This customisable Scotland Roadtrip is the ultimate route for a trip of any duration, whether you have 2 days or 1 month.
If you’re travelling to Scotland, no doubt you plan to explore Edinburgh (and with good reason!) But the charming capital is only one side of a diverse, natural and breathtaking country.
If you’re short on time but want a taste of natural, historic and raw Scotland, I recommend this ultimate ‘Highlands Highlights’ Scotland road trip.
If you’ve got longer, you can use this guide as a starter and add on so many extras along the way.
In true Scottish form, it rained all 3 times I’ve taken this road trip (hence the grey-ish pictures)- I call it an authentic experience!
Scotland Roadtrip Overview
Duration: 3 Days (I’ve included tips on how to make it last anything from 2 to 30+)
Distance: 280 miles
Method: Car
Accommodation: B&B, Hotel and Hostel options along the route
Worth noting: Daylight hours in Scotland vary dramatically from Summer to Winter, keep this is mind when planning where to stop.
DAY ONE
Edinburgh -> Stirling (1 hour)
After an hour on the motorway, passing two 30-meter metal horse sculptures on the way, you arrive at stop number one – Stirling. The town has an impressive castle as well as quaint cobbled streets and plenty of places to wander and stretch your legs.
Stirling -> The Trossachs -> Glencoe (3 – 4 hours)
For the rest of the day, the roads get prettier (and narrower) as you enter Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. Along the way there are plenty of photo ops and rest points to enjoy a picnic (if you get lucky enough to avoid the rain).
At the top of the national park is the Green Welly rest stop (to those not fluent in Scottish, Welly = Rain boot). Grab a cup of coffee, Scottish souvenirs or some hot food before venturing into the mountains of Glencoe.
The next stretch of road is breathtakingly scenic (if you can see through the fog) and has been used by Hollywood as the set of Harry Potter, James Bond, Macbeth, Braveheart and many more.
Glencoe -> Fort William (1 hour)
By early evening you will arrive in Fort William, a small town with plenty B&Bs and restaurants (we booked ours in advance through Skyscanner).
While not the most picturesque stop on the route, Fort William is an ideal half way point to rest for the evening.
Bonus: for the Harry Potter fans- Glenfinnan Viaduct (aka: the Hogwarts Express Railway Bridge) is a short drive from the town centre.
DAY TWO
(If you’re taking a 2-day trip, skip to Day 3)
Fort William -> Eileen Donan Castle (1.5 hours)
Known as the most photographed castle in Scotland, and it’s easy to see why. Park up and choose to admire from the bridge or buy a ticket at the visitor centre and get inside on a guided tour. This castle is also the setting for the stunning music video that gives me chills and ‘proud to be Scottish’ feels every time I watch it.
Bonus: Extend your trip by a few day and cross the bridge from Eileen Donan over to the Isle of Skye for even more Scottish beauty, fairy pools and waterfalls.
Eileen Donan-> Loch Ness(2 hours)
The drive from Eileen Donan to Loch Ness covers more beautiful landscapes. The Loch itself is Scotland’s 2nd largest at 22 square miles. Its most famous for the Monster that may or may not live there.. let me know if you spot it on your visit! You can take boat tours out onto the water or drive around the edge.
Urquhart Castle is the best stop if you’re doing a 3 day itinerary. Visibility of the castle isn’t great unless you pay to enter via the visitor centre, but the grounds and ruins are fun to explore and very photogenic, so I’d say it was worth it.
Loch Ness -> Fort William (1 hour)
At the end of Day 2, head back to your hotel or guest house for the evening and check out one of the pubs on the High Street for dinner, or go traditional and grab Fish & Chips from a chip shop.
Day 3
Fort William –> Cairngorm Mountains (30 Minutes)
Leave Fort William by heading North and cut through the base of the Cairngorm National Park. In the winter, this is the place to explore snow sports, although its weather dependant so check in advance.
Cairngorm Mountains –> Pitlochry (2-3 Hours)
Once you re-join the A9 road, driving will speed up and windy turns will reduce the closer you get to Edinburgh again. There are several stopping points, castles and towns on the return journey that you can tailor to your schedule and hunger levels!
Pitlochry is a great stop for a walk along the river banks where, at the right time of year, you can see salmon jumping up stream. Pitlochry is also a perfect stop for coffee, cake or snacks in one of its many cafes.
Bonus: Queens View is an easy-to-miss exit just before Pitlochry, but worth the extra detour off the main road to see stunning views over Loch Tummel and snap an extra couple of picture if your memory card isn’t full already.
Pitlochry –> Perth (1 hour)
The penultimate stop on the route is Perth. This larger city is built on the banks of the River Tay and offers the chance for a variety of lunch options or even just a nice walk along the water and stretching your legs before heading down the motorway back to the capital.
Bonus: For a longer stay, Perth is a good base for exploring central Scotland, some retail therapy or trying out adventure sports like quad biking, rafting or even bungee jumping!
Perth –> South Queensferry (1.5 hours)
The final stop is back on the edge of Edinburgh at South Queensferry. This little town built on the Firth of Forth, offers the best views of the well photographed Forth Road and Rail Bridges. Check out one of the café’s or restaurants along the adorable cobbled main street for dinner with a view before heading back to the city.
At there you have it, a 2->14 day route around Scotland that you can tailor to exactly how many castles, waterfalls, mountains and cups of coffee suit your schedule!
