This 7 day Scotland road trip itinerary explores the stunning western region with visits to Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, Glencoe, Isle of Skye and Loch Ness. It incorporates hikes, castles, lochs, and other points of interest, as well as highlights wild camping locations.
You may also be interested in our other guide: ‘Where and how to wild camp in Scotland’.
West Scotland road trip: Route and itinerary summary
Day 1: Loch Lomond and Kilchurn Castle
For your first day of your Scotland road trip itinerary, arrive at Loch Lomond by midday. Visit the pretty village of Luss – the starting point for lake boat cruises – or spend a few hours relaxing by the loch shore – Firkin Point on the West Shore is a great picnic area with direct access to the lake for swimming.
From Luss it’s about an hour’s drive to the photogenic Kilchurn Castle which is perched on the shore of Loch Awe. Visit the castle ruins or head to the Panorama Viewpoint across the loch for beautiful views of the castle.
Pitch a tent for the night on the meadows facing the castle or if you are staying in a campervan there are lots of beautiful spots a short drive away to stay overnight.
Day 2: Glencoe and Fort William
On your second day of your Scotland road trip itinerary, make your way towards the beautiful and mountainous area of Glencoe in the morning. A trip to this region wouldn’t be complete without a hike, for which this area is well known for. There are many trails to choose from, but the Pap of Glencoe trail fits perfectly into this itinerary as it is not too long and the views are fantastic.
Pap of Glencoe (Sgorr na Ciche) hike:
A moderate hike which takes about 3 hours to complete and has a beautiful 360° view overlooking Glencoe village, the surrounding mountains and lochs.
- To reach the trailhead follow the ‘Gleann Comhann’ road out of Glencoe village towards the Glencoe War Memorial.
- Cross the river and continue down the road a little further until you reach a small car park on the left. This is the car park for the hike.
- From here follow the path signposted to the Pap of Glencoe.
- The route follows a steady incline for much of the way. The final ascent to the Pap is steep and rocky.
After the hike, head to Fort William for dinner. The Lime Tree Restaurant serves Scottish delicacies such as haggis and locally caught seafood.
For an overnight camping spot head out of town towards Loch Eil.
Day 3: Glenfinnan Viaduct, Eilean Donan Castle, and Fairy Pools (Isle of Skye)
Get an early start as there is a 3 hour+ drive today and lots to see. First, head to the Glenfinnan Viaduct, famous for The Jacobite steam train seen in the Harry Potter films. To watch the train go over the viaduct you will have to time it correctly (from Fort William the train takes about 15 minutes) – check the train times here.
Afterwards, make your way towards the Isle of Skye. There are two routes to choose from – either go towards Mallaig where you will then have to catch a ferry over to the Isle of Skye or head back to Fort William and take the inland route, which will pass by the beautifully situated Eilean Donan Castle. (If you choose to go via Maillaig, you can pass by the castle on the return journey). From the castle it’s about a 15-minute drive to the bridge that joins the mainland with the Isle of Skye.
Once you reach the Isle of Skye you should have plenty of time left in your day to visit the islands famous Fairy Pools – a series of waterfalls and crystal-clear pools surrounded by the dramatic Cuillin Mountains. The walk to the pools from the car park takes about 30-minutes and once there you can go for a bracing swim.
Day 4: Talisker Distillery, Dunvegan Castle & Gardens, and Neist Point (Isle of Skye)
Continue to explore the Isle of Skye today. If you stayed near Talisker overnight, take a morning stroll to the beach – it is about a 20-minute walk from the nearest public road where you can park your car. The rocky beach is situated in a picturesque bay surrounded by steep cliffs – a waterfall cascades into the sea at one end.
Next, head to Talisker Distillery for a tour of the oldest working whisky distillery on the island. Then, drive north-west to the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland, Dunvegan Castle and Gardens, and learn about Scottish clan legend or explore the landscaped gardens.
The final destination of the day is Neist Point, the most westerly tip of the Isle of Skye and 30-minutes from Dunvegan. The lookout from Neist Point is fantastic with views of the lighthouse and, beyond that, the Outer Hebrides Islands. You can take a steep walk down to the lighthouse or admire it from the top of the cliffs. Dolphins and Basking Sharks are often spotted in the water below. At sunset (on a clear day) the lighthouse and cliffs turn pink and orange.
Day 5: Trumpan Church, The Fairy Glen, and The Old Man of Storr (Isle of Skye)
For your second full day on the Isle of Skye, drive around the scenic Waternish peninsula in the north-west and stop by the ruins of Trumpan Church, home of a horrific clan massacre in 1578.
Next, head to the Fairy Glen near Uig for an unusual but somewhat magical landscape. The small and rocky mounds, create an otherworldly look which have led to folktales and legends about fairies.
It’s a 40-minute drive from here to another otherworldly and more famous landmark, the Old Man of Storr. The walk up to the Old Man takes about 1-hour, more if you take stops to catch your breath as it is a continuous incline. Not only is the Old Man a spectacular sight, but the view beyond across Skye is something in itself.
Day 6: The Quiraing and Portree (Isle of Skye)
The Quiraing is an iconic Scottish landscape that is best explored from the 2-hour moderate roundtrip walk. The trailhead starts at the car park on the road between Staffin and Uig (you can’t miss it).
After the walk head to Portree, the largest town on the Isle of Skye, for the best fish and chips you’ll (probably) ever have – from The Chippy Portree.
Head towards the south of the island for your overnight stay as you will be leaving in the morning. We’ve outlined a camping location on a beach near Kilbride in our guide.
Day 7: Loch Ness, Cairngorms, and Loch Lomond
Much of the final day of your Scotland road trip itinerary will be spent driving, however, we think this is still a great way to see Scotland. From Skye drive 1h 30m to Scotland’s most famous loch, Loch Ness. Have a picnic on the shores of the lake while you keep an eye out for Nessy. From here make the drive back towards Loch Lomond. We recommend going via the Cairngorms and Tay Forest Park to see more of the beautiful scenery Scotland has to offer.
