The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Six ideas for an epic close-to-home road trip
Inspired by the beautiful North Coast 500 route and want to go on a road trip that doesn’t require driving for hundreds of miles?
No problem. Rediscover your local roads this summer. Take off for the day or for the weekend and make frequent pit stops at sights along your regional routes – you‘re bound to find a few gems you didn’t know about before. Fife Coastal Route Even if you’ve driven the Fife Coastal Route hundreds of times commuting to work, have you actually followed the Red Squirrel Trail in Devilla Forest or wandered around the cobbled streets of Culross and visited the palace?
How about seeing paintings by Jack Vettriano at Kirkcaldy Galleries or touring Kingsbarn Distillery? Or simply relaxing at superb beaches such as Elie or Burntisland? No? You should. Perthshire Tourist Route Combine your road trip with a highoctane outdoor adventure: visit Drummond Castle Gardens, Aberfeldy Distillery or the Scottish Crannog Centre before you hurl yourself into the fastflowing currents of Highland Perthshire’s rivers in an exhilarating white water rafting experience. Deeside Tourist Route If you’re prepared to travel a little bit further out you can follow this route from Perth all the way north to Aberdeen, via Cairngorms National Park.
This epic drive takes in the fruitgrowing farmland of Blairgowrie, where you can stop and pick your own berries, the expansive Scone Palace and Royal Lochnagar Distillery to name just a few amazing places.
How does that sound, road-trippers? Angus Coastal Route Alternatively, take the Angus Coastal Route to Aberdeen and stop off at picturesque seaside resorts.
Explore a castle at Broughty Ferry, see a replica spitfire at Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre, discover the 200-yearold method of grinding grain into flour at Barry Mill just outside Carnoustie, or relax at St Cyrus National Nature Reserve – and all that before you even reach Dunnottar Castle near Stonehaven. Highland Tourist Route How about taking your car out for a spin along the Forth Valley Tourist Route?
Taking in two UNESCO World Heritage Sites – the Antonine Wall and the Forth Bridge – as well as the impressive Kelpies by Andy Scott, there’s lots to keep you entertained.
Between South Queensferry and Stirling you’ll find the fascinating engineering feat that is the Falkirk Wheel, as well as Linlithgow Palace and at least two castles. If you fancy a longer road trip, why not continue on from Aberdeen to Inverness via Speyside and the northern edge of Cairngorms National Park along the Highland Tourist Route.
A real treat for lovers of Scottish history, this route takes in no less than four castles, including Cawdor, as well as Fort George and Culloden Battlefield.
We hope you’re taking notes already...