How To Drive In Scotland | Single Track Roads & Passing Places
Planning a road trip around Scotland but not sure how to use passing places, or drive on single track roads? Don’t worry - my guide to driving in the more remote parts of Scotland like the Highlands and Skye is here to help. Below you’ll find practical tips and heaps of helpful information, so you can enjoy your Scottish road trip.
Driving in Scotland’s towns and cities is a reasonably standard affair, much like driving in any European city. Driving in the Scottish Highlands & Islands however is an altogether more challenging experience.
Narrow, winding, single-track roads are much of what you’ll be driving on once you’re in Scotland’s remote places. Hairpin bends, blind summits, blinder corners, potholes, and hidden dips are common. So are deep-sided, vertigo inducing drops on mountain passes.
Throw in sheep who chomp happily at the roadside, the odd herd of cows relaxing on the tarmac, skittish deer likely to leap out of the hedgerow, and it’s a totally unique driving experience. Combined with the rise of traffic from campervans, motorcycles, bikepackers, and caravans, and one thing is sure – driving on Scotland’s single-track roads should be approached with caution.
As the red and blue sign at the foot of the iconic Bealach na Bà pass says: "not advised for learner drivers", something which could easily apply to many of the roads you’ll encounter on your Scotland road trip. After all, there’s around 2,500 miles of single-track roads around the highlands and west coast, which make driving in Scotland a little more difficult than you might expect.
However, don’t be put off - because you’d miss out on some of the best road trip routes in the whole world and an incredibly memorable driving experience! Instead, read these helpful tips on how to drive safely around Scotland and navigate some of Scotland’s more remote roads.
How to drive in Scotland
1. The basic rules of the road
For readers from further afield: in the UK we always drive on the left.
Not all roads have markings or a white centre line - just keep as far left as you can.
In Scotland our roads are tarmac. However, very occasionally you might find yourself driving on gravel or farm tracks.
Stick to the speed limits and drive sensibly. Narrow roads are NOT racetracks, so don’t be an idiot. Otherwise you’ll end up in the grass verge - or in the back of a police car.
On that note you can find all of Scotland’s speed limits here.
However, whilst the speed limit on Scotland’s single carriage roads is 60mph, you won’t be driving that fast very often in the Highlands.
Drink driving limits in Scotland are incredibly strict, so save your G&T till the driving is done for the day. Also give yourself plenty of time for the alcohol to leave your system before getting back behind the wheel the next morning. If in doubt, don’t drive.
Always pay attention. Whether it’s a motorcycle, sheep, or cyclist, concentrate and be aware of your surroundings. No fiddling with the radio!
The same goes for anticipating and dealing with sharp bends and blind summits. They’re usually sign-posted - but not always. It’s your job to anticipate these.
2. How to drive on single-track roads
Look far ahead to spot oncoming traffic.
Ask your passenger to shout when they see oncoming vehicles. The more eyes the better.
Driving too fast on single track roads can have consequences that will leave the driver sweating buckets, or worse. Drive safely and keep to a sensible speed.
If you’re inexperienced in single track, countryside driving (we’ve all been there, no judgment here), then give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination.
Take it slow, be cautious. There’s nothing wrong with that. But if a car behind wants to go faster then pull in when it’s safe to do so and let them overtake. You can use passing places for this exact purpose and it’s better for everyone’s stress levels!
3. How to use passing places
What is a passing place?
If you need to learn anything about single-track roads and driving in the Scottish Highlands, it’s the art of the passing place.
Where the road is not wide enough to allow two cars to pass each other safely, you’ll find a “passing place”. Remember, roads in the Scottish Highlands weren’t built for the number of vehicles that now visit, they were built for local traffic. They are nonetheless an integral part of driving in the Highlands and with narrow single tracks found most places both west and north, it’s key you understand how this works.
On single-track roads you’ll usually find passing places – they look like a small lay by - every 200m or so, usually in sensible places.
Most passing places are sign-posted (these are black and white triangles) and have plenty of space.
Occasionally there’s limited or no signage and the space is either tight/gravelly/muddy. Always pay attention as you drive along and keep an eye out for spots to pull into.
How passing places work
Firstly, don’t be scared of passing places! Thankfully, there is a clear etiquette to keep you right:
If a car is coming, one of you needs to pull into the passing place. This is not the time to have a stand-off, regardless of what your inner cowboy might be telling you.
Essentially, whoever is closest to the passing place must pull in. Depending on the circumstances, that might mean someone needs to reverse.
Remember we drive on the left, so never, ever cross the road to get to a passing place.
If the closest passing place is on the right, then you must stop, wait, let the oncoming car arrive and use the passing place. You then continue slowly to allow the other driver to return to the road behind your car.
Use your lights and indicators. Drivers frequently indicate then flash each other to say: “you keep coming, I’ve pulled in”. If you’re the one pulling in, then give a wee flash and indicate left.
On hills, the car going uphill usually has priority.
4. If in doubt, use common-sense
Lastly, many of these rules aren’t written down anywhere. They certainly don’t appear in the highway code. In fact, many rely on good, old-fashioned politeness and common-sense. If in doubt use both, they’ll go a long way.
5. What not to do in passing places
Passing places are NOT parking places, tea break stops, or photo opportunities – they are solely for keeping the traffic moving. Otherwise you risk being labelled (quite rightly) a complete nuisance by irritated locals.
Driven past the passing place and met an oncoming car? Do not drive onto the grass verge. There are often ditches, mud, bracken, and boulders in there, not to mention a delicate eco-system of grass and plants. I’ve seen cars stuck with on the verge with shredded tyres because of rocks more than once - always use a passing place, even if it means reversing.
6. Passing place etiquette
Passing places require a certain level of driver etiquette - a.k.a an non-negotiable protocol followed by locals on rural roads. Nothing shouts “tourist” more than failing to follow these driving niceties:
It is vital to wave and smile at the drivers who have stopped to let you pass. Likewise, reciprocating a wave is an unbreakable tradition.
A full wave, a raised finger from the steering wheel, a big smile, thumbs up, a quick flash – whatever takes your fancy. The point is always acknowledging the other driver who pulled in. It’s the polite thing to do, it shows courtesy, and gives everyone the happy feels.
If you’re sweating buckets and trying to manoeuvre the car ask your passenger to give a friendly wave.
Failure to do in the above will absolutely result in you being very, very impolite names by the driver you ignored. Or shown another, altogether ruder, hand gesture!
7. Watch out For wildlife
It’s not just other road users to you need to be aware of - local wildlife also love to use Scotland’s roads! We’ve had deer, pheasants, and squirrels run out from the hedgerow. Sheep chomp at the roadside and are likely to dart in front of a moving vehicle if startled. Cows wandering on the tarmac do believe they have right of way (to be fair, they’re much bigger than your average vehicle). It goes without saying you need to drive sensibly when wildlife is present but always keep your eyes peeled for an unexpected appearance!
8. campervan Driving
There’s been a rise in the popularity of road tripping around Scotland in hired campervans. Which I totally get - van life is the ultimate adventure. However, campervans can cause problems because (a) these larger than life vehicles are often too big for Scotland’s narrow, twisty roads and (b) drivers don’t have experience of dealing with these huge vehicles.
I’ve seen massive RVs navigate the Scottish Highlands and yes it’s perfectly possible. However, those drivers didn’t look like they were having the best time on the single-track roads! My suggestion would be to hire a smaller campervan, something that will handle tight corners and reverse on single-track roads without leaving you sweating buckets.
Of course, it goes without saying if you’re wild camping in your van you MUST follow the outdoor access code - park up late, leave early, and leave no trace. Campsites and marinas will let you dispose of waste and use their facilities, usually for a small charge.
9. Google Maps + Navigation
Phone and internet signal in Scotland’s more remote places is frequently hard to come by. If you’re using Google Maps for navigation then I can’t stress enough how important it is to make your map available offline. This means you can still find your way around even without phone signal. It’s also a great idea to save your accommodation, petrol stations, and any sites in your map - or at least have a note of them to save you getting lost if you can’t access the internet!
If you’d rather avoid the stress of technology and signal, then OS Road Maps do real maps with detailed information for your next Scottish road trip. Also watch out for road signs which are frequently more helpful in rural locations than Google Maps!
10. Finally, be respectful of local drivers
Lastly, remember these country roads were built for, and are used by, local people trying to get on with their normal, everyday lives.
You might be on staycation or holiday, but the person behind you is trying to get to work or the shop or home. Some previously quiet areas of Scotland (like the NC500 or Isle of Skye) have seen a sharp rise in the number of tourists and vehicles on the road in recent years, which can be seen as a nuisance - mainly because of road congestion. So, be extra respectful, drive sensibly, and follow the rules of the road.
