Scotland itineraries

These routes are written for real travel, not for a map. Drive times include the slow single-track sections, and no day runs to more than about nine or ten hours including stops.

How to use these itineraries

• Drive times are typical for good conditions without long stops. Add time for photographs, lunch and summer traffic.
• Each itinerary starts and ends in Edinburgh or Glasgow, but all can be reversed or started from either city.
• Where ferries are involved, book vehicle space as soon as you know your dates, and check the operator's timetable for your travel day.
• Spare time is not wasted time. A free half-day lets you make up for a ferry cancellation or a day of heavy rain.

• Scotland in 3 daysStirling, Glencoe, Glenfinnan, Loch Ness and Pitlochry in a two-night loop from Edinburgh.
• Scotland in 5 daysGlencoe, the Road to the Isles, two nights on Skye, and back via Loch Ness and the Cairngorms.
• Scotland in 7 daysEdinburgh, Oban with Mull and Iona, Glencoe, Skye and Loch Ness in one week.
• Scotland in 10 daysEast coast, whisky country, three nights on Skye and back through Glencoe to Glasgow.
• Scotland in 14 daysTwo weeks: the Cairngorms, Lewis and Harris, Skye, Mull and Iona, with island ferries.

Rules of thumb

• Do not plan more than about four hours of actual driving in a day if you want to enjoy the stops.
• Two nights in a place gives you one full day there. One night gives you an evening and a morning.
• Book Skye and island accommodation early for May to September.