Coming in at number one is an island route with “almost Caribbean-looking beaches”.
Skye has been named one of the top road trip destinations in Scotland(Image: Gary Yeowell / Getty Images)
With winter almost over and spring just around the corner, people across Scotland will be looking to get out and explore the country. One of the best ways to take in the sights of Scotland is by heading out on a road trip, and there are plenty to choose from.
While no matter where you drive in Scotland you are sure to be treated to beautiful views, Lonely Planet has shared a guide to the five “most spectacular road trips” in the country. According to the travel experts, the most picturesque driving route in the country is a loop around the Isle of Skye in the Inner Hebrides.
The road trip, which begins and ends in Fort William in the western Scottish Highlands, is around 310 miles in length and should take around four days to complete. The journey to Skye from Fort William sees drivers take the bridge over and passing by the spectacular Eilean Donan Castle, while they will return to the mainland via ferry.
Lonely Planet praised the route for its varied scenery that includes everything from dramatic cliffs to idyllic harbours. Also singled out was the island’s Duirinish Peninsula, which was noted for its hiking opportunities and renowned restaurants.
The travel guide wrote: “So long as you’re not after guaranteed sunshine, Skye has it all. This atmospheric island off the west coast is a riot of craggy peaks, towering sea stacks and waterlogged shorelines, famed for its Gaelic culture and vibrant food scene.
A view of Old Man of Storr and the Trotternish Ridge on Isle of Skye(Image: _ultraforma_ / Getty Images)
“This round-trip route from Fort William allows you to take the bridge to the island in one direction (passing the grand Eilean Donan Castle en route), and return to the mainland via the ferry to Mallaig. Once you’re on the island, a classic counterclockwise loop starts with a visit to Skye’s largest town, Portree, with its pretty harbour, before roaming over the volcanic cliffs of the Trotternish Peninsula.
“Next, the Duirinish Peninsula offers wild hiking country and some excellent restaurants, while the jagged ridges of the Cuillin Hills are a destination in themselves for hikers and photographers. In between, there are castles, almost Caribbean-looking beaches and some of Britain’s best wild swimming spots, plus side trips by ferry to the surrounding Small Isles, which offer great bird-watching, particularly in spring and autumn.”
Following behind in second place on Lonely Planet’s list of the most picturesque road trips in Scotland is the North Coast 500. Among the most popular and well known driving routes in the country, the North Coast 500 is a 516-mile journey around the northern tip of Scotland that begins and ends at Inverness Castle.
The North Coast 500 earned acclaim from Lonely Planet for its beaches, as well as beauty spots such as John O’Groats and nearby Dunnet Head. Additionally, the travel guide singled out the various charming crofting villages along the northern coast.
Lonely Planet stated: “If you follow the route counterclockwise (saving the best scenery till last), you’ll head past the moors and sandy beaches of the east coast before hitting John O’Groats and nearby Dunnet Head—mainland Britain’s northernmost point.
“The north coast has a windswept beauty that gets increasingly rugged as you continue west past bogs, cliffs and crofting villages. The views as you head down the loch-strewn west coast are perhaps Britain’s finest, with sweeping vistas of mountains and islands.”
The North Coast 500 is one of the most iconic road trips in Scotland(Image: Jason Harris / Getty Images)
Coming in at number three on the travel guide’s roundup is the North East 250, which is a 250-mile circular route that takes motorists on a journey to the Moray coast, east coast, Deeside, Moray Speyside, and the Cairngorms National Park. According to Lonely Planet, the route takes around four days to complete.
Highlights of the North East 250 according to the travel experts are the village of Spittal of Glenshee and the the Moray Firth coastline. The former is described as a popular destination for skiing, while the latter was noted for its various spectacular beaches.
Rounding out Lonely Planet’s list of the “most spectacular” road trips in Scotland are the Borders Historic Route and the Clyde Sea Lochs and the Argyll Coast. The former is a 97-miles journey between Carlisle and Edinburgh, while the Clyde Sea Lochs and the Argyll Coast is a 240-mile drive between Glasgow and Fort William.
See below for the full list of the “most spectacular road trips” in Scotland according to Lonely Planet. More information about each one can be found on the Lonely Planet website.
Scotland’s five ‘most spectacular road trips’
- An Isle of Skye driving loop
- North Coast 500
- North East 250
- Borders Historic Route
- Clyde Sea Lochs and the Argyll Coast