Or stop on the road next to a passing place that is on the right so that the other car can drive in it, Also look ahead for passing places, you can see signs most of the time, NEVER NEVER Tailgate. be confident, Slow down and enter the roundabout anticlockwise might need to change that to clockwise there !! Driving in an unfamiliar country and navigating new traffic rules can be stressful. Thanks so much for posting! 3. But for those of us who dont hail from the British Isles, that means along with dodging free-range sheep herds and learning what to do with roundabouts, we must also drive on the wrong side of the road. If you miss the road sign welcoming you to either country, you wont even realize youve crossed a national border! They are also very scenic, making it difficult to drive fast or without photo stops. Try to get a zero or nil excess (which means if you have an accident you wont have to pay a thing) and always read the fine print to see what you are and arent covered for. Dont park in passing places. March 6, 2022 By Cole Burmester The best drives in Scotland are at your fingertips when you pick the right car for the adventure. There are lots of good apps available that you may be using already. This is the only article Ive found that provides a thorough explanation of UK road signage! Right-trained drivers, SLOW DOWN approaching roundabouts. To find electric vehicle charging stations, ChargePlace is a great website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. My Top 21 Tips for Driving in Scotland - Watch Me See What are the roads like in the Highlands? Take them as slow as you need to. I love that you included the signs and what they mean here. Scenic Scottish Road Trips | EnjoyTravel.com Driving on the left side was just one more car-related item to check off on our things weve done while traveling list. I love books, whisky, hiking and being outdoors. On all other roads, blue rectangular signs provide other information. Youll spend the entire day in the car and youll miss a lot of the attractions along the way. Usually, it has very little to do with scenery than with practical elements. #18 to 19 - Gas stations #20 - Most beautiful roads in Scotland #21 to #25 - Scotland Car Rental Tips Plan road trip in Scotland by car This article contains affiliate links ( Disclosure page ). . Youre new to driving on the left, and people understand that. This article may contain affiliate links. Road type: two lanes, tarred, pretty straight most of the way. I work full-time in the Swamp, but use travel as a way to stay sane! First post Ive been able to find that has a great explanation for road signs in the UK! You might also like:My Top 20 Places to Visit in Scotland. Google Maps is a great resource for these kinds of navigation questions and my Isle of Skye guide contains detailed travel info: https://watchmesee.com/blog/things-to-do-isle-of-skye/, Pingback: A Scotland Weekend Getaway: The Isle of Mull | Watch Me See, Pingback: How to Plan a Trip to Scotland | WatchMeSee.com, Pingback: My Scotland Bucket List: The Isle of Staffa Tour | WatchMeSee.com, Pingback: The perfect Argyll Road Trip: A 3-day itinerary for Scotland | Watch Me See. However, the order of the pedals remains the same as in North America and most of the EU: namely clutch (for manual vehicles), foot brake, and gas pedal, from left to right. This joke highlights the fact that weather conditions can change quickly at any time of year. Its so important to drive with confidence and knowing the traffic rules! Pingback: Driving Single Track In The Highlands Of Scotland - Best Outdoors, thanks for all these helpful tips. For example, this sign is stating that the maximum speed limit is 30mph. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Oh, these tips do indeed come in handy, dont they? Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Having driven in the USA a few times, I feel safer driving down our windy narrow roads in the pitch-black darkness of winter rather than driving down a US highway in broad daylight. It is only permitted to receive calls if you are using a hands-free kit that doesnt require you to take your hands from the wheel. Join my Facebook group to find inspiration for big & small adventures. I recommend hiring a car from the airport rather than an inner-city station that is usually also cheaper. If in doubt about the speed of a particular stretch of road, you can use the following basic rules: motorways the Scottish equivalent of highways are denoted by an M. For instance, the M8 runs between Edinburgh and Glasgow. This is effectively half compared to many US states. We also operate in miles and yards for driving. The rules for these are simple: give way to all vehicles coming from your right, and always turn left on entering a roundabout. Scotland is perfect in almost every way: its scenery is unparalleled, the land is littered with castles, its national cow is furry and adorable, and wearing tartan shawls is completely acceptable. Maybe its doable after all!! For a comprehensive list of all UK road signs, go here. Have change (coins) in your car to pay for parking, 30 EPIC Things to do in the North Coast 500, 50 Tips for Scotland on a Budget & Wise Spending, pick the right islands for your itinerary, The Practical Guide to Island Hopping in Scotland, Driving Single Track In The Highlands Of Scotland - Best Outdoors, https://watchmesee.com/blog/things-to-do-isle-of-skye/, A Scotland Weekend Getaway: The Isle of Mull | Watch Me See, How to Plan a Trip to Scotland | WatchMeSee.com, My Scotland Bucket List: The Isle of Staffa Tour | WatchMeSee.com, The perfect Argyll Road Trip: A 3-day itinerary for Scotland | Watch Me See. The roads in Scotland vary significantly depending on where you are. For example, if there is an accident on a road you were planning on using it will automatically redirect you to the next quickest route. Google Maps usually gives you a very accurate estimate of driving times without stops, but I like to plan generously. And what else should you know before driving in Scotland? To enter a roundabout, slow down and enter clockwise this is very important. LOL! From knowing all the traffic rules to adjusting your behaviour and using the right tools. Im convinced that roughly 50% of drivers in the UK have no idea what this means. The s peed signs are white circles with red borders and black numbers on the inside. Spend a few days in one of these cities before you pick up your hire car. In 2013, I fell madly in love with Scotland and made it my home. You can fill up your tank entirely or fill up to a certain price or volume by eye. (But if you STILL dont feel comfortable driving, you can always take a tour where someone else drives for you!). No Overtaking: Or no passing, as we say in the US. Great post! When exiting a parking space, be especially careful. 5. We cant wait for you to take it all in! I totally understand your fear! No you dont need prior driving experience in Scotland to tackle an epic Scottish road trip! And the stress increases if you let other drivers on the road, who might be more confident, dictate how fast you should be driving. 10 Tips for Driving in Scotland | Auto Europe : Some attractions have a ticket display system. If you plan to spend a few days in Glasgow or Edinburgh at the beginning or end of your trip, hire the car the day you leave the city and return it on your way into the city. Fortunately, this does mean I have racked up a few miles and can offer a few tips. Below is my selection of the 10 most scenic drives in Scotland with practical information, best stops and maps to help you plan your trip. There are many roundabouts, especially in the South. Learn more about Natasha Alden on The World Pursuit About Us Page. Take a deep breath, gather your thoughts and continue on your way. As soon as you have a campervan in front of you, you might be stuck for a while if there are no suitable places to overtake or they cant let you pass. Make sure youre satisfied with your vehicle before you embark on any journey. This is depressing. I visit this place with my family. Beautiful photos! I could have used this before I drove about Scotland without learning what the priority arrows meant. Drive as far left as you can to increase visibility. Hope to get back to Scotland again but depends on daughter coming from Australia. Rent the car before or after you explore Edinburgh or Glasgow - there is no need to have a car in those towns and parking is very expensive. 35 Fun Facts About France You Should Know! I learn so much from you as well! Make trip planning easier with my Scotland Resource Library. Youll be a pro within a day or two. The brain is amazingly flexible and can make the jump to left-side driving pretty quickly. The North Coast route has significantly increased profit and tourism in the Highlands area, adding about 29,000 visits in the first year of its launch. The only thing you need to drive in Scotland is insurance, which is a legal requirement. The next day we took a hop-on-hop off open top bus and got to learn the street signs, driving habits, etc. In the UK and Ireland, you must drive on the left-hand side of the road. The UK's cheapest brand-new cars include the Dacia Sandero, the MG3, the Kia Picanto and the Citron C3, all of which can be picked up for a shade under 14,000. Yes, we Scots can turn travelling on public transport into a drinking game. Youll already be slightly more nervous than normal about driving on the other side of the road, and you dont want to make things more stressful by not being able to find what you need later on. All you need to know about driving in Scotland. Those dont exist in Scotland, even on the main roads. We found it surprisingly easy to adapt to the change, perhaps because everything inside the vehicle is reversed too. A good quality GPS can also give you an indication of what lane you need to be in. Driving in Scotland -Essentials to know + video, #7 to 12 - Roads conditions and Road Signs in Scotland, Read my 36 tips for a worry-free experience, my article about the most scenic drives in Scotland. Dont forget to initially turn left around the roundabout! If you meet a car between passing places, one of you has to reverse to the last passing place they came by. I hope youll have an epic trip to Scotland. Im planning to rent a car from Edinburgh where I arrive by train from London. They are everywhere. I hope more people will read this before driving in Scotland. Theres just nothing like blaring some bagpipe music while wheeling through the Highlands. Read on for my crazy stories from the road, and tips to help you in your own travels! When you pick up your car hire you will need a credit card under one of the drivers names. Some rural roads may be single lane (and roads tend to be quite narrow compared to those in the US in any case). See the concentration of electric car charging station, where you are going in Scotland, In remote areas, especially in the North of Scotland, there are not many petrol stations. As an Aussie we drive on the left side too! Great piece. Motorhome Stops & Overnight Camping in Scotland Aires in Scotland Pull into passing places on the left. Automatics are available if youre renting a car in Scotland and not confident using a manual. In more rural areas, gas stations are less numerous, so its wise to fill up when you see one. We hope to inspire other independent travelers and provide them with the resources to do so. Do you think picking up the vehicle from the airport is better since its going to be my first day of driving and driving out of the airport towards Foyers will be easier than Edinburg downtown? If you exit on 1 or 2 pipe, you can hug the left of the circle and exit. Cute honesty box at the side of the road? Sometimes near the big cities you can even see the directions indicated on the road. Driving in Tuscany: What You Need to Know, How to See the Real-Life Harry Potter Train. However, roaming rules are set to change in 2022. s.async = true; Driving in the UK: What You Need to Know - TripSavvy When you're planning your Scottish road trip, it may help to consider the following points. The speed limit on country roads is 60, not 50. If you think it would be useful and enhance your trip I would say, go for it. by Maggie McKneely | Apr 24, 2020 | Scotland | 40 comments, Last Updated on February 22, 2023 by Maggie McKneely. Fixed speed cameras and carparks are indicated in advance, Parking in Glasgow and Edinburgh is very expensive, There are underground carparks but it is especially difficult to park around the old town, Travel early to avoid the busiest hours of the day. They love roundabouts in the UK. I currently live in Canada and it honestly took me a year to get used to driving on the right hand side! For example, you can mix longer distances on some days with shorter drives on others. On motorways, blue signs give directions. I have fixed this place few month before. Whether you're tipping with cash or card, always use the local currency to save money. Those signs mean that thats the minimum speed limit. Even so, wed strongly recommend avoiding using your cell at all when driving, since youll be traveling along roads that are new to you. So Many good tips, I want to go to Scotland this year so this article is just perfect for me! Don't hesitate to do one more tour before exiting if unsafe. Learn how your comment data is processed. Look for your desired road number (A894) and the Pipestem associated with it. Driving in Scotland : Information Guide & Speed Limits - Nordic Visitor Its always a good idea to have a paper map like the Collins Road Atlas Scotland with you as a backup especially if you are driving with a passenger who can navigate. Here are 13 HELPFUL Tips. Look at the signs near the exits to see where they lead to. You dont have to be in the middle of nowhere in Scotland to find yourself driving on a one-lane road they are all over the place! The smaller roads can be a bit more difficult for those of us used to wide roads. Why not hire a car for a while and then do some day trips with a registered tour company if you are staying in a city? Then when the officer found out we were American, he asked us if I give you a ticket will your president bomb us? he was dead serious. If you have ever considered driving around England, Scotland, or Wales, then you need to do a little bit of planning before you set off on your epic road trip. 1. In: Europe, Scotland We just got back from an absolutely amazing road trip in Scotland where we spent 10 days exploring Edinburgh, the Isle of Skye, and a few stops between the two. All opinions are my own. Stop the damn car! Scotland is very helpful as the road numbers are actually painted on the road (most of the time). document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hi, Im Kathi! The police are authorized to fine anyone who isnt wearing a seat belt, and if you dont pay in the ticket, a warrant can be issued for your arrest. That said, snowfall is normally nowhere near what you might be used to in Austria, or elsewhere in Europe and rarely affects road travel for long. Anyway, it was interesting to read the article I just imagined myself on a road trip in Scotland would go anytime! If you cant travel faster than this, make sure you let traffic build ups pass regularly. The passing places do not fit 4 cars!!! Jet Lag and Driving Times in Scotland, 12 Things to do on the drive from Edinburgh to Inverness, Tips For Travelling Scotland In A Motorhome. Read more: Tips For Travelling Scotland In A Motorhome. In winter the roads can get icy and in summer they can get greasy if it rains after a long dry spell. What are the best car drives in Scotland? - Inspiring Travel It is not dramatic, but if you have a narrow car, you will feel less stressed by those situations, Most cars are manual - if you want automatic, choice is reduced -, Rent a car from your arrival / departure airport - it is easier to start driving on main roads rather than in a city until you get used to the car. Say it out loud to vocalise what you are doing, if it helps. Just need to make sure you raise the right finger! Wild camping: Free. We are getting the car on the way out of Edinburgh and dropping it off before we get into Glasgow, so driving on less busy roads out of the city hopefully wont be as harrowing for me. Plan your route again and if you must go back to the roundabout you will do it. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Then, Im going to take a guided trip from Glasgow into the Highlands the day before I hire my car so I will already know the first part of my route out of Glasgow toward Inverness. This helps others to enter the roundabout safely because they can anticipate your next step. I recommend looking into the most common directions people drive on these roads. This is much safer than trying to cut across multiple lanes to make your exit. , Taken on the beautiful island of Unst the northernmost inhabited island of the UK (one of the Shetland Islands)! End of Motorway Regulations:The opposite of the first sign; all regulations, including the national speed limit, are ending in 1 mile. Especially in the depths of the wild and outside cities, a great article for those who are new to driving in the UK. Great advice. It is perfectly acceptable to drive slower than the speed limits if you need to in order to feel safe and confident on Scottish country roads. I personally dont drive with a GPS but use my phone for navigation. Definitely dont get these confused! Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links that I earn a small commission from at no cost to you. This post contains affiliate links from which I may make a commission. Great overall tips. Youll find the steering wheel on the vehicles right-hand side and the gear shift in manual transmission cars on the drivers left, alongside the parking brake. Trucks would speed down them. If you know how to drive a manual or standard transmission a stick shift then rent a standard versus an automatic. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Roundabouts can be confusing, but they do keep traffic moving. Scotland is not immune to snowfall; it snows for about 15 to 20 days during the winter months of December to February. https://www.zigzagonearth.com/travel-scotland-guide/, There are no very fast roads or many tunnels, The main driving difficulties are the single lane roads - always look ahead and stop in or near passing places, In case of accident - emergency number: 999, Driving on the left-hand side (if it is not the case in your home country) - personally I have never felt it hard. My advice would be dont drive in Scottish cities. In the countryside, machines often only take coins, Edinburgh to explore the fascinating city -, Portree central to explore the isle of Skye -, Glencoe to take the time in the magnificent valley -, Ullapool for the West coast on the North 500 -, Thurso for the North coast and ferry to the Orkneys -, Inverness for the famous Speyside whiskies -. Take out the overwhelm and let me help you plan an itinerary that is 100% YOU. Renting a car and driving in Scotland has the major advantage that you alone decide where to stop and for how long. The following signs are most common but make sure to have a good look at the, If the passing place is on your left side, you need to pull into it to let the other vehicle pass, If necessary, pull into one to let faster vehicles pass you, If you meet oncoming larger vehicles it is best to let them past first, If you meet multiple oncoming vehicles, let them all past, Look as far ahead as the road allows so you can plan your next move, On hills let the vehicle give way to the vehicle travelling uphill, Dont park in a passing place (not even for photos! There is a road-route via the Skye Bridge as well as two different ferry routes, so which one you choose will also impact the duration. I think I would do ok in Scotland. TOP TIP Take the first day of your trip to get used to driving on the left and plan to drive just a short distance. Start of Motorway Regulations:When you see this sign, it means all motorway regulations, including the national speed limit, are now in effect. Heres what you need to know before your Scottish road trip. In my itineraries, I try to always point out a few lesser-known spots for little walks and photo ops make use of them! When you see this sign, it is indicating you can drive at the maximum speed limit for that road. As I write this in August 2022, the cost of petrol is sitting at around 1.87 per litre.
