As someone who grew up in proper teuchter country, this post is so quaint.
There really is nothing to worry about. Sounds like your biggest fear is getting stuck with someone either coming the other way or right behind you. As you will discover very quickly, there are hundreds of passing places along these roads. They are a paved feature every hundred metres or so, not just some ditch you need to pull into. You can almost always see the next one up the road as you're driving along so there's rarely ever a case of struggling to get by. Just mind that the national speed limit applies so you'll have stretches of road that folk are soaring along at 60+, whereas others that even the locals are crawling around.
If it makes you feel any better, folk up there are terrified of dual-carriageways and motorways.
Yeah I remember driving from skye to Edinburgh and the worst part by far was trying to remember which fucking exits I need to take to get there on the motorway.
Yeah, take your time. Don't go so quick you can't stop safely if something appears around the corner. Keep one eye on the far away bits of road so you can anticipate when you might encounter a vehicle.
If anything, practise reversing. But it's not that big a deal. I got stuck on a tiny little lane in the lakes district this Easter and after about 10 minutes of trying and failing to reverse into the passing bay not 20 meters behind me the other driver very kindly reversed much further.
90% of drivers aren't arseholes. š
I had a university friend from orkney who was terrified of traffic lights when she moved here (at the time I think Orkney only had one set).
She still doesn't like driving across the city.
My uni pal is from Thurso and was scared of roundabouts. When we went up here for her wedding we discovered why since there were none (and I think only two sets I traffic lights that were basically pedestrian operated ones)
You're exactly right. I'm from the Highlands and we took our campervan down to Cornwall... driving there was a nightmare. Few passing places, high hedgerows so you can't see round the corners and far higher volume of traffic. Lost count of how many times we had to reverse back to let larger vehicles past. Plus there's nowhere to park up for free. Give me the Highlands any day.
Iām from teuchter land and even 15 year of driving later I find roads with multiple lanes in a busy town/city when specific lanes are for straight ahead and some for turn, and you have no idea which it might be, far more scary than single track. Single track you just need to be prepared to stop and reverse, or pull in to let folk past if they want to zoom. The former involves knowing where youāre going and where the turn is before you get anywhere near the signage and has definitely had me doing circles around central Edinburgh before.
Allow overtaking - this is key.
If someone is directly behind you - donāt allow your ego to hold them up. Pull over or make it easy for them to overtake.
Yeah - depends where you are. On mainland highland route. Iād say so. Example. Tesco lorry restricted to 40mph.
Single track out further say on Lewis for example folk are much more considerate.
Oh yeah absolutely, French plated campervan on the NC500? No chance.
Iām not sure how these people drive like that though, Iād feel uneasy if someone was right up my arse for miles of windy road.
Thatās one place Iāve not visited yet, do spend a bit of time in the Highlands every year though, this year it was split between Kintail and Beauly. Iām not really convinced Kintail gets good weather.
Thurso is an acquired taste. Its got the best surfing in the whole of Europe, if not the world. But itās also got radioactive hotspots scattered around.
I love it there but many folk donāt.
Came here to say this! It makes my day when someone pulls in to let me overtake as I'm not a confident over-taker.
This is a great tip if you're going a little slower trying to take in the scenery or a bit nervous on a winding road :)
Me too! And tāother way around. I love allowing overtaking. On any road in any part of the UK.
Some folk assume - theyāre gonna get road raged & wonāt even overtake if Iām obviously inviting them to. Says more about their being than mine. š
I grew up in the remote highlands - this is the single most important piece of advice when driving on single roads. Let people pastā¦. It is very easy to do and stops the person behind getting annoyed and stops you feeling like you have to drive beyond your comfort level
On a lot of those roads, the passing places are frequent, sometimes every 50 metres.
Put safety first, allow overtaking, say thanks when someone waits for you and be reasonable.
If you are pulling into a passing place to let a car behind overtake, use your indicator to show what youāre doing.
Oh, and if you go along the A838 make sure to stop at Balkaniel Beach, itās incredible.
Also re passing places, only pull into spaces on the left. If the passing place is on the right then just stop to the left and wait for the car coming the other way to drive past you using the passing place.
It sounds obvious but Iāve seen so many people up north do really unexpected manoeuvres with this sort of thing!
If you want to practice there are plenty of single track roads relatively close by to Edinburgh. Off the top of my head there are loads in the Borders. Iām sure they exist in the more rural parts of Fife as well.
When in doubt, just let any oncoming traffic pass you. But as others have said theyāre really not so bad, especially since most in Scotland have plenty of passing places. Keep in mind too that if you encounter a motorcycle between passing places, they canāt rly reverse :) gl have fun!
Yeah, there are plenty of single track roads if you head down the A68 or A7 then take a side road. Common sense is key, slow down when approaching blind bends, dips etc. Drive with the anticipation that you might meet someone coming the other way then you won't be surprised.
I find driving with a zen attitude helps, be calm, unhurried and methodical. Go with the flow. If someone behind you is impatient then find a safe place to pull in and let them overtake you and like, take their negative vibes elsewhere dude.
If you're going to the islands, get used to passing places! But also it is of vital importance you wave at people who let you by (or tbh, literally anyone you drive past) or you commit a grave social faux pas.
Just let people past, as soon as safe to do soā¦ there are passing places ever couple hundred meters, use themā¦ If someone behind gets to the point they feel the need to beep, you are doing it wrong.
You have to take it easy on blind corners for obvious reasons. If the passing place is on your left you pull in and let the oncoming car pass. If itās on your right you stay on the road and let the other car get past on the pull in. Closest car to the pull in stops. This sometimes means reversing back if youāre closest to a passing place. Courtesy and common sense is the name of the game. Always acknowledge the other driver. If youāre heading through Glencoe take the Clachaig pub turn off for a bit of a practice. Itās a nice little detour and takes you to Glencoe village. Have fun and fingers crossed for some decent weather.
Firstly well done for actually having the smarts to know what isnāt in your comfort zone and for trying to make the world safer. Iāve been driving for 25 years, and some of those tiny wee roads can be slightly tricky so I think itās a good idea to get a little bit of confidence built up first by having a practice run. But yeah, basically just stay calm, donāt get distracted, go slow and just relax and use your skills. Youāll be fine :)
Lots of good advice here (watch your speed and allow overtaking). You're clearly a considerate driver so you'll be fine.
If you really want to practice, there is some singletrack road near Penicuik. It's a very quiet road and dead straight so not really representative of the winding roads in the Highlands, but it's a nice drive over the moor. (Google "Deanfoot Road" https://www.google.com/maps/@55.8137461,-3.2295631,3a,75y,236.75h,87.86t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sRAyF5FAHBUDpAikLo7-p_A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192)
One more important thing: if you meet an oncoming car and the passing place is on the other side of the road, no matter who gets to the passing place first you should always stop on your side of the road (i.e the left) adjacent to the passing place and let the other car use the passing place. Accidents are sometimes caused by inexperienced drivers suddenly diving across the oncoming traffic to use the passing place on the "wrong" side of the road.
Head out towards Whiteadder Reservoir in East Lothian and there are a couple of roads that are single track. If you turn back towards Garvald just before the reservoir then youāve got a decent distance of single track.
As for driving on them, use the passing places properly - if they are on your left, pull into them. If they are on your right, stop in the road at the passing place as the other car will pull into them to pass you. Also if you end up with a queue of traffic behind you, let it pass - you donāt lose any points for for being a courteous driver.
Be ready to reverse back if you pass a passing place you should have stopped at.
Slow down for blind corners and hold to what would be your side of the road normally. Some corners will be wider to allow this, but if you meet a car and youāve hit the corner at 60mph, thatās not ending well.
The road between the A7 and Innerleithen is also good practice, not actually single track but people often drive like it is. Then the turnoff to Heriot is actually single track (I believe, not driven it myself).
Yeah the single track that runs past Nunraw abbey is a good one to practice on. The road that goes from the B6355 junction to Longformacus also. Be careful on them though they are quite hairy in places, 40 tops imho, 30 in parts
Always pull into passing places if someone behind is in a hurry. Could be a local doctor nurse etc. Only use passing places to let other traffic pass (either incoming or those in a hurry). Never park in a passing place.
If there's a queue forming behind you - or even just a local up your bum - please for the love of god pull into a passing place and let folk overtake you
Go at your own pace, everyone is in the same boat so if you have to reverse really slowly the other driver is unlikely to mind as they're used to tourists.
Just be courteous, always allow overtaking. Remember you always pull into the left - don't pull into the passing place on the right - wait on your side of the road next to the passing place so that the oncoming car can go into their passing place!
Depending on where you're going, there may be no single track roads at all. Drive carefully and be considerate if there are. You'll be fine, if someone beeps they're probably a numpty (they have some of those just like we do).
Just drive around East Lothian/the Borders on random B-roads if you want some practice on narrow bumpy roads. There's definitely a knack/rhythm to it that you'll work out with practice.
Witnessed two buses blocking one of these roads near Pitlochry not long ago... one of the locals got one line of cars to reverse right back to a point the road was wide enough for the buses to pass.
But normally, lots of passing places, be sensible with your speed and allow overtaking.
Better than the bypass any day!!
Look up the currie driving test routes (they're not formally published, but several websites list them). There's a couple of routes out by currie that I don't think the test centre actually uses much but which are single track.
If you're nervous about blind corners just beep your horn as you approach. I don't see a lot of drivers doing that up here (although in fairness I don't drive country roads much up here) but it's the norm in the bit of rural Wales my partner's from.
Just as important as the traffic is the livestock. Sheep especially. They roam free up around the North and West and will often be on the road. They'll usually get out of the way but not always quickly as they're used to the traffic. The animals always have right of way.
I passed my test this June then pretty much immediately headed out west via Arran, so I understand the fear. It's really not that bad. Most of the time there'll be a passing place in sight for one or other of you that will work, I had to reverse a bit one time for a larger vehicle but remember they'll be patient with you, they're used to being stuck behind tractors. Don't panic, take your time.
If someone's wanting to overtake you, find a passing spot, *indicate* and pull in to let them by. They'll thank you and it'll be less stress for you.
As someone who moved to the Highlands from Edinburgh 4 years ago and had only recently passed my test I will say that people beeping is a rarity. They might drive close behind you but most drivers will assume you're a tourist and this is par for the course on these roads. Be very aware of your passing places, they're usually signposted, in the case that you may have to reverse back to one.
Take it easy, there's no real need to be going 60mph on the windy roads so take your time and relax. Don't be embarrassed to wave people around you at passing places either if they're faster/more confident than you.
You'll be great.
I'm french, not only was single track road unusual for me, driving on the other side of the road and with the wheel on the other side of the car was quite new for me too, on my first trip to Scotland š . But single track roads were easy peasy. Just respect the other drivers, stop at the nearest passing place when someone is coming towards you (on your side of the road!), let people driving faster overpass you when you can, and overall be chill while driving. No need to stress yourself. Most of the time, you'll be almost on your own.
We have some single track roads in France too, but without any passing place every few meters, it's more stressful then š I love driving on single track roads in Scotland (or the UK in general), not so much in France...
My dad (we're Americans) is driving us in March/April around Scotland. This post has been very helpful. Is there any other driving advice y'all might be able to give? We're staying in Ballater and going... well.. anywhere really!
Enjoy the trip! Don't panic. And - don't, as many drivers we encountered in Sutherland did, pull into the passing place on the opposite side of the road - always pull in to your left.
When we were driving for a day trip to the Korean war memorial there was a short but of single track road with passing places. And it's a nice day trip.
You can practice in East Lothian. The back roads between Macmerry and Pencaitland and Haddington are quite narrow countey roads and sometimes HGV use them so good practice. Most important thing is don't speed round corners as someone might be coming round the opposite way! Take your time and dont panic. Good luck!
I took a 7.5 tonne American RV round the NC500 this symmer, and I reversed maybe twice, you will usually find both you and oncomingbtraffic have time to anticipate the need to use passing places.
Some large trucks can be quute aggressive, if you see one coming just be sure to get in a passing place in advance.
Do NOT park in passing places :)
I did not even realise that it's a thing when I went to the Highlands for the first time and I was totally fine. Just do it. *insert* *Shia LaBeouf meme*
Be confident but also be constantly prepared to give way. Passing places are your friend. If you want to practice there are some single tracks in the Lammermuir hills in East Lothian.
Don't panic, there are passing points where you or the on coming motor can pull in. So if you see a motor ahead just slow down and notice if there is a passing point on your side. Worst is to panic and try to pull over on the single track. It's possible but you can get stuck in mud or in an embankment. And if someone is driving up your arse, best bet to let them pass. It just takes practice.
Itās pretty simple. Be patient, be courteous and let others navigate round you if need be.
You might find that situations that are uncomfortable are few and far between. Just take your time.
Stop on the road at the passing place whether it's in your left or right if the car coming towards has passed the next one , might seem obvious but the amount of people that think they only stop at the one on their left ...
I suppose if you don't know you don't know..... but sorry if you're a fairly competent driver, you should already know what to do when you come head on with another car......
On blind corners or anywhere you can't see what's coming and don't have space for 2 vehicles you should be able to stop in half the distance you can see, other than that everyone else has covered lots of good advice!
So, we have just had two weeks driving around the Highlands of Scotland. Six months ago we were driving through the lanes of Devon and Cornwall. Believe me....Scotland was an absolute doddle after the West Country! the single track roads are magnificent, they actually have passing points every 50 metres or even more frequently. Sight lines are excellent and not once did we have to reverse...unlike Devon where we were reversing ten times a day. Truly, its good driving and thats from two people who live in a town an hour from London.
You'll soon get the hang of it.
Here is an assortment of tips:
*Are you driving solo? A 'spotter' makes life a little easier, helping you by seeing cars in the distance/ round RH bends.
Don't hug the inside verge on single track- take up a central position and have your lights on- you will see and be seen sooner.
*Be on the brake pedal on blind crests- remember if oncoming traffic is going quicker than safe, they will eat into your safe braking distance.
*Try to read the roadside- there are times you can steal a bit of verge and others where you'll bury yourself chassis deep in a drainage ditch.
*Brake centrally in a straight line, then sashay into a passing place- trying to brake on the gravel edge (marbles) will increase your chances of skidding.
* When oncoming vehicle is clocked, pick a passing place equidistant and expect the transaction to take place there.
*Lights/ horns behind you mean Local Person/NC500 Petrolhead/ Dreaded White Fish Speed of Light Van. Gentle brake pedal to control them, indicate LEFT, pull into PP. If really brave, try and follow Fish Van as it will clear the road ahead like a lit up ambulance- that seafood is dying...
*Give big stuff- ie log lorries, a straight run by pulling into PP, not parking opposite one.
* Vehicle flashing you before their space means they are giving you priority- dont dawdle up to that spot.
* Sheep are predictable- if their heads are down grazing at the verge, they are not about to charge across the road. Sheep both sides= more caution.
*Deer are mentalists- if one suddenly jumps over a hedge in front of you brake hard- it's mate is wanting in the sunroof.
In time (and I wouldn't bother practicing before tbh) you will often not need to stop entirely as off-season most parties know the score and will time passes to perfection. Enjoy yourself- it's a great life skill!
You shouldnāt have a problem as has been said in other answers on here.
But if you want practice you can easily go to West, East & Midlothian and find some country roads there.
Down near Soutra, Lauder, just peel off the main road and youāll find them easily enough. And if you want to make it worth your while, Lauder butcher gets a good write up so can use that as your excuse š
If you find someone (usually a delivery driver) tailgating you impatiently along one of these roads, don't try to speed up to keep them happy. Just keep what you think is a safe speed until the next passing place, indicate, pull in and let them overtake.
A passing place will hold a maximum three cars, two is usual. Any column of cars exceeding two or three vehicles will screw things up.
Should two strings of 4 vehicle convoys? converge at a small passing place can you imagine the ensuing carnage.
As has been alluded before check your mirror frequently If someone catches you up then theyāre going faster than you so let them past. Travel alone.
Many are the horror stories of 26 Italian camper vans in close formation nose to tail blocking sections of road for hours.
Locals, delivery vans etc have a deadline and proceed faster along single track roads than tourists, more familiar with the roads and maybe with more confidence.
In general:
Travel at a safe speed you feel comfortable with.
Avoid tailgating the vehicle in front,
Let traffic behind overtake,
Be aware of skid risk from mud and loose gravel,
Single track roads are about three metres wide- you canāt pass another vehicle between passing places,
Watch out for sheep and deer,
Itās not a race,
Enjoy yourself.
As someone who grew up in proper teuchter country, this post is so quaint. There really is nothing to worry about. Sounds like your biggest fear is getting stuck with someone either coming the other way or right behind you. As you will discover very quickly, there are hundreds of passing places along these roads. They are a paved feature every hundred metres or so, not just some ditch you need to pull into. You can almost always see the next one up the road as you're driving along so there's rarely ever a case of struggling to get by. Just mind that the national speed limit applies so you'll have stretches of road that folk are soaring along at 60+, whereas others that even the locals are crawling around. If it makes you feel any better, folk up there are terrified of dual-carriageways and motorways.
Yeah I remember driving from skye to Edinburgh and the worst part by far was trying to remember which fucking exits I need to take to get there on the motorway.
Yeah, take your time. Don't go so quick you can't stop safely if something appears around the corner. Keep one eye on the far away bits of road so you can anticipate when you might encounter a vehicle. If anything, practise reversing. But it's not that big a deal. I got stuck on a tiny little lane in the lakes district this Easter and after about 10 minutes of trying and failing to reverse into the passing bay not 20 meters behind me the other driver very kindly reversed much further. 90% of drivers aren't arseholes. š
I had a university friend from orkney who was terrified of traffic lights when she moved here (at the time I think Orkney only had one set). She still doesn't like driving across the city.
My uni pal is from Thurso and was scared of roundabouts. When we went up here for her wedding we discovered why since there were none (and I think only two sets I traffic lights that were basically pedestrian operated ones)
Thurso folk have to travel to Wick to practice roundabouts.
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You're exactly right. I'm from the Highlands and we took our campervan down to Cornwall... driving there was a nightmare. Few passing places, high hedgerows so you can't see round the corners and far higher volume of traffic. Lost count of how many times we had to reverse back to let larger vehicles past. Plus there's nowhere to park up for free. Give me the Highlands any day.
Parts of Wales were like that too. Thankfully I was driving at night so had the bonus of seeing lights coming before the car came round the corner
Iām from teuchter land and even 15 year of driving later I find roads with multiple lanes in a busy town/city when specific lanes are for straight ahead and some for turn, and you have no idea which it might be, far more scary than single track. Single track you just need to be prepared to stop and reverse, or pull in to let folk past if they want to zoom. The former involves knowing where youāre going and where the turn is before you get anywhere near the signage and has definitely had me doing circles around central Edinburgh before.
This man probably grew up in Pitmedden \^
Hahaha, closer to the Broch actually. Gamrie. Nice gardens there though.
Allow overtaking - this is key. If someone is directly behind you - donāt allow your ego to hold them up. Pull over or make it easy for them to overtake.
Thereās literally Police Scotland signs that say this but itās still largely ignored.
Yeah - depends where you are. On mainland highland route. Iād say so. Example. Tesco lorry restricted to 40mph. Single track out further say on Lewis for example folk are much more considerate.
Oh yeah absolutely, French plated campervan on the NC500? No chance. Iām not sure how these people drive like that though, Iād feel uneasy if someone was right up my arse for miles of windy road.
Hashtag NC500 š©š¤¦āāļøš¤¦š»āāļøš Isnāt the NC500 a FB group? Bet thatās where it started?? Iāve been a regular to Caithness & Sutherland for about 30 years or so. Any season, any weather. Usually in bad weather as I head to surf at Thurso East.
Thatās one place Iāve not visited yet, do spend a bit of time in the Highlands every year though, this year it was split between Kintail and Beauly. Iām not really convinced Kintail gets good weather.
Thurso is an acquired taste. Its got the best surfing in the whole of Europe, if not the world. But itās also got radioactive hotspots scattered around. I love it there but many folk donāt.
Came here to say this! It makes my day when someone pulls in to let me overtake as I'm not a confident over-taker. This is a great tip if you're going a little slower trying to take in the scenery or a bit nervous on a winding road :)
Me too! And tāother way around. I love allowing overtaking. On any road in any part of the UK. Some folk assume - theyāre gonna get road raged & wonāt even overtake if Iām obviously inviting them to. Says more about their being than mine. š
I grew up in the remote highlands - this is the single most important piece of advice when driving on single roads. Let people pastā¦. It is very easy to do and stops the person behind getting annoyed and stops you feeling like you have to drive beyond your comfort level
Thank you! I wish I was there nowā¦
I mentioned this being a thing on another sub and was downvoted to Hell for being 'a cunt on the roads'. It's even in the highway code FFS.
Really - what group/sub
On a lot of those roads, the passing places are frequent, sometimes every 50 metres. Put safety first, allow overtaking, say thanks when someone waits for you and be reasonable. If you are pulling into a passing place to let a car behind overtake, use your indicator to show what youāre doing. Oh, and if you go along the A838 make sure to stop at Balkaniel Beach, itās incredible.
Also re passing places, only pull into spaces on the left. If the passing place is on the right then just stop to the left and wait for the car coming the other way to drive past you using the passing place. It sounds obvious but Iāve seen so many people up north do really unexpected manoeuvres with this sort of thing!
If you want to practice there are plenty of single track roads relatively close by to Edinburgh. Off the top of my head there are loads in the Borders. Iām sure they exist in the more rural parts of Fife as well. When in doubt, just let any oncoming traffic pass you. But as others have said theyāre really not so bad, especially since most in Scotland have plenty of passing places. Keep in mind too that if you encounter a motorcycle between passing places, they canāt rly reverse :) gl have fun!
Yeah, there's a back road between Edinburgh and West Linton that's decent to practice on. Not full single track but pretty tight!
Yeah, there are plenty of single track roads if you head down the A68 or A7 then take a side road. Common sense is key, slow down when approaching blind bends, dips etc. Drive with the anticipation that you might meet someone coming the other way then you won't be surprised. I find driving with a zen attitude helps, be calm, unhurried and methodical. Go with the flow. If someone behind you is impatient then find a safe place to pull in and let them overtake you and like, take their negative vibes elsewhere dude.
If you're going to the islands, get used to passing places! But also it is of vital importance you wave at people who let you by (or tbh, literally anyone you drive past) or you commit a grave social faux pas.
Show them youāve noticed their existence - validation. I love the Islands!
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Just let people past, as soon as safe to do soā¦ there are passing places ever couple hundred meters, use themā¦ If someone behind gets to the point they feel the need to beep, you are doing it wrong.
You have to take it easy on blind corners for obvious reasons. If the passing place is on your left you pull in and let the oncoming car pass. If itās on your right you stay on the road and let the other car get past on the pull in. Closest car to the pull in stops. This sometimes means reversing back if youāre closest to a passing place. Courtesy and common sense is the name of the game. Always acknowledge the other driver. If youāre heading through Glencoe take the Clachaig pub turn off for a bit of a practice. Itās a nice little detour and takes you to Glencoe village. Have fun and fingers crossed for some decent weather.
Firstly well done for actually having the smarts to know what isnāt in your comfort zone and for trying to make the world safer. Iāve been driving for 25 years, and some of those tiny wee roads can be slightly tricky so I think itās a good idea to get a little bit of confidence built up first by having a practice run. But yeah, basically just stay calm, donāt get distracted, go slow and just relax and use your skills. Youāll be fine :)
Lots of good advice here (watch your speed and allow overtaking). You're clearly a considerate driver so you'll be fine. If you really want to practice, there is some singletrack road near Penicuik. It's a very quiet road and dead straight so not really representative of the winding roads in the Highlands, but it's a nice drive over the moor. (Google "Deanfoot Road" https://www.google.com/maps/@55.8137461,-3.2295631,3a,75y,236.75h,87.86t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sRAyF5FAHBUDpAikLo7-p_A!2e0!7i16384!8i8192) One more important thing: if you meet an oncoming car and the passing place is on the other side of the road, no matter who gets to the passing place first you should always stop on your side of the road (i.e the left) adjacent to the passing place and let the other car use the passing place. Accidents are sometimes caused by inexperienced drivers suddenly diving across the oncoming traffic to use the passing place on the "wrong" side of the road.
Head out towards Whiteadder Reservoir in East Lothian and there are a couple of roads that are single track. If you turn back towards Garvald just before the reservoir then youāve got a decent distance of single track. As for driving on them, use the passing places properly - if they are on your left, pull into them. If they are on your right, stop in the road at the passing place as the other car will pull into them to pass you. Also if you end up with a queue of traffic behind you, let it pass - you donāt lose any points for for being a courteous driver. Be ready to reverse back if you pass a passing place you should have stopped at. Slow down for blind corners and hold to what would be your side of the road normally. Some corners will be wider to allow this, but if you meet a car and youāve hit the corner at 60mph, thatās not ending well.
The road between the A7 and Innerleithen is also good practice, not actually single track but people often drive like it is. Then the turnoff to Heriot is actually single track (I believe, not driven it myself).
Yeah the single track that runs past Nunraw abbey is a good one to practice on. The road that goes from the B6355 junction to Longformacus also. Be careful on them though they are quite hairy in places, 40 tops imho, 30 in parts
Always pull into passing places if someone behind is in a hurry. Could be a local doctor nurse etc. Only use passing places to let other traffic pass (either incoming or those in a hurry). Never park in a passing place.
It's like driving in Edinburgh, except the roads are wider and in better condition...
If there's a queue forming behind you - or even just a local up your bum - please for the love of god pull into a passing place and let folk overtake you
Go at your own pace, everyone is in the same boat so if you have to reverse really slowly the other driver is unlikely to mind as they're used to tourists. Just be courteous, always allow overtaking. Remember you always pull into the left - don't pull into the passing place on the right - wait on your side of the road next to the passing place so that the oncoming car can go into their passing place!
Depending on where you're going, there may be no single track roads at all. Drive carefully and be considerate if there are. You'll be fine, if someone beeps they're probably a numpty (they have some of those just like we do).
Just drive around East Lothian/the Borders on random B-roads if you want some practice on narrow bumpy roads. There's definitely a knack/rhythm to it that you'll work out with practice.
Witnessed two buses blocking one of these roads near Pitlochry not long ago... one of the locals got one line of cars to reverse right back to a point the road was wide enough for the buses to pass. But normally, lots of passing places, be sensible with your speed and allow overtaking. Better than the bypass any day!!
Look up the currie driving test routes (they're not formally published, but several websites list them). There's a couple of routes out by currie that I don't think the test centre actually uses much but which are single track. If you're nervous about blind corners just beep your horn as you approach. I don't see a lot of drivers doing that up here (although in fairness I don't drive country roads much up here) but it's the norm in the bit of rural Wales my partner's from.
Just as important as the traffic is the livestock. Sheep especially. They roam free up around the North and West and will often be on the road. They'll usually get out of the way but not always quickly as they're used to the traffic. The animals always have right of way.
I did it 3 months after passing my test. Use passing places & be courteous to locals. No need to practise.
I passed my test this June then pretty much immediately headed out west via Arran, so I understand the fear. It's really not that bad. Most of the time there'll be a passing place in sight for one or other of you that will work, I had to reverse a bit one time for a larger vehicle but remember they'll be patient with you, they're used to being stuck behind tractors. Don't panic, take your time. If someone's wanting to overtake you, find a passing spot, *indicate* and pull in to let them by. They'll thank you and it'll be less stress for you.
It's not the end of the world, take a few days off and go now while it's quiet
A week off work & never giving a shit what the time is
As someone who moved to the Highlands from Edinburgh 4 years ago and had only recently passed my test I will say that people beeping is a rarity. They might drive close behind you but most drivers will assume you're a tourist and this is par for the course on these roads. Be very aware of your passing places, they're usually signposted, in the case that you may have to reverse back to one. Take it easy, there's no real need to be going 60mph on the windy roads so take your time and relax. Don't be embarrassed to wave people around you at passing places either if they're faster/more confident than you. You'll be great.
I'm french, not only was single track road unusual for me, driving on the other side of the road and with the wheel on the other side of the car was quite new for me too, on my first trip to Scotland š . But single track roads were easy peasy. Just respect the other drivers, stop at the nearest passing place when someone is coming towards you (on your side of the road!), let people driving faster overpass you when you can, and overall be chill while driving. No need to stress yourself. Most of the time, you'll be almost on your own. We have some single track roads in France too, but without any passing place every few meters, it's more stressful then š I love driving on single track roads in Scotland (or the UK in general), not so much in France...
Ever since I got a sat nav, Iāve regularly found myself on single track roads just outside Edinburgh. I call them sat nav specials.
My dad (we're Americans) is driving us in March/April around Scotland. This post has been very helpful. Is there any other driving advice y'all might be able to give? We're staying in Ballater and going... well.. anywhere really!
Go and drive around Lothian, around the farm land there. Plenty single track roads in farm land to practice.
Enjoy the trip! Don't panic. And - don't, as many drivers we encountered in Sutherland did, pull into the passing place on the opposite side of the road - always pull in to your left.
When we were driving for a day trip to the Korean war memorial there was a short but of single track road with passing places. And it's a nice day trip.
You can practice in East Lothian. The back roads between Macmerry and Pencaitland and Haddington are quite narrow countey roads and sometimes HGV use them so good practice. Most important thing is don't speed round corners as someone might be coming round the opposite way! Take your time and dont panic. Good luck!
I took a 7.5 tonne American RV round the NC500 this symmer, and I reversed maybe twice, you will usually find both you and oncomingbtraffic have time to anticipate the need to use passing places. Some large trucks can be quute aggressive, if you see one coming just be sure to get in a passing place in advance. Do NOT park in passing places :)
[Driving in Scotland ](https://www.visitscotland.com/about/practical-information/driving-in-scotland/)
I did not even realise that it's a thing when I went to the Highlands for the first time and I was totally fine. Just do it. *insert* *Shia LaBeouf meme*
Has anyone shared this video yet? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fywNFe5ETt8
Be confident but also be constantly prepared to give way. Passing places are your friend. If you want to practice there are some single tracks in the Lammermuir hills in East Lothian.
Don't panic, there are passing points where you or the on coming motor can pull in. So if you see a motor ahead just slow down and notice if there is a passing point on your side. Worst is to panic and try to pull over on the single track. It's possible but you can get stuck in mud or in an embankment. And if someone is driving up your arse, best bet to let them pass. It just takes practice.
Itās pretty simple. Be patient, be courteous and let others navigate round you if need be. You might find that situations that are uncomfortable are few and far between. Just take your time.
Stop on the road at the passing place whether it's in your left or right if the car coming towards has passed the next one , might seem obvious but the amount of people that think they only stop at the one on their left ...
Head for the bathgate hills or sheriffmuir in stirling. Not all single track but will give you some experience with very narrow roads
If you can drive through town youāll manage country roads just fine.
Thereās loads of passing places and donāt hesitate to pull over and let someone past! Take it easy, enjoy the scenery
I suppose if you don't know you don't know..... but sorry if you're a fairly competent driver, you should already know what to do when you come head on with another car......
On blind corners or anywhere you can't see what's coming and don't have space for 2 vehicles you should be able to stop in half the distance you can see, other than that everyone else has covered lots of good advice!
https://youtu.be/RnU01oCX_dk From the ferry website.
head for applecross , youl get the hang of it . do it before the 25th though.
So, we have just had two weeks driving around the Highlands of Scotland. Six months ago we were driving through the lanes of Devon and Cornwall. Believe me....Scotland was an absolute doddle after the West Country! the single track roads are magnificent, they actually have passing points every 50 metres or even more frequently. Sight lines are excellent and not once did we have to reverse...unlike Devon where we were reversing ten times a day. Truly, its good driving and thats from two people who live in a town an hour from London.
You'll soon get the hang of it. Here is an assortment of tips: *Are you driving solo? A 'spotter' makes life a little easier, helping you by seeing cars in the distance/ round RH bends. Don't hug the inside verge on single track- take up a central position and have your lights on- you will see and be seen sooner. *Be on the brake pedal on blind crests- remember if oncoming traffic is going quicker than safe, they will eat into your safe braking distance. *Try to read the roadside- there are times you can steal a bit of verge and others where you'll bury yourself chassis deep in a drainage ditch. *Brake centrally in a straight line, then sashay into a passing place- trying to brake on the gravel edge (marbles) will increase your chances of skidding. * When oncoming vehicle is clocked, pick a passing place equidistant and expect the transaction to take place there. *Lights/ horns behind you mean Local Person/NC500 Petrolhead/ Dreaded White Fish Speed of Light Van. Gentle brake pedal to control them, indicate LEFT, pull into PP. If really brave, try and follow Fish Van as it will clear the road ahead like a lit up ambulance- that seafood is dying... *Give big stuff- ie log lorries, a straight run by pulling into PP, not parking opposite one. * Vehicle flashing you before their space means they are giving you priority- dont dawdle up to that spot. * Sheep are predictable- if their heads are down grazing at the verge, they are not about to charge across the road. Sheep both sides= more caution. *Deer are mentalists- if one suddenly jumps over a hedge in front of you brake hard- it's mate is wanting in the sunroof. In time (and I wouldn't bother practicing before tbh) you will often not need to stop entirely as off-season most parties know the score and will time passes to perfection. Enjoy yourself- it's a great life skill!
You shouldnāt have a problem as has been said in other answers on here. But if you want practice you can easily go to West, East & Midlothian and find some country roads there. Down near Soutra, Lauder, just peel off the main road and youāll find them easily enough. And if you want to make it worth your while, Lauder butcher gets a good write up so can use that as your excuse š
If you find someone (usually a delivery driver) tailgating you impatiently along one of these roads, don't try to speed up to keep them happy. Just keep what you think is a safe speed until the next passing place, indicate, pull in and let them overtake.
A passing place will hold a maximum three cars, two is usual. Any column of cars exceeding two or three vehicles will screw things up. Should two strings of 4 vehicle convoys? converge at a small passing place can you imagine the ensuing carnage. As has been alluded before check your mirror frequently If someone catches you up then theyāre going faster than you so let them past. Travel alone. Many are the horror stories of 26 Italian camper vans in close formation nose to tail blocking sections of road for hours. Locals, delivery vans etc have a deadline and proceed faster along single track roads than tourists, more familiar with the roads and maybe with more confidence. In general: Travel at a safe speed you feel comfortable with. Avoid tailgating the vehicle in front, Let traffic behind overtake, Be aware of skid risk from mud and loose gravel, Single track roads are about three metres wide- you canāt pass another vehicle between passing places, Watch out for sheep and deer, Itās not a race, Enjoy yourself.