Epic 2-Day Scotland Road Trip From Edinburgh
Scotland is one of the most naturally beautiful areas of the world and perfect for a Scotland road trip! When I studied abroad at Kingston University near London my group and I went north to Scotland. We rode the train from Kings Cross Station through the U.K. to Edinburgh and enjoyed a nice long weekend in Scotland. We had a chance to explore the city of Edingburgh before we embarked on an epic 2-day Scottish Highlands road trip. Edinburgh is still one of my favorite cities for hits history, natural beauty, great pubs and lovely local shops.
On the road trip, we went to all the best places in the highlands including Loch Ness, Inverness, and Blair Castle. Below is an outline to help you create your own Scotland road trip! And if you are more of a tour person, I have made some suggestions at the end so make sure to check those out too. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Affiliate links are used, which means if you purchase via my link I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you! I only recommend products I use and love!
Scotland Road Trip Map:
Total Road Trip Stats:
Total Miles: Roughly 330 Miles
Road Trip Time: 8 hours on the road plus stops and one overnight = 2 days recommended
Number of Stops: 10 total stops
What to Pack
Scotland weather is notorious for being a bit chilly and rainy- even in the summer months! All my photos below where I am wearing a jacket and scarf were taken in July. In the summer it really doesn’t get out of the 60s F very much if at all. So make sure to dress and layers and pack a good jacket. There is also a part of this road trip where you will be driving through national parks and there are only a few places to stop for food. So make sure to pack a good water bottle and some snacks. Also, note that you will need good walking shoes for this road trip. You will be in the highlands and sometimes rougher terrain so good shoes are essential. I have added a few of my favorite items below to get you all set for your Scottish road trip. 🙂
- Backpack– KAVU Paxton Pack Backpack CRossbody Rope Sling Bag
- Walking Shoes-Merrell Women’s Mqm Flex Hiking Shoe
- Jacket– The North Face Women’s Crescent Full Zip Jacket
- Water Bottle-S’well Stainless Steel Triple-Layered Vacuum
- Umbrella-Repel Umbrella Windproof Double Vented
#1-The Kelpies
Submitted by Travel Writer Katie McLellan
Okay now to the road trip outline! The first stop on this Scotland road trip is a stop at the Kelpies! The Kelpies, located in Falkirk, are massive sculptures of the mythological Kelpies. Created by Scotland’s famous sculptor Andy Scott, they tower a colossal 30 meters above the Forth and Clyde Canal.
The Myth of the Kelpies
A Kelpie is a mythological creature that is a shape-shifting water horse that haunts the rivers, ponds, and lakes of Scotland. The creature could take many forms and had an insatiable appetite for humans. Its most common guise was that of a beautiful tame horse standing by the riverside. This would have been a tempting ride for a weary traveler. Anybody foolish enough to mount the horse – perhaps a stranger unaware of the local traditions – would find themselves in dire peril. The horse would rear and charge headlong into the deepest part of the water, submerging the travelers to a watery grave.
Visiting info:
Walking tours are offered daily and take about 30 minutes. The cost is 7.50 Euros for adults and children are FREE. There is also a visitors center and a little cafe, and they hold various events throughout the year!
Read Katie’s full blog post about visiting the Kelpies –here!
#2- The National Wallace Monument
Next up on this epic Scottish road trip is The National Wallace Monument. For those who have seen the movie Braveheart, you will know what this one is all about. This monument celebrates the life of Sir Willam Wallace, a true Scottish hero. Over 700 years ago he lead the fight against the tyrant King Edward I of England trying to gain Scotlands independence. He wanted peace for Scotland and wanted to unite the countries clans. His most famous battle against the English was the Battle of Stirling Bridge. He eventually was captured by the English and later executed. This monument celebrates the life of this amazing Scottish patriot and can’t be missed. The Wallace Sword is even on display here.
Booking.comVisiting info:
The monument itself has a nice reception area with the Legends Coffee House plus free parking on-site. You can visit the Monument which included the Abby Craig, The Keepers Lodge, Hall of Arms, Hall of Hero’s, The Royal Chamber, The Crown, Monument Gallery, and some amazing stained glass windows. There is also a gift shop on-site.
Times of operation:
January & February: 10.00am – 4.00pm
April to June: 9.30am – 5.00pm
July & August: 9.30am – 6.00pm
September & October: 9.30am – 5.00pm
November & December: 10.00am – 4.00pm
The tickets to enter the National Wallace Monument vary. Adults are 10.75 Euros, Senior Citizens are 8.75 Euros, Children under 16 are 6.75 Euros. For more details on pricing and family packages click here.
Next up is a lovely drive through the highlands of Scotland. I cannot express to you more than my photos do NOT due to this gorgeous area justice. You will just have to go there yourself to see its true beauty. Rolling hills, curvy roads, beautiful lakes or Lochs- it’s amazing. The drive is half the fun! This road trip outline brings you through Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. It’s amazing so feel free to stop and take in the views! The next couple of stops on this road trip include spots within the highlands that can’t be missed. Just remember to take it slow and enjoy the drive. Plus the roads are crazy to drive on so be careful!
#3- The Three Sisters Mountains
Nestled on the far west side of the highlands is the Three Sisters Mountains or the Bodean Nam Blan located near Glencoe. This is your next stop on this Scottish road trip. The mountains and valley were formed over a period of 450 million years by glaciers and volcanos. They sit at an elevation of 3,658 feet above sea level. The view of these mountains has constantly been voted one of the best views in the entire United Kingdom!
The sisters are named of course. On the right is Aonach Dubh or Black Ridge. On the left is Gearr Aonach or Short Ridge and the third sister is Beinn Fhada. To learn more about the Three Sisters story click here.
Visiting info:
Stop at the parking area along A82- view points and hiking trails start here!
No hours or entry fees
#4- Commando Memorial
Next up on your Scotland road trip is a stop by the Commando Memorial. Roughly 17 feet tall, this statue is deticated to the men of the original British Commando Forces who fought during World War II. The statue is made up of three men dressed in World War II uniforms will full equipment. At their feet the inscription reads ” United We Conquer”. Its truly a beautiful statue nestled in the middle of the highlands and so worth the visit.
Booking.comVisiting info:
No hours or entry fees
#5- Loch Ness
The famous Loch Ness can’t be missed on your road trip in Scotland. This extremely popular tourist destination known for its beauty, castle ruins, and of course, the myth of the Loch Ness Monster. The Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition is a must-see in the area. They offer a great little museum, cultural exhibitions and offers various tours. You can even book yourself a boat cruise on the loch! Adult tickets are 8.45 Euros and children are 4.95 Euros.
Make sure to take the time to visit Urquhart Castle! This castle was once one of Scotlands largest castles and it saw lots of battle during its 500 years as a medieval fortress. Control of the castle changed hands between the Scots and the English during the Wars of Independence. It was later mostly destroyed during the Jacobite Risings. These historic ruins still remain today and are open to tour. Adult tickets are 9.60 Euros and children are 5.80 Euros.
#6- Inverness
Inverness is the half-way point of this Scotland road trip. You are now roughly 150 miles away from Edinburgh. Founded in roughly the 13th century, Inverness is lovely and its the perfect place to stay for the night. The history of the city is very interesting and goes much farther back than the cities official founding. To read more about the history of Inverness click HERE. Today, Inverness is lively, inviting, and naturally set along the Moray Forth- famous for its bottle-nosed dolphins! The city center is compact and easily walkable. Book yourself a hotel right downtown so that you are able to walk to a nice place for dinner.
If you have time to site-see make sure to check out these things to do in Inverness:
- St. Andrews Cathedral
- Moray Forth
- Inverness Castle
- Inverness Cathedral
- Victorian Market
- Botanical Gardens and Nursery
- Inverness Museum and Art Gallery
If your looking for a great place to eat dinner- read this!
Don’t forget to book your hotel in Inverness!
Booking.com#7- Culloden Battlefield
After a nice night in Inverness, head on to day 2 of this Scotland road trip! The first stop today is the Culloden Battlefield. Located just east of Inverness, this historical site can’t be missed. Culloden represents the last hand-to-hand battle fought on British soil. This is where the Jacobites Rising came to a tragic end. The feeling at this site is one of remembrance and sorrow for the Scottish people. The battlefield is restored to as close as possible as it was on that fateful day in April of 1746
At the battlefield, there is a great visitor center that includes a battle immersion film, roof-top viewing platform, unique artifacts, and restored battle table. Outside you can see the battlefield as well as the restored 18th- century Leanach Cottage complete with a thatch roof.
You can also get an audio guide to walk the battlefield with so that you can immerse yourself in the story of the battle day. The guide is available in 9 difference languages.
Visiting info:
Hours: 10am-4pm daily
Admission: Adult is 11 Euros and a family costs 22 Euros
#8- Dalwhinnie Distillery
You can’t go on a Scottish road trip and not stop by one of the local scotch distilleries. Next up is a stop at my favorite distillery- Dalwhinnie! Located in the heart of the Scottish highlands, Dalwhinnie has been creating delectable scotch since 1897. Before my visit to Dalwhinnie, I had never had scotch in my entire life – honestly, I was only 20 at the time, but I was legal to drink in the U.K., so I thought why not give it a try! And boy did I love it. 🙂
Dalwhinnie offers a variety of options to taste their various blends of Scotch. There is the Tasting Only Option (6-18 Euros), Whiskey & Chocolate Tasting Tour (24 Euros), and the Dalwhinnie Distillery Tour (12 Euros).
#9- Blair Castle and Gardens
Sitting at the edge of Cairngorms National Park, Blair Castle and Gardens is the next stop on this Scottish Highlands road trip. Many famous families made their mark on Blair Castle including the Stewarts and the Murrays of Atholl. It has seen the likes of Mary, Queen of Scots, the Civil War, the Jacobites Rising and so much more. More on the history of the castle here!
Tours of the castle are self-guided and their is a person in each room to answer any questions. It’s really nice and personal to talk with someone vs. listening to an audio guide. Pictures can be taken in most places within the castle except the entrance hall area. Witin the castle there is also a nice gift shop and a self-service restaurant, Tullibardine Restaurant. Here you will find a range of Scottish dishes, baked goods, sandwiches and more.
The gardens at Blair Castle are absolutely beautiful so do make time to wander a bit. It’s also a great place to take photos. There are many parts of the garden including:
- The Hercules Garden- 9 acres walled garden restored to its original Georgian designed including a life-sized statue of Hercules
- Gardens Sculpture Trail- visitors can enjoy a mix of new and 18th-century sculptures
- Diana’s Grove– a tranquil wooded area adjacent to the castle
- Castle grounds bridges– near the castle included 2 lovely 18th-century bridges
Visiting info:
Hours: 10am- 5:30pm daily
Admission:
Adults- 14 Euros for Castle and Gardens. 7.70 for just the Gardens
Childern- 8.50 Euros for Castle and Gardens. 3.50 for just the Gardens.
Family- 40 Euros for Castle and Gardens. 19 for just the Gardens.
#10- Forth Bridge
This is the last stop on your Scotland road trip. You are almost back to Edinburgh at this point but make sure to stop at the Forth Bridge before you get back. This railway bridge, which crosses the Forth Estuary spans 541 meters and opened in 1890. To this day it is one of the greatest cantilever trussed bridges in the world. Plus, it’s really pretty to look at and makes a great photo op. 🙂 In July 2015, UNESCO inscribed the Forth Bridge as the sixth World Heritage site in Scotland.
Visiting info:
No hours of entry fees. Get off on the Echline Junction off of M90 to view the bridge and take a quick photo.
If you are interested in walking or cycling one of the other 2 bridges (Forth Road Bridge and Queensferry Crossing) in the area click here.
Well, that’s it folks- the end of the Scotland road trip! This adventure was so much fun for me and I hope you get to try it out someday too! Thanks for reading. 🙂 Oh, and make sure to leave a comment below to let me know what you think!
Looking to book a Scottish Highlands Tour instead? Check out some of these great options from Viator:
3-Day Isle of Skye and Scottish Highlands Small-Group Tour from Edinburgh
Loch Ness and The Scottish Highlands Day Tour from Edinburgh
Scottish Highlands, Loch Ness, and Glen Coe Day Trip from Edinburgh
3-Day Isle of Skye and Scottish Highlands Tour from Edinburgh Inclyuding ‘Hogwarts Express’ Ride
This post is packed full of great info! Scotland is on my bucket list and I’m saving this post for future use! Thanks 🙂
Wow! So many amazing things to do in Scotland! I can’t believe you managed to do all of that in just 2 days. Impressive! 🙂 Scotland has been on my travel bucket list, so I’ll definitely have to refer back to this post when I make it out there. Thanks for sharing!
Great itinerary! I’ve made a note of your route, we’re hoping to drive up to and around Scotland soon.
The Scottish Highlands are stunning, and I’m so glad you included the Culloden Battlefield in this itinerary. I thought the memorial and museum were so well done. This is a great comprehensive two day introduction to an incredible and beautiful place.
Aw I miss Scotland so much!! Such a wonderful country! I’ve done some of these stops but I’d love to do them all next time! Thank you so much for sharing!! Amazing photos! 🙂
Scotland looks so beautiful!!! I cannot wait to travel there someday. This two-day itinerary is perfect, and I have added all of these to my bucket list. 🙂
There’s so much more to Scotland than Edinburgh! And I’m glad you made it to a distillery. Great guide!
I would love to do this Scotland road trip! Looks like you had an incredible time. Thank you for sharing your itinerary 🙂
I love the places that you’ve recommended. Scotland is such a great place to road trip.
This post is giving me major wanderlust! I wish I was living in Europe to experience all of this. Saving this post for future trips!
Wow! I really want to see Scotland! Iv’e heard so much about it but haven’t got the chance to travel and experience the place. Thank you for putting this together. Such an amazing guide 🙂
I am dying to go to Scotland your itinerary is the perfect way to see some great sites in the country! It’s definitely on our bucket list. Loved your photos and description were so helpful. Great post and thanks for posting!