Highlands route

You can also stay at Urquhart Castle which is on Loch Ness. There are plenty of B & Bs and Pubs. The Castle is a swell ruin. Best spot to look for Nessie! Oban is a busy little town with the Ferry traffic to the Isles. Glencoe is really close to Oban and is worth the trip if you are a McDonald or don't tell anyone there if you are Campbell! I have not been to Fort William. Inverness may be a longer drive than you think. I would vote to spend more time in or near Edinburgh. You can run up to the Whisky Valley from there.

Most people when driving from Glasgow to Inverness go up the A9 in the center of the country. It's a highly traveled, but scenic route. I've done the drive from Edinburgh, which is a bit shorter, but if you are not dealing with jet lag it is very doable. I would advise coming backdown the west coast a little more slowly. Going up the middle there are a couple of places to break up your drive. One would be Queen's View if you just want to stretch your legs and have a snack. A longer break could be at Blair Castle. Pam

Awesome tips, thanks! Perhaps I should clarify one bit of info: We are not choosing between the drive to Glencoe/Inverness or Edinburgh. We plan to spend three nights in Edinburgh after the highlands drive. So, this is more of a question of how difficult it will be for a first time UK driver to hit the road out of Glasgow and head into the highlands. I understand the roads are narrow at points, so we'll just take our time. If we can drive from Glasgow to Inverness in one day while still being able to enjoy the sights on the way without feeling rushed, that's what I'd like to do. But if any of you UK vets would suggest that tip to be broken up, for whatever reason (difficulty, time constraints, not allowing proper time for sights), I am all ears. Or, shall I say in this case, all eyes!

It is not always about the distance.....it's the amount of interesting sights between A to B. We have driven all over Scotland and my advise would be: Drive to Oban for your 1st night. Easy drive and you will arrive with plenty of time to enjoy this fine place. Next day, drive to Inverness stopping en route at Glencoe and Urquhart castle. You will arrive in Inverness with plenty of time to wander around town and stroll along the riverbank. In the morning go visit Culloden (a must see). Take the A9 south to Edinburgh or go east and travel down the coastal route. Driving on the left side will not be a big problem - the narrow secondary roads and shifting gears with your left hand will take a little time to get used to. If there is a lorry (truck) going your way on a narrow street, follow him and get a little extra leeway from the oncoming cars. Enjoy your trip!

How much time do you have in total from leaving Glasgow to arriving in Edinburgh. What types of things interest you? History? Whisky? Scenic beauty? Castles? Hiking/walking? Photography? Small town? Local music? Family connections? It's a beautiful place and knowing interests can help us point you in some good directions.

@Bob - Thanks, those are fantastic tips!   @Pamela - We have plenty of time. We get into the UK on Sept 1. After toiling about in other areas, we'll hit Glasgow on the 9th. We plan to cap off the trip with four-ish days in London before flying home on the 21st.   So, we've got plenty of time and don't need to be rushed. We planned to spend about 3 days in Edinburgh after visitng the highlands, one night in Durham (Hadrian's Wall, Durham Cathedral, et al) and then one or two nights in York before training into London.   Of importance: Scenic beauty/photography, castles, history and that sort of thing. A distillery or two is in order, but we don't need to see them all. Perhaps a hike if the weather allows, but that is not a priority (unless there is some amazing photographic opp we can't miss!).   Just north of Inverness, in Dingwall, is Tulloch Castle which was owned by Clan Davidson -- my mother's maiden name, and we believe there's a connection. Though, a quick visit there shouldn't take much time.   Outside of that, we're open to ideas. But we for sure are most interested in photo opps and the scenery and history of the area.  
Thanks again and keep the input coming. :)

FYI, For Durham: we parked at the shopping centre and walked the short distance up the hill to the cathedral & college. For Hadrian's Wall: we stayed overnight at the Twiced Brewed Inn (great location) and strolled around Housesteads Fort, walked about 5 miles alongside the wall and then visited Vindolanda (site & museum). With a rental car you'll also have the ease of doing this.

Since you've plenty of time, think about catching a ferry in Oban and going on to Mull. It's a great island to visit. Then a few days later drive on to Inverness. It can be a great base for exploring Loch Ness, the North, the Spey valley and more. Pam