Welcome to our guide to the 11 Best Scenic Drives in Scotland with the Best Scotland Views + tips for driving in Scotland!
Well, Scotland is absolutely beautiful and the best way to see it is by car. Scotland is home to the most dramatic sceneries with mountain glens, lochs, and castles you must see to believe. A road trip that takes you right through raw nature is the definite way to explore Scotland. Planning a road trip in Scotland can be difficult, having so many Scenic drives in Scotland and so many places to visit. Therefore, we have decided to make this guide to the 11 best Scenic drives in Scotland with the best Scotland views. In each Scenic drive, we will note the best roadside viewpoints along the way with maps and lots of pictures.
Don’t miss our full Scotland road trip itinerary, with our suggested 10 day Scotland itinerary filled with maps, trails, pictures, and lots of recommendations on all the must-visit places in Scotland. Also, while driving the best scenic drives in Scotland, you might find some castles along the way. The ones not to be missed are stated in our guide to the Best Castles in Scotland.
Note that all photography on this guide (and throughout our website) was shot by me (Alina) and if you wish to purchase any, some are available at my Etsy shop.
For more Itineraries and travel guides, visit our Destinations page.
But before we dig into our guide to the 11 Best Scenic Drives in Scotland with the best Scotland views, let’s review some information about renting a car and our tips for driving in Scotland.
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Car rental in Scotland
Obviously, to drive the best scenic drives in Scotland you will have to rent a car. When choosing a car rental company, we always prefer choosing a local car rental as they are usually cheaper than the international brands with more free add-ons. Of course, it’s important to check those companies for their Google ratings and to read reviews.
On our trip, we chose Celtic Legend and they work with Arnold Clark for the rental itself and we were super pleased. We booked a Group 10 car and got a brand-new BMW 320i Sport. The price was affordable for this luxury car and it was similar to the smallest and simplest car in other companies.
We recommend adding an Excess Waiver/ Super CDW / Full protection, or in other words, having a zero excess, for a more relaxed mind.
Tips for driving in Scotland
As it is a guide to the Best Scenic drives in Scotland, we gathered several tips for driving in Scotland since it is not the simplest thing to do and it is better to be prepared.
- First and most important – driving in Scotland is on the left side! Which is probably not the most comfortable thing to do for most of the population. If you are used to driving on the right side it will need some getting used to and you will need to constantly remind it for you while driving. Everything you are used to is exactly the opposite, roundabouts, turning right to the farther lane, turning left to the close one, etc. But don’t worry, you will get used to It faster than you think. Besides, Scotland is a very popular destination, so you are not alone in the struggle.
- An important tip! Choose an automatic gear. Although it is cheaper, don’t challenge yourself more than necessary.
- Let’s talk about Scottish speed limits, even if there is no sign, there are national speed limits in Scotland:
- Urban areas: 30 mph (48 km/hr)
- Single carriageways: 60 mph (96 km/hr)
- Dual carriageways & Motorways: 70 mph (112 km/hr)
- Most roads in Scotland are straightforward one lane for each direction single carriageways. However, especially in the highlands, most of the smaller roads have only one lane for both ways with passing places (with a special sign) to allow the car in front to pass. As a general rule, if the passing place is on your left, you will need to go there and let the car in front of you pass.
- Potholes! There are many! The roads are not perfect at all, so just be careful and make sure you have a spare tire in your trunk. Unfortunately, we had a flat tire and the car did not have a spare (it was supposed to be run flat tire – well it was definitely flat and ruined!). Luckily, we found a nearby garage.
- Lastly, there are lots of free-range sheep herds and Highland cows that can walk on the road, so please, be careful, be patient and let them pass quietly.
To conclude, be super careful, always drive on the left and just be kind. 😊
Now let’s start our guide to the 11 Best Scenic Drives in Scotland with the best Scotland views:
Our recommended 11 Best Scenic Drives in Scotland with the Best Scotland Views
Before we begin, note that the order of the scenic drives is just chronological along our suggested Scotland itinerary.
Best Scenic Drives in Scotland: #1 Loch a’ Chroisg to Loch Torridon – Road A832 to A896
- Length: 31 Km (19 miles)
- Roads: A832 – one lane in each direction; A832 – single-lane road
Beautiful scenery on this road with a few viewpoints to check:
A – Loch a’ Chroisg – Not really a viewpoint, just a nice view from the road near Loch a’ Chroisg. This is where this scenic drive begins.
B – Glen Docherty Viewpoint – Wow what a view! It was an unexpected stop for us as we saw it on the way and had to stop for a picture and a snack with a view. It is definitely a must-see viewpoint.
C – Loch Clair Viewpoint – There is no marked viewpoint here, just a beautiful point to stop along the A896 road. The A896 road itself is narrow (and bumpy) with only one lane for two-way traffic, and you can make a brief stop at the ‘PASSING PLACE’ sign. The coordinates for this exact spot are 57.56666, -5.35069.
D – Loch Torridon Viewpoint – A nice place to stop with parking, just walk ahead a few steps for the viewpoint on Loch Torridon.
Best Scenic Drives in Scotland: #2 Applecross Pass – Tornapress to Bealach na Ba Viewpoint
- Length: 10 Km (6 miles)
- Roads: Applecross Pass – a very narrow single-lane road (with potholes)
Applecross Pass is one of the best scenic drives in Scotland! On A896 road you will see a sign ‘Applecross’, this is where the magic begins! Just follow the road uphill until you reach Bealach Na Ba Viewpoint. Note that the road itself along the mountains is the deal here and not the viewpoint at the summit, which is just nice. Once you reach the viewpoint you return the same majestic way back to the A896 road. Look for deer along the way, as we saw lots of them here!
Be careful along the A896 road and the Applecross Pass Road as there are lots of potholes. We got there a flat tire, luckily, Lochcarron Garage was close by and they had the right tire for our rental car. So, keep in mind that there is a garage nearby.
B – Bealach na Ba Viewpoint – Note that the highlight of this scenic drive is the way itself to the viewpoint, and the Bealach na Ba viewpoint is just nice.
Best Scenic Drives in Scotland: #3 Milovaig to Neist Point
Length: 3 Km (2 miles)
- Road: single-lane road
On the way to the highlight of this scenic drive – Neist Point, you can make a stop at Loch Mor Viewpoint (marked B on the map).
C – NEIST POINT – Neist Point is the westernmost part of the Isle of Skye and it’s absolutely beautiful! A stunning cliff scenery with a lighthouse at the tip. There is a trail that goes up to the lighthouse, the path itself is paved but is considered moderate due to some elevation areas, especially the end of the trail – going up those stairs that you went down at the beginning of the trail. The trail is 2.7 km long and it takes about an hour to complete. We didn’t do the trail because we felt that the best view is actually from the mainland and this point is not on the trail itself. You can find this viewpoint on the map above – the orange one without a mark is Neist Point Viewpoint. You can see our pictures from there below. You might notice some sheep with adorable baby lambs in the area and along the road up to the parking. The parking is free and there were no toilets.
Best Scenic Drives in Scotland: #4 Loch nan Eilean to Sligachan – Road A863
- Length:
2 Km (1 mile) - Road: A863 – one lane in each direction
The whole scenery in this area is absolutely beautiful with the Black Cuillin on the right and the Red Cuillin on the left. There are no formal viewpoints on this road, but it is so beautiful that there should be. The first photo below, of the Black Cuillin, was taken on the A863 road about 1 Km from Sligachan, we’ve named it Loch nan Eilean Viewpoint (A). The second photo, of the Red Cuillin, was taken further on the A863 about ½ Km from Sligachan, close to the Sligachan waterfalls parking. We named it the Red Cullin Viewpoint (B).
H – Sligachan Old Bridge – The Old Sligachan Bridge was built between 1810-1818 by engineer Thomas Telford. It was replaced by the new bridge next to it, and the old bridge is open to pedestrians only. There is a legend behind the Sligachan Bridge, that if you dip your face in the river below for 7 seconds and then let it dry naturally, you will get eternal beauty. So, if you believe in legends, mind that the water is freezing cold!
Best Scenic Drives in Scotland: #5 Fairy Glen to The Quiraing – A87 to A855
- Length:
33 Km (20 miles) - Roads: A87 – one lane in each direction; A855 – single-lane road
The beautiful Isle of Skye has endless scenic drives! This drive takes the long scenic way from Fairy Glen to the majestic Quiraing along the A855 road. The first picture is marked A on the map and it offers Views of Idrigill & Uig.
B – The Fairy Glen & Castle Ewen – Not to be missed! A beautiful landscape with cone-shaped hills that gave the glen a mystical vibe and its name. Sheader Road goes through the glen itself, but we recommend that you park and explore the unique scenery on foot. The highest hill in Fairy Glen has a unique top that resembles a castle ruin, called Castle Ewan (featured in our 9 Best Castles in Scotland, although not an actual castle). It is possible to climb to the top for views of the glen, although it is a bit of a tricky climb. There is paid parking and it is quite small, also there are no toilets. It was snowing during our visit there, which made the glen even more beautiful! It took us about one hour to explore.
The next pictures were taken along the A855 road on the way to The Quiraing. The first is marked C on the map and the second is marked D. The third was taken on the road that leads to The Quiraing.
E – The Quiraing Walk – Our favorite and most scenic place to see in the Isle of Skye and is a total MUST! There is paid parking and no toilet. You can admire the jaw-dropping scenery of The Quiraing just after taking a few steps from the parking. But in our opinion, the walk is totally worth it! We did a shorter version of the walk called ‘The Prison Walk’. It is about half of the full circuit, 4.3 km long, out and back trail, which took us 2 hours to complete. You walk towards The Prison which is a pyramid-shaped peak, then you do loop around it from the right side. You can see in the picture below, follow the green arrow around The Prison, follow a steep climb near the fence, and come back to the main road (red arrow). You can find more information about the trails in our full Scotland Road Trip Itinerary.
Best Scenic Drives in Scotland: #6 Kilt Rock to The Old Man of Storr – Road A855
Length: 19 Km (12 miles)
Roads: A855 – one lane in each direction
Another scenic road in the Isle of Skye, with its most famous The Old Man of Storr as the main attraction.
A – Kilt Rock & Mealt Falls – One beautiful viewpoint for both Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls. Mealt waterfall, which is fed from nearby Mealt Loch falls over sheer cliffs and drops roughly 55m to the rocky shore below. Check out the video of the waterfalls on the right.
North of the Mealt Falls, there is a rock formation that looks strikingly similar to the pleated folds of a traditional Highland kilt, hence the name Kilt Rock (in the photo below).
By the way, the view to the south is beautiful as well (right picture below). The free parking is right at the viewpoint, which is super convenient.
B – Lealt Falls – Lealt Waterfall is a dramatic waterfall on the River Lealt. It has parking nearby, with a few minutes walk you can view the falls, and if you walk further there are beautiful ocean views. Unfortunately, due to the weather conditions, and lack of time we did not visit, but we do recommend visiting since it’s right on the way and it looks beautiful. We do regret not stopping by, since the viewing platform is right at the parking.
C – Just an amazing view of The Old Man of Storr from the scenic A855 road.
D – Old Man of Storr – The highlight of Isle of Skye and of this scenic drive. The parking is paid and there are toilets. We definitely recommend doing the hike uphill to the Old Man of Storr. The path starts through the gate near the back of the car park, note that the path is pretty steep uphill but except for the tough climb and lots of stairs, the path itself is not the hardest. There are several trails that we elaborate on in detail in our full Scotland Road Trip Itinerary.
We had snowy weather and the whole trail from the Old Man of Storr and forward was covered in snow, which was magical. However, we could barely see the trail itself, so we headed back after reaching the Needle Rock. This took us (out and back) a total of an hour and a half. But we do recommend continuing the full trail for the most magnificent views!
E – Bride’s Veil Falls – Right on the way from the Old Man of Storr there is a nice waterfall. It was pretty dark by the time we finished the Old Man of Storr trail, therefore we gave it up. However, this roadside waterfall is worth a photo stop in our opinion. The photograph below was taken near the falls.
F – Loch Fada – Magnificent views of the Old Man of Storr along the A855 road near Loch Fada.
Best Scenic Drives in Scotland: #7 Fairy pools to Glenbrittle
- Length:
7 Km (4 miles) - Road: single-lane road
This scenic drive goes through the beautiful scenery of the Black Cuillin Mountains. The following picture (marked A on the map) was taken about halfway from the B8009 road near Merkadale to the Fairy Pools.
B – Fairy Pools – The iconic Fairy Pools is a very popular attraction in Skye and is not to be missed. You can see the beautiful scenery from the road, but we recommend to park and do this trail through this gorgeous scenery. This hike is featured in our guide to the Best Hikes in Isle of Skye. The Fairy Pools are a series of beautiful pools with crystal clear water and waterfalls at the foot of the Black Cuillin Hills. The trail is an out-and-back easy 3.7 km trail that took us about 1.5 hours to complete. Just walk from the car park towards the mountains along the River Brittle until you reach the big fairy pool (wide but shallow falls). The car park is paid and there are toilets, however, they were closed during our visit.
C – Glen Brittle Waterfalls– A few minutes’ drive from the Fairy Pools parking lot, just stop at the Glenbrittle Youth Hostel and the waterfall is right there. There is a path towards the mountains, you can walk towards the waterfall for a closer look, there are more waterfalls along the path.
Best Scenic Drives in Scotland: #8 Torrin to Elgol – Road B8083
- Length: 15 Km (9 miles)
- Road: B8083 – single-lane road (with potholes)
The road B8083 to Elgol from the main road (A87) is quite long (22 Km) and takes about half an hour drive. It leads to Elgol, which is a small village on Loch Scavaig, it offers one of the best views of the majestic Cuillin Ranges. The road is narrow and very bumpy, especially near Elgol, so be careful. However, it’s totally worth the views along the road and in Elgol itself. We named the picture below Loch Salpin Viewpoint, just stop anywhere along the road in the area marked B on the map for the endless views.
C – We were hoping to encounter the iconic fluffy Scottish Highland cows in Isle of Skye, and we found them near the road to Drinan!
D – Elgol – You can admire the beauty of the Cuillin Ranges from the beach. Moreover, Elgol is the base for Misty Isle Boat Trips that take you to the amazing Loch Coruisk, which is basically the other side of the Black Cuillin. For prices and inquiries check out their website. For more information about Loch Coruisk go to our full Scotland road trip itinerary.
Best Scenic Drives in Scotland: #9 Dornie to Ratagan – Road A87
- Length: 16 Km (10 miles)
- Roads: A87 – one lane in each direction; Old Military Road – single-lane road
This scenic drive goes on the banks of Loch Duich with the most beautiful castle in Scotland (in our opinion of course) on the route:
B – Eilean Donan Castle – A Must-See! The iconic Eilean Donan Castle sits on a small island where three lochs meet: Loch Alsh, Loch Duich and Loch Long. It’s connected to the mainland by a footbridge constructed in the early 20th Century.
First, some history, the name Eilean Donan means ‘Island of Donan’, named after a Celtic saint, Bishop Donan that came to Scotland in the 6th century. The castle was built in the early 13th century as a defense from the Vikings. Since then, over the centuries, the Eilean Donan Castle was involved in many raids and sieges until it was destroyed to ruins in the 18th century during the Jacobite risings, with a series of rebellions and endless battles. For over 200 years, the ruins remained abandoned until John MacRae-Gilstrap, a British Army officer from the famous Black Watch regiment bought the island in 1911. He was behind the reconstruction of the castle, which was finished in 1932 and opened to the public in 1955.
Inside the spectacular Eilean Donan castle, you will walk around its various rooms: the kitchen, inner courtyard, banqueting hall and the main keep. For opening hours and admission prices, click here (and check out their live webcam).
If you love castles as much as we do, you will find Eilean Donan and more castles in our Guide to the Scottish Castles.
A – A nice viewpoint on the Eilean Donan Castle, near All The Goodness Coffee & Bakeshop:
Now there is a quite dramatic tide difference which totally eliminates the water near the castle. You can see in the photos below (the one on the left was taken at sunset, and the one on the right was taken around 2 PM). As you can see, the picture is totally different. If it’s important to you, you can check this website for tide information.
C – Ratagan Pass Viewpoint – A spectacular view of Loch Duich and the Five Sisters. The viewpoint is right on the road.
Best Scenic Drives in Scotland: #10 Glencoe – Road A82
Length: 15 Km (9 miles)
Roads: A82 – one lane in each direction
Glencoe, WOW, simply beautiful! This is absolutely our favorite scenic drive in all of Scotland! Such a unique scenery, everywhere you look you are surrounded by majestic mountains. Let’s get to know them. Aonach Eagach Ridge which means ‘notched ridge’, travels along the northern side of Glencoe and is probably the most famous ridge in Scotland. On the southern side stand the three peaks of Aonach Dubh, Gearr Aonach and Beinn Fhada which are together known as the Three Sisters of Glencoe, also known as Bidean Nam Bian. Further along, there is Buachaille Etive Beag ridge and afterward, the famous Buachaille Etive Mor which means ‘the Great Herdsman of Etive’, as the mountain stands like a guardian at the head of Glencoe.
Now let’s address a nomenclature problem. The name Glencoe is mistakenly referring to the valley. But actually, Glencoe is the name of a village at the foot of the valley, and Glen Coe is the actual name of the valley itself.
A – Loch Achtriochtan – What a beautiful stop! One of our favorite photographs was taken there and it’s the main picture of our Scotland Road Trip Itinerary. There is a bridge that goes over River Coe, just cross the bridge and walk up to the lake that sits at the foot of the Three Sisters. There is free parking near the bridge.
You can see Loch Achtriochtan from the A82 Road in the video below, it was taken during sunset.
B – Three Sisters Viewpoint – The stunning Three Sisters of Glencoe (Bidean Nam Bian) are the three peaks of Aonach Dubh, Gearr Aonach and Beinn Fhada. There is a huge free parking lot, right at the viewpoint.
C – The Meeting of Three Waters – Also known as the Glencoe Falls. As the name suggests, the falls are formed from 3 different sources forming the River Coe which flows into Loch Achtriochtan. There is a small parking along the road, east of the waterfall. Be careful when crossing the busy road!
D – Glencoe Viewpoint – The most scenic viewpoint in Glencoe! Just park and take a small path south of the road, walk a few meters, and enjoy the breathtaking 360° views! We’ve visited twice, during the day and at sunset – HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! In the first picture below, you can see it at sunset, with Buachaille Etive Beag on the left. In the last picture you can see Buachaille Etive Mòr from the road, notice how different it looks from this angle. It’s not for nothing that this beauty is the main picture of this Guide to the best scenic drives in Scotland. Lots of parking spaces (free), however, it is pretty popular so it might get crowded.
E – Kingshouse Hotel – It’s not only our recommended hotel in Glencoe but also it has the most amazing views surrounding it. And… there is a huge bonus – there are frequent encounters with red deer right near the hotel! We are so lucky to find this hidden gem, as you can only book directly through their website. If you are not staying there, you must visit. We just can’t say enough about the scenery, let’s let the pictures do the talking.
F – Altnafeadh Viewpoint – A nice viewpoint on all of Glencoe with Buachaille Etive Mòr in the middle.
Best Scenic Drives in Scotland: 11# Glen Etive – Road A82 to Loch Etive
Length: 20 Km (12 miles)
Road: a very narrow single-lane road
A beautiful scenic road along Glen Etive that leads to Loch Etive. We have stopped along the way many times, as it is nature in its full glory. Look for Red deer along the way, we saw a big group just walking in the Glen. The road itself is paved but it is a narrow single lane for two-way traffic and it can get quite busy so you might need to use the passing places a lot.
A – Buachaille Etive Mór Viewpoint – A beautiful viewpoint of Buachaille Etive Mòr from River Coupall. You can admire it from the bridge, or you can take a few steps along the river for some nicer shots of the river flowing over the stones.
B – James Bond Skyfall Road –
This specific spot was featured in the 2012 Bond’s Skyfall movie. Many try to recreate the same scene, including us. 😊 The exact coordinates are 56.619482, -4.930830
C – Loch Etive – This is the endpoint of the road, the gorgeous Loch Etive. If you are lucky and the water is flat you will get the perfect picture with the mirror reflection of the mountains. We weren’t that lucky as it was raining, nevertheless, it was beautiful! There is a free small parking right near Loch Etive.
Well, that’s it! This was our Guide to the 11 Best Scenic Drives in Scotland with the Best Scotland Views + Tips for Driving in Scotland.
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