Scotland
Scotland: The High Road Rally
Scotland has mountains that make the Alps look crowded.
8–12 April 2027 · 5 days / 4 nights · From £729pp twin share · Optional Skye extension
Glencoe, the Bealach na Bà and the wild west coast. Four days on the two greatest driving roads in Scotland.
A four-day highlights route built around the two greatest driving roads in Scotland: the A82 through Glencoe, and the Bealach na Bà above Applecross — the only true Alpine-style pass in Britain, 626 metres of hairpins with gradients touching 25 per cent.
Start at Inveraray on Loch Fyne after an easy run up Loch Lomond and over the Rest and Be Thankful. Then the long day: Glencoe, Fort William, and west to Strathcarron before the climb over the Bealach na Bà to Applecross and out along the coast to Shieldaig. North through Torridon and Wester Ross to Ullapool, then an easy final run south to Inverness. And if you’re not ready to stop — an optional two-night extension carries on west, through Glen Shiel and over the sea to Skye.
This is the curated version of the NC500 rather than the full loop — the roads worth driving, without the days that are just mileage. April is the month for it: shoulder season, dramatic light, and the west coast before the campervans arrive.
Group Road Trip
From £729pp
Per person, two sharing
Solo from £1,159 with your own room
Deposit £500 per car · balance due 31 December 2026
Minimum 4 cars to run · maximum 10
Starts Glasgow · finishes Inverness
Optional Skye extension · 2 extra nights · +£349pp
✓ Four nights hotel accommodation with breakfast
✓ Welcome dinner plus three further included dinners
✓ Printed guidebook with QR-code routes
✓ Rally plates, stickers and welcome pack
Why This Trip
Why April
Before the season starts.
The NC500 gets busy from May onward. In April the single-track sections through Torridon and Applecross are still quiet — which is the difference between enjoying the Bealach na Bà and queueing on it.
Light that does the work.
Long, low spring light on the west coast, and snow still sitting on the tops above Glencoe and Torridon while the glens have turned green.
One long day, three easy ones.
Day two is deliberately the big one at five to six hours. Everything else is comfortably under three, so there’s time to stop, eat properly, and actually look at where you are.
Add Skye if you want it.
The optional extension picks up where the rally finishes and runs west to the Sleat peninsula. Take it, or head home from Inverness — your choice at booking.
Price Includes
What’s Included
✓ Four nights hotel accommodation with breakfast
✓ Welcome dinner, plus three further included dinners
✓ Welcome drinks on arrival
✓ Printed guidebook with QR-code routes
✓ Rally plates, stickers and welcome pack
✓ Full on-trip support, hosted throughout
✗ Fuel
✗ Lunches
✗ Travel insurance
✗ UK breakdown cover that covers the Highlands (required)
✗ Drinks beyond included events
✗ The Skye extension (optional, +£349pp)
Day by Day
The Itinerary
Day 1 · Thu 8 Apr
Glasgow → Inveraray
Self-drive to the Glasgow meet point, then the A82 and A83 up Loch Lomond and over the Rest and Be Thankful to Inveraray on Loch Fyne. A short, easy warm-up of around two hours, with Inveraray Castle there if you want it. Welcome dinner at the Loch Fyne Hotel & Spa.
Day 2 · Fri 9 Apr
Glencoe, the Bealach na Bà and Torridon
The long day, and deliberately so — five to six hours in total. The A85 and A82 through Glencoe to Fort William under Ben Nevis, then north-west to Strathcarron and over the Bealach na Bà: 626 metres of hairpins, gradients touching 25 per cent, and the view across to Skye from the top. Down into Applecross for lunch at the famous inn, then out along the coast road through Shieldaig. Dinner and a small-hotel night on the waterfront.
Day 3 · Sat 10 Apr
Wester Ross to Ullapool
A recovery day at two to two and a half hours. Coast and glen roads north past Loch Maree and the Beinn Eighe viewpoints, then the A835 to the harbour at Ullapool. Corrieshalloch Gorge is a five-minute stop that’s worth every one of them. Dinner in the village.
Day 4 · Sun 11 Apr
Ullapool → Inverness
The shortest day — a little over an hour south via Garve and Contin, with the Falls of Rogie and the Black Isle as detours. A long, relaxed final afternoon in Inverness, then the farewell dinner.
Day 5 · Mon 12 Apr
Inverness — departure
Depart whenever suits. Culloden Battlefield is fifteen minutes away if you want a last stop; Inverness has rail links and an airport for anyone not driving home. Extension guests: this is the day you carry on west.
⚠ The Bealach na Bà is unsuitable for vehicles over 2 tonnes. The road is single-track with passing places and gradients touching 25% — we’ll confirm your car is suitable at booking.
Optional Extension
The Skye Extension
Two extra nights · self-guided · +£349 per person
The rally ends in Inverness — but Skye is three hours west, and if you’ve come this far it seems a shame not to. The extension is self-guided: we book your rooms, hand you the routes, and leave the island to you.
Extension Day 1 · Mon 12 Apr
Inverness → Sleat
South down Loch Ness, then the A87 through Glen Shiel with the Five Sisters alongside. Eilean Donan Castle at Dornie, over the Skye Bridge, and south to your country-house hotel on the Sleat peninsula. Two nights, same bed.
Extension Day 2 · Tue 13 Apr
The Trotternish loop
The Old Man of Storr, Kilt Rock, and the Quiraing road over the ridge — the finest driving on the island. Or the slower day: the B8083 to Elgol for the Cuillin across the water.
Extension Day 3 · Wed 14 Apr
Home
Home via the bridge and Glen Shiel, or the Armadale–Mallaig ferry and the Road to the Isles past Glenfinnan (ferry must be pre-booked).
Included: two nights B&B at Duisdale House, Sleat · route notes for both driving days · restaurant recommendations. Not included: dinners, the Mallaig ferry, and a host — this part is yours.
Questions
Good to Know
Is my car suitable?
Almost certainly — but the Bealach na Bà is not suitable for vehicles over 2 tonnes, and we’ll confirm your car at booking. The road is single-track with passing places and 25% gradients: driven sensibly, it’s the highlight of the year.
How much driving is it?
One deliberately long day (5–6 hours), three short ones. This is a touring pace, not an endurance event.
What’s the weather like?
April on the west coast does everything, sometimes in one afternoon. That’s half the point.
Can I do Skye without the rally?
No — the extension is only bookable with the main trip.
Can I come solo?
Yes — £1,159 with your own room throughout.
The Route
Drive it before you decide.
Tap the days to see each leg, the stops, and the overnight towns.
Interested in Scotland: The High Road Rally?
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