Curious - clockwise travel or counter clockwise?

We’ve travelled counter clockwise on both our trips and went down into northern England on both occasions. To answer you question more directly, I guess it depends on what you want to see and in what order.

I don't think there is an advantage either way, most people plan clockwise as that is how we read a clock. In the UK and other left driving jurisdictions this is also helped by that is how we go around roundabouts. So, do it as you choose.

I can't see an advantage. We went counter clockwise in June starting in Edinburgh, north to Inverness and then turned left to Oban and Mull before ending in Glasgow. Here's a link to my Trip report in case it may be helpful to your planning. https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/trip-report-scotland-the-search-for-jamie-fraser

Hi, Jacqui,

In 26 holidays in Scotland, I've only gone clockwise once. All the others have been counterclockwise. Perhaps I'm the exception to the rule, but I believe in saving the best for last. And that has always been the Highlands and Islands. Having said that, the two times that I have travelled what is now the NC500 were clockwise by necessity, but the rest of those holidays were counterclockwise.

I don't really think that it makes much of a difference to the average visitor to Scotland in which direction they travel. People go with a set idea of what they want to see, possibly based on a guidebook, travel blog, or travel video. A lot is now based on accommodation availability. When I first started visiting Scotland, many decades ago, it wasn't necessary to make accommodation arrangements in advance - you could just drive in to a town or village, and find accommodation right away, even during peak summer months. Now that Scotland is a major tourist destination, it's pretty much necessary to have your lodging lined up months in advance. That determines travel direction.

In answer to your question, there is really no advantage to travelling in one direction or another. You just have to go and enjoy!

Very best wishes for your travels!

Mike (Auchterless)

p.s.: It's "Stirling", not "Sterling". Sterling is the money; Stirling is the town.

We did counter-clockwise after checking dates for highland games in different locations after we had already bought plane tickets to/from Edinburgh. We were able to attend one in Pitlockry.

Thank you for the feedback. And the spelling correction ;-)
This was just a pattern I noticed that made say "hmmm?"
And I think my subconscious was saving the Islands for last, just in case I need to linger.
Jacqui

Could it be related to whether you are right-handed or left handed?

And I think my subconscious was saving the Islands for last, just in
case I need to linger.

Thinking about it, I'm glad we didn't start with the Islands because of the driving. The islands and the Highlands have plenty of narrow, curvy roads and single track roads. It was good to get a feel for the differences in driving before tackling the most difficult parts.

I do not think the issue of the islands is important either clockwise or anti clockwise. Remember it is anti clockwise here not 'counter clockwise'. That sounds really really odd. By the times you get to the islands you will have spend several hours across several days on Highland roads of various considerations.

I do think clockwise is more intuitive for people because that is well the way a clock turns. It is related to how people enter a car park for a parking space. In the UK and Ireland we will turn left, clockwise. In keep right countries like France, Italy, Canada, or Belgium people will turn anti clockwise, they will turn right.

Interesting. I think there is a bit of a psychological drive there (so to speak). My upcoming trip to Scotland (May 2023) will be clockwise - starting off in Glasgow, then up the west coast through the Highlands and on, the back around to the east coast. For me it makes sense - I start off a little low-key then hit the highlights in the Highlands, then back to a more low-key approach as i drive along the east coast.

But I also realized that my month long Germany trip earlier this year was in a clockwise pattern. So who knows? I have done a driving tour of England that went counter-clockwise, but that was a while ago.

Now that we have flights booked, and wanted to nail down dates for our Hadrians wall hike, I was working on our 2 week Scotland Itinerary. Round 1 was clockwise to Obin, Inverness, Dufftown, Aviemore, Pitlochry,
But then discovered a Highlands Game near Pitlochry and worked on round 2 counterclockwise. I’m sure these are the first of many tweaks as we continue to research.

We’re headed to Scotland in April 2023, and we’ll go ‘anti-clockwise’, starting from Edinburgh. It seems to me that most planners go clockwise so I guess I had to be different!

So, after all this overthinking, turns out I am going clockwise. It just worked out better based on what our travel partners wanted to see and do. After the travel partners head home at the end of week one, the husband and I are headed to Islay. Then I'm sending the husband home and spending another week in Edinburgh (because why not). Slàinte mhath.
Jacqui