Driving

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Overview

Scottish Highlands driving tips

The Highlands & Islands have excellent road links to all of the UK, however it's wise to check on local road conditions as these can dramatically affect the roads in the region. We also recommend a few essentials to take in the car with you especially in winter when the likelyhood of heavy snow is high:

Shovel

Wellington boots

Rugs

Torch

Full fuel tank

Hot drinks

Many roads are single track and a few special driving rules apply. A passing place is usually a small stretch of road slightly wider than the single track and just wide enough to allow two vehicles alongside each other for passing or overtaking. The rules below are more a courtesy, the locals respect them and so should visitors - it is a huge relief when the caravan or tractor you are doomed to tail into eternity pulls over and waves you past.

If two cars meet head-on, the car closest to the passing place pulls in to let the other car past

Sometimes you may have to reverse to the closest passing place

Pull into the passing places to let faster moving vehicles overtake

Driving directions & car journey times*

London centre to Inverness:

A41 to M1, M6 to Carlisle, A74 & M74 to M80 Stirling, A9 Perth to A82, B865 Inverness
572 miles approx
10 hours 45 mins drive

Glasgow Airport to Inverness

M8, M8 for Stirling, M9 & A9 for Perth to A82 for Inverness & Fort William
185 miles approx
4 hours drive
John O'Groats to Lands End
The charity fund raisers' favourite walk, it is reportedly more difficult from north to south as the wind blows against you.

The distance is 853.4 miles from the Northernmost point of the Scottish Highlands - John O'Groats to the most southerly point in Cornwall - Lands End.

It takes 17 hours to drive the route non-stop. The main roads are the A99 out of John O'Groats onto the A9 for Perth to the M73 towards Stirling. Then the M74 out of Scotland, the A74 & M6 round Birmingham onto the M5 finally the A30 Exeter to Penzance 7 Lands End.

Journey times & distances are approximate

Interactive Map & Directions

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