Road trip in Scotland

Two-week road trip in Scotland during the summer. The route skirts the coastline in Fife and Highlands, it moves inland within Angus, Aberdeenshire and Argyll, besides exploring three of Orkney Islands. The route consists mainly in rural single-track roads and dual carriageways, only occasionally motorways.

STAGES

Edinburgh > Stirling (Motorway 9).

Stirling > Broughty Ferry (along Fife Coastal Route). It is possibile to visit the fishing villages along the Firth of Forth: Culross (walk), Aberdour, Anstruther, Crail. Dunfermline is found in the hinterland. Saint Andrews and Dundee can also be considered as stopovers.

Broughty Ferry > Aberdeen, passing by Glamis Castle and Dunnottar Castle. Moreover, the road goes through the Aberlemno Stones near Forfar and Stonehaven.

Aberdeen > Foyers (partially on Highland Tourist Route) by way of Alford on the edge of Cairngorms National Park. In the area there are Crathes Castle, Drum Castle and Fraser Castle as well. At Foyers a simple hike leads to Loch Ness (walk). Alternatively, Inverness can be considered as stopover instead and it can be reached following North East 250, that runs along the Moray Firth.

Foyers > John o' Groats (mainly on North Coast 500) by way of Helmsdale, passing by Dunrobin Castle. It is possibile to visit Duncansby Head. Golspie can also be considered for a stop.

Orkney Islands. South Ronaldsay: St Margaret's Hope. Burray: Italian Chapel. Mainland: Kirkwall (walk), Neolithic monuments, Viking settlement (walk).

Thurso > Ullapool (along North Coast 500), by way of Bettyhill and Durness, where it is possibile to visit Smoo Cave, Sango Sands and Balnakeil. On the road Ardvreck Castle is found.

Ullapool > Fort William, crossing Glen Torridon, Applecross and Glen Shiel. Falls of Measach, Shieldaig and Eilean Donan Castle are on the road.

Fort William > Glasgow, via Loch Lommond. The road enters Glen Coe, passes by Rannoch Moor, touches Tyndrum and passes through Luss on the shore of Loch Lommond. Balloch can be considered for a stop.

Glasgow > Edinburgh (Motorway 8).

July-August 2022