Scotland was made for van life and hitting the open road. With so many incredible places to visit, it’s honestly more difficult trying to pick where you want to go from a never-ending list!
From the coastal trail in Fife to the road to Skye, all the way to the NC500, there’s so much to do and see via car in this incredible country.

We’ve been driving around Scotland for the last 3 years, photographing breathtaking landscapes, meeting incredible business owners in the most remote places in Scotland and having an absolute blast doing so. So it seemed only right that we share with you what we think are the 3 best bucket-list road trips in Scotland that you should give a crack in 2023!

Let’s hit the road!

The NC500
The NC500 is a 500 mile ring across the most northern point of Scotland. From beautiful coast lines to rugged mountains, windy roads to breathtaking landscapes, you can understand why this is one of the most popular routes in Scotland. Despite it being a famous route, the beauty of this drive is that you can do it at your own pace (and by that we mean, take it slow) Some people try to do the NC500 in 3 days which is absolutely mental. Sure you CAN drive 500 miles in 3 days, but are you really enjoying yourself?
This route is more about the journey than the destination itself! It can be a bit of an overwhelming trip to undertake, so stay tuned for another blog post on how to plan the most ideal NC500 itinerary.
Callander to Glencoe
This is one of our tried and tested all time favorite road trips that we take all our first time visitor pals to see in Scotland. Callander is only a 1.5 hour drive out of Edinburgh (worthwhile stopping at Doune Castle and Deanston Distillery too!) but the real magic happens inbetween Callander and Glencoe. The landscape begins to change, rushing rivers appear our of nowhere, wildlife begins to emerge and before you know it, you’re graced with the magic of Buachaille Etive Mòr, the wee white house and finally the 3 sisters.
There are plenty of fabulous hikes around this area and the drive down to Glen Etive has a few wild swimming spots and wild stags roaming about too. Take your time to really explore this area as there’s so much to see and do!
The Road to Skye
This road trip is the true definition of a highland mile. A highland mile isn’t a regular ol’ mile, because it’ll take you hours to actually complete that singular mile given you’ll be stopping…well…a shit load. The route from Fort William through to the Isle of Skye is absolutely SPECTACULAR all year round. Luckily there are plenty of places to pull over and take photographs or to simply sit and soak in the fresh air, babbling rivers and (often) snow capped mountains that make you feel oh so small. Skye itself of course is incredible, but the drive there just DOES SOMETHING TO US THAT WE CANNOT EXPLAIN!!

Let us know below which road trip you’re most keen on checking out (or if you have any personal favorites too) we’re always looking for that next epic road trip to share with you!

If you’re looking for more inspiration for your next Scottish adventure, why not check out our guide Spellbinding Scotland - 7 transcendent days in Scotland.

Thanks so much for reading, til next time!

3 Bucketlist Road Trips in Scotland for 2023