Top Ten Scottish Road Trips

Planning a Scottish road trip to remember?

Scotland's 12 National Tourist Routes and the epic North Coast 500 are some of the best drives in Scotland. If you’re looking for scenic drives in Scotland for touring by car, these driving routes will take you through some of the country's most awe-inspiring landscapes, and you'll find plenty of fantastic attractions and charming towns and villages to visit along the way. Each route varies in length and offers a scenic alternative to main trunk roads and motorways - ideal for a self-drive tour of Scotland. These driving tour routes are easy to follow and well signposted - simply look out for the distinctive brown and white signs Don't forget … all these scenic routes can also be done in reverse! Please remember to plan your trip in advance. It is crucial for the wellbeing of Scotland's landscapes, as well as for local residents and businesses, that the areas around these routes are respected and looked after properly.

1. North Coast 500

Loch Ness

This is the Route 66 of road trips guys. Hailed as one of the best coastal touring routes in the world, it is a must do if you’re planning a Scottish Highlands road trip. Running over 500 miles through Scotland’s North Highlands, this is your chance to see sparkly beaches, ancient castles and draw-dropping coastlines.

Attractions along the way:

· Loch Ness · Smoo Cave · Historic Ruins · Hillo’Many Stanes · Sinclair Girnigoe Castle · Whaligoe Steps · Museums · The Broch · Culloden Battlefield and Visitor Experience · Castles: Dunrobin Castle, Inverness Castle · RSPB Scotland Dunnet Head Nature Reserve (the most northerly mainland point in Britain) · LOTS of whisky distilleries (47 to be exact)

2. Fife Coastal Route – The best views and scenic drive for beach lovers

Aberdour Castle

Coast 500, the route follows along the Firth of Forth coastline over 77 miles, while passing through charming little fishing towns, historic castles and endless beaches.

Attractions along the way:

• Dunfermline Palace and Abbey

• Kingsbarns Distillery

• Scottish Fisheries Museum

• Devilla Forest

• Royal Burgh of Culross

• Kirkcaldy Galleries

• Deep Sea World

• Aberdour Castle – the oldest standing castle in Scotland

• St Andrews University

• Fife Coastal Path: a walking path that takes you through the beach, towns and parks

3. Angus Coastal Route

V&A Dundee

The Angus route extends from where the Fife Coastal Route ends, if you’ve got some extra time why not combine both routes and soak up more of the Scottish coastline? Add to that the culture of the city of Dundee, swim in the beach, or explore some castles?

Attractions along the way:

• V&A Dundee

• Arbroath Abbey

• House of Dun

• Dunnottar Castle

4. Argyll Coastal Route

Glen Coe

Another one of the best road trips in Scotland. This road trip combines both mountains and coastline for a priceless experience. Gain an understanding of traditional Scottish culture as you cruise through many different lochs.

Attractions along the way:

• An Ceann Mor: a manmade viewpoint to look at the sprawling landscape of Loch Lomond

• Inveraray Jail

• Auchindrain: a museum about Scotland’s last Highland farming township

• Kilmartin Museum: learn about the historic monuments that surround the area of Kilmartin Glen, including ruins of a 15th century tower house

• McCaig’s Tower: monument built in 1897 as tribute to a local family in the town of Oban

• Castle Stalker

• Glencoe Folk Museum

• Glen Nevis: the highest mountain in Scotland