The 12 best road trips around Scotland

Hostelworld Blog | Posted on October 31, 2019 |

Whatever type of Scotland road trip you’re planning, there are many different routes you can take to see the most of this wild, beautiful, rugged country. There are plenty of road trips in Scotland that are planned by tour companies, but there’s also the flexibility of tailoring your own trip depending on what you want to see and how much time you have. Want to discover the best road trip in Scotland? We’ve broken it all down for you, so you can prepare for the greatest road trips that the country has to offer!

A Scotland road trip is perfect for backpackers who are thrill-seekers, adventurers, beach lovers, history lovers and all those in between. While you might be used to using trains or buses to get around as a backpacker, renting a car and having a driving tour is an exciting way to see Scotland. We’ve suggested some attractions, when you could visit, where to stay and possible itineraries. We have also estimated the length of the road trip, but your trip may be longer or shorter depending on what you decide to do! Here are 12 of the best Scotland road trips.

Quiraing, Portree 📸:@aridley88

Best Scotland Road Trips:

The best time to take a Scotland road trip

Spring/summer

With longer and warmer days, spring or summer would be the easiest time to admire the dramatic coastlines on a driving tour. This is a great time to find your inner adventurer and take part in activities like kayaking, mountain biking, surfing and hiking.

Autumn/winter

If you’re headed up north, then this is the best time to see the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) and the many stellar constellations at night. There are still plenty of things to do indoors, such as a visit to one of the many whiskey distilleries or tasting the Scottish cuisine (we promise haggis is actually pretty tasty!) When planning what to see, check online for opening times as a lot of attractions are closed during the winter.

The best time of year for white-water rafting is in the colder months! There are lots of snow sport locations in Scotland, with Cairngorms National Park being a popular choice.

The Isle of Skye is incredibly popular with travellers during the peak season of around early April to mid-October, with July and August being the busiest. If you consider going around November, you’ll find that it will be much easier to drive around and get those all-important Instagram shots!

Useful info

If you’re a young backpacker it’s best that you research different car hire companies, as some don’t loan to people under 25 – or make it very difficult to do without spending a lot of money.
Check if your driver’s licence from your country legally allows you to drive in Scotland.
Consider getting a GPS navigation system, as some areas are remote and difficult to reach.

Car hire

When going on a road trip in Scotland, it’s probably easiest to hire a car from one of the main cities (Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Aberdeen). The main companies located in Scotland are: Hertz, Avis, Thrifty, Alamo, Budget, Europcar and Enterprise.

Prices vary depending on the size of the car. It’s also cheaper for a manual car rather than an automatic.

A basic manual car hire from Edinburgh for 4 days is around £80. A basic automatic car is around £80-100.

For a basic manual car hire from Inverness, it’s around £100-130 for 5 days. An automatic car is around £180-200 for 5 days.

Cars can be rented from Stirling for around £50-70 for a manual and £90-100 for an automatic over 3 days.

1. North Coast 500: the best Scottish road trip for the ultimate getaway

This is the Route 66 of road trips guys. Hailed as one of the best coastal touring routes in the world, the North Coast 500 is a must do if you’re planning a Scottish Highlands road trip. Running over 500 miles through Scotland’s North Highlands, this is your chance to see sparkly beaches, ancient castles and draw-dropping coastlines. Prepare your Insta, this is a contender for the best road trip in Scotland.

Dunrobin Castle, 📸:@colinhorn

Major attractions

Loch Ness
Smoo Cave
Historic ruins: Hill o’Many Stanes, Sinclair Girnigoe Castle, Whaligoe Steps, The Broch
Museums: Culloden Battlefield and Visitor Experience
Castles: Dunrobin Castle, Inverness Castle
RSPB Scotland Dunnet Head Nature Reserve (the most northerly mainland point in Britain)
LOTS of whisky distilleries (47 to be exact)

Length of road trip

5-7 days (13 hours 35 minutes driving time)

Itinerary

Day 1:

Around 30 minutes from Inverness is the small town of Alness, where there are plenty of eating options. The neighbouring town Dalmore also has its own whisky distillery that was founded in 1839, and they offer hour-long tours.

Head further up the road to Dunrobin Castle. This fairy-tale like castle is open from April to October and is the perfect place for an afternoon stroll.

Drive to the Hill o’Many Stanes – which is around 200 small stones in rows. They are estimated to be around 4,000 years old and were predicted to be used for religious ceremonies. These stone arrangements are super rare in Europe so it’s definitely worth a visit!

Settle into the town of Wick for the afternoon and evening. Explore the historic town and head to Wick sea for some stunning views of the Scottish coastline.

Day 2:

First stop is the Sinclair Girnigoe Castle. These ruins were originally two castles with Girnigoe estimated to have been built between 1476 and 1496 and the Sinclair castle built around 1606. Throughout history it has been desired for its strategic position.

Next stop by Sinclair’s Bay for some Instagrammable views. The day’s major stop is RSPB Scotland Dunnet Head Nature Reserve, which is the most northerly mainland point in Britain. It’s free entry, but donations are recommended. Here, look out at the stunning cliffs as time stops for a moment. In the town of Dunnet and Dunnet Bay you can take surfing lessons (if the weather permits it!)

Smoo Cave, 📸:@colinhorn

Day 3:

If you didn’t get enough beach yesterday, have a morning walk along Strathy Bay. Drive 20 minutes further to Strathnaver Museum, which explores the history of this town that’s been inhabited for over 8,000 years! Have a hot soup in town at The Store Café to recharge – then hit the road again!

Admire the coastline, you’re at one of the most northerly points in the UK. Base yourself at the town of Durness for the night. Close by is Smoo Cave – the largest coastal cave in the UK! Explore, take selfies, do your thing.

Day 4:

Today’s a big driving day – so chill back, put some music on and admire the views right from your car seat.

If you’re an avid hiker, stop by the stunning Eas a’ Chual Aluinn – Britain’s highest waterfall. This is quite a hike from the end of the road, so only attempt it if you feel physically capable. It will take most of the day (upwards of 5 hours).

If you want to visit somewhere more reachable, check out Inchnadamph and the River Caves. These are the entrances to the largest cave system in Scotland. Stop by the local hotel of the Inchnadamph for some lunch.

Drive along to Torridon for the afternoon and evening. If you want to get in touch with the rough Scottish wilderness, stop by Beinn Eighe Nature Reserve for some great walking trails suitable for all abilities.

Day 5:

Drive to Achnasheen for food and savour the stunning landscape as you head back to Inverness. Why not make a short detour to Loch Ness and try to find the famous Loch Ness monster, or add another day to your trip? Lastly stop off at Glen Ord Distillery in Glen Ord to celebrate your once-in-a-lifetime road trip in Scotland!

Loch Ness, 📸:@ramon_vloon

Where to stay

Inverness is a great starting point for the road trip. Take a day to look around the city; Inverness Cathedral and Inverness Castle are beautiful attractions to see! There are also some excellent hostels in Inverness that are close to the city centre, including Bazpackers Hostel.
Loch Ness is a great place to stay overnight (or many nights), as you’ll probably spend forever looking for the Loch Ness Monster!
The Lochside Hostel is right by the sea so you can search the waters right from your dorm room.
If you’re looking to stay far up north in the middle of your road trip, there’s Durness Smoo Youth Hostel in Durness, which would put you right in the heart of the Scottish Highlands, situated right between the sea and green pastures.
On your way back to Inverness, why not stay at Torridon Youth Hostel where you can enjoy a glass of single malt around the panoramic mountains?

2. Fife Coastal Route: the best Scottish road trip for beach lovers

A breeze in comparison to the (Loch Ness) monster that is the North Coast 500, the Fife Coastal Route tour of Scotland follows along the Firth of Forth coastline over 77 miles, while passing through charming little fishing towns, historic castles and endless beaches.

Edinburgh, 📸:@danoolvnoutchk