Wildlife-Spotting on the Isle of Mull from the Camper Van Conversion

Are you touring Scotland by automobile (or camper or bike)? Scotland’s cities are PACKED stuffed with character, however the countryside in between will seize your coronary heart. A street journey is, definitely, probably the greatest methods to find the lengthy stretches and hidden corners of bonnie Scotland’s beautiful surroundings and wealthy heritage.

Without additional ado, let’s discover the finest street journey in Scotland for you. This information is a round-up of essentially the most unimaginable circuits that the nation has to supply with journey ideas, suggestions and knowledge that can assist you plan and put together.

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RELATED: What is the Best Time to Visit Scotland?

Best Road Trip in Scotland

When touring Scotland by automobile (or camper or bike), your route will undoubtedly fluctuate in size and length; Scotland street journeys will be as brief or so long as you want or require. Visitors may spend per week or two experiencing a big space of the nation, or tip their toes in a area throughout a weekend getaway. Typical, and tough, estimates have been outlined all through this round-up so you’ll be able to simply examine every journey. Although, irrespective of how lengthy you determine to plan your Scotland street journey, you’re assured to have probably the greatest adventures!

North Coast 500

North Coast 500 Route on Map
Inverness – Wick – John o’Groats – Thurso – Durness – Lochinver – Ullapool – Gairloch – Applecross – Inverness

Start/Finish: Inverness
Most Convenient Airport: Inverness
Duration of Road Trip: 4-14 days (approx.)

Are you on the lookout for the Route 66 of Scotland? The North Coast 500 (NC500) is, definitely, essentially the most well-known and maybe, in that sense, thought-about to be one of the best street journey in Scotland.

The official North Coast 500 round route hyperlinks simply over 500 miles of awe-inspiring coastal views, powerful mountains, distant fishing villages, and consider it or not, quite a lot of white sandy seashores with some clear, turquoise-blue waters. This journey is signposted with pretty giant, brown vacationer street indicators across the Scottish Highlands.

NC500 Road Trip

Some of one of the best issues to see alongside the North Coast 500 embody Kylesku Bridge, puffins at Duncansby Head, Wailing Widow Falls and Whaligoe Steps.

Have a take a look at our Scottish Google Map Legend for all the finest suggestions on the contact of your fingertips! This must-have useful resource pinpoints crucial places, resembling park-ups, eating places and websites to see… All in your comfort!

Outer Hebrides

Outer Hebrides Road Trip Route on Map
Stornoway – Port of Ness – Callanish – Tarbert – Leverburgh – Berneray – Lochmaddy – Eriskay – Ardmhor – Vatersay– Castlebay

Start/Finish: Stornoway (Isle of Lewis) / Castlebay (Barra)
Most Convenient Airport: Inverness or Glasgow International
Duration of Road Trip: 1-2 weeks (approx.)

In photos, the seashores of the Outer Hebrides are akin to that of the Caribbean. In actuality, the world’s distant wilderness and harsh Hebridean winds generally is a fully totally different story altogether. Drive the Outer Hebrides for each; anticipating the latter and hoping for the unimaginable paradisiacal circumstances. I swear – it’s definitely worth the threat! For that purpose, this street journey is for the adventurous.

The Outer Hebrides are also known as the Western Isles. The bigger inhabited islands are the Isle of Lewis (and Harris), the ‘Uists’ (North Uist, Benbecula and South Uist) and Barra. The ‘Uists’ are related by stretches of street causeways. Some of the smaller islands embody Vatersay, Berneray, Scalpay, Eriskay, St Kilda and the Shiants. With this in thoughts, the Outer Hebrides will probably be your final island-hopping street journey, one in all which provides seashores aplenty!

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READ: Where in Scotland are the Highland Cows?

Isle of Skye (and Raasay)

Isle of Skye Road Trip Route on Map
Fort William – Glenfinnan – Mallaig – Armadale – Portree – Trotternish – Uig – Dunvegan – Broadford – Kyle of Lochalsh – Fort William

Start/Finish: Fort William
Most Convenient Airport: Glasgow International
Duration of Road Trip: 4-7 days (approx.)
Best Paired: North Coast 500

Beginning at Britain’s tallest mountain and operating parallel with the tracks of our well-known Hogwarts Express, the Road to the Isles is a really scenic route from Fort William to Mallaig, previous the Glenfinnan Viaduct. This Scotland street journey isn’t fairly a hidden gem as too many drivers whizz previous the sweetness so as to catch their ferry, however it’s nonetheless worthy of point out for individuals who are prepared to take the street gradual to admire the scenic environment.

Situated on the northwest coast, Mallaig is the ultimate name alongside the well-known Road to the Isles. It’s a captivating place which might rapidly flip between quiet and hustle and bustle because the place welcomes wandering vacationers, busy fishermen, backpackers and van-lifers. Park your car in Mallaig to discover among the most distant islands and peninsulas of Scotland; Rum, Canna, Eigg, Muck and Knoydart. Fancy a pint? Knoydart is dwelling to essentially the most distant pub on the mainland of Britain!

Catch the Caledonian Macbrayne automobile ferry from Mallaig to reach on the Isle of Skye at Armadale. The Isle of Skye is a must-see for any customer looking for to expertise among the finest landscapes that the nation, and planet, have to supply. With this in thoughts, it mightn’t come as a shock to be taught that the island has rapidly change into some of the common vacationer locations in Scotland, leading to an evergrowing challenge of overcrowding. To treatment the state of affairs, think about travelling to the island within the low season between August and April.

A counter-clockwise driving route loops the island from Skye’s largest city, Portree, between the Trotternish and Duirinish Peninsulas. Major sights alongside the best way embody the Fairy Glen, Mealt Falls, Quiraing, Fairy Pools and, in fact, the mighty Old Man of Storr.

Raasay is a a lot lesser-known and smaller island tucked away by the shoreline of Skye. The straightforward 25-minute ferry journey to the Isle of Raasay ensures that there isn’t an excuse to not embody the island in your street journey, although it’s an unusual detour for many.

As you drive throughout Skye Bridge again onto the mainland, you’ll cross some of the photographed castles in Scotland earlier than returning to Fort William. Eilean Donan Castle has been featured in lots of films resembling James Bond, so it’s a beneficial stopover location for a lot of.

Isle of Mull & Ardnamurchan

Isle of Mull and Ardnamurchan Road Trip Route on Map
Oban – Craignure – Fionnphort – Dhiseig –  Calgary – Tobermory – Kilchoan – Sanna – Salen – Corran

Start/Finish: Oban
Most Convenient Airport: Glasgow International
Duration of Road Trip: 4-7 days (approx.)
Best Paired: Isle of Skye (and Raasay)

The common CBeebies kids’s programme, Balamory, initially introduced the colored homes of Tobermory to the limelight.

In more moderen years, the Isle of Mull has been featured on BBC’s Springwatch and Coast. I’d personally rank the Isle of Mull to be one of the best street journey in Scotland for wildlife recognizing, particularly in the event you’d wish to witness an otter, whale or eagle of their pure habitat.

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This spectacular island can simply be accessed through three common Caledonian MacBrayne ferry routes (from Oban, Kilchoan or Lochaline), however this particular street journey begins in Oban because it’s the largest harbour city which is the closest to Glasgow. From the Isle of Mull, guests can island hop to Iona and Staffa, each of that are among the finest locations to go to in Scotland!

If you’re brief on time, you might return to the mainland the identical means you entered. However, I personally advocate that you just proceed the journey to Ardnamurchan.

Ardnamurchan is a 50-square-mile peninsula within the Lochaber space of the West Coast of Scotland. In truth, Ardnamurchan is that far west it’s dwelling to essentially the most westerly level on mainland Britain! With the one entry being by ferry or alongside a 30-mile winding single-track street, the minimally populated space is thought to be one in all Scotland’s most distant and rugged landscapes.

On the map, Ardnamurchan seems to be moderately shut, however a visit alongside the slender and winding roads could take you longer than you would possibly suppose. Nevertheless, this can be a scenic drive… One during which is totally definitely worth the journey time!

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North East 250

North East 250 Route on Map
Aberdeen – Peterhead – Fraserburgh – Portsoy – Spey Bay – Glenlivet – Braemar – Aberdeen

Start/Finish: Aberdeen or Aviemore
Most Convenient Airport: Aberdeen
Duration of Road Trip: 4-5 days (approx.)
Best Paired: Heart 200

Much just like the North Coast 500, the North East 250 is a round route that winds between varied areas, together with, Speyside, the Cairngorms, Royal Deeside, Aberdeen, the East Coast and the Moray Coast. Whilst the NE250 isn’t almost as common as its greater and older sibling (NC500), the route could also be higher suited to guests who’ve much less time, as there isn’t as a lot driving.

Are you a whisky fanatic? Running parallel with the Malt Whisky path, the North East 250 provides many alternatives to expertise world-famous distilleries. Similarly, you might additionally end up teeing off from world-renowned golf programs, following trails to search out the Scottish pyramid or admiring many bonnie castles and historic properties, resembling Balmoral and Braemar.

Don’t neglect to feast on the native and freshly caught seafood too!

South West Coastal 300

South West Coastal Route on Map
Prestwick – Ballantrae – Cairngaan – Isle of Whitehorn – Kirkudbright – Dumfries – Lockerbie – Moffat – Dalmellington – Prestwick

Start/Finish: Dumfries or Prestwick
Most Convenient Airport: Glasgow Prestwick
Duration of Road Trip: 2-7 days (approx.)
Best Paired: Heart 200

The South West Coastal 300 is an official route that’s marketed and promoted by the Scottish tourism board. This is one of the best street journey in Scotland if you’re brief on time because the journey doesn’t journey too distant from the 2 worldwide airports close to Glasgow.

The SW300 is a superb escape from the massive cities – particularly Glasgow! As the title describes, the SW300 is 300 miles lengthy. It’s a round route round a quiet nook of Scotland, between beautiful coastlines, woodland forests, rolling hills and atmospheric moorlands. The route passes via small bustling cities resembling Moffat, Lockerbie, Ayr and Dalbeattie.

Heart 200

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Stirling – Killin – Blair Athol – Pitlochry – Perth – Kinross – Crief – Stirling

Start/Finish: Stirling
Most Convenient Airport: Edinburgh
Duration of Road Trip: 4-7 days (approx.)
Best Paired: South West Coastal 300

This 200-mile-long round route is the brand new child on the Scottish street journey block! Divided into six sections, the Heart 200 provides a style of the Highlands to the north, rivers to the east, some forests to the west and the historic south, with some cities to sightsee in between.

The common movie set, Doune Castle, is a spotlight of the Heart 200, while others embody Killin, Loch Tummel, Killiecrankie, Scone Palace and Blair Drummond Safari Park (for the youngsters!).

Guided & Group Tours of the Best Road Trips in Scotland

Are you wincing on the considered your individual impartial journey? You needn’t fear as there are many non-public or group excursions that showcase one of the best street journey in Scotland for you. Which one you select, will depend on your departure metropolis.

      Tours from
      Edinburgh

      • An introductory tour of the Scottish Highlands
      • 3-day group journey to the Isle of Skye
      • 14-day island hopping journey
        See More

            Tours from
            Glasgow

            • A fast tour of the Scottish Highlands
            • 3-day journey to Skye and Eilean Donan Castle
            • 5-day tour of the Highlands and Skye
            See More

              Tours from
              Inverness

              • Half-day tour of the well-known Loch Ness
              • 1-day group tour of NC500’s southwest
              • 2-day tour of the Isle of Skye and Eilean Donan
              See More

                Frequently Asked Questions

                What is essentially the most scenic drive in Scotland?

                The finest street journey in Scotland for the best number of surroundings might be the all-famous North Coast 500. Personally talking, I’d say essentially the most scenic drive in Scotland is on this route, heading southbound alongside the A894 from Rhiconich to Ullapool. However, the Isle of Skye provides a dramatic array of intensely rugged landscapes and the Outer Hebrides is dwelling to a lot of the finest seashores in Scotland.

                NC500 Road Trip (Tongue Causeway)

                What is the simplest strategy to get to Scotland?

                Scotland has six essential worldwide airports; Edinburgh, Glasgow International, Glasgow Prestwick, Aberdeen, Inverness and Dundee. If you’re travelling from England, or between both of the most important cities, ebook your transport via Trainline.

                You can rent a automobile at any of the worldwide airports to drive alongside your chosen finest street journey in Scotland inside a matter of hours! Visitors ought to ebook their rental automobile upfront to keep away from disappointment. This will be organised via a comparability web site resembling Rentalcars.com; they’ll show one of the best offers amongst all the accessible automobile rent firms.

                How many days do you want for a street journey to Scotland?

                When planning a Scotland street journey, guests ought to schedule additional time to permit for some days to be much less productive than others because of the harsh climate circumstances they may expertise. It is really useful that you just enable for at the least one week in Scotland to catch the highlights, however two weeks will definitely be sufficient time to finish a couple of street journey throughout varied areas.

                ALSO: Best Places to Visit in Scotland (Written by a Local)

                SCOTLAND ROAD TRIP RESOURCES

                Best Accommodation:
                Booking.com

                Recommended Car Rental:
                Rentalcars.com


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                @katie.maree

                Scottish Highlands Google Map Legend

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