Scotland is a rough and beautiful country, perfect for a road trip. The rugged coasts, calm lakes and hills make it a dream to discover it. There are countless historical castles, iconic distilleries and islands that are perfect for postcards.
I love Scotland. It’s incredibly beautiful and I never get tired of the countless changing landscapes, Scottish distilleries and warm, welcoming locals.
Having visited Scotland a few times in the last decade, I think a road trip is the best way to explore the country. With only 5.5 inhabitants, it is a sparsely populated country, much of your trip here will take place in the countryside. The country is built just for this.
But there are a few other things to consider before you go.
Here are 10 Scottish road trip tips (plus my favourite routes) to make your ride superior, safer and more fun (at least in my experience).:
1. Take out travel insurance
I never leave the house without travel insurance. And I also never rent a car without shell insurance.
I know this is an additional question. And chances are, you don’t even need it.
But what if you need it and it’s not there? You pay the damage out of your pocket. And it could cost you thousands of buck.
Scotland has many narrow, rough or single-lane roads (more on that after) that can be difficult to navigate. Damage to tires and windshield is common. Add to this the ever-changing time and you have the recipe for trouble.
For this reason, I strongly recommend that you take out car insurance for your road trip. Peace of mind is worth it.
When it comes to renting a car, I recommend Discover Cars. When you book, you can easily add car insurance to your purchase at the touch of a button. The website clearly states what is covered and how much it costs.
You can use the widget below to get a quote. It’s fast and free:
2. rent the right vehicle
Basically, you have two options when it comes to renting a vehicle in Scotland — and the choice will have a significant impact on your trip. Your options are a car or a camper.
A car is inexpensive and consumes less gasoline, but you have to find accommodation every night. A motorhome / camper costs more and requires more fuel, but you can sleep in the vehicle and thus save money on accommodation. (It’s not my jam, but everyone’s own.)
Both options make for an awesome trip, so there is no wrong answer. Remember that manual transmissions are the default setting in Scotland.So if you would like a vehicle with an automatic transmission, you must specify this when booking.
3. be ready to roll on the left side
Traffic in Scotland is on the left, just like in the rest of the UK. It is the opposite of the USA, Canada and the majority of Europe (only Ireland, Great Britain, Malta and Cyprus drive on the left in Europe).
When you rent a manual vehicle, you shift with your left hand instead of your right hand, which leads to a learning curve. (I personally prefer an automatic one).
Old habits die hard, so if you are used to driving on the right side of the road, drive carefully. Driving on the left side can be especially difficult if you arrive at a roundabout (more on this below) or in the city. At first, take it slowly until you adjust.
4. Understanding roundabouts
Roundabouts are roundabouts that serve as intersections instead of brake lights or stop signs. They force vehicles to slow down without stopping traffic. Although they are not particularly common in the USA, they are incredibly popular in Europe (they reduce serious traffic accidents by more than 90%).
Roundabouts are very common in Scotland. And they circulate in the opposite direction (clockwise) to the USA (counterclockwise). When approaching a roundabout, slow down significantly and give in to traffic at the roundabout until you have an opening to enter the roundabout. In a roundabout, all traffic flows in the same direction.
