Must Visit Places on a Scotland Road Trip
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Updated: 13th August 2018
Scotland is a land of lochs, castles, and epic landscapes, all served up with the warm welcome and charm of the locals who call this magical land home. I feel like a traitor being an English boy, but if you are looking for a stunning road trip in the UK, then Scotland should be your first port of call.
My road trip in Scotland took me from the country’s festival city of Edinburgh to the rugged landscapes of the Isle of Skye, here are some of my favourite spots you shouldn’t miss during your one-week visit to Scotland.
Take a quick video tour of all the places I visited on my Scotland road trip, including the Isle of Skye and discover some of the best UK adventure holidays you can have.
1. The Devil’s Pulpit
The Devil’s Pulpit, as it’s officially nicknamed, or Finnich Glen, is just a short drive from Glasgow and still a relatively unvisited spot. It’s not the easiest place to find, but the blood-red waters, moss-covered caves, and countryside walk to get there make it a good spot while heading away from the city. Be warned: the path down is slippy, but for the more adventurous, you can put on a wetsuit and walk in through the river.
2. Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park is a stunning area where you can spend a lazy afternoon in the Scottish sunshine (I promise it occasionally happens!)
The quaint villages with small houses and colourful flowerbeds around the lake provide car parking opportunities, and packing a picnic to have lakeside is a must. For hikers or cyclists, the trails around the lake are relatively flat compared to the highlands, and with deer dancing around the woodlands, it’s a picturesque spot to take in without exerting too much energy.
3. Loch Awe / Kilchurn Castle
If you catch Loch Awe on a still day, the ruins of Kilchurn Castle make for an epic reflection shot. It’s a short walk from the road to the edge of the lake, but thanks to the mountains, ducks, and castle, it is one of my favourite places to photograph in the country. The loch has a few islands within it, such as Inishail, and I’m determined to get back here with a SUP and enjoy a lazy day photographing.
4. Glencoe
The small village of Glencoe is most famous for the Glencoe Valley, a must-visit during a Scotland road trip to the highlands. One of the most impressive filming locations of James Bond Skyfall is, not surprisingly, one of the most famous valleys in the country now.
Find a place to park the car and take a hike through the valley, where waterfalls roll down the mountain, and the views will leave you in complete awe.
5. Glenfinnan
Another famous movie set, the Glenfinnan viaduct, is the Harry Potter route to wizarding school, and you may even want to pause your Scotland road trip to jump on the famous Jacobite train that runs along here. Just next to the viaduct at Loch Shiel is the Glenfinnan monument, which honours those from the Jacobite rising.
6. Dunrobin Castle
One of the most beautiful castles to visit on a Scotland road trip is Dunrobin Castle on the east coast. This stately home is open to the public, and from the grounds, at the back, you get a far more impressive view of the white castle with its pointed roofs. It’s a little bit of a detour unless you plan to go north on your Scotland road trip, but one that is entirely worthwhile.
7. Morar and Arisaig, Scotland
When you think of Scotland, it likely isn’t beaches that come to your mind. With the Atlantic Ocean on your doorstep, views across some of Scotland’s smallest islands and azure waters against silver sands, this is a true hidden gem in Europe.
Nearby Mallaig is the starting point for ferries and the terminus for one very famous train journey. On the west coast of the Highlands, you can get in some great R&R and enjoy the slow village pace here before continuing on your Scottish road trip. Arisaig is a great spot to hire a Kayak and get that fresh Scottish air into your lungs on the water.
8. Elgin Cathedral
The ruins of Elgin Cathedral in north-east Scotland are a comfortable detour from Inverness and given the age of the cathedral (1224) what does remain is in reasonably good condition. You can climb up the towers for an aerial view to really appreciate the scale of the cathedral. Within the town, you have a few more attractions and things to do in Elgin, as well as accommodation should you wish to make it an overnight stop.
9. Loch Ness / Inverness
The city of Inverness surprised me and was a great half-day stop on my Scotland road trip. Grab some food here and visit the Cathedral and Castle before continuing to one of Scotland’s most famous sights, Loch Ness.
Famed for the Loch Ness Monster, there is even a museum/theme park dedicated to her, which would be an ideal road trip pit-stop with kids. Beyond the myths, though, this is a beautiful part of the country to set up camp and enjoy the walks along the lake.
10. Eagle Brae Cabins
Just a forty-five-minute drive from Inverness, you’ll find the stunning and remote Eagle Brae log cabins, one of the more unusual places to stay in Scotland.
Situated in the Scottish Highlands, this is a fantastic escape and the ideal spot to base yourself for a couple of days of getting away and connecting with nature. The Cabins are packed with mod-cons and everything you need, although they still have a charmingly old-school vibe and a fantastic view to catch the sunset.
With deer strolling around, hikes on your doorstep and the chance to be at one with Scotland’s most exceptional nature, this is one of the most unique and exclusive accommodation options you could stay in. Cabins come in different sizes, and on the website eaglebrae.co.uk, you can find more details.
11. Edinburgh
It’s a given that on any visit to Scotland, you shouldn’t miss the capital city of Edinburgh. If you are lucky enough to visit during August, then Edinburgh Festivals will be in full spring, but the Edinburgh events calendar is year-round, with 12 official big festivals in Edinburgh throughout the year, plus plenty of smaller ones.
It’s by far one of my favourite cities in the world, and you should check out my article on things to do in Edinburgh to get the most out of your visit to the city.
12. Glasgow
Scotland’s second city, Glasgow, is somewhere I have a soft spot for. I spent a few months working in this underrated city when I was in the restaurant industry and got to know the city pretty well. While it might be a bit more ‘rough around the edges’ than Edinburgh, and the accent takes a while to get used to, it’s a buzzing city and has a booming food, music and art scene with some excellent museums.
13. Isle of Skye
The Isle of Skye has become one of the most famous and best islands to visit in Scotland and is starting to suffer from over-tourism, especially during the summer months. While many people would, therefore, visit in the offseason, with the current situation facing the world and international tourism expected to be down for a while, it might actually make this year the perfect time for a visit while you can grab a UK staycation hotel deals, and admire this amazing spot with less crowds and the accompanying higher prices.
That said, as soon as you lay eyes on it, you will see why everyone wants to visit here on their Scotland road trip. From the beautiful fairy pools of trickling waterfalls to the colourful houses in the capital of Portree, you can easily spend a few days here in total awe of the natural beauty and varied landscapes. Get out of the car and get out hiking here because some of the most beautiful places, such as Storr Rock and mythical Fairy Glen, can’t be enjoyed through a car window. Don’t forget there are 790 islands in Scotland, so if you have more than a week for your Scotland road trip or fancy going more off the beaten path, then you really are spoilt for choice.
Where next? How about a road trip to explore the south and all the best places to visit in Cornwall?
Such beautiful beaches!
I hope to get to Scotland this summer on a cycling trip.
Fingers crossed for you!
Wow, such an amazing post on a road trip with astonishing pictures. I wish I could also capture such magnificent photos.
Should visit The city of Pitlochry during the fall when the they host the enchanted forest festival.
Thank you for the tip – that looks super cool :)
Dan
Your pictures are beautiful and your writing is amazing. You have inspired us to document our lives and live by a motto. Always try something once. Thanks for sharing!
I’ve always wanted to go to Scotland, and this article makes me want to go there even more. Scotland has always seemed so fantastical to me with all the medieval castles scattered about the beautiful but mysterious landscape, and your photography and descriptive imagery really amplifies this feeling.
Nice post. I haven’t been to Scotland yet but I could tell it is an incredibly beautiful country. Glencoe and Loch Awe both look amazing.
Hello,
A wonderful blog post with lots of beautiful pictures of Scotland. Scotland is a beautiful country, full of history, with wildlife but very beautiful.
I hope to visit Scotland in the future.
This presentation is really awesome! I wish to visit Scotland by road.
Ah Scotland. My heart still remains in that country. I lived in Glasgow for 7 years and yet this posts mentioned a couple of location I haven’t yet seen. Honestly, I was convinced I had thoroughly explored Scotland. But you have proven me wrong. I now know what I need to do next time I am visiting the in-laws
Great post, road trips are always awesome.
I have lived in Edinburgh for three years, and I am shocked to say that most of these sights are new to me! How could that be? I always return to my favourite city in the world, so I’m sure to be checking out some of these sights around Scotland in the future!
These photographs are so beautiful. The village of Glencoe seems to be so tranquil and peaceful – we definitely want to go! We’ve also just published our new blog dedicated to seeing the world through analog photography and exploring stories that share experiences from the mundane things to the exciting, especially when travelling. Would be awesome if you could check it out and let us know what you think!