A 7-day clockwise loop from Edinburgh through East Lothian's Bass Rock coast, the fishing villages of the East Neuk, historic St Andrews and Dundee's world-class waterfront museums.
Scotland's east coast is one of the country's most satisfying road trip circuits, and this east coast Scotland road trip itinerary covers an impressive range of landscapes and attractions in a manageable seven days. It combines Edinburgh's medieval streets, East Lothian's gannet-watched cliffs, the photogenic harbour villages of the East Neuk, the university town of St Andrews and Dundee's remarkable waterfront revival. Total driving is around 240 kilometres across the whole trip, with no leg over 90 minutes.
The circuit runs clockwise: east through East Lothian to North Berwick, then across the Forth into Fife to follow the A917 coastal route through the East Neuk fishing villages to St Andrews, north to Dundee and south again on the M90.
The capital earns a full first day. Walk the Royal Mile from Edinburgh Castle down to the Palace of Holyroodhouse; the castle needs at least two hours for the Crown Jewels and Scottish National War Memorial. The free National Museum of Scotland on Chambers Street is one of the best in Britain and can fill an afternoon.
At dusk, climb Calton Hill for the city's finest panorama. The evening brings strong restaurant options in the Grassmarket and Leith waterfront.
The A1 and then A198 take you east from Edinburgh in around 40 minutes. North Berwick's main event is offshore: Bass Rock, a 107-metre volcanic plug hosting the world's largest northern gannet colony, around 150,000 pairs. The Scottish Seabird Centre on the harbour runs boat trips from spring through autumn; book ahead, as they sell out on busy days.
Back on land, North Berwick Law is a short, sharp climb to panoramic views over the Firth of Forth. The clifftop ruins of Tantallon Castle, a 14th-century stronghold of the Douglas earls, are a 10-minute drive east on the B1497.
Seven nights from Kotor through the Adriatic Riviera, down to Ulcinj, across Lake Skadar and back over Lovćen mountain. A practical itinerary for Montenegro's Sea and Heights loop.
Drive west toward Edinburgh and cross into Fife via the Queensferry Crossing. Pause in North Queensferry for a proper look at all three Forth bridges together, including the UNESCO World Heritage Forth Rail Bridge. It is one of the great Victorian engineering achievements, and the viewpoint from the shore makes this clear.
Once in Fife, join the A917 heading south and east through the East Neuk. The villages arrive in quick succession: Elie has a sandy bay where a cricket club plays matches on the beach at low tide; St Monans has a 14th-century church perched directly above the water; Pittenweem is a working fishing port where langoustines and crab are landed on weekday mornings. Crail, a short drive east, is often called the most photographed village in Scotland, its 16th-century harbour cottages reflecting the Dutch trading heritage of Fife's medieval ports.
Anstruther is the largest settlement and the base for the night. The Scottish Fisheries Museum is worth an hour. The Anstruther Fish Bar on the harbour, consistently rated among Britain's finest, will be difficult to walk past.
Scotland's most storied university town needs two nights. The ruins of the 12th-century cathedral stand on a headland above the sea; the adjacent castle, once a bishop's palace and place of martyrdom, has a genuinely dramatic cliff-edge position. West Sands is a two-kilometre arc of beach north of town and one of the finest sandy beaches on Scotland's east coast.
Golf tourists will want to walk the historic links. The Old Course, host to more Open Championships than any other venue, is free to walk on Sundays when closed to play. A tee time on any other day requires either an advance booking made up to a year out, or a successful early-morning ballot from the Caddie Pavilion.
Kingsbarns Distillery, five kilometres north of Crail on the B9131, is worth the short detour on the drive up from Anstruther: it began distilling single malt whisky in 2015 and runs excellent tours of its coastal facility.
The drive from St Andrews crosses the Tay Rail Bridge in around 35 minutes. Dundee's waterfront has been transformed over the last decade into one of Scotland's most energetic urban spaces. The V&A Dundee, which opened in 2018 to an acclaimed design by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, is the only Victoria and Albert museum outside London and Scotland's first purpose-built design museum. Entry is free; allow two hours for the permanent collection and current exhibitions.
Next door, the RRS Discovery (Robert Falcon Scott's Antarctic exploration ship, built in Dundee in 1901) offers guided tours that are both moving and fascinating. The McManus Gallery, a 10-minute walk inland, rounds out the city's strong museum offering.
The M90 motorway south covers the 80 kilometres to Edinburgh in under an hour. Consider a stop at The Hermitage near Dunkeld for a short woodland walk along the River Braan before the final approach, or break at Kinross for a view across Loch Leven to the island castle where Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned in 1567.
Getting there: Edinburgh Airport handles international flights. LNER mainline trains from London take around 4.5 hours.
Car hire: A standard car handles every road on this circuit; no high clearance or 4x4 is needed.
When to go: May to September offers the best weather and longest daylight. May, June and September hit a sweet spot of good conditions and smaller crowds than the July and August school-holiday peak.
Accommodation: Edinburgh and Dundee have the widest hotel choice. In North Berwick and St Andrews, book well ahead in summer as good rooms go quickly. The East Neuk has a strong B&B and self-catering scene.
Budget: V&A Dundee and the National Museum of Scotland are both free. The main costs are accommodation, fuel and dining in the coastal villages.
Ready to see every stop, driving leg and overnight on the map? Use the full east coast Scotland route above to plan your trip.
White chalk cliffs, a Norman conquest battlefield, cobblestoned medieval streets and a seaside city that refuses to be ordinary: this East Sussex road trip itinerary covers it all in seven days.
The full route — stops, maps, and driving times — is on Routebook by Kington.
A 7-day clockwise loop from Edinburgh through East Lothian's Bass Rock coast, the fishing villages of the East Neuk, historic St Andrews and Dundee's world-class waterfront museums.
Routebookby Routebook
