Top 5 Scotland Car Tours: Reviews & Recommendations

Planning a trip to Scotland? That’s exciting! You, too, might be dreaming of those open roads, rolling hills, and ancient castles, but thinking about how to actually make it happen? Well, one awesome way is with a car tour. It lets you explore at your own speed, soak it all in, and discover those kinda secret spots that tour buses just never reach. You might want to know, figuring out the best tour for *you* can seem like finding a needle in a haystack. Very true, there’s a whole lot out there! This is your friendly guide to some of the best Scotland car tours out there, with insights and recommendations, so you can choose the right trip and get exploring!

1. The North Coast 500: The Ultimate Scottish Road Trip

The North Coast 500 (NC500) – very often called “Scotland’s Route 66” – is basically *the* classic Scottish road trip. It runs around the northern coast of Scotland, starting and ending in Inverness. Typically, you can expect unbelievably scenic roads, cute villages, and historic castles, just a ton of things to discover along the way. You see, that route is a real adventure, but it does come with both positives *and* negatives, which you may want to keep in mind when choosing. Very obviously, one of the best things about the NC500 is how varied it is. Really, one minute you’re cruising along dramatic coastlines, and just moments later you might be winding through eerie moorlands. So, you get an insane amount of different experiences crammed into one tour.

But is that enough? Well, think about this. Some areas can get really busy, most especially during the peak summer months, that’s worth bearing in mind! Very many of the roads can be quite narrow, too, which might be tricky if you are, like your, unaccustomed to country driving. Even more, some accommodations can book up way in advance, so you’ll definitely want to get everything organized as early as possible! So that, it might be ideal for more experienced road-trippers that really dig breathtaking scenery. Read our full review: North Coast 500 Full Review and Details
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2. The Isle of Skye: A Magical Escape

The Isle of Skye – or “the Misty Isle”, as so many refer to it – offers an entirely new car tour experience, completely different to the mainland routes. So that you know, Skye is renowned for its rugged mountains, crazy picturesque lochs, and truly fairy-tale vibe. Is that all there is to it? Well, while the island is relatively small, the roads here can get pretty twisty. Honestly, they demand slower speeds and quite a bit more focus. Very true that, some roads are single-track, too, so you might, like your, want to be confident reversing if you come across another vehicle. Then you would have to do a little, almost courteous maneuver for the other driver.

The attractions are unbelievably concentrated in Skye. Fairy Pools, Quiraing, Old Man of Storr… basically every corner has unbelievable photo opportunities! So, for fans of hikes, Skye will prove to be just unreal with all that opportunity! Basically, this tour is incredible for landscape photography nuts and outdoor folks. Although, I want to note, it is very much worth preparing for crowds, mainly during those school holidays and summer peaks, so that you are aware of delays and longer stops! Read our full review: Isle of Skye Tour Full Review and Details
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3. The Scottish Highlands: Lochs, Glens, and History

That tour of the Scottish Highlands is possibly the Scotland you think of straight away. Loch Ness, Glencoe, Eilean Donan Castle – are pretty iconic spots that just demand to be seen! But it is often debated, what *exactly* makes that driving route in the Highlands special? Very definitely, what marks it out is that mix of things to see and do, from exploring the outdoors and delving into history. I suppose it is quite difficult not to have a full-on great time.

Although, what needs to be kept in the forefront of people’s heads, the Scottish Highlands, arguably, span a considerable region. This could easily mean considerable drive times between points of interest, which might be an important thing if you, too, were looking for something faster paced. In this case, that flexibility of stopping whenever and wherever could make all that difference. So, basically, it would make sense that this is an excellent tour if you, like your, love beautiful landscapes and are all ready to get deep into the history! Read our full review: Scottish Highlands Tour Full Review and Details
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4. Argyll Coastal Route: Scenic Beauty and Seafood Delights

Want something slightly different? Argyll Coastal Route could well be a very overlooked gem, as some people say. As a matter of fact, if you’ve had your fill of the usual spots in Scotland, you will probably be ready to drive off the beaten track a bit, where that route is an interesting alternative. Typically, that stretch brings out the best of the rugged coastline, while simultaneously adding pretty fishing villages and, possibly just possibly, some very excellent seafood. Even more, there are quiet roads, which just help you avoid those really big tourist crowds! Basically, with this, the Argyll Coastal Route could be seen as something far more chilled. So you might ask, what are some watch-outs?

Is that it? Well, one should be aware of, so it too’s almost clear to see, it’s further southwest, a lot of the roads are minor, so basically be aware you might just take more time driving, too! Also, when there, think that the attraction would probably lie more on the peace and charm of Argyll than the *major* tourist sites; it might possibly work well for those repeat Scotland road trippers. That noted, the local seafood can just be a joy. So, that is for those who savor great eats, relaxed drives and discovering little hidden spots. Read our full review: Argyll Coastal Route Full Review and Details
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5. The Galloway Tourist Route: Southern Scotland’s Best-Kept Secret

Most of those car tours are somewhere in the Highlands, very few tourists think too much about southern Scotland. Well, the Galloway Tourist Route lets people explore that southern portion; typically that route cuts right through Dumfries and Galloway, full of gentle landscapes, calm forests, and really historic sites, all just amazing! Also it doesn’t draw anything like the big crowds from Skye or the NC500, what’s that like? This is the region for those that desire some more serenity. In fact, Galloway Forest Park is something of an official ‘Dark Sky Park’, so for fans of space, the night skies might just blow you away! It will provide you with hours of something just entirely unique.

For most parts, it’s a great trip if you might prefer slower roads that go throughout rolling, soft scenery rather than dramatic peaks or insane coastlines. Most of those roads there are pretty straightforward, too, making driving very enjoyable. However, it seems very probable, the sights along this route do not offer quite *the same* punch that some very famed iconic regions may well deliver. So, the Galloway route might possibly just work really nicely when you’re searching for somewhere tranquil and less frenetic. Read our full review: Galloway Tourist Route Full Review and Details
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