Scottish roads and school holidays

[Nurburgsingh]

Planning to head up to Scotland in July, I thought I was being cunning going up before the (my) kids break up for holidays, but I've just seen that the kids in Scotland will already be on holiday.
So question to those that live up there... How busy will the roads within 2-3hours of Glasgow get?

[Mostro]

I suspect that the campervans and foreign tourists will pose more of a threat to open road enjoyment than the locals. They were already beginning to appear in late April/early May. Terrible passing place (lack of) etiquette on the single tracks by some too, again not a problem with the locals

[Red Devil]

That's why we go in mid April. Even then one can be caught out. Like the time I foolishly stopped to take a couple of photos which meant I inadvertently allowed some dozy bt to get between me and the rest of the convoy.

She was clearly from the school of thought that only time she needed to use the mirror the car manufacturer had so thoughtfully provided would be when her makeup needed titivation. I was baulked for over six miles. After a while I lost count of the number of passing places she sailed past while remaining blissfully ignorant of the presence of faster traffic behind her.

[Nurburgsingh]

Thanks guys, not got any planned single tracks on the route yet..
We went April last year but this year was delayed with weather and car issues...

[JM]

Nurburgsingh said:

So question to those that live up there... How busy will the roads within 2-3hours of Glasgow get?

They will be quieter than in August.

Traditionally the first two weeks in July were the Edinburgh trades holidays (tradesman, builders, plumbers etc) and the second two weeks were the Glasgow Fair Fortnight (similar idea).
(they both probably date back to when there were large factories/shipyards and they closed down for a fortnight)
Some people still stick to these traditional dates, though I'd say it's more a Glasgow thing these days.

So you can find the weekends can make the roads very busy due to everyone leaving or coming home, but it's still not too bad.
The further north you go the quieter it will get and if you travel early in the morning you normally beat the traffic anyway. Also off the traditional tourist routes it'll be a fair bit quieter too.