Top Tips for Driving in Scotland (2024)

If you're not used to driving in Scotland, you might find the idea of single-track roads daunting, but don't despair! Some of the most incredible places to visit on your self-drive tour of Scotland are reached by single-track road, and on the islands these types of road are especially common.

Top tips:

1) Pull over if you're going more slowly than the people behind you.

It might seem crazy, but not everyone is driving to enjoy the scenery! It's really important that you drive at a speed you are comfortable with, but don't be surprised if this speed doesn't work for everyone.

It's essential to keep below the speed limit, of course, but it's also courteous not to hold up others by going more slowly than you need to. Try to remain aware of who is behind you, and if you notice a queue building up or a big difference in speed, please pull in safely in the passing places provided to let people overtake you.

If you decide to stop and take photos (we don't blame you, it's stunning!), please ensure you have pulled over completely and are not blocking the road.

2) Always keep to the left.

Whilst single-track roads will not have markings in the middle to show you which lane is which, you still need to remember to drive on the left and make sure you stay to the left of the track where possible, especially around bends.

3) Approach blind hills and bends with caution.

On many single-track roads, there isn't space to pass someone head-on, so bear this in mind when you can't see far ahead. Slow down well in advance of hills and blind bends so that you have time to think ahead and see other road users approaching.

Breaking the speed limit is illegal in Scotland and this is regularly enforced. Make sure you stay safe and avoid any trouble by always knowing and staying within the speed limit for the road you are on.

Speed limit signposts

Many of Scotland's roads have a speed limit sign posted - if so, this will be shown at regular intervals by a number with black lettering on a white background in the centre of a red circle. Even if this limit differs from the national norm for the type of road you're on, the signposted speed limit shown takes precedence.

Temporary speed limits

Look out for temporary speed limits, such as those surrounding areas of roadworks or imposed due to heavy traffic on the motorway. These will either be shown on temporary signs placed at the side of the road, or (motorways only) on illuminated boards above the motorway lanes. Again, these will be white and red in colour and will be shown at regular intervals.

National speed limit

If there is no temporary or permanent speed limit signposted, the following national speed limits apply. These depend on the type of road you are driving on.

Motorways - 70mph for cars; 60mph for those towing caravans or trailers. Motorways have blue and white signage and often three or more lanes in each direction.

Dual carriageways - 70mph for cars; 60mph for those towing caravans or trailers. Dual carriageways have green and white signage and usually two lanes in each direction.

Single carriageways and other roads outside built-up areas - 60mph. Note, though, that this is an absolute maximum. On country roads, and especially on single-track roads with lots of bends, it is rarely safe to drive as fast as this.

Towns, residential areas or other built-up areas - 30mph. Around schools or residential areas, you may find lower limits (eg 20mph) signposted and/or traffic calming measures such as speed bumps which mean you need to travel a lot slower than 30mph.

Emily Woolard

One of the most wonderful things about Scotland is its wildlife. This is no less true when you are on a driving holiday, but the abundance of animals and birds does present an extra hazard for those embarking on a Scottish road trip.

Farm animals and other livestock

Sheep and cows often graze freely beside the road, and you may well encounter them on the road as well. Always travel at a safe speed and be prepared to stop as you go around corners or up hills where you can't see very far ahead. Note that with herds or flocks of cattle or sheep, it's very common for more animals to follow if one of them crosses the road - lambs will almost always cross the road to follow their mother, for example, so don't assume that because only one has crossed, the others will stay put.

You may find - especially on low-traffic roads - that the animals have made themselves especially comfortable on the road, perhaps even lying down. If this happens, you should slow to a crawl well in advance and approach with care. This is normally enough to encourage the animals to move on, but if they are particularly stubborn you may just have to stop and wait. Noisily revving of your engine or over-use of the horn can cause unnecessary stress to animals and may even provoke aggression, which could result in damage to your car. The best advice we can give is to be patient and try to see the funny side! It's always an entertaining and quintessentially Scottish experience to encounter a roadblock of hairy cows, and you'll be able to take some wonderful photos as you wait for them to move out of your way.

Wild animals

Deer and other wild animals are unfortunately regularly involved in accidents on Scotland's roads. They often cross over or stray into the road, and this is more common in very rural or low-traffic areas.

You can reduce the likelihood of being involved in a collision by keeping your speed slow and safe, giving yourself plenty of space to stop, and by using your lights correctly at night. Expect the unexpected!

Birds

Normally you won't encounter birds on the road, but if you are in a quiet area or if there is something tasty on the road (an unfortunate rabbit or deer, perhaps), you may find that birds of prey can't resist taking a rest or having a snack on the road.

Just because birds can fly doesn't mean that they will, so give them space to move on. Again, your best chance of avoiding causing injury or death to a bird is to ensure you always drive at a safe speed with plenty of time to stop.