Driving around Scotland is a great way to see the country and at your pace, meaning you can stop and capture every bit of scenery and wildlife you see. To stay safe though, you need to follow the rules. Here are some pointers but do refer to our Scotland driving guide for more information.

• Urban areas: general speed limit is 20 or 30 mph (48 km/hr)
• Single carriageways: 60 mph (97 km/hr)
• Motorways and dual carriageways: 70mph (113 km/hr)
• Drive on the left side of the road except when on dual or multi-lane roads, where you drive depending on your speed of whether you are turning-off
• Do not drink and drive as there are zero tolerance laws in Scotland
• Using a hand-held mobile phone while driving is illegal, but you are allowed to use it when fully hands-free
• Seatbelts are compulsory for both the driver and passengers

Driving in Scotland is a must-do due to the variety of stunning views you can see when travelling. Our travel consultants have driven around the country and have added their favourite routes to each package. See below for favourites and recommendations.

• North Coast 500
• Deeside Tourist Route
• The Golden Road
• Glen Coe
• Kilmartin Glen
• Trossachs National Park
• Trotternish Peninsula

We may be biased but we think there is beautiful scenery across Scotland. Even the drive to your next destination will mean you pass by mountains, lochs and rolling hills. However, the most visited sights are found in the Highlands and islands, and along the coasts. Why not check our recommended Scottish attractions to see what Scotland has to offer?

The best scenery in Scotland includes:

• Cairngorms National Park
• Loch Lomond
• Glencoe
• Isle of Skye
• Shetland Islands
• Orkney Islands
• Edinburgh
• Loch Ness
• The Borders

The North Coast 500 (also known as the Scotland 500) is Scotland’s answer to Route 66 and is the ultimate Scottish road trip. It’s a secluded route that takes you along the stunning North Coast and through the Northern Highlands, where you’ll experience the natural beauty of Scotland.

If you’re keen to see what makes this journey so famous, look at our Classic Scotland & the Orkney Islands or Complete Scotland tours.

Read more in this North Coast 500 driving guide.

You can indeed drive to England from Scotland and vice versa. This is true of Ireland, too, although you need to take a ferry across the Irish Sea. If you are starting or ending a driving tour of the UK and Ireland in Scotland, we're happy to organise the Scottish leg of your journey.

Good to know: we also offer Scotland and Ireland driving tours.

Deciding when to visit Scotland depends on the sights you want to see. Famously, Scottish weather is described as “four seasons in a day”, so you can’t always depend on a clear forecast.

However, in spring and summer months you can typically expect more sunshine, and brighter, greener landscapes. And in August, Scottish festivals such as the Fringe Festival and the International Festival bring the capital, Edinburgh, to life.

If you’re more keen on brisk walks and snow capped mountains, though, autumn and winter are ideal. Scotland is equally beautiful with golden leaves and frosted fields. Plus you will find special festive activities such as Edinburgh’s famous Christmas Market or the Hogmanay street party.

Discover which of our tours suit you best by using our tour filters to choose packages by seasons or dates. Come rain or shine, you’ll enjoy all that Scotland has to offer.

Exploring Scotland by car is a pleasure and if you have a valid driving licence you can travel freely. If you’re visiting from outside the European Union (for example, from USA, Canada, India or Singapore) you have permission with a valid licence to drive any small vehicle (cars included).

If you’re visiting from within the European Union with a valid licence, you can also drive any of our rental cars.

Need more information? Check out our Driving in Scotland page. 

When in Scotland, and the rest of the United Kingdom, you should drive on the left-hand side of the road. This means that you’ll be using a right-hand drive car, and changing gears on your left side.

If it’s your first time driving in the UK, we recommend you consider renting an automatic for ease of use. If you can, take advantage of our two-driver allowance. That way, you can both take breaks to enjoy the scenery as well as drive on some of the most stunning routes in the world.

The amount of time it takes to drive around Scotland depends on the sights and attractions you want to see, as well as how long you would like to spend in the cities and villages like Edinburgh and Ullapool.

For a comprehensive tour that allows you to travel across the country and to many of the Isles, we’d recommend taking two weeks, so you’re not rushing through. Longer tours showcase the best of the coasts, lochs, national parks, and places like the famed Orkney archipelago.

If you’re looking for a shorter stay, but want a trip full of attractions and areas, then we also have tours that take one week or less and show you the most popular Scottish sights such as the the stunning Isle of Lewis and Harris, Loch Ness and more.

When you rent a car for your self-drive tour of Scotland with Nordic Visitor, there are some requirements that you should be aware of.

To rent a car in Scotland, you must hold a valid and full driving licence for a minimum period of 4 years. This reduces to 1 year if you are over 23 years of age.

Drivers aged 23 or 24 can take a self-drive tour with Nordic Visitor, subject to a young driver surcharge of £25 per day. You can hire vehicles in our rental car groups A, B, C or F.

The minimum age to rent a car in Scotland is 21. So if you're aged 21 or 22, we would be delighted to arrange your tour and provide you with information on how you can arrange your own car rental with specific suppliers who can cater to those aged 21 and 22.

If you are aged 80 or above, you can rent a car in Scotland so long as you provide medical proof that you are fit to drive. Please note this should be issued no earlier than 4 weeks before your travel date. You can hire vehicles in our rental car groups A, B or C.

Learn more about vehicle groups and car rental in Scotland on our travel guide.

Alternatively, you could leave the driving to a local expert when you pick one of our privately guided trips or guided small group tours of Scotland.

When you’re planning your driving vacation, factors such as insurance and mileage can come to mind. We’ve got you covered, though, as all the car hire essentials are included in our Scottish self-drive packages. Read our rental information for the full details.

In short, you receive a collision damage waiver (CDW), unlimited mileage, authorisation for 2 drivers, and a GPS navigation system for peace of mind. We don’t cover your road trip music: that is all up to you!

Our local experts have a wealth of knowledge to pass on to you, ensuring every sight or attraction you visit is one that you won’t forget. When creating packages, our consultants plan routes extensively with this in mind, so that our guests see the best of Scotland.

Should there be anything in particular you’re keen to see, or areas you want to visit, though, you can get in touch with us so that we can add it. We can also include extra nights at any location you choose, so you can see more of Scotland.

Alternatively, you can request a customised tour and, depending on the timescale and sights, your travel consultant will work with you to create your ideal road trip across Scotland.

Thinking about seeing the highlights of Scotland while someone else does the driving? Look into our guided small group tours, with maximum 15 travellers. Or you can request your own private tour of Scotland, so your family or friends enjoy a personalised experience from your guide.

We’d advise that you look over flights for timings and dates, but hold off purchasing until you’ve booked your preferred tour. Once you’ve had a confirmation email from your personal travel consultant, you should then choose and pay for your flights.

Why? Once you’ve been introduced to your travel consultant, you’ll have all the information you need to make informed choices on timings. If you have any questions, you can always contact your consultant for advice.