Scotland’s most epic road trips

3. Go island-hopping on the west coast

With spectacular white sandy beaches, soaring mountains and cute seaside towns it’s no wonder that Scotland’s islands are the first place many people think of when planning a trip to Scotland.

Thinking about island hopping in Scotland? Grab a ferry hopping ticket from CalMac (hopscotch ticket HOP7) and sail from Skye to Mallaig, Kilchoan to Tobermory, and Craignure to Oban.

First visit the Isle of Skye where you will see the Black Cullin, the Fairy Pools, Fairy Glen, Kilt Rock, the Old Man of Storr, The Quiraing, Neist Point Lighthouse and Loch Coruisk – phew! Then ferry hop from Skye to the Isle of Mull via the beautiful but remote Ardnamurchan to visit Tobermory and Calgary Bay.

From Mull, catch the ferry from Craignure to Oban where there are seafood restaurants aplenty and the Oban Distillery. To walk it all off climb up to McCaig’s Tower for a fab view of the Isles.

4. Drive the Moray Firth coastal road

The Moray Firth is Scotland’s largest firth (sea inlet in Scots) stretching all the way from John O’Groats on the very north coast of Scotland to Peterhead in the east.

Much of the Moray Firth coastline has long been part of the North Coast 500, but the southern edge of the firth has been much more untouched by tourism.

Now part of a new initiative, the North East 250, whether you want to go dolphin spotting, sailing, or walking the Coastal Trail, exploring the Moray coast is about to become top of your Scotland list.  

At first, the coastline might seem a little tame to the fjord-like dramatics of the west coast, but with picturesque harbour villages, waves crashing over towering sea cliffs, huge swathes of beach, incredible changing light and not forgetting a famous soup!

5. See sunny Scotland on the Angus Coastal Route

Scotland’s northeast coast is as beautiful, wild, and as rugged as the west, but is often forgotten by visitors rushing past on the A90 heading north. Instead take the Angus Coastal Route (the A92), one of Scotland’s most scenic roads, passing along the Angus, Kincardine and Aberdeenshire coast between the cities of Aberdeen and Dundee.

You can road trip the whole route 58 miles in a day, taking in castles, seaside towns and ports, and beautiful beaches.

On the way visit Dundee, Scotland’s sunniest city and visit the stunning new Victoria and Albert Museum, buy smokies (a haddock delicacy) in Arbroath, stroll along Lunan Bay, one of Scotland’s best beaches, and marvel at Dunnottar Castle perched on 200ft high sea cliffs and accessed from a tiny strip of land it is dramatic, foreboding and breathtaking.

6. Find Scotland’s most beautiful glens

In a country the size of Scotland, it’s surprising that there are still parts of the country so remote that few people visit them. But road trip to the Inverness-shire glens of Glen Affric and Glen Strathfarrar in Strathglass, just 20 minutes south of Inverness, an ancient and undisturbed Scotland is revealed.  

The first part of this road trip begs for you to dump the car and walk the 11-mile circular path around Loch Affric – one of Scotland’s most awe-inspiring walks. 

To the north of Glen Affric by the village of Struy is Glen Strathfarrar. Unlike Glen Affric, the road into Glen Strathfarrar is private – ensuring that the glen remains remote and quiet.

You can walk and cycle in Glen Strathfarrar all year round, but to drive in the glen you need a Glen Strathfarrar access permit – and only 25 cars are allowed in a day.

7. Drive the iconic North Coast 500

Scotland’s most famous road trip takes in 500 miles around the north coast of Scotland taking in some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. From Inverness to Dunnet Head, Durness to Applecross, the North Coast 500 is a road-tripping route which takes you around the far north of Scotland.

With beautiful coastal scenery, gorgeous turquoise blue seas, dramatic driving roads, castles, and distilleries the route takes you through Inverness-Shire, the Black Isle, Easter Ross, Caithness, Sutherland, Assynt, and Wester Ross – with lots of optional detours along the way.

Drive the NC500 on this 7 day North Coast 500 itinerary

8. Go on a road trip adventure in the Outer Hebrides

A visit to the Outer Hebrides is an otherworldly dip into Scotland’s remote edge of the world island culture. However, the Western Isles are more than Harris Gin, the home of the Gaelic language, the famous Callanish standing stones, Norseman tales and world-famous beaches and turquoise seas.

Drive this 130-mile long island chain 24 miles off the northwest coast of Scotland and for an incredible outdoor adventure.

Sail to Lewis and Harris from Ullapool – explore Harris’s mountains by mountain bike and wild camp under the stars before ferry hopping south to go horse riding on stunning beaches on South Uist and kayaking around a castle and swimming with seals Barra before returning by ferry to the Isle of Skye.

It’s an island-hopping road trip you will never forget…

10. Drive your cruiser along the Caledonian Canal

Ok, so you might not sail the Caledonian Canal by car – but stretching the length of Scotland’s spectacular Great Glen, the 62 mile Caledonian Canal is still one of Scotland’s best driving routes.

Pick up a motor cruiser and sail coast to coast across Scotland from Fort William beneath the mighty Ben Nevis, through the maelstrom of the Fort Augustus Locks, across the huge expanse of Loch Ness past Urquhart Castle, to Drumnadrochit all the up to Inverness, taking in some of Scotland’s most special scenery along the way. 

Grab your crew and choose a skipper and discover a rather special (and fun!) way to spend a holiday.

11. Discover South Scotland

From the Lothians to the beautiful Scottish Borders, through lovely Dumfries and Galloway to the wilds of Lanarkshire and islands of Ayrshire, South Scotland makes for one epic 500 mile road trip.

Starting from Edinburgh, head out along the coast road to lovely East Lothian – head to some of the best beaches in Scotland, before discovering lobster and ice cream at North Berwick, and ancient castles along 40 miles of coastline.

Next stop is the beautiful Scottish Borders which stretch from from Berwickshire in the east to the Pentland Hills in the west, and bounded by the English border in the south and the capital of Scotland in the north. With beautiful historic towns, ancient abbeys, castles and tower houses, rolling peaks and a stunning coastline, the Scottish Borders are the perfect introduction to Scotland.

Third on your road trip is Dumfries and Galloway and from the Solway Firth to Scotland’s most southerly point, and the dramatic mountains of the Southern Uplands – are a true hidden gem. 

Finally explore the birthplace of Rabbie Burns and the Southern Uplands of Scotland which give views over the Galloway Forest Park all the way to the Solway Firth.

12. Explore whisky country on the North East 250

Take a drive around Scotland’s north east coast, from the heart of the Cairngorms, through Royal Deeside, to the Aberdeenshire coast line, the Moray Firth and Speyside.

The North East 250 is a road trip which takes you on a journey around the north east of Scotland – discovering the fantastic city of Aberdeen, cliffside castles and literary villains, gorgeous fishing villages, heavenly whisky, and the dramatic Cairngorms National Park– it is a road trip with something for everyone. 

Let’s discover the north east of Scotland on one of the best Scotland road trips!

Need more road trip in Scotland ideas?

Check out my video with BBC Scotland! Let’s road trip!

You might also like:

• 10 of the best roads to drive in Scotland
• How to plan your road trip in Scotland

Love from Scotland x