A Family Affair: A Road Trip Through Scotland’s Under-Radar Highlands and Islands

A Family Affair: A Road Trip Through Scotland’s Under-Radar Highlands and Islands

We’re taking a spin on the wild side with a road trip across the Highlands, skipping Scotland’s more obvious destinations in favour of mountain hikes, swims in lochs and discovering the island locals want to keep a secret – and thanks to the low-emission Volvo XC90 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid, we’re bringing the family along for the ride.

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A
miscellany of mountains, forests and rivers, the Scottish
Highlands is a playground for the young and the young-at-heart – a
canvas for an immersive, something-for-everyone road trip that
embraces the great outdoors. We want to feel the wind whip through
our hair as we free-wheel along cycling trails, to swim in
glistening lochs and gather around campfires with smiles as wide
and wild as the moors.


With that in mind, we’re trading in four walls for a seven-seat
SUV that’s family-friendly without being frumpy. Our ride? The
Volvo XC90 Recharge, a plug-in hybrid designed for journeys best
shared. On this turf, the car is in its element. Intelligent
driver-assist technology – think real-time traffic information and
run-off-road mitigation – keep you on track (and avoid mishaps with
wandering Highland coos). Better yet, Pack and Load accessories – from practical dirt
covers to protective pet gates and carriers for bikes, skis and
canoes – help you prepare for an adventure of a lifetime.

We’ve frolicked with free-roaming reindeer, navigated the UK’s
most dramatic road and found the best spot to watch the Northern
Lights to curate this itinerary. Now all you need to do is get your
bags packed and curate a song list – Bowers & Wilkins speakers
make sure there’ll be no “turn it up, we can’t hear in the back” on
this drive. It’s playtime.


Day One: The Cairngorms

From its thick forests to the alpine plateau, wee Highland
settlements to wide-open, wildlife-rich spaces, the Cairngorms
National Park inspires adventure. Better yet, wild camping gets the
thumbs up here, so you’re not tied to areas where accommodation is
plentiful – the XC90 has ample space for loading up with outdoor
gear. Simply familiarise yourself with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code before setting
off.

When it comes to honing in on regions to visit, the options are
as abundant. Aviemore is a good place to start. See the
free-roaming Cairngorm Reindeer Herd before driving south to
Rothiemurchus. Crowned by a 13th-century castle, the
estate is a one-stop for family-friendly Highland activities, no
soft play necessary. Embark on a Highland cow safari, hone outdoor
survival skills or try your hand at quad trekking, river tubing or
osprey photography before lunching on produce from Scotland’s
natural larder at the Old Bridge Inn – muddy boots are welcome and
Cullen skink goes down very well. The XC90’s integrated wifi
supports up to eight devices, so there will be no missed
opportunities to share your new family memories on social.


From here, embark on a section of the Speyside Way, through
heather heathland and birch forest, to the Boat of Garten – go by
foot or get the adrenaline pumping by following the off-road
mountain-bike trail. The Volvo Recharge can carry several sets of
pedals. Need to recuperate? Tuck into a gourmet Scottish-beef patty
from the Spey Burger Restaurant and opt for a
comfortable night in Pityoulish Steading, a secluded restored farmhouse
with a bubbling hot tub, outdoor fire pit and glass-clad balconies
for undisrupted valley views.


Day Two: The North Coast 500

Set the XC90’s integrated sat nav for Inverness Castle, the
start and endpoint of the North Coast 500. Cutting through John
O’Groats and Ullapool, this 830km circuit is to Scotland what Route
66 is to the US. The whole NC500 takes five days minimum, so we’re
sticking to a southern stretch lined with the North Highlands’ most
dramatic scenery, as well as a spot of culture and history.

From Inverness, head west through Beauly and Muir of Ord,
stopping at Glen Ord Distillery to stock up on its sweetly spiced
malt whisky. A little farther along, park up at the spectacular
Rogie Falls to stretch your legs on a circular woodland walk along the Blackwater River –
depending on the time of year, you can forage for wild blueberries
or spot salmon leaping upstream. Onwards, skirting past Loch Garve
and through the whitewashed village of Lochcarron (photographers:
stop here), you’ll approach Bealach na Bà, a twisting,
single-track, 626m climb with the kind of hairpin bends you’d
expect in the Alps and a reputation as one of the UK’s most
treacherous roads. The XC90’s windscreen display lets you monitor
speed, follow navigation and more without taking your eyes off
what’s in front.


Refuel with a fresh-from-the-bay seafood lunch at the Applecross
Inn
or grab cured sea trout and cheeses from the artisan
Applecross Smokehouse for a shoreside picnic. Connect
deeply with the surrounds by checking in to Eagle Rocks, a
sanctuary-like cottage crafted from local larch and powered by
solar panels. From here, take a dip at Coillegille, an under-radar
coralline beach, then drive to the Kyle of Lochalsh where the
13th-century Eilean Donan castle wouldn’t look out of place in the
Game of Thrones. Alternatively, head north to The
Torridon
for hearty Highland fare with a fine-dining spin. The
best way to end the day? Spotting the Northern Lights from your
private deck at Eagle Rocks.


Day Three: Lismore

Wake early and switch on the Volvo’s Power mode to tackle the
undulating west coast down through Glencoe to Oban where you can
avail of the charging point before boarding a car ferry to the Isle
of Lismore – or Lios Mòr, meaning “great garden” in Gaelic.
Tourists gravitate toward Skye or Iona; this Inner Hebrides island
is visited only by in-the-know travellers. Less than 20km long and
just over two at its widest point, Lismore has a population that
lingers around 180, meaning nature takes the reins here.
Wildflowers thrive between the Castle Coeffin ruins and the Pictish
settlement of Tirfuir Broch. Use the XC90’s open-and-tilt panoramic
roof to make the most of vast skies and Atlantic-fresh air as you
explore and stumble upon weatherbeaten coves – the twin engine
makes sure you’ll get around with maximum efficiency, minimum
emissions.

Lismore Stores is the only shop you’ll find on
the island, and there’s a snack-sized café at the Ionad Naomh
Moluag heritage centre, but in truth, this is a place to which
you’ll want to arrive with provisions for picnics – so fill up the
XC90’s cubby holes and try not to get sticky fingers on the car
seats, please.


Base options are limited in quantity but not quality. Try
Port Moluag House where off-grid isolation
meets on-point, sustainable design. Sleeping seven, Port Ramsay Cottage is suited to bigger groups
and those who love spotting otters and seals in Loch Linnhe. We
like the back-to-nature ethos at the eco-friendly Lismore Bunkhouse and Campsite, where mornings start
with wild swims in a natural pool and dinners are made from
pick-your-own organic veg. Family dorms are available.

Our favourite spot on Lismore? The summit of Barr Mor, the
island’s highest point with a panorama that takes in Ben Nevis, the
Firth of Lorn and the mountains of Morvern. When the weather turns
damp and cold (this is Scotland, after all) use the Volvo On-Call
app to preheat the car for a welcome return after your climb down –
getting back to nature needn’t mean forgoing modern comforts, after
all.

The Lowdown

Discover responsible luxury with a car that makes safety and
sustainability stylish. Get in the driver’s seat at volvocars.co.uk.

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