Driving Tour of Central Scotland

This driving tour of central Scotland includes the areas Argyll, Perthshire, and Fife. This driving tour is approximately 335 miles long. Argyll is in the western portion of Scotland and has a rich association with the first Scots, called Scotti. Perthshire is convenient to Scotland's central cities. Fife is on the east coast just north of Edinburgh.

Begin this journey from Dumbarton, which is just northwest of Glasgow, on the A82 heading north to Tarbet where you'll turn west (A83). Take the A83 west through Inveraray, now driving south. Continue along the A83 to Lochgilphead where you'll take the A816 north out of Lochgilphead until you reach the B841 at Cairnbaan. Then follow the B841 along the Crinan canal for about 2.5 miles and turn left at the B8025. This road takes you south for about 1.2 miles where a minor road forks to the left leading to Achnamara and the B8025 continues on. To get to Castle Sween, go left at the fork and take the one-lane Achnamara road for about 5 miles. After your visit to Castle Sween go back to B8025 and drive north towards Kilmartin and the A816. From here you could take a short drive south to see Dunadd Castle or you could just continue north where you'll pass Carnassarie Castle. Continue along the A816 until you reach Oban where you'll now take the A85 out of Oban to continue your journey. Stop by Kilchurn Castle just off the A85. Continue along A85 where, just past Ardchyle, you'll turn north on the A827. Follow this to Aberfeldy where you can visit Castle Menzies. Leave Aberfeldy by the A82 until it meets the A822. At this intersection you can make a right on the A822 and drive a short distance towards Crieff to visit Drummond Castle or you can turn left on the A822 to continue your journey to Dunkeld. Leave Dunkeld heading south on A9 to Perth. Just outside of Perth you'll want to visit Huntington Tower Castle, Scone Palace, and Elcho Castle. Leave Perth heading northeast on A94 to Glamis were you can visit Glamis Castle. From Glamis follow the A928 south to A90 and continue south through Dundee where you'll then take A914, A919, A91 to St. Andrews. From here you can head south a short distance to visit Kellie Castle. Leave St. Andrews by B939 until you meet up with A916 where you can turn north to visit Scotstarvit Tower and Hill of Tarvit. Take the A916 to Cupar where you'll leave Cupar heading west until you meet the A92. Here you'll turn south onto A92 and you'll exit onto A912 driving west and stop ere to see Falkland Palace. After your visit continue along A912 until you meet back up with A91. When you reach the M90 take this south to Edinburgh.

The following are places of interest along this drive which you may wish to add to your itinerary.

1. Castle Sween - Castle Sween is the oldest castle still standing in Scotland and may have been the first Norman castle.
2. Kilmartin Church and Linear Cemetery - The linear cemetery or line of burial cairns is the most prominent feature in the valley. The cemetery was used and altered for more than 1,000 years, beginning about 5,000 years ago. The Kilmartin Church is known for its Celtic crosses and its fine medieval grave slabs.
3. Temple Wood - Temple Wood is a famous stone circle frequently cited in arhaeological writings and consists of two stone circles. Be sure to look for the double spirals on one of the northern stones in the main circle.
To see the linear cemetery and Temple Wood, park at the Lady Glassary car park and follow the well-marked paths. They are in the valley of Knapdale along the A816.
4. Dunadd - The fortress of Dundadd, one of Scotland's most important ancient historical sites, stands about 3.5 miles south of Kilmartin. After 500 AD, Dunadd served as the capital of ancient Dalriada. Before that, it had been an Iron Age fort and, before that, a Bronze Age site.
5. Achnabreck Rock Carvings - A virtual prehistoric art gallery, Achnabreck displays Scotland's most extensive group of rock carvings. Achnabreck is well signposted, east of the A816 just north of Lochgilphead near Cairnbaan. The walk to the carving is about one-third mile.
6. Carnasserie Castle - Carnasserie Castle was built between 1565 and 1572. Carnasserie is well preserved despite being captured and partly blown up in 1685. The castle is visible from the road just off the A816 a little more than a mile north of Kilmartin village.
7. Dunstaffnage - Massive Dunstaffnage Castle served as a significant stronghold of the Lords of the Isles at one of the most vital sea-lane junctions of western Scotland. It has associations with Robert the Bruce, the Stone of Destiny, and Flora MacDonald. Driving to Oban on the A85, Dunstaffnage is just off the road to the north on a small peninsula, about four miles east of Oban.
8. Kilchurn Castle - The ruins of Kilchurn Castle loom majestic against a backdrop of mountains and projects a haunting beauty.
9. Dunkeld Cathedral - The town of Dunkeld is just off the A9 heading toward Inverness, about 15 miles north of Perth.
10. Oakbank Crannog - Scotland's lochs contain many crannogs, man made island dwellings approached by various sorts of causeways. The Oakbank Crannog is located at the east end of Loch Tay on the south shore.
11. Elcho Castle - Elcho Castle provides an outstanding example of a nearly intact tower house.
12. Huntingtontower Castle
13. Falkland Palace
14. Aberdour Castle
15. St. Andrews Castle
16. St. Andrews Cathedral
17. Dunfermline Abbey, Palace