Summary: Driving in Scotland can be a bit intimidating, especially if you’re not used to driving on the left side of the road. In this post, I share some tips to prepare you for driving in Scotland for the first time.
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Scotland is one of those places that embodies rugged beauty. You can drive a few hours outside of a large city like Edinburgh or Glasgow and see some of the most breathtaking, inspiring views in the world.
While this seemingly untouched beauty is incredible to see in person, it’s also hard to get to. I think this is part of the reason it remains so beautiful. I always recommend renting a car and driving out into the Scottish Highlands to see the wonder that is rural Scotland.
There are other options to see the Highlands if you can’t or don’t drive. I detail all the ways to get to Isle of Skye, specifically, in this blog post. However, renting a car is the best option if you’re able to because you can see and do anything you want, whenever you want, without being on someone else’s timeline.
That said, driving in Scotland is a little different than driving in other parts of the world. It’s definitely doable, but it takes some getting used to.
Keep reading for all of our tips for driving in Scotland for the first time.
Is Driving in Scotland Difficult?
The answer to this question is obviously going to be subjective. My boyfriend did most of the driving when we were in Scotland and he said it took some getting used to, but overall, it was fine. He added that it was well worth the initial discomfort to see such a beautiful part of the world.
The most difficult part of driving in Scotland is the roundabouts. In the US, we’re used to always going to the right around the circle, but in Scotland, you drive to the left. Similarly, you need to remind yourself which direction to look when pulling out onto a busy street. We’re used to looking left, but you’ll need to look right!
“Look right, keep left!”
Do I Need an International Driver’s Permit in Scotland?
If you hold a valid US driver’s license, you will not need an IDP (international driver’s permit) in the United Kingdom (Scotland, England, Northern Ireland, and Wales). I’ve heard of instances where certain rental car companies required people to have them, but unless they explicitly tell you it’s required, you won’t need one.
If you’re coming from other countries, I’d suggest checking with your government website. A simple Google search for “do I need an IDP in UK” should work, or you can check with the offices that typically issue these permits.
Rental Car Options
If you’re reading about tips for driving in Scotland, my assumption is that you don’t have a car in Scotland, so you’ll need to rent one! Coming from the US, I imagine you’re likely flying into Edinburgh or Glasgow. You will be able to find plenty of rental car options here, both at the airports and various locations in the cities.
When we visited, we rented our car in Edinburgh and planned to drop it off in Glasgow. For different pick up and drop off locations like this, Hertz required us to pick up and drop off at airports.
I’d highly recommend booking your rental car before your trip, so you can guarantee you’ll get what you want. I like to use a search engine like this one to help see all the options in one search:
When you book the car, you may notice a few options available to you. The most obvious one is automatic vs. manual. My boyfriend loves to drive manual cars, so that’s what we rented. This option is also usually cheaper than automatic. However, he said there’s already a lot to think about with driving on the left side of the road and he’d recommend just opting for automatic, even if you’re comfortable with manual.
I’ve also seen options for limited or unlimited mileage. The limited mileage options give you a range of about 300 miles you can drive (and then likely charge a fee if you go over). You can always map out your expected road trip and calculate the approximate number of miles you’ll be driving, but we usually end up sticking with unlimited options so we don’t have to worry about it.
Gas Station Availability
Gas stations throughout the Scottish Highlands are certainly going to be more spread out than in the larger cities, but there are still plenty of them. Also, compared to the US, Scotland isn’t all that big. For instance, the drive from Edinburgh to Portree on Isle of Skye is only about 235 miles. With a car that gets 25 miles to the gallon, you’ll be using less than 10 gallons for that drive.
I don’t think it’s necessary to obsess over planning for gas stations. Once our tank hit about half empty, we’d make sure to stop at the next station we came across and the tank never got uncomfortably low.
How to Navigate the Narrow Roads
One of my best tips for driving in Scotland, especially in the Highlands, is to expect very narrow roads. In some areas, the roads were only wide enough for one car to fit. However, you’ll come across many areas to pull over which will be very useful if someone is driving toward you on these roads.
If the pull out is on the left, we always pull over to let the car coming toward us pass. If the pull out is on the right, wait at that spot so the vehicle coming toward you can pull over (DON’T pull over to the right!). If you’re uncomfortable, just go slow and be polite. Pull over early if you need to and just wait. Whether you pull over for them, or they pull over for you, it’s nice to give a wave, smile, or flash the headlights to say “thank you!”
You’ll also want to use these pull out spots to let people pass you if they come up behind you. Many of these roads are legally 60mph, and the locals might be going that fast! That said, as a first time driver in Scotland, you likely won’t be comfortable driving over 45mph, especially when the roads get windy. That’s okay, just let the locals pass you when you can.
This is a great article with even more information about Scotland’s highway codes.
What Happens if the Car Breaks Down?
I can give you all the tips I have for driving in Scotland, but you can never prepare for everything. Luckily, I also have an experience I can share about our car breaking down.
We were on Isle of Skye, driving from Portree to the Old Man of Storr trailhead when I started to hear a funny noise coming from the outside of our car. We slowed down, pulled over, and figured out that we had a flat tire. Of course, there wasn’t a spare in the car.
We were able to simply call the rental car company who got us in contact with a local mechanic. They sent someone out right away and even though it took them a little while to get to us, they changed the tire quickly and we were on our way, only delayed by about an hour and a half.
Chances are, your US-based car insurance may not cover a car rental in the UK, so make sure you’re covered with a credit card that includes international rental car insurance, or by getting insurance through the rental car company.
Watch Out For Sheep on Isle of Skye!
If you’re planning on driving to Isle of Skye, make sure you keep an eye out for sheep! They are free roaming in this area and can often be found on the roads. We saw quite a few of them choosing to sleep right next to the road at night.
If you see a bunch of them in the road, just slow down and roll toward them (obviously, don’t hit them). You may need to honk a bit, but they will usually get out of your way.
Easy Scotland Road Trip Itinerary
I have an entire blog post that outlines a 7-10-day Scotland road trip itinerary starting in Edinburgh, driving to Isle of Skye, and ending in Glasgow. There are a ton of other places you can visit in the Highlands. Popular options tend to be Inverness and Glencoe. However, my main tip for driving in Scotland is just to try it! So, if that means only going to one place, that is just fine!
Example 7-10-Day Scotland Road Trip Itinerary:
Day 1-3: Explore Edinburgh
Day 3: Rent a car in Edinburgh and drive to Portree
Day 4-6: Explore Isle of Skye
Day 6: Drive to Glasgow and drop off rental car
Day 7: Explore Glasgow
Read More about Isle of Skye
I hope these tips for driving in Scotland helped ease your mind about getting out into the Scottish Highlands! While you’re here, I have a few more blog posts that might help while planning for Isle of Skye:
