Getting There
Golf Road Trip Planning: Scotland Driving Times, Routes & Tips
A golf road trip around Scotland is one of the better ways to spend a week. The courses are mostly on the coasts, the drives between them are scenic, and the distance between the best clusters is smaller than most visitors expect. Here's how to plan it.
A hire car is almost always the right choice for a golf road trip in Scotland. Public transport reaches the major courses at St Andrews, Carnoustie, and Ayrshire reasonably well, but once you want to combine regions or play courses off the main rail lines, a car transforms what's possible.
The good news: Scotland is smaller than it looks. The drive from Edinburgh to St Andrews takes 55 minutes. Edinburgh to Troon is under an hour and a half. Edinburgh to Royal Dornoch is 3 hours 20 minutes — a long day, but doable as a point-to-point trip. The entire country is navigable in a week at a manageable pace.
The core course clusters and drive times from Edinburgh
| Destination | Drive time from Edinburgh | Main courses |
|---|---|---|
| East Lothian | 30–45 minutes | North Berwick, Gullane, Muirfield, Dunbar |
| St Andrews / Fife | 55 minutes | Old Course, New Course, Crail, Elie |
| Carnoustie / Angus | 1 hour 15 minutes | Carnoustie, Monifieth, Panmure |
| Ayrshire | 1 hour 15 minutes | Royal Troon, Turnberry, Prestwick |
| Aberdeenshire | 2 hours 30 minutes | Royal Aberdeen, Cruden Bay, Murcar |
| Royal Dornoch / Sutherland | 3 hours 20 minutes | Royal Dornoch, Brora, Golspie |
| Isle of Islay/Arran | 2 hours + ferry | Various island courses |
Route options
Option 1: East Coast circuit (4–5 days)
The classic Scottish golf trip. Edinburgh → East Lothian → St Andrews → Carnoustie → Aberdeenshire, then either fly home from Aberdeen or loop back via Perth.
Day 1: East Lothian — North Berwick or Gullane. Stay near Gullane or Haddington.
Day 2: Muirfield (visitor day, book in advance) or a second East Lothian course. Drive to St Andrews (1hr).
Day 3–4: St Andrews — Old Course ballot + New Course or Jubilee. Stay in St Andrews or Crail.
Day 5: Carnoustie. Drive back to Edinburgh or continue north to Aberdeenshire.
This route keeps driving to a minimum and packs in Scotland's most famous courses.
Option 2: West Coast / Ayrshire circuit (3–4 days)
Glasgow-based or as a standalone trip from Edinburgh.
Day 1: Glasgow to Ayrshire. Royal Troon (visitor day, book in advance) or Dundonald Links. Stay Troon or Ayr.
Day 2: Prestwick Golf Club (visitor rounds available) + Belleisle or Western Gailes.
Day 3: Turnberry. Drive back via Largs or Glasgow.
The Ayrshire coast is compact — Troon to Turnberry is 18 miles. You can base yourself in one place for the entire trip.
Option 3: Full Scotland circuit (7–8 days)
For dedicated golfers who want to cover several regions.
Day 1–2: Edinburgh → East Lothian (2 courses)
Day 3: Drive to St Andrews (55min). Old Course ballot.
Day 4: Fife — Crail Balcomie, Elie, or Lundin Links
Day 5: Drive north to Aberdeenshire via Dundee (Carnoustie possible en route). Cruden Bay or Royal Aberdeen.
Day 6: Drive to Royal Dornoch (2.5 hours from Aberdeen). One of the best courses in Scotland.
Day 7–8: Return south via Brora + Inverness, or fly home from Aberdeen/Inverness.
Total drive time over 7 days: approximately 8–10 hours of driving, spread into manageable legs.
Car hire practical notes
Book in advance. Scotland is a popular destination and car hire at peak season (June–August) sells out or becomes expensive at short notice. Booking 4–6 weeks ahead saves money.
Choose the right car. A medium estate or large hatchback fits two golf bags in the boot. Four golfers with four bags need an estate or people carrier. Don't underestimate the boot space requirement.
Insurance. Basic hire insurance usually has a large excess (£500–1,000). Consider a separate car hire excess insurance policy (sold separately by companies like iCarhireinsurance) — typically £3–5/day, much cheaper than the waiver from the hire company.
Petrol stations. Outside cities, petrol stations are less frequent. Fill up when you have the chance, particularly heading north of Inverness or on island routes.
Driving on the left. If you're from a right-hand drive country, this is the obvious adjustment. Single-track roads in remote areas require pulling into passing places to allow oncoming traffic through — a common feature on Highland routes.
Navigating between courses
Google Maps and Apple Maps work reliably across Scotland including in rural areas, though satellite signal can drop briefly in Highland glens and on some ferry routes. Download offline maps before heading north.
Most golf course car parks are clearly signposted from the town centres. The few exceptions — Royal Dornoch is easy; Cruden Bay is signposted but some visitors miss the left turn to the car park — are worth checking on the course's website in advance.
Where to stay
Self-catering cottages work well for groups. Book early for peak season in St Andrews and East Lothian.
B&Bs are the most affordable and pleasant option for solo travellers or pairs. Scotland has an excellent B&B culture — rooms from £60–80/night in most areas.
Golf hotels (Fairmont St Andrews, Turnberry, Gleneagles, Castle Stuart) offer on-site or adjacent golf and convenience, but add significant cost.
For a route itinerary that keeps accommodation costs down: base yourself in Gullane or Haddington for East Lothian, St Andrews itself for Fife, and Stonehaven or Cruden Bay for Aberdeenshire.
For specific regional routes: Aberdeenshire Golf Guide: Cruden Bay and Beyond on a Budget. For the Ayrshire coast in detail: Ayrshire Golf Guide — Playing the Open Coast.
About the author
Gary
Editor and founder of Birdie Brae. Based in Glasgow, 14.5 handicap, playing since 2022. Has played 40+ Scottish courses and started this site because most Scottish golf content is written by people trying to sell you a package holiday.
More about Gary →Courses in this article
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