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United Kingdom Scotland
Road trip between lochs, the Highlands and the south-west coasts

Motorhome hire in Scotland

Lochs, glens and the Galloway coast, departing from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee and Cairnryan

departure cities
5
rental partners
9
branches
13
pick-up cities: Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee and Cairnryan
4
as the crow flies between Cairnryan and Dundee
216 km
  • Pick-ups in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee and Cairnryan
  • Nine rental companies in the region
  • Seven rental companies in Edinburgh, four in Glasgow
  • Driving on the left, single-track roads in the north
  • Cairnryan, port for crossings to Northern Ireland
  • Edinburgh is 67 km from Glasgow, 58 km from Dundee
  • Sea at 16 °C near Edinburgh in August

Scotland is best discovered aboard a vehicle you can sleep in: lochs, glens, remote castles and seaside roads follow one another, and the best stops are rarely in the towns. Four pick-up cities are offered: Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee and Cairnryan, with nine rental companies including Apollo, Bunk Campers, McRent, Spaceships Rentals and Go Explore Scotland.

The country is small on the map but slow on the road. North of the Glasgow-Edinburgh line, roads become narrow, sometimes single-track with passing places, and the weather changes several times a day. Plan short stages, some margin for ferries and driving on the left.

Our partners

Our 9 rental partners in Scotland

Scotland

Where to pick up your motorhome in Scotland?

Choose your departure city: the map shows where rental companies hand over their vehicles.

Return to another city
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Road trip ideas

The best itineraries in Scotland

1 Loch Lomond, Oban and Glencoe from Glasgow 5 to 7 days about 550 km
  1. Glasgow
  2. Loch Lomond
  3. Inveraray
  4. Oban
  5. Glencoe
  6. Fort William
  7. Glenfinnan
  8. Glasgow

Glasgow opens the road to the western Highlands. You first follow the shores of Loch Lomond, then reach Inveraray and its castle on Loch Fyne. Oban, a fishing port and departure point for ferries to the islands, makes a stopover before the Glencoe valley, its dark walls and its passes. Fort William and the Glenfinnan viaduct, glimpsed in the Harry Potter films, close the loop before the return via Rannoch Moor.

The Glencoe road is very busy in summer: car parks are small and roads narrow. Set off early in the morning to overtake more easily. Mountain roads are open all year, but frost and snow can close them in winter.

Distance
about 550 km
Recommended vehicle
Campervan or compact motorhome
2 The Cairngorms and Royal Deeside from Dundee 4 to 6 days about 450 km
  1. Dundee
  2. Glamis
  3. Glen Shee
  4. Braemar
  5. Ballater
  6. Aviemore
  7. Pitlochry
  8. Dundee

Dundee is in the east of the country, with quick access to the Cairngorms National Park. The route passes Glamis Castle, then climbs via Glen Shee to Braemar, a mountain village known for its Highland Games in September. You then follow the Dee valley to Ballater, close to Balmoral, before crossing the park towards Aviemore and Pitlochry.

The park's passes, including Glen Shee, can be closed from autumn by snow or ice: check local road bulletins. Aviemore is a good place to stock up for a night at a campsite, with walks to the lochs of Rothiemurchus forest.

Distance
about 450 km
Recommended vehicle
Coachbuilt motorhome or campervan
3 Stirling, the Trossachs and Fife from Edinburgh 3 to 4 days about 300 km
  1. Edinburgh
  2. Stirling
  3. Callander
  4. Aberfoyle
  5. Loch Leven
  6. St Andrews
  7. Edinburgh

Edinburgh is best visited on foot or by tram: leave the vehicle at a campsite on the outskirts before going up to the castle and the Royal Mile. The road then reaches Stirling and its castle, then the Trossachs: Callander, Aberfoyle, Loch Katrine. You return via the shores of Loch Leven and cross Fife to St Andrews, a town of golf and university, before heading back over the Queensferry road bridge.

This loop is short and easy for a large vehicle, except in the Trossachs where roads are narrow. A one-way Edinburgh-Dundee hire, via St Andrews, is possible depending on the rental company and the dates.

Distance
about 300 km
Recommended vehicle
Any type of motorhome
4 Galloway and the south-west coast from Cairnryan 4 to 5 days about 300 km
  1. Cairnryan
  2. Portpatrick
  3. Mull of Galloway
  4. Whithorn
  5. Kirkcudbright
  6. Galloway Forest Park
  7. Glasgow

Cairnryan, on the shore of Loch Ryan, is above all a port: the trip heads to the south of the Rhins peninsula, with Portpatrick and its little harbour, then Glenluce and the Mull of Galloway lighthouse. The road climbs back via Whithorn, the cliffs of the Wigtown coast and Kirkcudbright, an artists' town with colourful façades, before reaching Dumfries or Glasgow.

The south-west is one of the quietest corners of Scotland: the coastal road is winding but lightly trafficked. Galloway Forest Park is a Dark Sky Park, a good excuse for a night away from the lights. A one-way hire to Glasgow depends on the rental company and the dates.

Distance
about 300 km
Recommended vehicle
Campervan or compact motorhome
Weather and seasons

When to go in Scotland?

Best time

May and June

May to June
highs of 14 to 18 °C, lows of 7 to 11 °C

Days are very long and sunshine exceeds ten hours a day in Edinburgh, averaging 11 hours in June. Rain is still around, but less than in autumn: 69 mm in May in Edinburgh, 77 mm in Glasgow. It is also before the midge season, those biting gnats that mostly spoil summer evenings in the Highlands.

High season

July and August

July to August
highs of 17 to 19 °C, lows of 11 to 12 °C

High season combines school holidays and festivals: the Edinburgh Fringe, in August, fills the city and nearby campsites. Highland roads are busier and midges are to be feared at dusk. With 17.6 days of rain in July in Glasgow, keep a plan B stop under cover.

Best time

September and October

September to October
highs of 12 to 16 °C, lows of 7 to 11 °C

The golden light, the heather and the first rutting stags attract travellers in September, with less crowded roads. October is wetter: 100 mm in Edinburgh, up to 141 mm in Cairnryan, and sunshine falls to about five hours a day. Several campsites close at the end of October.

Winter

November to March

November to March
highs of 6 to 10 °C, lows of 1 to 6 °C

Days are short and sunshine does not exceed two to four hours a day in December and January. Rain is frequent, up to 18 days in December in Glasgow, and frost can close the Cairngorms passes. In return you get almost empty roads and snowy landscapes, provided you have a well-heated vehicle and short stages.

Step by step

Renting in Scotland, step by step

  1. 1

    Choose your pick-up city

    Edinburgh, with seven rental companies, opens up the south-east and Fife; Glasgow puts the start at the gateway to the western Highlands; Dundee is ideal for the Cairngorms; Cairnryan suits those arriving from the island of Ireland by ferry.

  2. 2

    Plan your arrival

    Edinburgh and Glasgow each have an international airport. Depots are often in business parks, a few kilometres from the centre: work out the journey by taxi or public transport, and check the opening hours on your pick-up day.

  3. 3

    Book ferries and busy campsites

    For Skye, Mull, Arran, the Hebrides or Orkney, CalMac and other companies' crossings should be booked early in summer, stating the vehicle's length. Campsites near Edinburgh fill up during the August Fringe; complement them with smaller stops.

  4. 4

    Return the vehicle

    Plan the return with a half-day margin: weather and narrow roads slow the final stage. Fill up before the depot and empty the grey and black water, as most rental companies charge cleaning fees if you forget.

Practical tips

Everything to know before hitting the road

Single-track roads and passing places

In the north and on many loch roads, the road is single-track, with passing places marked by a white diamond. You stop in the passing place on your own side, on the left, to let others through. Large motorhomes also give way to vehicles behind them: pull over when a queue forms.

Driving on the left and roundabouts

Traffic drives on the left, with a right-hand steering wheel on most vehicles. Roundabouts are taken clockwise, giving way to the right. The first few kilometres need attention, especially when leaving the depot; if in doubt, do a trial lap in a quiet area before joining a main road.

Sleeping outside campsites: the Scottish rules

Scottish access rights allow lightweight tent camping in the countryside, but do not cover a motorhome parked at the roadside or in a car park. Some areas, such as Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, require a permit or designated pitches from spring to the end of September. Check before stopping.

Midges, height and size

From June to September, midges swarm over the Highlands at dawn and dusk: bring insect screens and repellent, and close the windows properly. As for size, watch out for low bridges on some roads, especially in towns, and for narrow coastal roads where a vehicle more than 2.3 m wide becomes a nuisance.

What travellers ask

Your questions about a road trip in Scotland

Where can I hire a motorhome in Scotland?

Edinburgh has seven rental companies: Spaceships Rentals, EasiCampers, Bunk Campers, Anywhere Campers, McRent, Apollo and Just GO. Glasgow has four: EasiCampers, Anywhere Campers, Touring Cars and Go Explore Scotland. Anywhere Campers is also in Dundee and Cairnryan. Your confirmation gives the pick-up address.

How many days should I allow for Scotland?

A week is enough for a loop such as Glasgow, Glencoe, Fort William and back. In ten days to two weeks, you can add the Isle of Skye or the Cairngorms. Distances are short, but roads are slow: reckon on 200 km a day at most in the Highlands.

What is the most beautiful road in Scotland?

The Glencoe road, between Rannoch Moor and Loch Leven, is often cited, as is the west coast near Oban. For a quieter road trip, the Galloway road and Royal Deeside in the Cairngorms offer varied landscapes without the summer crowds.

Can I travel in winter?

Yes, but with a light itinerary. Frost, snow and days of less than eight hours of daylight mean sticking to the main roads and checking the state of the passes. The heating works well, but check the gas level and the availability of waste-disposal points, sometimes closed in winter.

Which pick-up city for the islands?

Glasgow is closest to the western ports: Oban for Mull and the Hebrides, Ardrossan for Arran, Mallaig for Skye. Edinburgh and Dundee suit the Cairngorms, Fife and the east better. No depot is located on the islands: the return is always on the mainland.

Verified customer reviews

They travelled in Scotland with CoolDrive Nomad

4.3
818 reviews

1. The motorhome had neither a reversing alarm nor a rear camera. Essential for this type of vehicle. 2. There was no option to purchase insurance without a deductible. The options were either to take out an external one or to reduce it with Indie Campers. Additionally, in the case of the one rented in Scotland, we were informed at the last moment that no insurance covered the upper and lower parts of the sides... Incredible! We could crash it but not scratch it... 3. Regarding the rental in Dublin: a) The location is very far from the airport and much further from the city.

J.
United Kingdom · Jun 2024
Trustpilot

Available team and very good service

Nicolas E.
United Kingdom · Jun 2024
Avis Vérifiés

A beautiful experience with useful advice for the visited country. One can talk about people, and that's invaluable.

J.
United Kingdom · Apr 2024
Trustpilot
All Avis Vérifiés reviews All Trustpilot reviews
Frequently asked questions

FAQ — Motorhome hire in Scotland

Which licence do I need for a motorhome in Scotland?

Since Brexit, a European Union category B licence remains valid for driving an ordinary rental motorhome in the United Kingdom. If your licence comes from a non-EU country, ask the rental company whether an international permit is required. The minimum age and how long you must have held your licence vary by offer.

Can I end my trip in another city?

Often yes, depending on the rental company and the dates. Enter a different return city in the search, for example Glasgow for pick-up and Edinburgh for the return: only the possible offers appear, any surcharge included.

Can I take the ferry to Northern Ireland?

Ferries leave Cairnryan for Belfast and Larne, with a crossing of about two hours. The rental company must allow the crossing: read the offer's conditions before booking the boat, as insurance and covered areas vary by contract.

Can I cross into England?

Yes, there are no checks at the Scottish border, and rental companies generally allow England, but some limit the areas covered or the crossings. The Borders and Northumberland National Park are a few hours from Edinburgh. Read the contract conditions before setting off.

Where can I find water and empty the waste water?

Campsites, motorway-style service stations on main roads and some public areas offer service points for water and waste disposal. In the Highlands and on the islands, they are scarcer: fill up with drinking water and empty the waste water whenever you pass one.

Do I have to pay to drive, and where are the low-emission zones?

Scottish roads are generally free. In towns, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee have introduced low-emission zones: find out the rules that apply to your vehicle before entering.

About us

Why take a motorhome trip in Scotland

Scotland offers scenery that changes at every stage: the stone of Edinburgh, the lochs of the west, the mountains of the Cairngorms and the cliffs of Galloway can all be visited on a single trip. A motorhome lets you follow the light and the weather rather than a timetable, stop beside a loch or a lighthouse and rest without repacking your bags.

The four pick-up cities are spread from the south-west to the east: Cairnryan for Galloway, Glasgow for the western Highlands, Edinburgh for the centre and Dundee for the Cairngorms. Each opens a different route, and the more numerous depots in Edinburgh and Glasgow let you compare offers by date.

Other destinations

Fancy exploring other regions?