The team's tips:
- Give yourself 30 minutes before setting off: Drive around an empty car park or along a quiet road to get used to the vehicle before tackling traffic.
- Repeat “stay left” to yourself at roundabouts: This is where old habits tend to kick back in. Having a passenger remind you helps enormously.
- Never park in a passing place: These lay-bys on single-track roads must stay clear so vehicles can pass each other.
- Trust the locals: If a vehicle is right behind you on a narrow road, it’s probably driven by someone who knows every bend. Let them pass as soon as you can.
- Allow more time than Google Maps suggests: Its estimates don’t always account for the winding, single-track roads in the Highlands.
Driving in Scotland: driving on the left, single-track roads and everything you need to know
This is THE question we get asked most often: “Is driving in Scotland complicated?” The short answer is no, not really. The slightly longer answer is that it takes a little getting used to, but it’s nothing you can’t handle, even if it’s your first road trip abroad.
Driving on the left, single-track roads, speed limits in miles: here’s everything you need to know to hit the road with confidence, whether you’re travelling solo or with Scotland Nomads.
Driving on the left: less intimidating than you might think
The classic worry before setting off on a road trip in Scotland. And yet, most travelers get used to it in just a few hours.
The basic principle is simple: you stay on the left, the steering wheel is on the right, and you change gears with your left hand. It may sound confusing on paper, but in practice, your body adapts quickly. After about thirty minutes of driving, most of your reflexes naturally fall back into place.
Pay particular attention at roundabouts, which you take in the opposite direction from what you're used to, and on the first bends after stopping, when you may instinctively move back onto your usual side of the road. Nothing serious, just stay alert during the first few days.
Single-track roads: Scotland’s unique feature
In the Highlands and on the islands, many minor roads are single-track roads: one lane for both directions. It may take a little getting used to, but the system works really well once you understand how it works.
Passing places (wider sections marked with a black-and-white sign) appear at regular intervals along the road. When you meet an oncoming vehicle, one of you pulls into the nearest passing place to let the other pass. If a faster vehicle is behind you, local etiquette is to pull into the next passing place and let it overtake.
A few simple rules to remember:
- never park in a passing place, it needs to remain clear
- drive at a moderate speed, visibility is often limited around bends
- a little wave to the vehicle you pass is customary, and always appreciated
Rules to know before you hit the road
Speed limits
In Scotland, speed limits are given in miles per hour (mph), not km/h. In towns and cities, the limit is generally 30 mph (around 48 km/h), on secondary roads it’s 60 mph (96 km/h), and on motorways it’s 70 mph (113 km/h). On single-track roads, the posted limit is often much higher than what’s sensible to drive at, so adapt your speed to the conditions, not the sign.
Driving licence
A valid national driving licence is all EU citizens need. For vehicle rental, you’ll generally need to have held it for at least 2 years.
Unpaved roads
On the Isle of Mull and in some remote areas, certain roads are still unpaved. Drive carefully and keep a map close at hand.
Tolls
The good news is that there are no road tolls in Scotland. The only cost of the road is the fuel.
Wildlife and local conditions
Watch out for sheep (and Highland cows)
In the Highlands, sheep often graze freely and may cross the road without warning. Stay alert, especially in rural areas, and slow down if you spot them near the road.
Fog and rain
Scottish weather can change quickly, and so can visibility. Turn on your headlights if conditions worsen, and don’t hesitate to slow down more than usual.
Fuel in remote areas
In the Northwest Highlands and on the islands, petrol stations are few and far between. Never set off with less than half a tank.
Driving in Scotland with Scotland Nomads
The vast majority of our travellers have never driven on the left before their road trip with Scotland Nomads. It goes very smoothly: our route alternates between main roads and single-track roads, giving you time to get used to driving on the left before tackling the twistier sections towards Skye and the Northwest Highlands.
Your SUV, equipped with a rooftop tent, is comfortable and easy to handle, even on the narrowest roads. And if you have any doubts before setting off, our team is always available to answer your questions.
