Best Glasgow road trips: 7 unmissable Scottish routes

Whether a day trip or a longer adventure, Glasgow is an awesome starting point for a # vanlife holiday.

Within 30 minutes you can be in towns like Stirling, Falkirk, Paisley or Kilmarnock, by the coast visiting castles, following the River Clyde to the Firth of Clyde, about to arrive at Loch Lomond on the way to the world-famous Scottish Highlands… or just meandering through gorgeous green countryside.

Because there’s so much to see and do within a short range of the city, a road trip from Glasgow is family-friendly too. Look forcampervan hire in Glasgow then take your pick from our 7 best road trips from Glasgow to take in 2022!

Best road trips from Glasgow in 2022 – 7 routes you can’t miss

1. Loch Ness and the Highlands

Total distance: 366 miles | Recommended days: 5 days | Best time to do the route: Spring | Route map

Beautiful Loch Ness is a jewel on any Scotland road trip. The 23-mile loch is in a stunning setting in the Great Glen, which runs for 62 miles from Inverness to Fort William, and is the largest lake in Britain by volume – up to 230 metres deep at some points. Its vast volume gave rise to the legend of “Nessie”, the Loch Ness monster supposedly lurking in its depths.

Drive from Glasgow to Loch Ness via the A9 (181 miles), then spend the rest of the trip exploring the equally beautiful Scottish Highlands. Inverness, Fort William, Inveraray, Glen Coe and the Glenfinnan Viaduct are all on our route.

2. Loch Lomond and the Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park

Total distance: 143 miles | Recommended days: 3 days | Best time to do the route: Spring | Route map

Loch Lomond is one of the easiest day trips from Glasgow, as it’s just a 40-minute drive from the city to the southern end of the loch at Balloch. Like Loch Ness, Loch Lomond is a must-see: at 22.6 miles it’s the biggest lake in Britain, with loads to do on the water and around its shores. Take a Loch Lomond boat trip from Balloch, or go fishing, kayaking, canoeing or water skiing; there are plenty of companies around the loch arranging trips.

The loch is surrounded by Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park. Our route covers the best of the national park highlights including the Falls of Dochart waterfall cascades; Ben Lomond, Scotland’s most southerly Munro; and Loch Katrine, for trips on the historic steamship SS Sir Walter Scott. Also, visit the little village of Tarbet to ride on the West Highland Line, voted the top rail journey in the world.

Discover the best Loch Lomond campsites for your adventure!

3. South West Coast 300/the Ayrshire coast

Total distance: 324 miles | Recommended days: 3 days | Best time to do the route: Summer | Route map

The little cousin of the mighty North Coast 500/NC500 (see our NC500 road trip), the South West Coast 300/SWC300 is just as spectacular. It runs along quiet roads in Dumfries & Galloway and the south Ayrshire coast, stopping off at top highlights like Ayr, the Gatehouse of Fleet, Southerness and the market town of Dumfries.

Our route adds a little extra to the SWC300! Starting from Glasgow rather than the usual setting-off point of Gretna Green allows visits to Kilmarnock and Ayr, to explore Robert Burns Country and the golfing town of Troon. Our road trip then gets onto the SW300 towards Girvan and follows the coast around to Dumfries via Drummore, Whithorn and the Gatehouse of Fleet.

4. Isle of Arran

Total distance: 114 miles (including ferry) | Recommended days: 1 day | Best time to do the route: Spring or autumn | Route map

The shortest road trip on our list is easily done on a day tour from Glasgow, leaving the west Scotland coast at Ardrossan to the Isle of Arran in the Firth of Clyde. The biggest island in the Firth, Arran is so typical of the country as a whole that it's nicknamed “Scotland in miniature”.

Arrive on the island at Lamlash, then drive on the coastal route to explore Arran destinations like Whiting Bay, Brodick Castle and the Arran Distillery, as well as Goat Fell/Goatfell, Arran’s highest point. There’s a good choice of Isle of Arran campsites if you want to extend your trip!

5. Firth of Clyde

Total distance: 87 miles | Recommended days: 2 days | Best time to do the route: Summer | Route map

As shown by our Isle of Arran trip, the Firth of Clyde is easily reachable from Glasgow for a day trip, but do take a little longer if you can! This next trip shows you how, on a Firth of Clyde road trip highlighting its best stops.

The Firth of Clyde is the mouth of the River Clyde, Glasgow’s river, sheltered from the Atlantic by the lovely Kintyre Peninsula. It’s home to Robert Burns Country around Alloway and Ayr where the poet spent the early years of his life, and 18th-century Culzean Castle built high on cliffs overlooking the Firth. Our trip takes in Ardrossan as a first stop, then follows the Firth of Clyde coastline passing Troon, Dunure to Girvan.

6 Stirling and Falkirk

Total distance: 43 miles | Recommended days: 1-2 days | Best time to do the route: Summer | Route map

Going northeast from Glasgow now, our next road trip is to the historic city of Stirling and further east to Falkirk. On the River Forth, Stirling was for centuries the main route between the Scottish Highlands and Lowlands, guarded by Stirling Castle high on its rocky crag. The castle today is one of the biggest and best-preserved in Scotland and is a must-see.

From Stirling, drive east and south to Falkirk; this scenic little city in the Forth Valley and Central Lowlands was voted Scotland's most beautiful town. Its most famous sights are the Falkirk Wheel, the rotating boat lift that connects the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal; and The Kelpies, two 30-metre-high sculptures of Scottish water spirits. Callendar Park and Callendar House are also popular Falkirk destinations.

Extend your trip by driving further east from Falkirk to Edinburgh to visit Edinburgh Castle or to shop in Princes Street, for a total journey length of 71 miles.

7. Oban and the West Highlands

Total distance: 368 miles | Recommended days: 4 days | Best time to do the route: Summer | Route map

The port town of Oban is worth a trip in itself, but make it just the start of a Glasgow road trip to add in ferry trips to the Isle of Mull and the Isle of Skye. Take plenty of time getting to Oban too, on a leisurely and scenic journey via some of Scotland’s best scenery.

We recommend taking a full day for the Glasgow to Oban part of the trip, travelling northwest via Paisley, Dumbarton and Loch Lomond (98 miles). Once at Oban, book an Oban campsite then explore the town the next day before a ferry trip to the Isle of Mull. A three-day trip gives you time for a night at an Isle of Mull campsite, then onwards to a Skye campsite on Day 3. Cut across the Highlands to Inverness for Day 4.

Other options for a road trip from Glasgow

Also consider a road trip fromGlasgow to the Cowal Peninsula (41 miles including ferry; recommended time 2 days) to visit the seaside town of Dunoon, and Benmore Botanic Garden between the Holy Loch and Loch Eck. Alternatively, do a super simple 46-mileroad trip from Glasgow to Edinburgh and Edinburgh Castle!

Plan your Glasgow road trip today

Ready for your trip? Hiring a van is the best way to do a Glasgow road trip – see the country in comfort and style in a home away from home to live and travel in.

No matter what your current location or budget is, at Camplify UK you can find a vast range of vans near your home – or pick one up at your destination. Look for campervan hire in Glasgow or campervan hire in Scotland to get started.

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