Thinking of planning a Scotland road trip? Me too! It’s my favourite way to travel. I love the variety, I get to see everything and road-trippin’ soothes a serious case of itchy feet. If you are planning your itinerary for your road trip in Scotland, here is how to do it.
1. Decide where to road trip around Scotland
So where in Scotland are you going to go?
The most popular road trip in Scotland is the North Coast 500, which takes you on an epic journey around the far north coast of Scotland.
Starting in the Highland capital, Inverness, the North Coast 500 will take you to the very top of the UK, spotting dolphins and visiting amazing castles along the way.
You will then drive right along the far north coast of Scotland – before driving otherworldly landscapes of Lochinver and Assynt and drive along a coastline pepper-potted with incredible white sand beaches with turquoise blue seas to Wester Ross.
Finally, you will drive through the huge Torridon mountains, past fiord-like lochs to the beautiful Applecross Peninsula where you end your trip driving the famous Bealach na Bà. Plan your trip around the North Coast 500 with this 7 day North Coast 500 itinerary.
However, if you don’t have time to do the full 500 miles, why not choose one of my other Scotland road trip itineraries:
2. Plot your Scotland road trip
Want to plan your own road trip? Have a list of places you want to visit? Here is how I plan my road trips around Scotland.
My first step is to work out my road trip area – Visit Scotland has a handy travel map of Scotland, click on the ‘region’ tab.
I then start plotting & planning my road trip. To do this I use an online map. My favourite is Google Maps*. The benefits? It’s free and is integrated with GPS so you can use it offline and whilst you are actually road tripping.
I start by adding the main places I want to visit on a new google map:
- Log in to Google Maps and click on the menu on the left-hand side.
- Click on ‘your places’ and then ‘maps’ and then ‘create map’. A new map will pop up.
- Search for your first destination. Try ‘Eilean Donan Castle‘.
- A pop-up box will appear above the pin. Click ‘add to map’. Your destinations will appear as pins on the map.
- Save your map as ‘Scotland Road Trip’ – and you will now have a rough idea of your road trip area!
3. Find the best places to visit on your Scotland road trip
Once I have my Scotland road trip area, I work out where I want to stop – be it a great little town like Plockton for a wander, a fabulous view of a loch, or a great place for a seafood lunch. I save all the options on my Scotland Road Trip on Google Maps by using the ‘stars’ function.
- Open up Google Maps, either online or on the app.
- Search for the place and a box will appear (online – left, the app – below) and a pin will also appear on the map.
- Click on ‘save’ or the ‘star’ in the box and a star will appear on your map.
- Your destination is now saved. Simple!
All your stars should now be giving you an idea of your road trip! Another benefit is that all the stars will appear in the app when you are travelling around.
4. Choose your stopping points for the night
Here is how to find where to stay in Scotland:
Check out my map of my favourite places to stay in Scotland, from B&Bs to cottages and glamping, to fancy hotels.
If you fancy the freedom of the road (and bringing your bed with you) why not consider campervan hire in Scotland and stay at one of my favourite campsites in Scotland.
Or why not use one of my where to stay in Scotland guides:
- Luxury and boutique hotels in Scotland
- Dog friendly accommodation in Scotland
- Cabins and Lodges
- Self catering cottages in Scotland
- Romantic places to stay
I also use Booking.com’s map search* to find accommodation in my road trip area and Airbnb is also useful as a search tool to find areas to stay.
Before booking anything follow my road trip accommodation tips:
- Be ready to change your road trip direction based on what accommodation is available.
- Try to stay for at least two nights at each place (unless it’s a really special hotel or a treat) after all that driving you will need lie-ins! Two nights also gives you a full day to explore the area and have time for a relaxed meal without having to drive the next day.
- If you can, book early on a website with free cancellation policies such as booking.com*. Especially if it is a popular place. You can always cancel if your route changes.
- Don’t forget to check for music, arts and other festivals taking place on your dates. This will help you discover if prices might be higher or if there will be low accommodation availability. You might also want to plan your route so you can go! Have a look at Visit Scotland’s Events page.
- I also search for foodie destinations such as for ‘seafood in Scotland‘ ‘craft beer’, ‘burgers’, ‘best restaurant in Applecross’ (or whatever you are into!) as I like to stay in the heart of the action. You don’t want to be driving to for a meal when you arrive at your road trip stop.
- Have a look at my where to stay in Scotland section – there might be a perfect hotel, cottage or campsite for your trip!
5. Plan your Scotland road trip route
I plan my road trip route using Google Maps route mapping tool.
- Open up Google Maps, either online or on the app.
- Below the search box is an ‘add directions’ option. Click it and a new box will appear on the left-hand side with the option to add new places.
- Using this box add each place as A, B, C etc. A route map will appear. Magic!
- Keep adding destinations until your route is complete.
- To see timings, click on the 3 dots on the right of the box and click ‘step by step directions’.
Here is one Scotland road trip I prepared earlier, just to give you a road trip planning example.
*Disclaimer, there are other route planning apps out there, you may have another favourite, let me know!
Your road trip planning should now be now complete, so here are some tips for your journey!
Road tripping Scotland tips!
- Know the speed limits, road signs and general driving advice – in Scotland, understand how to drive on a single track road!
- I recommend that your stops are no more than 1-1.5 hours apart unless much of the journey is on a motorway or you know the rules of the road. 2 hours on mountain roads will exhaust even the most patient of drivers. If you are island hopping in Scotland, remember to add in the journey time for ferries!
- You don’t need a satnav – you can use your mobile phone. On a smartphone, GPS works without using data. Plot your route with Wifi before you leave the hotel and you can follow it. Note, as the driver you can be fined for using your phone as a Sat Nav – so this is only an option if you have a passenger to direct you.
- Don’t drive hungry (or thirsty) as, like most people, it can get a bit nippy especially if you get lost. So use check-ins and outs to your advantage – enjoy your breakfast and always arrive somewhere strategically for lunch!
- If you want to go to a very popular attraction (say Eilean Donan Castle) think about staying nearby so you can get up and go first thing before the crowds arrive and you head off to your next stop.
- Always be honest with the driver about how long the drive will take, remember they will probably have no idea of where they are going!
Where to visit in Scotland on your road trip
Finally, remember road tripping isn’t all about the driving, so make sure you get out of the car too! Take a look at my guide to where to visit in Scotland for things to get up to or have a look at this guide to a week in Scotland.
Don’t forget to allow time to squeeze other activities, why not go whale watching or boating on Loch Ness? For walks along the way, why not check out my outdoor and walking guides.
My best tip for road tripping? Keep stopping, Scotland’s scenery is spectacular…
Want more? Check out my Scotland Road Trip Itineraries
Tried & tested – Places to stay in Scotland
More guides to help you plan your trip to Scotland
Love from, Scotland x
Kate Hopper
The blogger behind Love from ScotlandLove from Scotland is your guide to how to travel Scotland like a local. My name is Kate and on my site you will find everything you need to plan your perfect trip to Scotland – from destination guides to the best places to stay.
Phil Young
Thursday 12th of January 2023
What's the best time of year for a photographic trip?
Kate
Thursday 12th of January 2023
@Phil Young, hi Phil, what kind of photographer are you? Sunshine or moody? Landscape or urban? Will totally change the time of year!
Ursula Jung
Tuesday 10th of September 2019
We´ve been to Scotland 5 years ago and we knew we have to come back. On 9th July we started with the ferry from IJmuiden to Newcastle upon Thyne. From there we drove to Perth for the first stop. The following day we started the NC 500. It was really amazing and we never thought that we could see so much on the tour, besides all the fantastic castles and beaches. We were in Inverewe Gardens as well. Then we did the Bealach na Ba before going to the Isle of Skye for four days. Really not to describe how fantastic this was. We stayed in a B&B in Woodend near Portree. Then we visited Dornoch and Highland Titles Nature Reserve before getting to Loch Lomond for three days. Duck Bay was also a great place to stay at. At the end we stopped for one night in Morecombe before getting to our twin town Lichfield. All in all we had a twenty-days-trip. And it is really true that it was one of our best trips ever. We will come back! Definitely.
The best scenic drives in Scotland (and how to navigate them)
Sunday 7th of July 2019
[…] west coast is a roadtrippers dream, however, the best section – if you ask me – is not on the North Coast 500. Instead, […]
Lynne Hopkins
Friday 13th of July 2018
Fab advice. Thank you. Just started some research in anticipation of a road trip taking in the islands, his is a great start.
Anthony
Saturday 23rd of December 2017
This is great. We are planning on doing this. You can get a non stick shift car? Also can you do your route in 8 days? Or is it possible to cut length down?