Scotland, being a part of the United Kingdom, is a well-developed destination for road trips. The eye-catching sceneries, the beautiful attractions, including the raw villages and towns, are the reason for the same. The place also has a temperate and pleasant weather condition. The freedom of a road trip will let you explore the country’s beautiful sites on your favourable terms. This can either be a week-long trip or a three-day trip that can be planned. There are several road trips in Scotland that would introduce you to the real beauty of Scotland. Moreover, these breathtaking sites will let you take a myriad of memories with you that you can cherish forever.
10 Best Road Trips In Scotland
If you are new to road trips then, to make all the plans easier and smoothly provided here is the best Scotland road trip planner. So keep reading to untangle your driving tour of Scotland. Some places to drive to in Scotland are listed below:
1. Aberdeenshire Coastal Trail
Aberdeenshire Coastal Trail exploration can be started with a relaxing stroll through St Cyrus National Nature Reserve, followed by visiting the Maggie Law Maritime Museum, Gourdon. The two castles named Dunnottar Castle, which is perched high on a sea cliff, and the Slains Castle is worth a visit. Apart from this, exploring the beautiful coastal village of Stonehaven and Fraserburgh, home to Europe’s largest shellfish port is a must.
Total distance: 16 miles
Total drive time: 30 mins approx
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2. North Coast 500
North Coast 500 is one of the most famous road trips in Scotland. It covers magical places ranging from castles to cruises to evocative sceneries. The sites which should not be missed here, are Smoo Cave, Dunrobin Castle, Beinn Eighe Sandwood Bay and Duncansby sea stacks.
Total distance: 500 miles
Total drive time: 7.5 hours
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3. Argyll Coastal Route
This is a route that includes beautiful mountains and shorelines witnessing from Tarbet uptill Fort William. Local seafood, as well as sceneries are a significant attraction of Argyll Coastal Route. The places that are worth witnessing here are shores of Lake Lomond, Oyster Bar and Loch Fyne Restaurant, Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest mountain peak, boat trips for wildlife, and a prison built in the 19th-century.
Total distance: 129 miles
Total drive time: 2 hours 10 minutes
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4. Galloway Tourist Route
This route introduces you to the rich cultural background of the Southwest part of Scotland. The must-watch sites include 7 Stanes, which is crowned to be the biking paradise in the mountains, bird watching haven of Dumfries Museum, Galloway Kite Trail and Camera Obscura and concluding with the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum. The scenery witnessed during this road trip are a treat to the eyes.
Total distance: 92 miles
Total drive time: 1.5 hours
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5. Highland Tourist Route
This route is addictive and a mixture of many striking features, consisting of a variety of castles, eye-catching panoramic vistas and mystical forests with the addition of remote towns and a lot of jaw-dropping sceneries to witness. The places not to be missed are Gordon Highlanders Museum, Culloden Battlefield, and Cawdor Castle along with Scotland’s whiskey heritage at the Glenlivet Distillery.
Total distance: 116 miles
Total drive time: 3 hours approx
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6. Perthshire Tourist Route
This one is a shorter route and can be explored in a short period, apt for the ones looking for a quick trip. This route ranges from the Dunblane territory to Ballinluig and can give a taste of dramatic landscapes and exceptional sceneries to the ones travelling. Places to be covered Victorian spa at Crieff Hydro, Drummond Castle Gardens, The Famous Grouse Experience, and the Library of Innerpeffray.
Total distance: 43 miles
Total drive time: 30 minutes to 45 minutes
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7. Isle Of Skye
One of the core beauties of the road trips of Scotland is the Isle of Skye. There are two kinds of wonders that can be explored here that are scenic and historical. The scenic wonders include Fairy Pools, Quiraing, Cuillin Mountains, and the Old Man of Storr and the historic wonders include Talisker Distillery and Dunvegan Castle. The blend of both wonders can give a mindblowing experience as a whole.
Total distance:285 miles
Total drive time: 4 hours 90 mins approx
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8. Moray Firth Route
The route is an explosion of magnificently carved sights ranging from Inverness to Loch Fleet. The aura of art is beautifully displayed Inverness Museum and Art Gallery, which is followed by the Black Isle Brewery and the beautiful ribbon that is Rogie falls. There are iconic views of Easter Ross and Sutherland landscapes, Beauly Firth, Cromarty Firth and Dornoch Firth which are a part of this route.
Total distance: 105 miles
Total drive time: 2.5 hours approx
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9. Deeside Tourist Route
The Deeside route is truly an adventurous one. The adventure comes into play when one witnesses the Cairngorms National Park, home to five of Scotland’s six highest mountains. The beauty of architecture stops us at Scone Palace and the 13th-century Drum Castle. This short yet exciting route even lets us take a ride of the Royal Lochnagar Distillery, as well as Cambus O’May Cheese Co., where you can delve deeper into the art of cheese making.
Total distance: 108 miles
Total drive time: 2.5 hours – 3 hours approx
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10. Stirling To Inverness
This route is also known as Scotland’s Spine. This route is the epitome of scenic beauty and breathtaking landscapes and has a perfect spot for photography. The rich sites of this route include Auchterarder, Gleneagles, Dunblane, Dunkeld, Pitlochry, Blair Atholl, Perth and Aviemore. The roads of this route in itself showcase the true meaning of beauty.
Total distance: 95 miles
Total drive time: 1.5 hours approx
Further Read: Edinburgh Castle: Your Detailed Guide To Scale Historical Heights In Scotland!
Using time efficiently to explore places is the key. These are the trips you can go to explore some beautiful sites given under each category. Following the planner, you can save your time and make the most out of your trips without losing any time on unnecessary things. Therefore, the above given is the best Scotland road trip planner you can refer to, to have a fantastic overall experience. So, wait no more and be a part of these amazing road trips in Scotland.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Road Trips In Scotland
Where is the most beautiful place in Scotland?
Many sites are beautiful, but the top voted sites are as follows:
1. Dunnottar
2. Loch Ness
3. Ben Nevis
4. Cairngorms National Park
5. Glencoe
6. Isle of the sky
7. Edinburg
Where can one tour in Scotland by car or bus?
The tours that you can plan in Scotland by bus or car are:
1. Aberdeenshire Coastal Trail
2. North Coast 500
3. Argyll Coastal Route
4. Galloway Tourist Route
5. Highland Tourist Route
6. Perthshire Tourist Route
7. Isle of Skye
8. Deeside Tourist Route
9. Stirling To Inverness
10. Moray Firth Route
How far is Loch Ness from Edinburgh?
The distance between both places is 168 km, and the distance by road is 269.9 km.
How long does it take to tour Scotland?
The trip will take at least ten to twelve days to finish if you want to tour the whole place. The sightseeing of famous places would at least take 10-12 days minimum. Hence if wishing to tour the entire country of Scotland, you should come with ample time in your hands.
Is Inverness worth seeing?
Inverness is worth seeing if you are short on time skip Loch ness. The rich sites of this route include Dunblane, Auchterarder, Gleneagles, Perth, Dunkeld, Pitlochry, Blair Atholl, and Aviemore.
What is the rainiest month in Scotland?
The rainiest month of Scotland in September and the temperature experiences a slight decrease in this month. This is a busy time to visit Scotland as the significant games like Highland games take place this month in Scotland.
Is it safe to travel to Scotland?
Yes, it is safe to travel in Scotland but maintaining your safety is always a priority as dependency is never the key. Though the roads of Scotland offer a lot of safety, it is still necessary to maintain your safety while you are on the road.
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An Aerospace Engineer by profession and a freelance content writer by passion, Ankur has always had a zeal to write. He has been born and brought up in Allahabad, and strongly believes that the pen is mightier than the sword.
