Edinburgh is one of Europe's most beautiful capital cities — medieval Old Town, Georgian New Town, Arthur's Seat volcano in the city centre. But as a car hire base it's unmatched in the British Isles. The Scottish Highlands are 90 minutes north. The North Coast 500 starts here (technically Inverness, but Edinburgh is the more common arrival point). The Borders and Northumberland are just to the south. And Loch Lomond and the Trossachs are less than an hour west.

Picking up your hire car in Edinburgh

  • Edinburgh Airport (EDI) — 12km west of the city. Car hire centre in the main terminal building with all major UK suppliers (Enterprise, Avis, Hertz, Europcar, Budget, Sixt, Arnold Clark) represented. Arnold Clark, a Scottish independent, is often the best-value option.
  • City centre collection — Enterprise, Arnold Clark and others operate branches in the city. Useful if you're spending a few days in Edinburgh before heading north.
  • Note on the North Coast 500 — many travellers pick up in Edinburgh and drop off in Inverness (or vice versa) for a one-way trip. One-way fees apply — compare carefully.

Driving in and around Edinburgh

  • Drive on the left. Speed limits: 70 mph motorway, 60 mph single carriageway, 30 mph urban. Average speed cameras operate on the A9 Perth–Inverness — they are consistently and accurately enforced.
  • Edinburgh city centre driving: the Old Town and Royal Mile are largely pedestrianised. Use the Park and Ride facilities at Ingliston, Straiton or Hermiston Gate.
  • Scottish single-track roads: passing places are designated layby areas. Always pull in to let oncoming traffic pass or to allow faster vehicles behind to overtake.
  • Winter driving in the Highlands: the A9 and A82 can close during heavy snowfall. Check Traffic Scotland (trafficscotland.org) before any winter Highland drive.
  • Petrol stations: plentiful in Edinburgh and on main routes. In the far north and western islands, stations can be very widely spaced — fill up whenever the gauge drops below a quarter.

Where to go — best drives from Edinburgh

Loch Lomond & the Trossachs (1 hr west) — the A82 road along the western shore of Loch Lomond is one of Scotland's classic drives. The Rob Roy Way through the Trossachs is beautiful in all seasons. The North Coast 500 (starting ~2.5 hrs north in Inverness) — Scotland's answer to Route 66. 516 miles of Highland coast, castles, sea lochs and remote beaches. Allow 7–10 days minimum. Glencoe (2 hrs northwest) — Britain's most dramatic mountain pass. The drive along the A82 through the glen is extraordinary — brooding, majestic and historically significant (site of the 1692 massacre). St Andrews & the East Neuk of Fife (1 hr northeast) — the home of golf, and the East Neuk fishing villages of Crail, Anstruther and Pittenweem are among Scotland's most charming.

Hidden gem: The Military Road (B8007) on the Ardnamurchan Peninsula — the most westerly point of the British mainland — is a single-track road through wild Highland scenery most Scottish visitors never find. Two hours from Edinburgh, another world entirely.
Price tip: Edinburgh is one of the world's most competitive car hire markets — always compare at least 4–5 suppliers before booking. Local and regional companies often undercut the big brands significantly.
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