Planning a vacation in Scotland?
A road trip is the absolute best way to see what the country has to offer.
The best driving roads take you to mountains, valleys, lochs, coasts, castles, abbeys…
Below is my selection of the 10 most scenic drives in Scotland with practical information, best stops and maps to help you plan your trip.
Before my tips + photos, here are my favorites for Scotland:
My favorite platform to rent a car in Scotland: DiscoverCars
The unmissable boat tour: Seal spotting on Loch Linnhe from Fort William
My favorite excursion from Edinburgh: Glenfinnan and Glencoe
My favorite places to stay:
- Edinburgh: see best rated hotels – e.g. Balmoral Hotel
- Glencoe: see best rated hotels – e.g. The Glencoe House Hotel
- Portree: see best rated hotels – e.g. The Cuillin Hills Hotel
- Inverness: see best rated hotels – e.g. Kingsmills Hotel
10 Most scenic drives in Scotland – Map & Overview
About the selection
To be honest, I think it is beautiful to drive almost everywhere in Scotland.
I am only bored when it is very foggy.
In this article, rather than listing the long touristic circuits created by VisitScotland, I have decided to focus on the most scenic portions of roads I have enjoyed.
The 10 best drives in Scotland – Map & List
- Glen Coe on A82
- The Road to the Isles – A830
- Road to Skye through Glen Shiel – A87
- Wester Ross coastal road – A832
- Trotternish peninsula (Isle of Skye)
- Drumbeg Loop B869
- Glen Etive
- Loop around the Trossachs
- The Borders Countryside & Abbeys
- Old Military Road in Cairngorms National Park
Below is a map to help you get oriented and see which ones you could enjoy during your holidays:
Is driving in Scotland difficult?
You can read a lot about people complaining about the difficulty of driving in Scotland.
In my opinion, it is not as bad as they say. But people who had no issues don’t write comments…
There are 2 main difficulties:
- Driving on the left-hand side (if it is not the case in your home country). It is not that hard. You just have to be focused when exiting a parking space.
- The single lane roads that are very touristy – single lane roads in general are not that complex, there are frequent crossing-places. The problems are that tourists just keep going and then pile up at those crossing places blocking the road. Always look ahead to see if there is enough space.
If you want to see what it looks like, head to my article about driving in Scotland and watch my video.
Driving Times
Below is a map to give you a general idea of the driving times between the main towns in Scotland.
These times are calculated using the main roads.
When you look at driving times on Map apps, always plan longer because:
- You will want to stop everywhere
- Single-lane tracks take longer when there are many cars piling at passing places
Best time to enjoy those most scenic drives in Scotland
For a worry-free drive, April to October are the best months for 4 reasons:
- Most attractions are open,
- The roads are in good conditions – no snow or ice,
- Weather is not freezing anymore (but remember it can be unpredictable),
- Days are longer for exploring and driving around.
However, June to September are also the most crowded (especially if you plan on visiting the Isle of Skye).
May is my favorite month.
And the autumn colors in the Highlands can be great for photography.
Planning a road trip in Scotland
Next, I will give you more details about each of the best driving roads in Scotland I listed.
But if you are organizing a whole road trip in Scotland, my travel guide eBook includes all my favorite spots and roads. It helps you easily plan your road trip around Scotland:
Plan your dream trip in Scotland thanks to my guide
- 15 maps to easily plan your itinerary
- 170+ pre-selected locations
- GPS coordinates direct to the carparks
- Tips to make the most of your time
- 170+ original photos to help you choose
Need to rent a car in Scotland?
- Compare prices on my favorite platform: Discovercars.com – one of the best rated comparison sites!
- Choose the car and company you prefer (prefer a compact car for the single-lane roads)
- Consider their full coverage option – I always take it for peace of mind!
- Book early to have a large choice of vehicles!
See my 36 tips about renting a car in Scotland
#1 – Glen Coe on A82 – Best drive in Scotland
In my opinion this is a MUST-DRIVE in Scotland.
Glen Coe is one of the most magnificent valleys in Scotland, with lochs and mountains. Typical Highlands.
Plus, it is very easy to drive with large carparks to stop and enjoy the views or go for a walk.
The route
- Section of A82
- Starts in Bridge of Orchy
- Ends in Village of Glencoe
- Length – 24 miles – 39 km
- Road type – one lane in both directions – Moderate to higher speed (Motorhome / Campervan OK)
- To get there – Edinburgh to Glencoe Village = 3h drive
How long to plan
- Time to drive – From Bridge of Orchy to Glencoe, the road takes 30min if you are not stopping
- Time to plan – You should plan half a day if you are not doing any walks.
- If combining with Glen Etive (see #7) and the tour of Loch Leven, then plan a complete day
Best stops / places to see
- Buachaille Etive Mor, the most photographed mountain in Scotland
- Etive Beag Carpark with some of the best views on the drive
- The Meeting of the 3 waters waterfall
- The 3 Sisters viewpoint
- The Loch Atriochtan, which is often overlooked but that I love, because the valley is narrow there
- The Glencoe visitor center
- Learn more on my article about the drive through Glencoe
Where to stay
- Option 1 – stay at the end of the road in the small town of Glencoe – see accommodation options
- Option 2 – or enjoy the tour of Loch Leven and enjoy the small village of Kinlochleven nested in the mountains – see accommodation options
- Option 3 – keep driving to the main town of Fort William before starting another drive (such as #2 or #3) – see best rated accommodations
Map of the drive
And below is a map to get your oriented:
#2 – The Road to the Isles A830 – Scenic drive from Fort William
The Road to the Isles is another classic Scottish drive.
It gives you a snapshot of everything the country has to offer: Mountain peaks, freshwater lochs, sea-water lochs, white sand beaches, views of islands…
The route
- Road A830
- Starts in Fort William
- Ends in Mallaig
- Length – 43 miles – 69km
- Road type – one lane in each direction, no difficulty (Motorhome / Campervan OK)
- To get there – Edinburgh to Fort William = 3h30 drive
How long to plan
- Time to drive – 1h each way
- Time to plan – half a day if not spending much time at the beaches to a day to explore more in depth each stop
Best stops / places to see
- View of Ben Nevis, highest summit in Scotland
- The Neptune’s Staircase with the 8 lochs for the boats to transfer to / from the Caledonian Canal
- Glenfinnan with views of the monument, the loch and the viaduct
- Lochs Eilt, Ailort and Nan Uamh
- The Coastal route with beaches between Arisaig and Mallaig
- From Mallaig you can take a ferry to the Isle of Skye
- Learn more on my article about the Road to the Isles
Where to stay
- At the beginning of the drive in Fort William, if you want a larger town – Check out the best rated accommodations in Fort William
- If you plan on taking the ferry early morning, it is best to stay in Mallaig – Check out the best rated accommodations in Mallaig
- You can stay near the beaches – Check out the best rated accommodations in Arisaig
- Or for more mountain views in a wilder area, choose Glenfinnan – see the few accommodation options
Map of the drive
And below is a map to get your oriented:
#3 – Road to Skye via Glen Shiel on A87 – best driving route
There are 2 ways to reach the isle of Skye: either drive to Mallaig (#2) and take the ferry or drive to the Skye bridge and cross on to the island.
I think it is worth it to drive all the way to the bridge and enjoy the beauty of Glen Shiel, especially when it narrows with high summits on each side.
The route
- Mainland section of Road A87
- Starts in Invergarry
- Ends at the Skye Bridge (A87 continues on the Isle of Skye all the way to Portree and Uig)
- Length – 37mi – 60km
- Road type – one lane in each direction, no difficulty (Motorhome / Campervan OK)
- To get there – Edinburgh to Invergarry = 3h15 drive
How long to plan
- Time to drive – 1 hour
- Time to plan – 2 hours or longer if you visit the Eilean Donan Castle
Best stops / places to see
- Loch Cluanie
- Glen Shiel and the Five Sisters of Kintail
- Loch Duich and Eilean Donan Castle
- Loch Alsh and the Skye Bridge
- Learn more on my article about the Road to Skye
Where to stay
- Stay at the West end of Glen Shiel in the town of Invershiel – See few accommodation options in the area
- Or decide to stay in Dornie, near Eilean Donan Castle – See accommodations options
- And at the end of A87 you reach Portree on the island – See the best rated accommodations in Portree
Map of the drive
And below is a map to get your oriented:
#4 – Wester Ross coastal road on A832 (part of North Coast 500)
The North Coast 500 road is a big loop around the North Coast of Scotland, starting above the Isle of Skye.
My favorite part of the loop is the drive through Wester Ross with Loch Maree and beautiful coastal sceneries.
The route
- Roads A890 (alternative A896) and A832
- Starts in Locharron
- Ends in Ullapool
- Length – 106 miles – 171 km
- Road type – one lane in each direction, no difficulty (Motorhome / Campervan OK) – but if driving the alternative, A896 is a single-lane road.
- To get there – Edinburgh to Locharron = 4h20 drive
How long to plan
- Time to drive – 2h30
- Time to plan – Plan a day to enjoy the views and the villages
Best stops / places to see
- Loch Carron
- Loch A-Chroisg
- Loch Maree
- Poolewe village nad Loch Ewe
- Falls of Measach
- Learn more on my article about Wester Ross
Where to stay
- Ullapool is a great place to stop before continuing on to the North coast – Check out accommodations in Ullapool
- However, if you want to stop in the heart of Wester Ross, the coastal town of Poolewe is a great choice with a charming atmosphere – check out accommodation options
Map of the drive
And below is a map to get your oriented:
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#5 – Trotternish Peninsula on the Isle of Skye
The Isle of Skye is one of the most famous destinations in Scotland.
The whole island is worth driving but if I have to pick one section, it would be the Trotternish Peninsula, north of Portree home of many fascinating and iconic attractions.
The route
- Starts in Portree
- Ends in Portree
- Length – 55 miles – 89km (via northern Road + small detour to Quiraing + small detour to Fairy Glen)
- Road type – mix of dual and single-lane roads
- To get there – Edinburgh to Portree = 5h drive
How long to plan
- Time to drive – 1h40 drive
- Time to plan – half a day without hiking or 1 day if hiking
Best stops / places to see
- Old Man of Storr
- Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls
- Short detour to Quiraing
- Loch Langaig
- Museum of Island life
- Short detour to Fairy Glen
- Learn more on my article about the Isle of Skye
Where to stay
Portree is the most central town to explore the whole island – check out the best rated accommodations in Portree
Map
On the map below you can see the Trotternish Peninsula, North of Portree with the locations of 2 of its attractions:
Complete Maps with all my favorite stops available in my Travel Guide eBook:
Plan your dream trip in Scotland thanks to my guide
- 15 maps to easily plan your itinerary
- 170+ pre-selected locations
- GPS coordinates direct to the carparks
- Tips to make the most of your time
- 170+ original photos to help you choose
#6 – Drumbeg Loop B869 – Best driving road in Scotland (twisted)
This was a surprise. This road is not often mentioned but I really enjoyed it as it was quite different from the rest of the Northern drive.
North of Ullapool you can enjoy a coastal detour with pink beaches, rolling hills, mini lochs and wildlife.
The route
- The main road A894 goes straight North from Loch Assynt. But take the detour on B869
- Starts at Loch Assynt
- Ends in Newton
- Length – 32 miles – 51km
- Road type – single-lane road / careful wild animals cross the road
- To get there – Edinburgh to Ullapool = 4h10 drive
How long to plan
- Time to drive – 1h 15 drive
- Time to plan – 2h to enjoy the drive and admire the beaches
Best stops / places to see
- Just drive and enjoy the change in scenery
- Stop and look at the quiet beaches
- Learn more on my article about the Coigach-Assynt Reserve
Where to stay
Check out the accommodations in the area
#7 – Side road through Glen Etive
Glen Etive is a wild road on the side of Glen Coe. It takes you along the river all the way to Loch Etive.
It offers beautiful views along a narrow valley and leads to a stunning wild loch… what more could we ask?
Plus, for the fans of James Bond, you might recognize a location from Skyfall.
The route
- Dead end road
- Starts at the junction with A82 facing the mountain Buachaille Etive Mor
- Ends at Loch Etive (village of Gualachulain)
- Length – 12 miles – 19km
- Road type – single-lane road (can be crowded in Summer).
- To get there – Edinburgh to Glencoe = 2h45 drive
How long to plan
- Time to drive – 35min non-stop
- Time to plan – Plan 1 hour each way to drive Glen Etive + And as long as you want to explore Loch Etive on foot or by boat (if you travel with one…)
Best stops / places to see
- Just enjoy the drive
- Take some time to walk along Loch Etive
- Learn more on my article about Glen Etive
Where to stay
This is a rather wild area. Not many constructions.
Stay at the small town of Glencoe that is not far – see accommodation options
Map
Below is a map to help you locate the road in Glen Etive:
#8 – Loop around the Trossachs National Park – typical Scotland road trip
It is not as magnificent as the rest of the Highlands, in my opinion, but it is a great loop road that is close to Glasgow and Edinburgh and offers lochs, mountain passes and a waterfall. Locals enjoy this area a lot.
The route
- Mix of roads around the National Park
- Starts in Balloch, South of Loch Lomond
- Ends in Balloch
- Length – 119mi – 191km
- Road type – one lane in each direction, no difficulty, some narrow sections (Motorhome / Campervan OK)
- To get there – Edinburgh to Balloch = 1h30 drive
- To get there – Glasgow to Balloch = 40min drive
How long to plan
- Time to drive – 3h drive
- Time to plan – One day to also include a cruise either on Loch Katrine or Loch Lomond
Best stops / places to see
- Loch Lomond, its villages and viewpoints – see article
- Loch Katrine and the Sir Walter Scott steamboat – see article
- Many other lochs
- Duke’s Pass
- Falls of Falloch – see article
Where to stay
Check out all the accommodation options around Loch Lomond
#9 – Borders Countryside & Abbeys
If you are tired of all those beautiful mountains and want a change of scenery, head south of Edinburgh.
Most articles list the Borders Historic Route. Although I agree with the overall direction of the drive, I have stronger preferences for other stops and those listed on it: the Abbeys and countryside views.
The route
- A68 + Detours
- Starts in Edinburgh
- Ends in Jedburgh
- Length – 65 miles – 105km
- Road type – one lane in each direction, no difficulty unless you take side roads to explore (Motorhome / Campervan OK)
How long to plan
- Time to drive – 2h drive
- Time to plan – A day to include the visits to the abbeys
Best stops / places to see
- Melrose Abbey and its bagpipe-playing pig – see article
- Scott’s view – the picture-perfect countryside – see article
- The impressive Jedburgh Abbey – see article
- Kelso Abbey
- And many other potential stops
Where to stay
- You can easily visit the abbey on a day trip from Edinburgh – Check out the best rated accommodations in Edinburgh
- But if you want to stay in a quieter area, the towns of Melrose or Jedburgh are great options – check out the best rated accommodations in Melrose and more in Jedburgh
#10 – Old Military Road in Cairngorms National Park
The Cairngorms National Park is a favorite for the locals. The wild area offers mountains, plateaus, valleys and castles.
This is where you can find the Balmoral Castle, the Royal Summer residence.
There are 2 roads going through it, but the Old Military Road is my favorite for a nice leisure drive.
The route
- A939 and A93
- Starts in Speybridge (North of Cairngorms National Park)
- Ends in Dalrulzian (South of Cairngorms National Park)
- Length – 68 miles – 110km
- Road type – one lane in each direction almost all of the time but there is a single lane bridge that is very narrow.
- To get there – Edinburgh to Dalrulzian = 1h40 drive
How long to plan
- Time to drive – 2h drive when not stopping
- Time to plan – Half a day if simply stopping for the views or a day if you are visiting Balmoral Castle and / or Braemar Castle
Best stops / places to see
- Well of Lecht and ski area
- The plateau
- Gairnshiel and its bridge
- Balmoral Castle and its garden
- Braemar Castle with its L-shape structure
- Learn more on my article about the Old Military Road in Cairngorms
Where to stay
- You can stay in a valley around the castles – Check out the best rated accommodations around Braemar
- Or around the Lecht Ski center – check out options
- Or you can stay in Aviemore before or after driving the Old Military Road – Check out the best rated accommodations in Aviemore
Map of the drive
And below is a map to get your oriented:
And many other roads to consider:
- South West Coastal 300 with Caerlaverock Castle
- Argyll coastal route
- North Coast
- …
Want to see more of the best Scotland has to offer?
- Most beautiful landscapes in Scotland – read article
- Best things to do in Scotland – read article
- Best Scotland destinations – where to go? – read article
- Best Scottish Castles – read article
- Most beautiful lochs in Scotland – read article
- The magnificent Isle of Skye – read my best-of guide
- The magnificent Wester Ross region – read article
- The Borders Abbeys including Melrose Abbey and the photogenic Jedburgh Abbey
Planning a trip to Scotland?
Check out my travel guides to help you plan:
Plan your dream trip to Scotland with my guides!
- 15 easy-to-plan maps
- 170+ pre-selected locations
- GPS coordinates
- Useful planning tips
- 170+ large photos
- 8 easy-to-plan maps
- 60+ pre-selected locations
- Useful planning tips
- 115+ large photos
- GPS coordinates
And keep track of your own trip!
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