Birmingham to Scotland road trip: best stops guide

Planning an England to Scotland road trip? If you’re looking to set off from the Midlands, we’ve got you covered! Our road trip to Scotland from Birmingham will take you through the best places to visit along the way, from Morecambe Bay and the Lake District to Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Read on below for information on the ultimate road trip to Scotland from Birmingham, including the best sights, total distance and duration, best time to head off and more.

Best road trip to Scotland from Birmingham: 8 places you can’t miss

There are so many amazing Scottish destinations to aim for on a road trip from Birmingham – and perhaps the most obvious is Edinburgh! Our trip goes from Birmingham to Scotland’s capital on a 483-mile route, taking in spectacular highlights including two national parks. Here’s how to do it!

Total distance : about 485 miles | Recommended days : 7 to 10 days | Best time to do the route : spring, summer | See route in Google Maps

1. Peak District

Start your journey north by setting out from Birmingham along the M6, towards Manchester and to our first stop, the Peak District National Park. This uplands region of hills, reservoirs, hiking paths and wide-open space covers most of the county of Derbyshire and part of Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Staffordshire, West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire – leave plenty of time to explore!

Take your pick from arrival destinations in the Peak District from Birmingham. Our trip arrives at the market town of Buxton as this is a great base for many Peak District highlights including Mam Tor, Bakewell and Ladybower Reservoir, all within 10-20 miles.

The shortest route fromBirmingham to the Peak District at Buxton is 69 miles, driving west of the Cannock Chase Area of Outstanding Natural passing Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent. It’s an easy detour to Alton Towers if you’re on a family trip.

2. Morecambe Bay

Any road trip taking in North West England should include some time along the lovely coastline of Lancashire, whether it’s at glitzy resorts like Blackpool or peaceful seaside towns like Morecambe, Fleetwood and Lytham St Anne’s. Our route stops at Morecambe Bay, a stunningly scenic estuary just south of the Lake District National Park, making up the biggest setting of intertidal mudflats and sand in the UK.

The bay runs from southwest Cumbria to the Lancashire town of Fleetwood, including the coastal towns of Grange Over Sands, Morecambe and Heysham. There’s loads to see and do around the bay, such as hill walking, hiking part of the Lancashire Coastal Way, visiting Heysham Nature Reserve or taking a Morecambe Bay guided tour.

Drive west then north fromBuxton to Morecambe Bay (95 miles), with optional detours to Manchester and Liverpool for city sightseeing or Blackpool and Lytham St Anne’s to see more of the coast. Inland, the Forest of Bowland AONB is easily reached from Morecambe.

3. Lake District

We’ve designed our Birmingham to Scotland road trip to take in as many beautiful landscapes as possible, so our third stop is at the Lake District National Park, one of Britain’s most-visited regions. Home to lakes such as Ullswater, Windermere and Coniston, the Lakes is a top destination for hiking, boating and other outdoor activities, or just strolling around and soaking up the spectacular scenery.

Arriving in the Lake District at Bowness-on-Windermere offers plenty of options for Lake District activities! You could stay around Windermere for walks or boat trips, take a Lake District tour, or use Bowness as a base for other Lake District attractions like Scafell Pike.

The 33-mile drive fromMorecambe to Bowness arrives at the northern shore of Windermere. It passes Kendal, one of the main market towns in the Lakes; stop here to visit Kendal Museum, Kendal Castle or Abbot Hall Art Gallery.

4. Solway Coast AONB

Another AONB for our next stop, the acclaimed Solway Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This stretch of shoreline is part of the Solway Firth, the Irish Sea coastal waters forming part of the border between England and Scotland, running from Maryport on the west Cumbrian coast to Floriston on the River Esk.

Our recommended way to explore this sea coast is to arrive at the village of Crosscanonby just outside Maryport. From there, drive north to Beckfoot and Silloth, then to Bowness-on-Solway via Skinburness and Anthorn. Our route fromBowness around the Solway Coast AONB is 80 miles.

5. Galloway Forest Park

And now over the border to Scotland! Our final destination is Edinburgh, via a few more spectacular stops. The first is Galloway Forest Park, the biggest forest in the United Kingdom at 299 square miles and an awesome destination for Scottish road trips and outdoor activities day or night. It was the first place in the UK to be designated Dark Sky Status for its clear night skies and superb stargazing and has outdoor activities all over to suit all tastes.

Two of the world-famous 7stanes mountain biking centres are here, at Glentrool and Kirroughtree which both have bike hire facilities. Hillwalking, fishing, rock climbing and ice climbing are also popular options.

Bowness-on-Solway to Galloway Forest Park at Glentrool is 113 miles. As with all parts of our trip, leave lots of time for detours! Dumfries, Gatehouse of Fleet, Wigtown and Newton Stewart are all recommended stops.

6. Ayr

Drive through Galloway for the next part of our road trip, the 40-mile journey fromGalloway Forest Park to Ayr, the coastal town and seaside resort known also for its golf. It’s a well-known shopping town too, one of the main retail centres in the south of Scotland – make for the Kyle Centre and Ayr Central.

Ayr attractions include the beach and promenade, where there are views to the islands of Ailsa Craig and Arran as well as the very eastern edge of Northern Ireland. Ayr Racecourse, with the biggest horse-racing capacity in Scotland, hosts the Scottish Grand National and the Ayr Gold Cup as well as regular other races.

Just outside town, visit the Royal Troon golf course, Culzean Castle, Dunure Castle or the Burns National Heritage Park at Alloway, where poet Robert Burns was born. Or take a boat trip – Ayrlies on the River Ayr which flows into the Firth of Clyde estuary, a popular and pretty location for boating as these are the deepest coastal waters in Great Britain.

7. Glasgow

Scotland’s most populous city is a must-see on any road trip around this region! Aim for at least a full day here to take in sights like Scotland’s most visited attraction the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, or more art at the Glasgow Gallery of Modern Art. The Glasgow Botanic Gardens and the Glasgow Science Centre are also among our top picks, along with shopping around the West End. Aim to stay overnight at a Glasgow campsite to take in the best of Glasgow nightlife.

You can make the trip fromAyr to Glasgow (38 miles) in just over an hour, driving direct via Kilmarnock. Another option is to drive along the coast via Troon, with an optional detour to Ardrossan.

8. Edinburgh

Our Birmingham to Scotland road trip finishes in Scotland’s capital Edinburgh, another absolute must-see. Home to Edinburgh Castle, the National Gallery of Scotland and heaps more, the city is also the setting for world-famous festivals including the Edinburgh Fringe. Drive fromGlasgow to Edinburgh on a 47-mile journey west to east. Make sure to climb to Arthur’s Seat, an ancient rock that acts as a viewing platform over the city.

There are lots more options for road trips from Edinburgh if you want to extend your trip! Check out ourEdinburgh to the Isle of Skye road trip or our3-day Scotland road trip and7-day Scotland road trip itinerary for more info. Alternatively, drive back towards Glasgow for our best road trip around the west coast of Scotland, departing from Ayr.

Organising your road trip to Scotland from Birmingham

Now you have all the best places to visit, it’s time to organise your trip! Start withcampervan hire in the Midlands to find the perfect rental to kick off your adventure from Birmingham – our listings allow for filters by van type, date, price, berths and more.

Why Camplify?

We are proud to be the UK’s fastest-growing campervan, motorhome and caravan sharing community. When you hire a van from our platform, you get lots of advantages:

• Comprehensive hire insurance

• 24/7 RAC nationwide breakdown cover

• Dedicated customer support

• All members are verified

By hiring at Camplify, you are also helping local families who share their van on our platform and supporting many local companies across the UK in addition to ours. So we are very grateful to you.

Sign up if you want to join our beloved community of van life lovers and receive our most recent news and offers.