Drivelines
Scotland · Near Edinburgh/8 min read

The 10 most scenic drives around Edinburgh.

Escape the city limits via the Borders, the Lammermuirs, or the Ochils. These ten routes prioritise spectacular topography and atmosphere over outright pace, winding through the finest terrain within a short drive of the capital.

By Drivelines·Published 06 May 2026
REGION OVERVIEW

Topography and character

Edinburgh is uniquely well-placed for the scenic driver. Head south and you are immediately into the Moorfoots and the rolling expanse of the Scottish Borders. Turn east and the Lammermuir Hills offer high, remote moorland with long sightlines out across the Firth of Forth. To the north, Fife's Lomond Hills and the fringes of the Ochils provide sharp, dramatic topography. This selection leans heavily on unclassified lanes, single-track hill passes, and quiet B-roads where the views dictate a relaxed, observant pace.

Routes mapped
10
Total distance
165km
Avg curve idx
6.2/10
Map of all 10 routes in near-edinburgh
StartEnd
Plan a drive to West Port (U023)
10
U023 · Falkland · Spirited
Single-trackVaried surface

West Port (U023)

Climbing steeply from Falkland, this unclassified lane offers a brief but intense burst of driving. The road wraps closely around the contours of the hill, demanding a precise approach to sightlines and vehicle placement. It delivers a surprising amount of character over a short distance.

The lower section through the trees holds onto surface moisture long into the afternoon.

Distance
8.5km
Drive time
0h 25m
Curve idx
7.0/10
Climb
211m
StartEnd
Plan a drive to Barns Ness Terrace (C121)
09
C121 · Innerwick · Spirited
Single-trackVaried surface

Barns Ness Terrace (C121)

Tucked away near Dunbar, this winding lane offers a brisk, heavily-cornered run through coastal farmland. The surface quality fluctuates, but the constant directional changes keep you entirely engaged. It is a sharp, spirited detour off the main arterial routes.

Take the short run out towards Barns Ness Lighthouse to cap off the drive with an uninterrupted view of the North Sea.

Distance
7.4km
Drive time
0h 12m
Curve idx
8.0/10
Climb
158m
StartEnd
Plan a drive to Galashiels Road (A7)
08
A7 · Scottish Borders · Easy
Dual-trackSmooth surface

Galashiels Road (A7)

The old Galashiels Road offers a beautifully surfaced, traditional A-road experience. It meanders lazily through the Borders countryside, providing wide lanes and unhurried transitions. It is the perfect cool-down route after tackling the tighter hill passes.

Traffic tends to flow slightly below the national limit—settle into the rhythm rather than trying to force overtakes.

Distance
32km
Drive time
0h 33m
Curve idx
2.4/10
Climb
639m
StartEnd
Plan a drive to A708
07
A708 · Yarrow Valley · Easy
Mixed widthVaried surface

A708

This is the Yarrow half of the Moffat to Selkirk road: from the foot of St Mary's Loch the A708 follows the Yarrow Water for 14 miles through Yarrow and Yarrowford to the Ettrick confluence at Selkirk. The geometry is flowing rather than tight, but the tarmac is laid over the ground rather than cut through it. PistonHeads' write-up flagged the fierce cambers, the dips and the risk to a low sump, so the reward is reading the crests, not attacking corners. The Gordon Arms crossroads, where the B709 cuts across, is the only junction of consequence.

Sheep and farm traffic share the valley, and the 2012 Collins atlas put the A708 among Scotland's five most dangerous roads by accidents per vehicle: reason enough to keep the well-sighted straights unhurried.

Distance
23km
Drive time
0h 25m
Curve idx
3.9/10
Climb
238m
StartEnd
Plan a drive to Smiddyhill Bridge (B6355)
06
B6355 · Lammermuirs · Easy
Mixed widthVaried surface

Smiddyhill Bridge (B6355)

Cutting right across the Lammermuir Hills, this stretch of the B6355 offers high, windswept moorland and immense skies. The road layout is generally open and flowing, allowing you to read the tarmac far into the distance. It is driving in its purest, most expansive form.

The weather on the plateau can turn rapidly—what starts as a bright drive often ends in low cloud at the summit.

Distance
24.4km
Drive time
0h 30m
Curve idx
4.6/10
Climb
327m
StartEnd
Plan a drive to Traquair Road (B709)
05
B709 · Innerleithen · Easy
Mixed widthVaried surface

Traquair Road (B709)

South from Innerleithen the B709 passes Traquair House, by its own claim the oldest continually inhabited house in Scotland, then climbs the Paddy Slacks, a steady pull of about 130 metres to the watershed before the drop to the Gordon Arms crossroads on the A708 in the Yarrow valley. It then climbs again over to Tushielaw in Ettrickdale. It is a sequence of linked sweepers with long moorland sightlines, wider on the Tweed side and narrower over the tops. Curve density is modest, so it rewards a settled pace and reading the crests.

Sheep hold the road on the Paddy Slacks and are in no hurry to move. Innerleithen is a 7stanes mountain-biking hub with a ten-day games week in July, so the Tweed end is at its busiest at weekends.

Distance
25.1km
Drive time
0h 35m
Curve idx
5.0/10
Climb
544m
StartEnd
Plan a drive to Perth Road (B934)
04
B934 · Ochil Hills · Spirited
Single-trackVaried surface

Perth Road (B934)

This single-track crossing of the Ochils near Dunning is a brilliant, engaging climb. The curvature is dense enough to require your full attention, but the views out across the valley are remarkable. It’s a route that rewards smooth momentum over heavy braking.

The descent down towards Dunning has several off-camber bends that tighten unexpectedly.

Distance
21.3km
Drive time
0h 26m
Curve idx
6.3/10
Climb
409m
StartEnd
Plan a drive to 26403083
03
Tertiary · East Lothian · Spirited
Single-trackVaried surface

26403083

A quiet tertiary lane that climbs purposefully towards the high moorland. The road traces the natural contours of the hills, throwing up a continuous series of flowing bends that settle into a satisfying rhythm. It provides a striking transition from sheltered farmland into wide-open terrain.

The passing places are frequent but sometimes obscured by long grass in late summer—look well ahead.

Distance
9km
Drive time
0h 17m
Curve idx
6.9/10
Climb
241m
StartEnd
Plan a drive to Old Manse Road (C1)
02
Old Manse Road · Eddleston · Expert
Single-trackVaried surface

Old Manse Road (C1)

Ascending away from Eddleston, this narrow lane blends steep gradients with continuous directional changes. The sightlines open up dramatically as you gain elevation, offering sweeping views back across the hills. The single-track layout rewards methodical and patient inputs.

Watch out for loose gravel washed out onto the road surface after heavy rain on the steeper sections.

Distance
8.6km
Drive time
0h 22m
Curve idx
8.4/10
Climb
170m
StartEnd
Plan a drive to C22
01
C22 · Scottish Borders · Expert
Single-trackVaried surface

C22

A fiercely technical single-track route threading through the rugged Borders terrain. With an exceptional concentration of corners and a wildly varying surface, it asks for constant concentration and precise line-choice rather than speed. The visual reward is a profound sense of isolation.

The tightest blind crests demand a very relaxed pace—keep your windows down to listen for oncoming local traffic.

Distance
5.4km
Drive time
0h 14m
Curve idx
10.0/10
Climb
165m
// KEEP READING
Sibling guide · Driving
Top 10 driving roads in Edinburgh
Parent region · Scotland
Top 10 scenic drives in Scotland
Nearby · The Scottish Highlands
Top 10 scenic drives in the Scottish Highlands
Nearby · Central Scotland
Top 10 scenic drives in central Scotland
Nearby · The Southern Uplands
Top 10 scenic drives in the Southern Uplands
Index · Every region
All Top 10 Field Guides

Plan your own line.

Drop a start and end anywhere on the map, tune your route and Drivelines builds you a drive.

Plan a driveBrowse all guides