Scotland road trip: Glasgow to Edinburgh via the Highlands
A 1321.9 km route through Scotland, United Kingdom, 8 stops, from Day 1 (Glasgow to Kennacraig) to Day 10 (Stirling to Ediniburgh), filmed by travmap.
- Distance
- 1321.9 km
- Duration
- 7 days
- Mode
- route
- Start
- Day 1 (Glasgow to Kennacraig)
- End
- Day 10 (Stirling to Ediniburgh)
- Stops
- 8
- Video author
- travmap
- Updated
Stops on this route
- Day 1 (Glasgow to Kennacraig) — Scotland's largest city blends Victorian architecture with modern culture before heading west toward the Argyll peninsula's rugged coastline.
- Day 2 (Islay) — Hebridean island renowned for world-class whisky distilleries, dramatic sea cliffs, and windswept moorlands steeped in Gaelic heritage.
- Day 4 (Glencoe to Inverness) — Iconic mountain valley featuring towering peaks and lochs leads northward to the Highlands' cultural capital on the River Ness.
- Day 5 (Inverness to Thurso) — Route through the Far North crosses remote glens and lochs to Britain's most northerly town on the Pentland Firth.
- Day 6 (Thurso to Ullapool) — Journey across Scotland's rugged northwest highlands to a charming fishing port serving as gateway to the Summer Isles.
- Day 8 (Isle of Skye) — Dramatic Inner Hebridean island famed for jagged mountain ranges, misty glens, and isolated villages rich in Norse and Gaelic culture.
- Day 9 (Plockton to Stirling) — Route from picturesque Highland loch village southward to historic market town controlling the gateway between Lowlands and Highlands.
- Day 10 (Stirling to Ediniburgh)
Useful for your trip
- Transport
- Book your ferry tickets 2 months in advance. Car tickets are often sold out before passenger tickets.
- Timing
- Arrive at the ferry 45 minutes before departure to ensure parking and check-in time.
- Where to stay
- Stonefield Castle is an 1837 castle hotel. Offers rooms with views of Loch Fine. It is recommended to stop here in front of the ferry to Isla.
- Tip
- Stonefield Castle has over 60 acres of woodland and gardens. It is recommended to spend at least half a day walking around the grounds and on the beach.
- Food
- At Stonefield Castle, the restaurant specialises in seafood. Dinner with a view of the lake lasts about 1.5 hours.
- Save money
- The Gallery of Modern Art in Glasgow is a free museum in an eighteenth-century mansion. It contains works by Dali, Picasso and other masters.
- Tip
- Hike the Mural Trail in central Glasgow. Contains more than 30 murals created to combat urban decay.
- Where to stay
- If you rent a car, book a hotel near the ferry the day before. Only one suitable place was found near Kennacraig.
- Transport
- If you can't book a car ticket for the ferry, take a passenger ticket and rent a bike on the island of Islay.
- Tip
- The Kelvin Grove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow includes an organ from 1901 with 3,000 trumpets. He plays once a day.
- Timing
- At the beginning of the season (April), the weather can be sunny and clear. Do not count on this and take suitable clothes.
- Tip
- There is an observation deck on the Rest and Be Thankful Pass road with views of the valley. The road follows the ancient path of the clans of the XVII century.
Video on this route
Ultimate Scotland Road Trip: 10 Days of Castles, Coastlines, History & More