Scottish Highlights road trip

Make your way through the stunning Scottish countryside

Heather carpets the Cairngorms National Park in Scotland in early autumn

Road Trip Overview

Work your way across the magical highlands of Scotland taking in the panoramic views and ancient architecture.

Your first stop is Scotland's largest city, Glasgow is just a short 30 minute drive to the West. Rich in culture and boasting a stunning array buildings, there is truly something for everyone. Museums, opera, ballet and a thriving music scene provide more than enough to fill your itinerary as well as numerous opportunities for outdoor activities such as walking, cycling, nature watching, watersports and golf. From here you take your motorhome hire into Scotland and head North to the charming town of Killin which sits nestled between Loch Tay and the Meall nan Tarmachan mountain.

The nearby Caravan and Motorhome Club site where you will be based is situated such that you can enjoy hiking, mountain biking, kayaking and fishing. Continuing your Scottish motorhome adventure from here you arrive in Inverness, the capital of the Highlands. Visit the famous Loch Ness, Black Isle, Moray Coast and the Whisky Trails in the Spey Valley, or unwind in the local shops and restaurants.

Inverness is the gateway to the rest of the Highlands, and from here you can pick up the North Coast 500 Road Trip to experience even more of Scotland. If you continue with the Scottish Highlights Tour, the penultimate destination on your journey with a motorhome through Scotland is the thriving festival city of Edinburgh. With the dominating castle and Palace of Holyrood House to explore and admire, the tranquil Princes Street gardens, local zoo and seaside, the entire family will be fulfilled.

This trip will leave you relaxed and invigorated, with memories that will last a lifetime.

Distance

Total distance: 321 miles

Driving Time

Total driving time: 6 hours, 45 minutes

Length

Suggested length of road trip: 8 days

The Ross Fountain in Princes Street Gardens
The Ross Fountain in Princes Street Gardens
The Kelpies at the Helix
Caingorms National Park

Explore the route map


Stop 1. Glasgow

Recommended site: Strathclyde Country Park Caravan and Motorhome Club Site

Open: All year

Address: Bothwellhaugh Road, Bothwell, Glasgow, G71 8NY, Scotland

Driving Time

Total driving time: Starting point

Overview

The first stop on this epic Scotland trip is Scotland’s largest city Glasgow. A cultural hub on the River Clyde, Glasgow is a vibrant city noted for its unique mix of architecture and rich and diverse mix of institutions.

The city is home to the Scottish Opera, Scottish Ballet and National Theatre of Scotland, as well as acclaimed museums and a thriving music scene. Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is a breathtaking red brick building housing some 8,000 exhibits and admission is free of charge. Buses and trains regularly head into Glasgow City Centre from Motherwell and Hamilton and seasonal buses into Glasgow go from M&D's Theme Park right on on the sites doorstep. The 13th century Bothwell Castle is a short drive away and although ruined, is still a sight to behold.

Strathclyde Country Park Site is an ideal base to explore all that the local area has to offer and is just a short 30 minute drive from the Livingston Depot. The park itself is an area of exceptional beauty with 1,000 acres of mature woodland set around Strathclyde Loch. It is home to the Bothwellhaugh Roman fort and bath house as well as countless opportunities for bird and nature watching, walking, cycling, watersports and golf. 

Visitor view:

"Spent a long weekend there in October, staff were extremely friendly, site was spotless, large pitches, toilets were spotless, great location from motorway, lots to do with M&D's theme park 10 minutes' walk away."

Brimci

Stop 1 Highlights

Glasgow City Centre

Bothwell Castle

River Clyde

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

Things to do when you're here

Food & Drink

Food & drink

Riva
1 Main Street, Bothwell, Glasgow, G71 8RD

www.rivarestaurants.com
01698 850 888

Culture

Culture

Riverside Museum of Transport and Travel
Pointhouse Place, Glasgow, G3 8RS

www.glasgowlife.org.uk
0141 287 2720

Outdoor fun

Outdoor fun

Mountain Biking Nevis4 Adventure

www.nevis4.com
07971631169

For the family

For the family

Glasgow Science Centre
50 Pacific Quay, Glasgow G51 1EA, Scotland

www.glasgowsciencecentre.org
0141 420 5000

Stop 2. Killin

Recommended site: Maragowan Club and Motorhome Club Site

Open: March to November

Address: Aberfeldy Road, Killin, Stirling FK21 8TN

Driving Time

Total driving time: 1 hour, 25 minutes

Overview

The charming village of Killin is perfectly situated, being at the edge of Loch Tay and the foot of the Meall nan Tarmachan mountain. Close to the village are the picturesque Falls of Dochart. It is also home to the Killin Music Festival which is held in June of each year. The Breadalbane Folklore Centre will tell you all you need to know about the tales and legends surrounding the area.

The evocative art installation The Four Seasons at Loch Earn is a unique and thought provoking piece with figures emerging from the water and is a perfect place to pause and reflect. The Gardens at Drummond castle are among the finest you will find in Europe and an idyllic day out can be had exploring the grounds. En route to the area you will pass the Kelpies horse head statues at the Helix. The 30 metre high steel sculptures stand next to the Forth and Clyde Canal and are a sight to behold, either during the day or at night when they are lit up.

The Maragowan Club Site allows you to make the most of the great outdoors with ample walking opportunities, kayaking, mountaineering, mountain biking and trout fishing. If that's not enough, for a different perspective take to the skies from the Skydiving centre not far from the site.

Visitor view:

"Our first visit to this site but it won't be our last. Friendly and efficient Staff. Not far to walk into Killin and also a nice walk down via Pier Road to the Loch. Just outside the site, almost across the road from the entrance, there is a friendly wee Hotel/Pub where we had good service from friendly staff and a good meal too - there is a cheeky parrot in a cage who loves getting the top of his head rubbed!"

BillMitchell

Stop 2 Highlights

The Kelpies at the Helix

The Kelpies horse heads at The Helix

Dochart Falls

The Four Seasons, Rob Mulholland

Drummond Gardens

Things to do when you're here

Food & Drink

Food & drink

Capercaillie
Main Street, Killin, Perthshire, Scotland, FK21 8UT

thecapercailliekillin.business.site
01567 820355

Culture

Culture

Breadalbane Folklore Centre
Main Street, Killin, Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park FK21 8XE

lochlomond-thetrossachs.co.uk

Outdoor fun

Outdoor fun

Active Skydiving
Glengoynan, St Fillans, Crieff PH6 2ND

activeskydiving.co.uk
01764 685316

For the family

For the family

Auchingarrich Wildlife Centre
Comrie PH6 2JE

www.auchingarrich.co.uk
01764 679469

Stop 3. Inverness

Recommended site: Culloden Moor Caravan and Motorhome Club Site

Address: Newlands, Culloden Moor, Inverness, Highlands IV2 5EF

Driving Time

Total driving time: 2 hours, 25 minutes

Overview

Inverness is a charming city that straddles the River Ness. It is the northernmost city in the United Kingdom, and is considered the capital of the highlands. Nearby places of interest are the famous Loch Ness, Black Isle, Moray Coast and the Whisky Trails in the Spey Valley.

Culloden Moor Caravan and Motorhome Club Site has a wonderful unspoilt view over the Nairn Valley. It is a perfect place to set out for a scenic walk or bike ride. Visit the Cairngorms mountain range and national park for an unspoilt view of nature with ancient woodland and a dazzling array of rare wildlife on the journey to this site.

For History enthusiasts the Culloden Battlefield is a mile and a half away, the place where Jacobean dreams were effectively ended with the defeat of The Great Pretender, Bonnie Prince Charlie. Boats leave from Chanonry Point where you might be lucky enough to spot a Moray Firth dolphin. Kushi Adventures nearby offers an array of activities for you to truly discover Inverness through gorge walking, climbing, sailing and bushcraft skills. The stunning ruins of Urquhart Castle that overlook Loch Ness are another must see, as is Cawdor Castle, a quintessential Scottish fortress not far from the site.

From Inverness you can either continue with the Scottish Highlights Tour, or experience even more of the Highlands with the North Coast 500 Tour.

Visitor view:

"We stopped here, on our Gretna Green wedding route. Lovely place, clean, friendly and scenic. Great play area for Abbey. Easy reach of all local attractions."

Abbey Eriba 450

Stop 3 Highlights

Caingorms National Park

Inverness

Loch Ness

Urquhart Castle

Things to do when you're here

Food & Drink

Food & drink

The Dores Inn
Loch Ness, B862, Dores, Inverness IV2 6TR

www.thedoresinn.co.uk
01463 751 203

Culture

Culture

Cawdor Castle
B9090, Cawdor, Nairn IV12 5RD

www.cawdorcastle.com
01667 404 401

Outdoor fun

Outdoor fun

Kushi Adventures
20 Union Road, Inverness , IV2 3JY

www.visitscotland.com
07833 462 707

For the family

For the family

Chanonry Point Dolphin spotting
Fortrose IV10 8SD

www.moraydolphins.co.uk

Stop 4. Edinburgh

Recommended site: Edinburgh Caravan and Motorhome Club Site

Address: 35-37 Marine Drive, Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 5EN

Driving Time

Total driving time: 2 hours, 55 minutes

Overview

The wonderful cosmopolitan city of Edinburgh is the next stop on your tour, with the Club Site being a perfect base to explore what has come to be known as Europe’s festival capital. There is a bus service within half a mile of the site to the City centre. Edinburgh castle dominates the city skyline, which it overlooks dramatically from its position on the Castle Rock.

There are a wealth of activities and sites of interest in the area, from admiring the Palace of Holyrood House and the ancient ruins in Holyrood Park to seaside strolls and golfing. The local zoo is a top family day out, as is the interactive adventures at Dynamic Earth showing the lifetime of our planet. The tranquility of the Princes Street gardens offer a chance to unwind as does a gentle stroll into Dean Village to see the Water of Leith.

For those history buffs among you a 4 hour walking tour of the area to discover more than meets the eye is a must. If that's not exciting enough for you, spice things up at the Scottish Whisky Experience or for more adrenaline take to the coast with Adventure Activities for some coasteering. On your way to Edinburgh, Kinnoull Hill is well worth a visit. The woodland park in Perth is a dramatic clifftop escarpment with stunning view above the Tay.

Visitor view:

"We really enjoyed every aspect of our long weekend at this site. The facilities are spotless and pitch sizes are fine. Staff were always welcoming and happy to help. The site is a 10 minute walk from the bus stops where you have constant buses into the city. We will be back."

Aileenb57

Stop 4 Highlights

Edinburgh Castle

Dynamic Earth

Ancient ruins in Holyrood Park

Dean Village and Water of Leith

Things to do when you're here

Food & Drink

Food & drink

The Scotch Whisky Experience
354 Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NE

www.scotchwhiskyexperience.co.uk

Culture

Culture

Edinburgh Historical Walking Tour
28 Blair Street, Edinburgh EH1 1QR

www.mercattours.com
0131 2255445

Outdoor fun

Outdoor fun

Adventure Activities
23b West Harbour Road, Edinburgh, EH5 1PN

myadventure.org.uk
0131 6293065

For the family

For the family

Dynamic Earth
Holyrood Rd, Edinburgh EH8 8AS

www.dynamicearth.co.uk
0131 5507800