West Scotland coast road trip: best stops & attractions

If you’ve never taken a west coast Scotland road trip, it’s time to add it to your travel list! Famous around the world for its breathtaking scenery and remote landscapes, Scotland’s west coast is a place where you can really get off the beaten track.

Explore it in late spring or early autumn for the most remote experience, or head out in summer for warm days and colourful landscapes. From the Isle of Arran to the Outer Hebrides, our guide to road tripping Scotland’s west coast will take you to bucket list locations. Discover more below!

Best road trip around Scotland’s west coast: 10 places you can’t miss

Our trip starts from Ayr, the tourist resort and town in Scotland’s southwest. You can start from Glasgow for a shorter drive, or Edinburgh if you have longer, and drive west to Ayr. We recommend taking a few days around Ayr if possible, to explore the Firth of Clyde and the Mull of Kintyre.

Total distance: 499 miles approx | Recommended days: 10 to 14 days | Best time to do the route: May to October | Route on Google Maps

1. Isle of Arran

The first stop on our west Scotland road trip is the Isle of Arran, the largest island in the Firth of Clyde. It’s known as “Scotland in miniature” because it’s geographically split into highland and lowland areas by the Highland Boundary Fault running all the way across Scotland… giving all landscapes on one island.

Drive from Ayr to Ardrossan (24 miles) and take the CalMac ferry from Ardrossan to arrive on Arran at its capital Brodick. Recommended Arran activities include climbing Goats Fell, exploring the villages and castles of Lochranza and Brodick, trying the wares of Arran Distillery, or tackling part of the 107-mile Arran Coastal Way.

2. Loch Fyne

Leave Arran by its other main port, Lochranza, to cross back into mainland Scotland and the beautiful waters of Loch Fyne, Scotland’s biggest sea loch and Bute and part of the Cowal Peninsula. It’s a well-known haven for wildlife and outdoor sports, surrounded by pastures and hills for hiking and climbing. Take a drive around the loch from Inveraray to the little village of Portavadie for stupendous views, then stop at the Portavadie marina for restaurants, shops, bike and kayak hire.

The 36-mile route from Lochranza to Loch Fyne passes another lovely west Scotland destination: the village of Tarbert, on the loch shore and the gateway to the beautiful Kintyre Peninsula.

3. Oban

The Argyll and Bute port town of Oban is a popular stop on west coast Scotland driving routes, as it’s the biggest settlement between Helensburgh and Fort William. Standing in the Firth of Lorn, this resort town has a beautiful horseshoe-shaped bay backed by mountains and rugged coastline; and is known as the “Gateway to the Isles” with ferries sailing to the isles of the Inner Hebrides.

Loch Fyne to Oban is 45 miles, via the pretty little town of Inveraray to visit Inveraray Castle as well as Inveraray Jail and courthouse, now an award-winning museum. The route then goes north to Lochawe, then west to the coast… but if you have time, head east first to explore part of Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park.

4. Isle of Mull

Probably the most popular destination from Oban is the Isle of Mull, a haven for wildlife including seals, porpoises, basking sharks and seabirds because of its warm Gulf Stream. Take a boat trip around the island from Tobermory, Mull’s capital, before arriving back on land to explore Tobermoray’s whisky distillery. If you’re on the island in July, be sure to check out the Mull Highland Games!

The journey to Mull is simple: take the ferry from Oban to Tobermory (32 miles), a sailing time of just under two hours.

5. Isle of Skye

Heading north, also in the Inner Hebrides is the Isle of Skye, its biggest island at 50 miles long. Its capital is Portree, named in the “20 most beautiful villages in the UK and Ireland” list by Condé Nast Traveler: this is where to head for pubs, restaurants and live music. Climb one of the 12 Munros of the Cuillin Range or hike to the Old Man Storr rock formation if you’re feeling energetic; if not, there’s plenty of magnificent coastlines to stroll around!

The most direct route fromMull to Skye is 102 miles, taking the ferry from Tobermory back to the mainland, then another ferry from Mallaig to Skye. But we reckon the best option is the longer 165-mile journey going mostly overland, detouring to the beautiful Scottish Highlands destinations of Glen Coe, Fort William, and the Glenfinnan Viaduct, where the “Harry Potter train” crossed. Then take the Skye Bridge onto the island.

6. Applecross Peninsula

Northwest of Kyle of Lochalsh village on the Lochalsh Peninsula, the Applecross Peninsula covers the land between the Isle of Skye and the mountains of the mainland. It’s best known for the Bealach na Bà mountain pass, which until the late 20th century was the only road linking the peninsula with the Scottish mainland.

The Bealach na Bà is a single-track, winding road climbing to over 2,000 ft above sea level – as you’d expect, the views here are awesome! Don’t attempt the path in a large motorhome or campervan though – it’s best to park in the village and arrange a tour to the Bealach na Bà viewpoint instead. Skye to Applecross village is 75 miles; the Bealach na Bà viewpoint is five miles from there.

7. Gairloch

Gairloch is a small harbour village, but a popular stop on the North Coast 500 for its scenic valley setting around Loch Maree and Kinlochewe. It’s also a perfect base for a pitstop for a few days or as a base for exploring the west Scottish coastline, Loch Maree or Loch Ewe.

Ourroute to Gairloch (67 miles) makes a slight detour east to Lochcarron, just after the Bealach na Bà. This Wester Ross village is a popular base for Highlands hillwalking and climbing, plus wildlife watching and fishing at Loch Carron sea loch.

From Lochcarron, drive on to another small lochside village, Torridon, where the surrounding Torridon Hills have been described as some of the most dramatic scenery in the British Isles.

8. Ullapool

Ullapool is the biggest settlement along the North Coast 500 route, after Inverness. Like Gairloch and Torridon, it has plenty to see and do despite its size and is a convenient as well as a highly scenic stop on a west coast Scotland trip. Set on the shores of Loch Broom, Ullapool has mountain, coastal and inland walks all around, plus the Inverpolly National Nature Reserve to the west, home to pine martens, wildcats, buzzards and golden eagles.

The 56-mile drive fromGairloch to Ullapool passes the southern shores of Loch Ewe, a Wester Ross sea loch surrounded by traditional crofting villages.

9. Lochinver

Next up is another sea loch stop – Loch Inver and Lochinver village, the second biggest fishing port in Scotland. It’s well worth a day or two’s stop here to take a boat trip or climb the iconic sandstone peak of Suilven climb… or just relax on the beach and soak up the amazing mountain views. If you prefer to village hop, Achmelvich, Clachtoll, Clashmore, Stoer, Clashnessie, Drumbeg and Culkein Drumbeg are all on the coastal road and easily reached from here.

The 36-mile journey fromUllapool to Lochinver passes Loch Assynt, a freshwater loch in a spectacular setting among the peaks of Canisp, Quinag and Beinn Uidhe. Like Lochinver, Loch Assynt is a popular Highlands fishing spot.

10. Outer Hebrides – Lewis and Harris – Stornoway

Our final stop is to the Hebridean islands again – this time the Outer Hebrides. This part of the Hebrides is home to the biggest island in Scotland, Lewis and Harris, which is also the third biggest island in the British Isles (after Ireland and Great Britain themselves).

Despite the name, Lewis and Harris are both on just one island. Lewis is the bigger of the two, a wildlife haven with 15 Sites of Special Scientific Interest; Harris is mostly mountainous and lies to the south. Harris also has the port of Tarbert, a Harris Tweed shop, Harris Distillery and ferries to Uig in the Isle of Skye.

To get to the Outer Hebrides, drive fromLochinver back to Ullapool for the ferry to Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis. It’s a 90-mile journey including the ferry crossing.

Extending your west coast Scotland road trip

Want to explore more of Scotland? It’s 223 miles fromUllapool to Glasgow – or why not continue your west coast Scotland road trip by a trip north fromUllapool to Durness on the North Coast 500 (68 miles)?

You can then follow the north Scottish coast fromDurness to John o’Groats (90 miles) via Thurso, then take a leisurely journey fromJohn o’Groats to Edinburgh via Wick and Aberdeen (349 miles).

Organise your west coast Scotland road trip with Camplify

Looking forcampervan hire in Scotland? Arranging your trip is simple with Camplify! We have a wide range of vans ready for a road trip. And if you need more inspiration, we’ve put together some detailed guides for aScotland campervan itinerary, a7-day Scotland road trip,driving the North Coast 500 (plus many more!).

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