The Scottish Highlands have been named Scotland's top must-visit road trip destination in new research by tyre specialists Blackcircles. The study analysed tourist attractions, campgrounds, road safety, and fuel station access to rank the top ten locations.
Scottish Highlands Leads the Pack
The Highlands topped the list with 234 tourist attractions and 1,285 walking trails, ensuring tourists have plenty to explore. The region also boasts 76 fuel stations, alleviating concerns about running low on petrol during road trips. A popular way to experience the area is the iconic North Coast 500, a 516-mile circular route starting and ending in Inverness. This scenic drive takes in rolling hills, deep lochs, golden sand beaches, and historical sites such as the Glenfinnan Viaduct from the Harry Potter films and the 13th-century Eilean Donan Castle, a former stronghold of Clan Mackenzie.
Aberdeenshire and Perth and Kinross Complete Top Three
In second place is Aberdeenshire, home to the North East 250, a 250-mile circular route through the Cairngorms mountains and coastline. Visitors can enjoy over 530 hikes and attractions like Balmoral Castle and Slains Castle, which inspired Bram Stoker's 1897 novel Dracula. Aberdeenshire also recorded the second-lowest road collision rate in the top ten, with 57 accidents per 100,000 people.
Perth and Kinross ranks third, featuring the Heart 200 route—a 200-mile journey covering lochs, forests, highland peaks, and castles. The area offers over 60 campsites and a wide range of tourist attractions.
Top Ten Destinations Revealed
Fife and the City of Edinburgh round out the top five, with Edinburgh boasting 2,045 tourist attractions—just behind the Highlands. The Scottish Borders ranks sixth, followed by Dumfries and Galloway at seventh, which has the worst road collision rate among all destinations. Moray, Stirling, and North Ayrshire complete the top ten, each scoring just over 4 out of 10 in the study.
