Seasoned travellers are often on the search to see the ‘real’ side of a country. Rather than sticking to the usual tourist trail, you want to look beyond the capital city and find the hidden gems that only a local would know about.
For this reason, possibly the best way to see a country is by car. And one of the most beautiful places to drive around over summer would have to be Scotland. Whether you’re from the UK or abroad, the Scottish countryside has a never-ending array of sights to see. Stumble across a hidden cove overlooked by a jutting cliff face or an ancient ruin from centuries past, a haunting glen nestled amongst the hills or a mystic loch with secrets lurking beneath its calm surface. With a car, you can find yourself in some of these amazing settings, not limited by a pre-determined train destination or by the breadth of public transport.
If you’re looking for cheap weekend breaks to take over summer, a relaxing drive around the Scottish countryside is the perfect option. With a long weekend, you’ll be able to see much more of the country than you think travelling between Edinburgh and Glasgow via the long way round. Book a flight to Edinburgh for a Friday night through superbreak.com and pick up your hire car from there.
Then what should you do?
Spend the night in the city and head off early bound north for Dundee, on the shores of the Firth of Tay. Take the slightly longer coastal route (it’ll take about two hours) via Kirkcaldy, Anstruther and the famous St Andrews for stunning views of the ocean. Dundee is a great place to stop for lunch and have a look around Discovery Point in this notoriously friendly city. From here, travel further north through the Glenmore Forest Park. This will be the longest leg of your journey, taking about five hours, but the drive is beautiful, the sun will be up late, and you’ll wind up in Inverness in time for dinner.
This is the central city of the highlands and sits nestled at the northern end of the Great Glen astride the River Ness. After spending the night here you can try and catch a glimpse of the famous Loch Ness Monster or go in search of the famous bottlenose dolphins found in the Moray Firth. Next stop: Fort William. Only an hour and a half drive from Inverness, this town is famous with outdoor enthusiasts thanks to the looming Ben Nevis in the background, the highest mountain in the British Isles. Covered in cliffs, rocky paths and plenty of flora and fauna, make sure you stop here on your way into town for an adventurous look around. A word to the wise: bring your walking boots. Fort William isn’t the prettiest of towns, but in summer its pubs will be bustling with happy hikers who’ve come to climb Ben Nevis. No doubt it’ll provide a fun-filled stopover on your last night in Scotland.
Come Monday, you’ll have the entire day to make your way back down to Glasgow for your flight home. The drive only takes about two and a half hours, but it’s possibly the prettiest in Scotland, and you can easily get distracted along the way. Heading southward from Fort William, you’ll come down from the highlands and enter Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. Scotland’s first national park, the area is popular with day-trippers over summer who head to Balloch at the south end of Loch Lomond to relax on its shores. You’ll pass through beautiful woodland as you go, be awestruck by the towering Ben Lomond, which stands guard over the loch, andbe tempted to stop in for a swim in the lake too.
After getting your fix of Scotland’s natural beauty, drive into Glasgow – the last stop on your Scottish tour. Grab a meal at one of the many world-class restaurants that make up this edgy cities trendy food scene before heading to the airport for your flight home.
That’s definitely a good way to spend a long summer weekend in the UK.
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