The best route for an 18-day road trip in Scotland
An 18-day self-drive tour of Scotland is ideal for travellers interested in hiking, photography and Scottish heritage, as well as anyone who just wants extra time to relax and enjoy delicious Scottish cuisine and whisky. Most 18-day trips to Scotland begin with a day in Edinburgh, where you can explore such landmarks as the Edinburgh Castle and the cobbled streets of The Royal Mile.
From Edinburgh, drive north along the beautiful cliffs of the east coast, with a stop in the ancient city of St Andrews, to the Castle Trail area of Aberdeenshire. Then head into the Scottish Highlands, crossing Cairngorms National Park and the city of Inverness on your way to the scenic North Coast 500 route, nicknamed “Scotland’s Route 66”. While in the northern Highlands take a detour to the Orkney Islands, full of neolithic World Heritage Sites, then make your way down along the rugged northwest coast and over to the secluded, culturally-unique islands of Lewis and Harris in the Outer Hebrides.
For even more island-hopping, head next to the Isle of Skye, one of Scotland’s most popular destinations. From Skye, travel down Scotland’s west coast to the seaside town of Oban and Isle of Mull, a major whisky-producing area. Then make your way back across the Highlands to the capital city, traversing the picturesque Trossachs National Park and Loch Lomond area on your way.
On such an all-encompassing driving tour of Scotland in 18 days you can experience many major attractions, including the shores of Loch Ness, the picturesque valley of Glen Coe, Eilean Donan Castle, the Glenfinnan Viaduct from Harry Potter fame, Dunvegan Castle, numerous Highland sights near Fort William and much more. If you have any specific attractions or destinations in mind, there are many customisations available for an 18-day Scotland itinerary from Nordic Visitor.
Customisations for Scotland itineraries in 18 days
With so many possibilities of things to see and do in 18 days in Scotland, it’s good to have the trusted Scottish travel experts at Nordic Visitor to guide your trip planning and create a tailored tour of Scotland for you. All of our itineraries can be tailored with extra nights, alternative departures or arrivals in Glasgow, day trips from Edinburgh, and more. No matter how you’d like to tailor your 18-day Scotland tour package, you’ll have your own dedicated travel consultant at Nordic Visitor to advise you on possible add-ons and make all local travel arrangements for you.
What’s included in an 18-day driving tour of Scotland
Nordic Visitor’s self-drive vacation packages include a rental car of your choice and everything else you need for the best Scotland driving experience, including accommodations that we select based on our own experience, your own personalised itinerary and a Scotland travel guide booklet with our local tips. We’ll also provide you with a hand-marked map of Scotland, a GPS navigation system and our own 24/7 helpline for your 18-day road trip in Scotland.
