10 day self driving road trip Scotland

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Scotland is a paradise for road trip lovers with its breathtaking scenery, rich history and charming villages. A 10 day self driving road trip through Scotland is the perfect way to get a good impression of everything it has to offer. We are listing al the highlights (and some extra’s!) as well as the route we drove below. Discover not only the Isle of Skye and the Loch Ness monster, but also historical Stirling and the Cairngorms.

10 day self driving road trip Scotland

We took this road trip at the end of October in 2023. It turned out to be a gentle fall and we didn’t suffer much ‘English’ weather. And while normally we like to go with the flow, this time we made a day-to-day planning to ensure we got the maximum from our trip. If you’re self driving in Scotland, there is a multitude of routes you could drive. The one we did is not unknown, but we went out of our way to get off the beaten paths.

Day 1-3, Fife & Edinburgh

We flew directly from Oslo to Edinburgh and picked up our little orange Fiat in which the two of us just fit in. We decided, also due to the crazy prices, to stay across the water in Dalgety Bay and not in the city. We loved this! From there is was an easy bus or train ride to the centre and we got to sleep in a quiet neighborhood with great views over the bay.

The nearby North Queensferry, which is directly by the Forth Brigde, is a charming village with old, narrow streets by the coast. This is where you’ll find Deep Sea World, with Europe’s longest under water tunnel. The Fife Coastal Path also end here.

We know Edinburgh as the beautiful, medieval city that has brought the world a lot. In 2 days we explored the Royal Mile, visited the castle, Calton Hill and the Grassmarket. It was insanely busy during the days we were there, and that usually doesn’t make us happy, so we adapted. We sat in the sunshine at Grassmarket, did a traditional Sunday Roast and explored the quieter areas.

An extensive 3 day guide to Edingburgh can be hound here.

→ Do book your walking tours and entry tickets (especially to the castle) ahead of time to avoid long lines.

• Rankins Cafe in North Queensferry for breakfast or lunch in a cute, Scottish cafe. The blood sausage is great.
• Old Maggie Dickson’s at Grassmarket, with a good story.
• The Queen’s Arms for Edinburgh’s best Sunday Roast

We stayed at Bay and Bridge, a proper Scottish B&B with breakfast made to order and nice rooms. And great when you’re driving: free parking.

Day

3, Loch Lomond

We knew Scotland’s most famous song, ‘The Bonnie Banks O’ Loch Lomond’, so obviously we had to go visit this lake. It is the largest in Scotland and beautifully located. Loch Lomond whisky is also from here, but we stopped here mainly to hike Conic Hill.

The 350 meter ascend was pretty doable. Once on top you’ll be rewarded with fantastic views over Loch Lomond and its little islands.

Afterwards we had lunch at The Oak Tree Inn, directly across the parking lot. The fire was on, the haggis good and we were all energized again for the rest of the drive.

Day 3-4, Glencoe

We continued our way to Fort William, from where we wanted to explore Glencoe. We arrived pretty late at our B&B, had dinner in town and went to bed early in order to make the most out of the next day.

We skipped the Harry Potter train, but did look for (and found) Hagrid’s Hut (here) and then continued along river Etive, a beautiful drive. Jochem took an ice bath in the river and we had lunch at Clachaig Inn to warm up with coffee and lunch.

After a stop at Ballachulish view point we continued to Ben Nevis, Scotland’s highest mountain. To climb it is a full day task, most people take around 9 hours. We did not have that time, and the views ‘below’ are pretty stunning as well. We hiked in the valley and enjoyed the sun instead.

Wanna go up? There is a cable car that takes you to 650 meters, which is about halfway up. If you’re climbing, check the weather and wear proper hiking shoes. Do not attempt in sneakers!

Our choice in Fort Williams was Buccleuch Guesthouse. Centrally located and right by the water. Typically Scottish complete with creaking floors, we love it! We even had a bath, and breakfast was (like everywhere) great.

Day 5-7, Eilean Donan Castle & Isle of Skye

On the way to Isle of Skye we stopped at Eilean Donan castle, a 13th century castle overlooking the Isle of Skye. It’s the most photographed castle of Scotland, and once there, you will see why. It could look familiar since it’s in movies like James Bond and Highlander.

Our in detail guide of unmissable things to do in Isle of Skye will help you plan that part of your trip. We took 3 full days for Skye and even though you could easily tack on another couple, 3 will give you a good impression.

Day 8, Inverness

From Skye we went en route to Inverness. Especially to visit Leakey’s Bookshop and we were hoping for an evening with live music. We found that at MacGregor’s. Make sure to reserve a table in the bar area! The next morning was rough, but John, our B&B owner knew just what to do about that. We got a whisky with breakfast and wether that was the trick or not, we felt a bit better by the time we got into the car.

Our first stop was Urquhart Castle, on the banks of Loch Ness. Nowadays it’s mostly in ruins, but you can walk around after watching the intro movie, climb the tower and enjoy the views.

We opted to drive back along the other side of the loch, the much lesser traveled road. This was a beautiful drive through the highlands and the clouds. For lunch we stopped in Whitebridge, where we had lunch at Whitebridge Hotel and where the fire was on and the locals enjoyed their beer.

Our second destination was the Tomatin distillery. A small whisky maker going back to 1897. We had been to Talisker distillery on Skye, but we liked Tomatin better. Especially cool is that they store the barrels on their own grounds still, and a large part of staff also lives on the grounds. A proper family business. We left with 2 nice bottles.

In Inverness, we slept at Moyness House, run by John. A rough Scot with a big mouth and an even bigger heart. Beautiful rooms, breakfast and free parking.

Day 9, the Cairngorms

The second to last day of our 10 day Scotland road trip, we spent in the Cairngorms, a large nature reserve. Always wanted to see reindeer? That’s possible here! The Cairngorms houses the only free roaming herd in Scotland. You can do a guided tour where you will meet them on their own turf, but if you don’t have that much time you can also see them at the visitor’s centre where they rest once a while.

Check their website first if you’re thinking about doing a tour, because they have a couple or rules, especially clothing wise.

The Cairngorms are actually an outdoor lover’s paradise. We did a 4k hike and swam in lake Glenmore. We considered going skeet shooting, but decided against due to the prices.

We spent the night at Boat Country Inn, right on the edge of the Cairngorms, which made it a perfect base.

Day 10, Stirling

We ended our road trip in Stirling, an old town with lots of history. It played an important part during the Scottish independence and became famous due to the Battle at Stirling Bridge in 1297.

The castle is one of the most important historical castles in Scotland, and most definitely worth a visit, as well as the old prison, the Dunblane cathedral and the old cemetery on top op the hill.

We had drinks with live music at No 2 Baker Street, had dinner at Brea, a contemporary Scottish restaurant and slept at Fletcher’s right in the city.

10 day self driving road trip Scotland: FAQ

What’s the best time to travel to Scotland?

Bad weather doesn’t exist, only bad clothing. A cliche, but true. We were there at the end of October, and got sunshine, rain and storm. We didn’t care, but if you hate it, spring and summer are a better (but busier) alternative. But there’s never any guarantees, especially not in the Highlands.

Can I drive in Scotland?

Yes! Your driver’s license is valid for tourist trips. Remember that they drive on the left, but you get used to it quicker than you think.

What should I know if I plan to hike a lot?

Always check the weather, and wear proper shoes and gear. The weather can change and the paths slippery. Check your route ahead of the hike and respect the land owners. Don’t come close to any animals and don’t leave anything behind.

What if I don’t have a car?

Public transport in Scotland works well. Trains, buses, boats and planes are all available to you, even to the smaller towns. Check your journey on Traveline.