How to Drive on Scotland’s Single-track roads

Driving in Scotland, with its amazing scenery is a joy. Driving on single-track roads in Scotland gets you into the heart of the landscape and provides a real sense of adventure. It’s a new experience for many people, but it needn’t be off-putting. Just keep a few things in mind to ensure the safety and happiness of all road users.

CONTENTS

What is a Single-Track road?

Single-track roads are only wide enough for one vehicle. To enable oncoming vehicles to pass each other, the roads have passing places. Sometimes passing places are close together, other times, there may be quite a distance between them. Poles topped with a sign usually mark passing places and this often makes them visible far in advance, except when the roads are bendy.

How To Use Passing Places On Single-Track Roads

When you see a vehicle driving towards you, pull-in to the next passing place if it is on your left. If it is on your right, stop opposite the passing place so the oncoming vehicle can drive into it to pass you. Always stay on your side of the road, the left.

When the oncoming vehicle has the passing place nearest them, they should stop and you should continue driving, slowly, to pass them.

Priority should be given to vehicles travelling uphill.

You will sometimes need to reverse to a passing place. Whichever vehicle is nearest to a passing place should reverse where possible.

It’s useful to note passing places as you drive past them so you know how far you may need to reverse.

Sometimes two vehicles will meet and both drivers are unsure about who should reverse. Remember the rules and if it’s up to you to reverse then do so.

When it’s dark and you see an oncoming vehicle, flash your lights once to let them know that you are in a passing place, and they can safely continue driving.

If a vehicle flashes you, then you continue driving.

Overtaking OnSingle-Track Roads

If there are vehicles behind you, indicate and pull-in to the next passing place to allow them to overtake.

There may be times when you pull in and streams of vehicles come from the opposite direction. This is because the driver in front hasn’t pulled in to let them past. This is frustrating for everyone and is worse if the same is happening with many vehicles trying to pass in both directions.

Not allowing overtaking is a major source of frustration for locals who are trying to go about their daily business and are held up by the usually slower driving visitors.

Scotland is incredibly beautiful so you will want to drive slowly and savour it. Locals think it’s beautiful too, they just may not have as much time that day or it may be a doctor on their way to visit a patient.

Road Verges

Don’t drive onto verges, it creates unsightly scars on this gorgeous landscape that take years to heal. This has only become a problem in the last few years as visitor numbers have increased and more people drive here without understanding how to use single-track roads correctly. Always reverse to the nearest passing place.

At some point on your travels, you’re likely to see a vehicle that has pulled onto the verge and got stuck or gone into a ditch and can’t get out. Aside from the damage to the landscape and the vehicle, this can block the road and create havoc for other road users.

Single-Track Road Parking

Please don’t park in passing places, the side of the road, gateways, verges, edges of a driveway or farm tracks. This can lead to other road users not being able to pass. Since COVID lockdowns this has become a major problem in some areas and there are many examples of emergency services being unable to reach injured people due to inconsiderate parking.

Parking in passing places is illegal and police have towed vehicles away and fined drivers for this.

It’s OK to quickly stop in a passing place to take a photo out of the window or briefly glimpse a view if there are no other vehicles around but be ready to drive off immediately. To best savour this spectacular scenery, wait until you can park in a lay-by or car park. Lay-bys are usually positioned where the views are best and where it is safest to stop.

Other Road Users

Aside from cars, there are motorbikes, campervans, motorhomes, buses, coaches, delivery vans, lorries, walkers, cyclists and animals using the roads.

Be thoughtful, pull in and let people past.

On Single-track roads, you’re likely to see sheep and cows on the road and maybe deer and other wild animals if you are lucky. Slow right down but keep moving forwards very slowly, they will move. Be mindful that sheep and cows are herd animals and will usually want to be together. Lambs and calves in particular may be frightened by an approaching vehicle and run to be with their mothers. Their mothers always seem to be on the opposite side of the road, so they will run across the road in front of you just as you reach them.

When Not To Drive On Single-Track Roads

There are a few roads in Scotland where signs at the start of the road inform you that they are not suitable for certain vehicles. If you are driving a vehicle that is listed, please don’t attempt to drive on this road.

They haven’t been designed for large vehicles and you may damage your vehicle, get stuck or cause problems for other drivers. Particularly in the Scottish Highlands, every road is scenic, so you aren’t missing anything by taking a different route.

The road we are always asked about is the Bealach na Ba to Applecross on the NC500. Small campervans will be fine here, caravans and large motorhomes will not. If you are an inexperienced driver or not happy to reverse up or downhill or around sharp bends with the pressure of oncoming vehicles waiting for you then don’t drive it. If you have mastered driving on single-track roads then the Bealach na Ba is no different to any other road, it’s just steeper and because it’s famous there will be more visitors driving here.

Say “Thank You”

When you have pulled into a passing place, it’s usual for drivers to give each other a wave to say thank you. You’ll soon get into this and get annoyed if someone doesn’t wave at you, especially if you’ve had to reverse!

After dark, one quick flash of your lights says thank you, don’t overdo it and blind the other driver. If you’ve pulled in to let someone behind pass you, you can expect them to flash their hazard lights a couple of times to say thank you.

Where are the Single-Track Roads

Single-track roads are found most frequently in the Highlands and Islands, in fact it’s hard to drive here and avoid them. You may come across them in other areas too, but they aren’t as extensive

Is it Safe to Drive on Single-Track Roads in Scotland?

Yes. Scotland is one of the safest places in the world to drive. The roads are all sealed and in good condition. Big drops are protected by barriers. It’s fine to drive slowly, just pull into the next passing place to let vehicles behind you overtake.

Enjoy Your Trip On Single-Track Roads

Single-track roads are a wonderful part of experiencing Scotland. It’s fun to wave, it creates a sense of camaraderie amongst road trippers.

Locals understand that it’s a unique way of driving and may be strange to start with. They are usually extremely helpful and will often reverse even when a passing place is further away for them or on a more difficult stretch of road. Repay their kindness by letting them pass and parking respectfully. Keep everyone safe and happy on our stunning roads.

Driving in Scotland is very safe and extremely enjoyable. You’ll love it, have fun.

Vehicle Rental

For car rental we always recommend Discover Cars for their choice of vehicles and excellent value. You don’t need any special type of vehicle for driving in Scotland. If you aren’t confident, hiring a smaller car is advisable as it’s easier to manoeuvre.

For campervan rental we recommend Go Boony and Spaceships Rentals.

Go Boony vehicles are mostly hired from private individuals so are usually cheaper.

Spaceships Rentals understand what visitors want from a road trip in Scotland and offer excellent advice. They have an excellent choice of vehicles and excellent rates.

Affiliate Link Disclosure

Some of the links we provide earn us a small commission. This does not affect the price you pay for the good or services you click on, but it helps us to maintain the website. Please be assured that we only add links to great product or service providers, irrespective of whether we earn commission.