5 Days in Scotland with an Electric Car

Begin your carbon neutral road trip in Scotland’s capital of Edinburgh. If you’re renting an EV you will probably collect it either here or in Glasgow. With 30 public charging points located throughout the city, it’s an ideal place to familiarise yourself with the charging process, especially if you’re new to driving electric. 

Simply retrieve your charging cable from the boot before plugging it in. Activate it using a downloadable app from Zap-Map, Tesla or another provider.  

Find green accommodation in Edinburgh.

Did you know?

You can stay in a hotel which has an EV charging station on its premises. Try the Radisson Blue on the Royal Mile or the elegant Georgian townhouse of the Nira Caledonian in the New Town. 

Head north to the Cairngorm National Park, the largest in Scotland. This vast area is home to several majestic mountain ranges, including five of the UK’s highest peaks, as well as gleaming lochs, lush forests, and rivers teeming with trout and salmon. 

On the way, take a pit-stop at the romantic Fife village of Falkland which appears as Inverness in the hit TV show Outlander.

There are 54 public charging points spread across 13 locations within the park making it unlikely you’ll have to queue to recharge. Just be aware that the distance between charging points can be up to 50 miles. 

Did you know? 

Set up camp or check into a comfortable inn or hotel for the night. There are heaps of properties which boast eco-friendly credentials to choose from. Some even provide their own EV charging stations like Cairngorms Lodges.  

Bid farewell to the Cairngorms with a stop in the gorgeous Highland resort of Aviemore. It’s also a great place to stop if you need to top up your battery with three EV charging points in the area, including a Supercharger station at thehotel of the Macdonald Highlands Hotel.

Next stop is the iconic Loch Ness. A complete circuit of the loch takes 70 miles with superior views offered by the tranquil B862 road, with runs along the south eastern shoreline. If you need to top-up along the way, stop at the Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition car park. 

Did you know?

The charge point located at Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition is one of the most picturesquely situated charging locations in the UK. 

Leave the beautiful banks of Loch Ness behind as you drive down the A82, one of Scotland’s most scenic roads. Take in long stretches of breath-taking scenery as you head towards the attractive village of Fort Augustus, perched at the southernmost tip of Loch Ness, before continuing onwards to the outer edges of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park. 

Along the way, you can stop at Fort William, the gateway to the UK’s highest peak of Ben Nevis, which can be seen looming high in the distance. You’ll then enter the epic landscape of the Glencoe valley which was immortalised on film in the James Bond blockbuster Skyfall.  

Cruise along the banks of gleaming lochs such as Leven and Tulla, pausing to stretch your legs at delightful spots like the tiny village of Bridge of Orchy, before arriving at Tyndrum. 

Did you know?

You can recharge along with your electric car at the Real Food Café in Tyndrum. Enjoy a delicious meal or snack from a delectable menu of sustainably sourced food and drink while your EV is plugged in to the EV charger in the car park. 

Spend your last day in Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park. With 40 chargers spread over 13 locations catering for about three visitors each, the park is your oyster if exploring by electric car. 

After visiting the “bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomond”, spend a day or more exploring a glorious landscape spanning 720 square miles of unspoiled wilderness, with two forest parks, woodland, mountains, lochs and rivers. The choice of outdoor activities matches the diversity of the landscape, with walking, watersports, cycling, climbing, fishing and more all on offer.

Afterwards, you are within each reach of Scotland’s largest city, Glasgow, where you can bring your eco-friendly road trip to a close. 

Did you know?

You can soak up the splendid view of Loch Long on the edge of the Argyll Forest Park while topping up your battery at a wonderfully situated EV charging point in Arrochar Car Park.