Verdant green rolling hills, majestic mountains and dramatic landscapes, historic castle ruins and ancient megaliths — the Scottish Highlands has them all. 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. It’s busy but the spectacular scenery will blow your mind!” Check out Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, Princes Gardens, and stumble home through the cobbled alleyways after a night at one of Edinburgh’s famous pubs. After an early morning hike, stop in Portree and take a walk around the town. If you feel like venturing a bit further south, the seaside town of Ayr is worth visiting or take a detour to Stirling to visit its famous castle — about halfway between Glasgow and Edinburgh. — This post contains affiliate links, this means when you purchase one of the items below, we get a small commission at no extra cost to you —. It sits right on Lochness, so of course you can go and look for Nessie. The moody, romantic Scottish Highlands start at Loch Lomond just north of Glasgow. Planning a trip to Scotland? There might not be a ton to do on these far-flung isles, but the landscape is out of this world, and you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you’ve ventured pretty much as far north as you can go in Scotland. We booked flight up to Inverness and decided to go on a Scotland road trip! Investment is piling in along the route and elsewhere, as local businesses realise the benefits of extending … We started with some breakfast and then a walk to Duncansby Head, the most north easterly part of the British mainland! Blair Castle is easily accessible, just past the town of Pitlochry at the southern edge of the park. We researched Scotland’s North Coast 500 and decided this was our trip! 1. If you are planning a trip to the Scottish Highlands these few travel essentials suggestions could become handy when packing your suitcase, or even better a backpack (if your holiday includes a lot of walking you definitely want to be comfortable)! Stacey is a personal trainer and Jason works in signage. I never thought I would say this, but I really enjoyed the little tourist town of Fort Augustus! Glasgow, Scotland’s largest city, is just a 45-minute drive south. You can also check out Balmoral Castle in the northeast of the park — one of the Royal Family’s holiday residences. Rita and Susie are here to help give you the inside track. This whole area is well manicured and beautiful, you can’t pull over and sleep in your van but there is a camp site nearby where you can relax and wait to see some dolphins here! 1. This includes personalizing content and advertising. Although Loch Ness might be the site most heavily associated with Scotland, Scots know that the Isle of Skye is their most breathtaking destination. It was definitely worth it. Braemar Castle, however, is located in the heart of Cairngorms, and you might need to take a brief detour to see it. In some cases, we earn commissions from affiliate links in our posts. Visit Dunnet Beach Strathy Beach Armadale bay Make camp around Tongue. It’s worth getting up early on day 3 of our Scottish Highlands itinerary to make the most of this beautiful trip to the Isle of Skye. A 13-minute drive north of town will bring you to the Old Man of Storr, a set of jagged, iconic rock formations formed by an ancient landslide. We had gone from beautiful lush green sheep farms over on the east and north, but now it truly felt like we had reached the Scottish Highlands. When they arrive in Scotland, they need to be inspected and repaired before they can be used for whisky. Drive an hour south from Glencoe, and you’ll arrive at Loch Lomond, a massive loch with several hiking trails. It was a 12 pound entrance fee which we decided not to bother with. Our drive from the Kingdom of Fife to the Western Highlands might as well have been called “the trip that just wouldn’t end.” Who knew 139 miles could literally take six hours to drive? When you’re done exploring the lake, it’s time to return to civilization. Among the most impressive castles are Braemar and Blair. 10:30 Drive Strontian – Ardgour: Make sure to head straight to the ferry terminal, you can’t miss it – the drive takes around 25-minutes. The remote Isle of Skye is a complete destination in itself, and you could easily spend a few days losing yourself in the wilderness of Cairngorms National Park. The next highlight of our day was the best fish and chips we’ve ever had at a little food truck in Applecross! If Stirling Castle inspires you, you can even drive another 15 minutes north to visit Doune Castle, which you might recognize from the iconic opening scene of Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Visit the Setting of Outlander. We would highly recommend 7 days for this trip at least, so you can take your time and explore and hike. Glencoe is one of the Highlands’ most beautiful regions, particularly famous for a group of three massive peaks called “The Three Sisters.” There are several turn-offs where you’ll be able to park and photograph the stunning landscape. The oak barrels used for aging the whisky are always used barrels, mostly bourbon barrels from the United States. This may be the final leg of the trip, but that doesn’t mean the scenery gets any less impressive. Arriving and departing from Inverness Airport in September. Pin it! Let the Scottish Highlands – its sights, songs, stories, and spirit delight your eyes, touch your soul, and fill your heart to bursting. You can start your trip pretty much anywhere, but Scotland’s capital city is a natural launching point. When you’ve had your fill of rugged adventure, the coastal town of Inverness is just an hour’s drive north. Pin it! If you are nervous about a road trip through Scotland then read our tips for driving in Scotland. As we made our way along Scotland’s infamous single lane roads we noticed a tea shop and decided to grab a coffee! This is the Route 66 of road trips guys. Meg shares her route and top tips on what to see and do and where to stay. living on the road in our self-converted sprinter van! Just don’t expect the water to be warm. Here are my top 12 tips for planning a road trip to the Scottish Highlands! Drive slow, be extra careful on narrow roads, and drive defensively in bad weather. They have lots of boat tours and all kinds of fun things happening. The north coast of Scotland was just filled with beautiful bay and amazing cliff views that we ended up driving so slowly through this part! When Coronavirus meant their overseas holiday was cancelled, they decided to go on a road trip to the Scottish Highlands. The largest national park in the British Isles, Cairngorms is home to castles, gardens, and a plethora of hiking and biking paths. After you’ve spent your morning among the rocks, head a half-hour south of Portree to the Fairy Pools. You can really have a wide range of experiences here. People planning a Scottish Highlands itinerary generally plan to spend some time walking, hiking, or climbing on at least part of their holiday. It’s wilderness and big skies. It was raised during World War II. Our top tip for planning your Scottish highlands road trip would definitely be to do it how we did it, backwards! Here is my 5-day road trip itinerary to the Scottish Highlands. Scotland was such a mystery to us. A lot of roads are blocked off, so just park in the small car park area just before the visitor center and walk down to the visitor’s center. A journey through the Highlands is a journey through the history of our planet, as the ancient rocks were … Unfortunately for us we were tired and cold so we didn’t have the patience to sit around for too long. This also gives you more practice on the Scottish roads before being thrown into narrow single lane roads through mountains passes like Applecross! Before setting out from Edinburgh, explore everything the city has to offer. The coastal drive from Dunrobin Castle to John O’Groats was stunning, it easily took us about 2 and a half hours as we kept stopping for pictures! Here are four suggestions to help you get started planning your trip to the Scottish Highlands. During my Scottish Highlands expedition last winter I explored this region that was on my road trip wish list. In the Scottish Highlands, you’ll inevitably come across a few mountain ranges. As we left Ullapool, we came upon Corrieshalloch Gorge, we knew nothing about this spot and it was a crazy cool hidden gem! mobile app. Oban on the western seaboard is a great journey by road or rail and, as an important ferry gateway, could tempt you out to the Scottish islands. On the shores of Loch Linnhe, this town is a perfect base for intrepid hikers looking to climb Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest peak at 4,413 feet. Definitely a must see if you are driving the North coast 500! The traffic and buses tend to pile up after that time! You could spend a couple of days exploring the Isle of Skye, but if you’re short on time, begin heading south along the coast until you reach Fort William. And there’s something for golf lovers and whisky fans too – this is Scotland, after all! We decided to also grab a snack and they had the best gluten free brownie ever! It’s the last large city you’ll be seeing for a while. May 19, 2019 I Heart Britain Scotland, Scottish Highlands 2. Who: Couples, Families, Groups and Solo Travellers. The North Coast 500 road trip, created in 2015, has opened up the Highlands to a new breed of visitor, with their motorbikes, campervans and convertible cars. Our first day we arrived in Scotland and picked up our truck from WildTrax and headed to Chanonry Point. You can start your trip pretty much anywhere, but Scotland’s capital city is a natural launching point. We are sharing our Scottish highlands road trip itinerary with you! Even if you don’t give much weight to the legend of Loch Ness, it’s still pretty cool to sail around the loch, and the ship’s crew is extremely knowledgeable about local history. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. The shop was run by this sweet old man! Active Scotland: One-week itinerary for hiking and kayaking in the Scottish Highlands City Trip to Edinburgh: 2-day itinerary for Edinburgh City Trip to Glasgow: 1-day itinerary for a perfect day in Glasgow Argyll: 3-day itinerary for Argyll on the Scottish West Coast Isle of Mull: 3-day itinerary for the Isle of Mull & surroundings As with most other destinations, a trip to the Scottish Highlands can be as expensive or – well, not cheap but – as doable as you are willing to make it. All Rights Reserved. The Scottish Highlands and Islands were included in Lonely Planet's Best in Travel list for 2019 – the only region in the UK to make the cut. Both Glasgow and Inverness are good points to stop and start a tour of the Scottish Highlands. The travel experts selected the region for its whiskey, wildlife and scenery. It was sunny but still pretty chilly and windy. Pin this 4 Days in the Scottish Highlands itinerary to help plan your trip! The route takes you from Inverness to Fort Augusts and north towards Applecross, from there it continues east along the coast until John O’Groats and then back down to Inverness. Believe me; it’s worth it. Scotland has several typical pests that you may encounter depending on the time of year of your travels, including ants, ticks, mosquitoes, and wasps. Inquire Now Add to Ideas + The Highlands of Scotland. Required fields are marked *. Europe - Planning A Trip To Scottish Highlands - Looking for recommendations for a 3-day stay in the Scottish Highlands. Comprising a slew of mountain ranges, this sparsely populated land is best seen by train on the West Highland Line. We would highly recommend 7 days for this trip at least, so you can take your time and explore and hike. Planning Your Loch Ness Visit. Journey into the Scottish Highlands—famed for picturesque hills, lakes, and centuries of history—and then onwards to the Isle of Skye on this 3-day tour from Edinburgh. This point is where you will find a pod of dolphins that come in every time the tide rises. 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The same applies to Fort William, below Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Scotland - another gateway or route centre, giving you further touring options. North Coast 500: the best Scottish road trip for the ultimate getaway. Fans of the popular television series Outlander won’t want to miss out on an opportunity to take a first-hand look at some of the more well-known locations from the show on their trip to the Scottish Highlands. Our top tip would be to make sure you fill up with gas at Thurso as some gas stations further along may not be open depending on the time of year! That evening we ended up sleeping in a layby along the side of the main road, but a bit further on there are some lovely parks that are off the road and a lot more scenic! Under an hour’s drive west from Inverness will bring you to Fort Augustus, a town on the shores of the famous Loch Ness. When our New Zealand trip fell through we really wanted to go on a road trip. Wandering Bajans uses cookies to improve your experience. Enjoy a road trip with an accredited driver-guide as you explore the Highlands of Scotland. Take your time and explore as many of the bays as you can, our favourite was visiting Dunnet Beach which is apparently home to lots of dolphins (we didnt see any!) There was a little camp site located close to the point so we opted to stay there for warm showers and some sort of shelter from the crazy winds that night. This itinerary assumes that you start your Scotland road trip in Glasgow and finish it in Inverness. To fully experience the awe-inspiring natural wonders of the region, include a leisurely road trip in your itinerary. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Just an hour and a half north from Edinburgh you’ll find Cairngorms National Park. The full 2.3-mile hike through the area takes you through these and other rock formations, and over rolling green hills. This castle is definitely a stop we would recommend on your Scottish Highlands road trip because it was massive and so beautiful! Visit Corrieshalloch Gorge Applecross Camp on Isle of Skye. As we were leaving Skye we opted for a bit of a detour to go and visit Dunvegan Castle, just know that this castle is all the way at the northern tip of Skye and its not just a short drive! Glenfinnan is a small town just north of Fort William, and this is where you will find the famous bridge from Harry Potter, also known as the Glenfinnan Viaduct! The Scottish Highlands are a mixture of history, culture and mind-blowing landscapes. With so many ancient towns, castle ruins, and imposing mountains scattered throughout this vast landscape, it can be tough to know where to start, or how to plan the most scenic route so you don’t miss anything. Our top tip would be to get there super early, we arrived around 8.30am. 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