11 Scotland Street Journey Tricks to Know Earlier than You Go

Posted: 5/23/2024 | Might twenty third, 2024

Scotland is a rugged and delightful nation that’s excellent for exploring on a highway journey. The craggy coasts, placid lochs, and rolling hills make it a dream to find. There are numerous historic castles, iconic distilleries, and postcard-perfect islands at your fingertips.

I completely love Scotland. It’s stunningly lovely and I can by no means get sufficient of the numerous altering landscapes, Scotch distilleries, and heat, welcoming locals.

Having been to Scotland over a handful of occasions within the final decade, I believe taking a highway journey is the easiest way to discover the nation. House to only 5.5 million folks, it’s a sparsely populated land, a lot of your driving right here will likely be out within the countryside. The nation is simply constructed for it.

However there are nonetheless just a few issues to remember earlier than you depart.

Listed here are 10 Scotland road-trip ideas (plus my favourite routes) to assist make your drive higher, safer, and extra enjoyable (based mostly on my expertise at the very least):

1. Get Journey Insurance coverage

I by no means go away residence with out journey insurance coverage. And I by no means hire a automobile with out complete insurance coverage both.

I do know, it’s an added expense. And chances are high you gained’t even want it.

However what occurs should you do want it and it’s not there? You’ll be paying out of pocket for injury. And that would value you hundreds.

Scotland has plenty of slender, rugged, or single-track roads (extra on these later) that may be difficult to navigate. Tire and windshield injury is frequent. Throw within the ever-changing climate, and also you’ve obtained recipe for hassle.

That’s why I strongly encourage you to take out automobile insurance coverage to your highway journey. The peace of thoughts is value it.

With regards to renting a automobile, I like to recommend Uncover Automobiles. If you e-book, it’s simple so as to add automobile insurance coverage onto your buy with the press of a button. The positioning makes it clear what is roofed and the way a lot it prices.

You should utilize the widget beneath to get a quote. It’s quick and free:

2. Lease the Proper Car

You primarily have two decisions with regards to renting a car in Scotland — and selection will drastically impression your journey. Your choices are a automobile or a campervan.

A automobile will likely be cheaper and use much less gasoline, however you’ll have to search out lodging every night time. A campervan/RV will likely be extra money and require extra gas, however you’ll be able to sleep contained in the car and thus get monetary savings on lodging. (It’s not my jam however to every their very own.)

Each choices make for an incredible journey, so there is no such thing as a flawed reply. Simply remember that guide transmissions are the default in Scotland, so if you would like a car with computerized transmission, you’ll must specify that whereas reserving.
 

3. Be Able to Drive on the Left

Site visitors in Scotland flows on the left, identical to the remainder of the UK. That is the other of the US, Canada, and the vast majority of Europe (solely Eire, the UK, Malta, and Cyprus drive on the left in Europe).

When you hire a guide car, you’ll be switching gears together with your left hand as a substitute of your proper, which has a little bit of a studying curve. (Personally, I favor an computerized).

Outdated habits die exhausting, so should you’re used to driving on the right-hand facet of the highway, drive cautiously. Driving on the left could be particularly difficult if you arrive at a roundabout (extra on that beneath) or in a metropolis. Take it gradual at first, till you regulate.
 

4. Perceive Roundabouts

Roundabouts are a site visitors circles that function intersections, as a substitute of cease lights or cease indicators. They pressure automobiles to decelerate with out stopping the circulate of site visitors. Whereas they aren’t particularly frequent within the US, they’re extremely common in Europe (they cut back severe site visitors accidents by upwards of 90%).

Roundabouts are quite common in Scotland. And so they circulate in the other way (clockwise) than do these within the US (counterclockwise). When approaching a roundabout, decelerate drastically and yield to site visitors within the roundabout till you will have a gap to enter the site visitors circle. All site visitors flows the identical course in a roundabout.

If there are a number of lanes, you’ll have to be on an outer lane when exiting. The internal lane of the roundabout is for automobiles not exiting instantly.

If you’re able to exit the roundabout, sign so automobiles behind you recognize you can be turning.

When you’re not comfy if you arrive at a roundabout, simply take it gradual and sign your intentions. They’re much simpler to deal with than you assume!
 

5. Know the Pace Limits

Posted velocity limits in Scotland are written in miles. Whereas that is useful for Individuals like me, vacationers from international locations that use kilometers will need to pay additional consideration.

Frequent velocity limits are:

• Constructed-up areas: 30 MPH
• Single roadways: 60 MPH
• Twin roadways: 70 MPH
• Highways: 70 MPH

These numbers are simply guides, nonetheless. All the time comply with native signage to make sure security. When doubtful, it’s at all times higher to go slower slightly than quicker till you confirm the velocity. I’d write down some frequent conversions so you’ll be able to have them useful should you get confused.
 

6. Add in Time for Scenic Stops

I do know a number of vacationers like to actually plan out their routes and itineraries. If you solely have just a few days, it may be tempting to plan every thing to a T (I used to do that lots). Nonetheless, there are many diversions to discover in Scotland, from quaint cities to scenic vistas to quick hikes.

You’re going to need to pull over each jiffy for a vista, mountain, loch, or deserted fort. The panorama is so lovely that even the common sights are Insta-worthy. For that motive, construct in buffer time in your itinerary in order that, should you resolve to cease or take just a little diversion, you’ll have the time. I can’t suggest this sufficient. Generally, the perfect components of a visit are those you stumble into. And also you positively don’t need to be dashing from sight to sight both, so plan to be diverted.
 

7. Obtain the Proper Apps

I do know, if you head out on a highway journey, the purpose is to get away out of your telephone so you’ll be able to benefit from the native tradition and beautiful views. Nonetheless, there are many apps on the market that may provide help to get monetary savings, keep protected, and save time. Everybody road-tripping round Scotland ought to have the next apps downloaded to their telephone:

• Met Climate – That is the perfect climate app for the UK. Circumstances can change drastically in Scotland, so plan accordingly.
• Google Maps – The most effective app for wanting up instructions. Be sure to obtain your maps so you will have them for offline use.
• Park4Night – A useful app for locating spots to park to your RV or campervan (together with free ones).
• Flush – A useful app for locating public restrooms.
• Petrol Costs – An app for locating and evaluating close by gasoline costs for when that you must refuel.

8. Deliver a Paper Map

At any time when I am going on a highway journey, I at all times convey a paper map. I do know, Google Maps is simple and free, and cell knowledge protection in Scotland is usually dependable. But it surely’s higher to be protected than sorry. You by no means know when your telephone goes to interrupt, in case your sign will likely be misplaced (prone to occur should you’re driving by distant areas), or if there will likely be an emergency.

Give your self peace of thoughts: convey a paper highway map, and simply go away it within the glove field. You seemingly gained’t want it, however should you do, you’ll be glad you will have it (they make good souvenirs after a visit too).
 

9. Perceive How one can Drive on Single-Monitor Roads

When you get out of the cities, you might encounter single-track roads. These are primarily two-way roads that solely have area for one car. Which means that should you encounter oncoming site visitors, there is no such thing as a room so that you can go each other.

Happily, these roads normally have passing areas constructed into them at common intervals, permitting automobiles to tug over to make room. Benefit from these if you see site visitors coming, in an effort to simply go each other.

Moreover, take it gradual round corners on single-track roads. Accidents can happen right here as a result of you’ll be able to’t see oncoming site visitors (with whom you’re sharing a lane). So, drive slowly, and at all times be ready to cease.

Lastly, remember that many single-track roads are a bit rugged. Blowing a tire can occur simply, particularly should you’re pulling off to the facet to make room for passing automobiles. For that motive, be sure to have a spare tire and that you just even have insurance coverage protection to your tires, simply to be protected.
 

10. Don’t Rush

Whereas Scotland isn’t big, there are nonetheless a number of issues see and do right here. It might be tempting to hurry, so you’ll be able to pack extra into your itinerary, however I strongly encourage you to not accomplish that. High quality, not amount, is the secret. I’ve been on numerous highway journeys around the globe, and slower is at all times higher. Meaning driving much less and spending extra time at every cease. Try this, and also you’ll have the ability to soak in much more of Scotland’s distinctive tradition.

Moreover, chances are high you’ll be driving on a number of smaller, winding roads right here, typically surrounded by ambling livestock to be careful for. Meaning, for security causes, you’ll must decelerate and actually concentrate on the drive. Admire the sights, go away room for spontaneous detours, and overlook about dashing from sight to sight. You gained’t remorse it!
 

Instructed Routes

There are just a few common highway journey routes in Scotland. They every provide various things to see and do, and every require totally different quantities of time to finish. To take advantage of your time, choose the route that most accurately fits your journey pursuits.

Right here’s a fast take a look at just a few of the perfect highway journey routes in Scotland:

North Coast 500 – That is in all probability the preferred highway journey route within the nation. It loops across the northern tip of Scotland, normally beginning and ending in Inverness. Common stops embody Bealach na Bà, Cape Wrath, Smoo Cave, John o’ Groats, and Dunrobin Fortress.

You’ll need at the very least 5 days, although seven days can be preferable. Simply remember that it could get busy in the summertime.

Edinburgh/Glasgow to Glen Coe – Glen Coe is a picturesque valley within the Highlands that’s each a Nationwide Scenic Space and Nationwide Nature Reserve. It’s a preferred spot for photographers and hikers, and a must-visit location for anybody exploring the Highlands.

Glen Coe is simply 2-2.5 hours from Glasgow and Edinburgh, making it a simple day journey (although I counsel stopping in a single day, so you’ll be able to actually take in the views). It’s additionally part of a number of highway journey routes, together with the Argyll Coastal Route (listed subsequent).

Argyll Coastal Route – This route alongside the west coast of Scotland stretches for 129 miles (208 kilometers), from Loch Lomond to Fort Williams. It’s an ideal various to the North Coast 500, because it’s much less common (and thus much less crowded). Common stops alongside this route embody the Inveraray Jail, the cairns of Kilmartin Glen, Glen Coe, and Ben Nevis.

When you may simply drive the space in a single day, plan to spend at the very least three days. That will provide you with time to see the highlights with out dashing.

Highlands Vacationer Route – Chopping throughout the japanese facet of the nation, from Aberdeen to Inverness, this route is a well-liked alternative for historical past buffs, as there are quite a few fort and museum stops, in addition to the positioning of the final battle on British soil, the Battle of Culloden (1746).

The route is simply 116 miles (187 kilometers), however at the very least three days are wanted to take all of it in.
 

Scotland Street Journey FAQ

How lengthy do you want for a Scotland highway journey?
Ideally, at the very least 5-7 days. Clearly, the size will rely in your itinerary, however that could be a strong begin.

When you choose a shorter route or simply need to do a weekend highway journey to camp, three days will suffice.

What’s the most scenic drive in Scotland?
A few of the most scenic drives in Scotland embody the Argyll Coastal Route, the whole North Coast 500, and the Highlands Vacationer Route.

Is driving in Scotland troublesome?
Whereas driving within the cities could be a ache, when you get out into the countryside, it is rather simple. Simply use warning on single-track roads and in roundabouts — and keep in mind that it’s important to drive on the left!

Are you able to drive onto the Isle of Skye?
Yep! It’s related to the mainland by way of a bridge.

What’s the greatest month for a Scotland highway journey?
Typically, April-October is the perfect time to go to. Personally, I just like the autumn, as you’ll get to see the altering leaves. It gained’t be as heat, however costs will likely be decrease and every thing will likely be much less busy.

Scotland is a gorgeous vacation spot and ideal for highway journeys. With beautiful surroundings, historic sights, plentiful mountain climbing alternatives, and potential Loch Ness monster sightings, I believe renting a automobile to discover is the easiest way to expertise the nation. Whether or not you need to uncover the rugged coast or weave concerning the Highlands, having a automobile or campervan will make it each potential and inexpensive. Simply comply with the information above and also you’ll you should definitely have an incredible time!

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