Visitor VISA. To check what's your specific case, you can visit this website.


DRIVER'S LICENSE: people from most countries can rent a car and drive it with the driver's license they obtained at home. This includes EU and US citizens. If you plan to bring your own vehicle (like a van or a camper), make sure it abides by UK's rules - you will most likely need proof of insurance and other similar documents. You can check your case here.


CREDIT CARD: if you wish to rent a car, it's better to have a credit card registered in your name. Nowadays, some companies accept debit or pre-paid cards and even cash, but most will only accept credit cards as collateral. This is especially valid in case you plan to rent SUVs or super cars.


K-WAYS AND WATERPROOF CLOTHES: a lesson you'll soon learn is that umbrellas are pointless in Scotland! Rain is often mixed with wind gusts that make it fall horizontally, so your best card is to wear k-ways and waterproof clothes to be able to explore, especially on the Isles and in Northern Scotland.


CASH: You can pay everything with your credit card but having some cash is definitely handy, especially when you stop for gas. ➜ If you visited the UK before 2022 and kept a few paper banknotes to use during your next trip, know that they are not accepted anymore as payment method! You can easily visit a local bank and get some new ones in minutes (but with some sum limitations).




RENTING A CAR IN SCOTLAND


Of course, for your road trip in Scotland you'll need a car! I've seen someone going around in their own vehicle - especially people coming from France, Germany, the Netherlands, or Denmark - but most people (us included) rented one.


Renting a car in Scotland is not difficult and it follows the general rules I've seen in other countries, but here is a Scotland-specific checklist for you:


  • Book your car from home. Don't wait until you are in Scotland, especially if you travel in summer. We pre-booked our car (with a scheduled pick-up time) and still had to wait 1+ hour at the airport! Also, if you book it from home, you can sometimes choose a model/type of car and we'll see why this may be important for you in Scotland.

  • Choose a car model that is suitable for Scotland. This is definitely not to be taken for granted! Roads in Scotland are narrow and often have only one lane (with several stops and goes per minute on certain popular routes), and you will sometimes have to drive on unpaved country streets. It really doesn't do to rent an SUV or a sedan. ➜ We used a HYUNDAI B i20 and it was perfect for our road trip - we were offered a larger one but we declined.

  • Prefer the airport as the pick-up and return location. Especially for the pick-up, it's way better to have your first minutes of driving left side near the airport than in the city center! Generally, it's more convenient and saves you some good time. ➜ If you pick up your car at Edinburgh Airport, make sure to arrive 30 minutes before the scheduled time - it's not immediately clear where you must go (there's a large dedicated area, so follow the signs carefully!) plus the desk may be a bit crowded.

  • You don't need a car in Edinburgh or Glasglow. Actually, the exact opposite: it can be a problem. Both cities have good public transportation services but very pricey parking fees. The best option would be to save your visit to Glasgow and Edinburgh for the beginning and end of your trip, so you can pick up and return your car accordingly.


  • Make sure the main driver is also the credit card's owner. This may sound obvious to those who are more accustomed to car rental, but not necessarily for beginners! The main driver (which must be explicitly stated) should be the one who officially pays for the rental!


  • Decide if you need a second driver. If you plan to share the effort of driving, then know that you are requested to state that when you rent a car, and to pay an additional sum for every driver you add! The second driver cannot be the owner of the payment method.


  • Consider adding an extra insurance besides the basic one normally offered. Consider adding it (for an extra price, of course) if you are a shy driver, if that's your first time driving left, and/or if you don't feel too comfortable driving on one-lane roads and with heavy rain/wind. We rarely opt for this service but decided to do it in Scotland!



Where to rent a car for a road trip in Scotland

There are a few platforms you can check to find a car for Scotland! My suggestion is to try a few combinations (unless you find the perfect one at your first shot), especially for summer trips. In peak season, prices tend to change more often and more cars may become available as people modify or cancel their reservations.


Here are a few good options for you:


Rentalcars: this is usually my go-to option and the one I used for Scotland. It's reliable, has a good offer, and a friendly and useful customer service.


Discovercars: another platform I occasionally used, slightly more complicated to connect with the customer service line but a good option if their offer is the most convenient.


Klook: can be pricier but is reliable. It offers several services that you can combine with your car, such as transfers, train tickets, insurance, and many more.



Scotland, Isle of Skye


DRIVING ON THE LEFT SIDE: FAQ


When deciding whether to plan a road trip in Scotland, the thought of having to drive on the left side might be distressing. I know people sometimes give up just because of this. I can totally relate and we ourselves discussed this for a while before eventually going for it!


In the end, it was far less stressful and complicated than we believed! Here is a list of common questions that summarizes my experience and what I've learned, including a few tips that I hope may help you:


  • Is any preparation needed to drive left? No, your driver's license - if valid in the UK - is enough to drive on the left side, even if you drive right at home. You also don't need to get any practical preparation at all, you can come as you are!

  • How long does it take for one to get used to driving left? Really a couple of tries! I suggest you opt for an airport pick-up so you'll start from more basic roads and avoid the specific traffic rules and general complications a big city has. Choose a close destination (or plan a coffee break) as a first stop, then plan multiple stops rather than a one-shot long drive for the first day driving left. Our first stop was some 15 minutes away from Edinburgh Airport and that worked well for us.

  • What's the most difficult part to get used to about driving left? Probably roundabouts and turns, because that's really when you should remember to look on the other side. Otherwise, you'll see that it's pretty easy to understand what to do, all will look pretty logical.

  • Pro tip: opt for an automatic car! That's a game-changer. Even if you normally use a manual car, going automatic in this case will avoid the unnecessary stress of having to shift gears and remember positions. Learning how to use an automatic car takes minutes while getting used to a differently-positioned gear stick may take more and add discomfort during the first driving sessions.

  • General tip: don't let the fear of driving left stop you! There's really no reason to worry, even if you are a shy driver. Follow these tips and give yourself a few hours/driving sessions to practice, then I ensure you'll be ready to enjoy your Scottish road trip!




ROADS AND PARKING IN SCOTLAND


Scottish roads are scenic and beautiful and after a while, you'll find yourself trying to capture them, even when rain and fog will make a mess of your video or photo! You simply won't want to forget the breathtaking landscapes you’ll see.


Road-tripping in Scotland really means enjoying the journey, not just the destinations: immense green fields, iconic Scottish cottages, sheep and cattle grazing, flowers, rivers, and of course, the wild and thunderous North Sea.


Naturally, while country roads are indeed beautifully dreamful, to be so they must also be narrow, sometimes unpaved, and full of turns...


Let's take a quick look at everything you need to know to prepare for your road trip:



Motorways in Scotland

Forget about motorways in Scotland. There is a big one, connecting Glasgow to Edinburgh, and that's pretty much all. Some others can be found in the South but motorways as we may intend them are extremely limited.


The heart of Scotland is dominated by its iconic Highlands and the infinite web of valleys and peaks does not leave space for motorways (luckily!). Same for the North - the geographical conditions simply don't allow for the construction of large roads.


Tip: You'll know you are approaching a major road from its name: M + a number. The one connecting Edinburgh to Glasgow is the M8. But again, except for this latter, expect to find mostly highways/state roads.

➜ There are no tolls for motorways in Scotland



Single-Track Roads and Passing Places

After a few days of road-tripping in Scotland, the "passing places" became a recurring joke for us. They are everywhere and at some point, they'll make your eyes roll.


The passing places are commonly found on single-track roads, which in Scotland are the absolute norm. These are spaces where to make a stop and let a driver coming from the other direction pass before going yourself.


Of course, lots of single-track roads with lots of passing places mean that driving a few miles may take you way more than expected - and that's the main issue of traveling around Scotland: it takes a lot to move from one place to another, even when they are less than 20-30 miles apart.


Also, several "passing places" roads are scarcely illuminated, and animal encounters are a thing. You must be very careful when driving on these roads - unfortunately, animal carcasses are a very common view early in the morning after a night of reckless drivers.


Generally speaking, be very careful when traveling on single-track roads, and make sure to start your journey back home before it gets completely dark. It's already quite tiring to drive on these roads, and if they go dark it may take you ages to reach your hotel.


Parking in Scotland

There are several types of parking options in Scotland. In small villages or outside the city center, you'll be able to park your car for free, while in bigger towns or cities like Edinburgh and Glasgow, you'll often have to pay a fee.


These are the two possible scenarios:


● Pay and Display: where you buy a ticket from a machine and display it in the car. This is most common - a white sign on the side of the street should come with all the instructions, hours, and limitations.


Pay and Display rarely accept cards, you can use coins or your phone to pay (after downloading an app).

Tickets: you take a ticket on entry and pay at a machine before leaving.



Scotland


PLANNING YOUR ROAD TRIP: DURATION AND WHERE TO STAY


Planning a road trip is always fun, but how to know how much time should one spend exploring a country to really get to know it? And where to spend a few nights to avoid driving way too much every day? Every place has its own answers, and here are mine for Scotland!



Road Trip in Scotland: How Many Days?

Scottish territory is not too extensive, and by looking at it on the map, you may think a few days would be enough to cover it all.


However, as we said already, Scottish roads (often one-laned and narrow) are as beautiful as challenging to drive onto and that means that you should expect long driving sessions for relatively short distances. Also, Scotland is rich in natural, historical and artistic wonders and according to how much you wish your visit to delve deep into local culture, exploring will take some time.


Personally, I was in Scotland for 13 days, of which 2 I spent in Edinburgh and 1 in Glasgow. The remaining ten I spent road-tripping, and that allowed me to visit parts of the South, much of the Highlands and the East, the Isle of Skye, and to have a taste of the breathtaking North.


Note that it was my second time in Edinburgh and the first time I've spent ten days there, so it seemed okay to only dedicate two days to it. Otherwise, I would have lingered more because the city is so much worth it.


Generally, I would suggest spending no less than one week on a road trip in Scotland, while I believe 15 to 20 full days would be good to make the most of it.



Road Trip in Scotland: Where to Stay?

Despite Scotland not being huge, having only one base is not feasible and even two are not enough. Again, Scottish roads and their layout often extend the driving time considerably.


These are my suggestions for the best bases for your road trip. Since you would be driving, you can easily find a place in the area around a big urban center or even in a small village if you don't wish to stay right in town:


  • SOUTH: Edinburgh (outskirts) or Stirling

  • EAST: St. Andrews or Aberdeen (in this case, prefer the surroundings)

  • NORTH: Inverness (plus consider a one-night stop up North)

  • HIGHLANDS: Inverness or Fort William

  • EAST: Fort William, Glasgow (outskirts) or Oban (good for visiting the Isles)


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PLANNING YOUR ROAD TRIP: VISITING THE ISLES


While the Highlands and the cathedral-filled South and East are unmissable destinations in your Scotland road trip, no Scottish journey would be fully complete without a taste of the country's isles' wilderness.


Skye, Iona, Mull, Islay, and Orkney are only a few of the many natural paradises populating the Scottish North Sea and you may want to see them all. But is this really feasible on a road trip? What do you need to plan? Let's start with some general recommendations:


  • Decide if you wish to focus more on the Isles or the Mainland. Visiting the isles requires time and cars are not always the best idea. Therefore, if your goal is to see as much of them as possible, a bit more strategic planning is what you need!

  • Don't over-plan. If you have, say, ten days for your road trip and wish to see Scotland's main attractions, it's unlikely that you'll manage to see more than one Isle. You can visit two if you travel for fifteen days.


  • Be ready for a wilder, windier weather. If saying that summers are cool in Scotland is an understatement, just consider that the Isles are all at the mercy of the North Sea and its cold winds. Bring warm and waterproof clothes, and get ready to hike in interesting conditions.


  • Bringing your car is not always possible. Make sure to double-check this when you plan.


  • Not all Isles can be seen properly in one day. The Isle of Skye, for example, definitely requires two or more, and you can consider spending one or two nights on it.



Now, let's say a few things about the main Isles:


ISLE OF SKYE: Skye is perhaps the most popular of all Scottish Isles and can get pretty crowded in summer. It's also the largest island and offers some of the most breathtaking hikes. Being so large, you can reach it by crossing the Isle Bridge or by ferry from Mallaig (you can bring your car) - be careful though, the bridge and Mallaig may seem close on the map, but they aren't. If you spend the night closer to Mallaig, then opt for the ferry. Skye requires 2-3 days of visiting.


ISLES OF IONA AND MULL: ah, the beautiful Iona! You may have heard it for its Abbey. It's an amazing place to be, but unfortunately not easy (nor convenient) to reach. Cars are not permitted on the island and there is no bridge connecting it to the Mainland. To reach Iona, you first need to reach Mull from Oban (by ferry). On Mull, you can drive your car and you'll need it to reach Fionnphort. From there, you can get a (car-free) ferry to Iona.

Iona would deserve much more than a few hours, but unfortunately, you'll have to abide by the strict ferry's rules. My suggestion is to avoid Iona (sigh) if you are on a tight schedule.

ISLE OF ISLAY: its name sounds like a pun, but the Isle of Islay is best known for the whiskey! Its soil makes it the perfect fit for this alcoholic drink, so if you're a fan, here is where to find some good distilleries. It also bursts with wildlife, so you can easily combine a tasting session with some invigorating hiking. Cars are permitted on the island, but getting there is not super fast. You can reach it from Oban (4 hours ferry) or from Kennacraig (circa 2 hours ferry). Considering the long distance, you should spend 2 days on Islay.


ORKNEY ARCHIPELAGO: Beyond the Scottish Mainland, at the heart of the Sea, are the solitary Orkney Islands, the perfect place to discover the ancestral, Neolithic past of the country. Cars are permitted on the archipelago, but reaching its isolated upper position takes time. You can take a ferry from Thurso (up North - 1h30 circa) or from Aberdeen, but in this latter case, it's a 6-hour ferry time. Definitely opt for these islands if you plan to focus on Northern Scotland or if you can stay around for some 3-4 days.



Ardvreck Castle Ruins, Scotland
Ardvreck Castle Ruins

BEST ACTIVITIES ON A ROAD TRIP IN SCOTLAND


One of the best parts of road trips is that you manage to do and see things that would be hardly accessible if relying on public transportation!


In a wildlife-dominated country like Scotland, there are tons of activities you can do while journeying around and that go beyond visiting the main attractions. Let's see some of the best:


  1. CASTLE HUNTING: Scotland is a land of lords and castles. Some among the most popular like Stirling or Eilean Donan are easily reachable even if you don't have a car. Some others, like the mighty ruins of Ardvreck Castle, definitely aren't - for these latter, a road trip is your best chance to see them.


  2. FARM TOURS: Scotland is also a land of grazing animals - you'll see thousands of them all around the country, feeding themselves up on green fields. Grazing animals such as cattle and sheep usually means humans are taking care of them, and thus the country bursts with farms that locally produce yummy and sustainable products. Especially if you travel with kids, a farm tour (or a farm stay) can be an alternative stop during your road trip.

    Check this Errichel Farm Tour or this Jedburgh Farm Tour for inspiration.

  3. DISTILLERY VISIT: whiskey and gin are the country's specials, as proudly reminded by Scottish people during the quintessential experience to discover them - the distillery tour. Good distilleries can be found in cities like Edinburgh and Glasgow, or you can easily book a day tour that includes transfers. However, if you travel by car, you can reach the best distillery at your own pace and time.

    Check Glenkinchie Distillery, Glengoyne Distillery, Cardhu Distillery, Cragganmore Distillery, and Caol Ila Distillery on Islay Isle if you like - do not forget to book your spots quite in advance, they sell out very fast!




 


Congratulations on reaching the end of this guide about road tripping in Scotland! Do you have questions? Let me know in the comments, contact me here, or check the services below:


NEED HELP PLANNING YOUR SCOTLAND ROAD TRIP?

Check these services:


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