Through the Highlands and Beyond: Roads Worth the Fuel
There are few better feelings than a quiet Scottish road, an early start, and a tank of fuel waiting to be turned into miles. Scotland has a way of turning driving into something special, not about speed or gadgets, but about feel. Undulating, winding, and often single-track, these roads make even a slow drive feel fast. You’re never flat-out for long; there’s always a bend, a summit, or a passing place to think about.
If you’ve ever driven north along the coastal road from Berwick-upon-Tweed, you’ll know what I mean. The sea’s on your side, the sign says “Welcome to Scotland” and for some reason the road just feels different, it makes you smile. These are the kind of roads that remind you why you like driving in the first place.
This isn’t driving for cars with cruise control, or for dashboards that glow brighter than the road ahead. These are drives for cars with a proper handbrake, a clutch pedal, and a steering wheel that still talks back. For keys you turn, not buttons you press. These are the roads that remind you why you love cars in the first place.
Kinlochbervie and the Far North
The road north from Lairg to Kinlochbervie feels like it belongs on another planet. It rises and falls through empty moorland, the surface twisting gently through the flow of the land itself. Every few miles, a loch appears like glass, reflecting a sky so wide it seems endless.
By the time you reach the coast, the scenery opens up into something utterly unreal — white sand beaches and turquoise water that look misplaced from the Mediterranean. The stretch around Kinlochbervie is one of Scotland’s finest — the kind of place where you slow down just to make it last longer. Drive on toward Oldshoremore and you’ll see one of the most beautiful beaches in the world appear almost out of nowhere. You’ll find yourself pulling over, switching the engine off, and just listening to the wind.
Fort Augustus to Inverness — Along the Loch
From Fort Augustus, the road north to Inverness clings to the side of Loch Ness like a ribbon. Pine forest gives way to open stretches where the water glints silver under the clouds. The bends come steady and sweeping, and there’s that satisfying balance of effort and ease — a rhythm that rewards concentration but never punishes.
It’s not a road to rush. The real joy here comes from the view — the loch on one side, and the hills rising steeply on the other. You catch yourself glancing across the water, half-hoping to spot something breaking the surface. The drive feels timeless — like it could have been the same 30 years ago, when your car still had a cassette player and the heater took ten minutes to warm up.
The Road to Mallaig — Silver Sands and Sea Air
There’s something about the road to Mallaig that feels like a reward in itself. You leave Fort William behind and soon the world turns wilder — the hills crowd in, the sea appears and disappears through the trees, and the air starts to smell like salt.
As you pass Arisaig, the famous Silver Sands of Morar appear. White beaches, clear blue water, and tiny islands scattered across the horizon — it’s almost impossible not to pull over. The road itself is a treat, curling gently between rocky outcrops and glens, never quite straight but always inviting.
By the time you reach Mallaig, you’ve probably stopped half a dozen times just to take it all in. That’s the thing about these roads — they’re not about getting there faster. They’re about remembering how it feels to drive when you don’t have anywhere you’d rather be.
Bealach na Bà — The Applecross Pass
If there’s one drive that every enthusiast has to tick off, it’s Bealach na Bà. Hairpins, cliffs, blind summits — it’s all here. You’ll be in first or second gear most of the way, concentrating hard, but when you reach the top and look back over the bay, it’s worth every heartbeat.
This isn’t a road for showing off — it’s a road for respecting. The scenery is unbelievable, the challenge unforgettable, and when you finally park up at Applecross with the engine ticking cool, you’ll understand why people call it Scotland’s alpine pass.
The Cairngorms Back Roads
Across in the east, the Old Military Road through the Cairngorms (A93/A939) is a completely different character — wide, open, and flowing. You can see the next few bends ahead and really settle into a rhythm. In the colder months, it can be treacherous, but on a dry summer morning it’s perfection.
There’s a point near Tomintoul where you crest a hill and the view just opens — heather, hills, and nothing else. The kind of moment that makes you glad your car still has a proper handbrake and a manual box.
The A82 through Glencoe
The A82 through Glencoe is one of those roads that gets under your skin. Even if you’ve driven it a dozen times, it still stops you in your tracks. Huge peaks rise up on either side, shadows move across the tarmac, and every bend feels different. You can’t really go fast here — not safely — but that’s never the point.
You roll the window down, listen to the engine echo off the rock faces, and realise that the car feels alive again. When the clouds lift and the road opens, it’s impossible not to smile. It’s Scotland in a nutshell — unpredictable, dramatic, and worth the effort every single time.
A Closing Thought
Scotland’s roads aren’t built for autopilot. They’re built for drivers — for people who still get a kick out of a smooth gear change and the sound of tyres on tarmac. The ones who enjoy a proper downshift before a bend and don’t mind a bit of rain on the windscreen.
If you’ve got something with a bit of character, take it out there. These roads don’t care how new your car is — only that you’re driving it.
At Scotlander, we share that same love for driving and the Scottish outdoors — whether it’s a weekend hike, a night under the stars, or finding the right car for the journey. If you’re into camping, exploring, or looking for a well-kept Japanese import in Scotland, get in touch.
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