If you’re after unique places to road trip in Scotland that are full of enchantment, then you will love everything on this list. We visited Scotland in January and February so we had the magic of winter on our side.
The wild life was incredible, we spotted white mountain hairs dashing through the snow, deer, seals and the only wild reindeer in the UK.
Even though it’s winter, there are still lots of adventure to be had. We tried our hand at skiing in the Cairngorms, explored a blood red river, visited the infamous sight of the Harry Potter train and dived deep in to Scottish folklore all over this magnificent country.
Join us on YouTube to see our full Scottish road trip for yourselves, but for a quick overview, here are my favourtie 10 unique destinations to visit.We made our way anti-clockwise around the country so I will list everything out in that order.
1. Prince Albert’s Pyramid, Cairngorm
Prince Albert’s Pyramid is a very unique building indeed. Who would expect to find a pyramid in the middle of Scotland? Not me!
This pyramid is actually a cairn, errected by Queen Victoria in memory of her husband, Prince Albert. It is probably the finest cairn in Scotland and on the trail there, you’ll come across a few others that look more traditional.
It’s well worth the visit being situated right next to Balmoral Castle and with it being located smack bang in the middle of a pine forest. Go in the winter and you’ll be surrounded by snow capped mountains too.
We parked and started our walk at The Highlanders Bakehouse (we bought our lunch from here). If you’re not a customer of the cafe, there is a carpark on the other side of the road just 100m away.
2. Glenshee Ski Centre, Cairngorm
Skiing in Scotland? Who’d have thought. If you’re in the Cairngorns, then a day out on the slopes at Glenshee ski Centre is a must.
If you’re a van lifer, the car park is at the bottom of the slopes and free to park in, so there really is no reason not to go! You can also stay overnight with electric hookup for an extra fee.
We rented our skis, poles and helmet for the day from reception for £65 per head. I should also note, I am an absolute beginner, as in, I’d never skied before this. However, I went with friends who are way more experienced and it’s safe to say we all had loads of fun.
3. Clootie Well, Inverness
Clootie wells are celtic places linked to healing tradtions so if you’re interested in getting to know those who once roamed these area’s then add this location to your road trip.
This can be a quick pit stop or even somewhere to stay overnight as there is a beautiful woodland car park here.
The clootie well is just a short 5 minute walk from the car park, you’ll know your nearby as you start to see all the colourful ribbons tied in the trees as offerings. Maybe you’ll spot mine! If you bring your own, make sure it’s small and biodegradable.
4. Loch na Gainmhich, Assynt
Could this be the best waterfall in Scotland? Loch na Gainmhich, also known as Wailing Widow Waterfall and is situated on the famous NC500. It’s a 50ft drop waterfall surrounded by Scottish mountains, what more could you want?
We camped at the loch above the waterfall as this area was just too stunning not to enjoy an evening out around a campfire. I must admit, it was a little bit soggy and a little bit cold but a memory we will never forget! Do check the loch out and if you’re daring enough, go for a dip.
Join us on our very first wild camp here.
5. MANUELA’S WEE BAKERY, Kyle
Scotland is full of strange and wonderful places and Manuela’s Wee Bakery is one of them. It’s a German fairytale bakery tucked away in the highlands on your way in and out of the Isle of Skye. So if you’re planning on heading that way, pop in, say hi and grab yourself a yummy pastry.
In the evenings, they also have pizza nights and on site there’s a fairytale distillery so whatever time of the day you go, you will not be dissapointed!
6. Fairyglen, Isle of Skye
If you haven’t guessed by now, our road trip consisted of all things magical, whether you believe in it physically or just in the moments themselves, Scotland is full of it. So next up is the Fairyglen on the Isle of Skye.
You’ll probably see this suggested everywhere so I get that might throw you off visitng if you’re looking for something a bit more unique. However, the Fairyglen is well worth the visit if you’re into this kind of stuff. Go during off peak hours and whitness the incredible lanscape all to yourself.
Here you will also find Castle Ewen, a rock formation well worth climbing to the top of for views across the Uig Hills.
7. Glenfinnan Viaduct, Glenfinnan
I’m a huge Harry Potter lover so getting to see this train aka The Hogwarts Express drive by and blow its steam was pure magic. This location is featured in the second movie Chamber of Secret where Harry and Ron steal Arthur Weasley’s flying car. The car has been hexed so they’re being flung around the Glenfinnan Viaduct… I’m sure you know the scene!
The carpark here does cost, however if you head a little bit further up the road, away from Fort William, there is a place you can pull in for free on the left.
I have to admit when I got there, I wasn’t sure how I felt by the amounts of people but in the end I actually loved it. We were all there to witness a beautiful steam train or see the scene from HP play out in real life and whatever I didn’t like about it, soon turned to tears of joy.
With it just being 30 minutes away from Fort William, there is no reason to miss this place. Make sure to check the Jacobite train times here before you go.
8. Kingshouse, Glencoe
When in Scotland, it is very likely you will drive through Glencoe, if you’re not planning to, change your road trip itinerary right now and get it on the list!
The drive itself is spectacular. Even if you don’t leave your vehicle, you won’t regret it. However, theres a magical little spot that will make you want to run out of your vehicle and that is, the Kingshouse. Here you’ll find a deer that never seems to leave and the backdrop is something out of a fairytale.
To say hello to the deer, just pull in to the hotel car park.
9. Devil’s Pulpit, Glasgow
Just 15 minutes outside of Glasgow you can find a river that runs blood red! The Devil’s pulpit is a unique unworldy location that you just can not miss on your road trip around Scotland.
There is so much folklore that surrounds this place, supposedly the devil himself would stand on the rock in the background of this photo to address his followers. You might also recognise it from TV, it has featured on Outlander, Outlaw King and even Pokemon.
I wimped out getting in to the water which I totally regret so please get in for me, enjoy!
10. Galloway Forest, Newton Stewart
We’re now at the end of our road trip around Scotland and Galloway Forest is the perfect final location. It’s a dark skies reserve with two incredible driving routes, Raider’s Road and Carrick Forest Drive. Make sure to check these roads are open before you go, either way there are still plenty of roads to explore.
However, if you’re done with driving, there are plenty of places to just pull in and soak in the 200,000 acre park.
Why visit scotland?
If it isn’t obvious this place is a marvel, full of beauty and truly wild. One minute you’re skiing in the mountains and saying hello to reindeer and the next you’re in the middle of a fantasy movie scene. But this isn’t the only reason to road trip Scotland. Another reason is they are campervan friendly, which is pretty rare in the UK. There are plenty of places to wild camp as well as campsites in the most incredible locations.
Useful tips
Before you head off on your road trip, I thought I’d share a few tips in the form of apps. In my opinion, they’re essential. First is Park4Night, here you can find lots of places to stay from wild camping to campsites. You can also find places to fill up water, wash your clothes and empty toilet waste. The second app is MyLPG, it’s another map app which shows where you can refill your LPG tanks.
I also didn’t want to be that person, but I’m going to be that person, please remember to leave the places you visit and stay clean. Unfortunately, we did stumble across chemical toilet waste in the middle of nowhere and it just makes me sad. If you need to empty your waste, call a nearby campsite, I’m sure they’d be happy for you to use their facilities at a small cost.
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