The Most Stunning Road Trips in Scotland

Scotland may be known as the land of bagpipes and haggis, but it’s also home to some stunning, beautiful scenery to explore by car.

From the rugged highlands of the northwest to the beautiful, green countryside in the east, you’ll want to make sure your itinerary includes plenty of time to stop at interesting tourist attractions and enjoy local cuisine along the way.

Here are three of the most spectacular road trips you can take while visiting Scotland UK that will make sure you don’t miss any of its famous landmarks.

Isle of Skye

Home to sea-fringed mountains, dark lochs, and a wealth of wildlife, Skye is one of Scotland’s most popular island destinations.

With its stunning beaches, famous castle ruins, and picture-perfect villages, it’s easy to see why Skye is one of Scotland’s most popular destinations for tourists from around the world.

Loch Ness

The famous loch is pretty much anywhere you’ll find yourself traveling by car.

Known for its mysterious monster and sizable depths, it’s one of Scotland’s largest bodies of water, covering approximately 23 miles long.

Take a drive across it or travel along its shores for spectacular views from high points.

Just don’t stop your car to feed a bit too close to shore—we hear Nessie is always hungry!

Glencoe

Perhaps no other region of Scotland boasts as many stunning road trips as does Glencoe.

When traveling through Glencoe, you can’t help but be awed by towering mountains and breathtaking landscapes, so it’s no surprise that many travelers consider it among their favorite parts of Scotland.

The variety of sights and experiences on offer ensures there is something for everyone, including those on romantic getaways or family holidays.

Scottish Highlands

With its rugged landscapes, crystal-clear lochs, and towering mountains, it’s no wonder that so many travelers are flocking to travel around Scotland by car.

One of our favorite road trips is a journey along part of The North Coast 500, an epic coastal route through one of the most stunning parts of Scotland.

Oban to Brodick

If you’re looking for a road trip that’s a little more relaxed and leaves your travel companions with plenty of time to enjoy scenic vistas, then consider renting a camper van and traveling from Oban to Brodick.

Set up camp on your trip at Ballachulish Bay Caravan & Camping Park, which offers some of the most stunning views on Islay.

Jura

This little-known region is situated on Scotland’s west coast and is known for its beautiful coastline, vibrant towns, fertile farmland, and long history.

With a coastline that boasts almost 50 miles of sandy beaches, it’s no wonder that Jura has been a popular tourist destination since Victorian times.

Travel by car or bike (on over 100 miles of traffic-free trails) along what will quickly become one of your favorite travel routes through Scotland.

Fort William to Glen Coe

This spectacular drive takes you from Fort William, along Loch Linnhe, and through Glen Nevis.

From there, you’ll head up into Glen Coe via Dalwhinnie and on to Ben Nevis for epic views of a truly unrivaled country.

North Coast 500

As mentioned earlier, the North Coast 500 route is a spectacular 516-mile round-trip drive along Scotland’s northern coast.

The road trip can be done in one long journey—or over several days, stopping at points of interest along the way.

Driving from Inverness to John O’Groats (the start and endpoint of NC500) takes roughly seven hours—consider overnighting en route to enjoy some of these stops