Car Rental Glasgow Airport

Right on the doorstep of the M8 motorway and less than half an hour from the buzzing centre of Glasgow, the airport is ideally situated for onward travel. Once you get your hire car, simply drive east on the M8 which runs right into the centre of the city and all the way to Edinburgh.

If you’re heading further afield to see Scotland’s rugged highlands and dramatic lochs, you can go northeast via Perth and Sterling, where you’ll connect to the M9. Eventually you’ll reach Loch Ness. It’s a hauntingly beautiful expanse of water, and legend has it, home to the infamous Loch Ness monster.

Wind your way through beautiful countryside via the A82. This picturesque route cuts through The Trossachs National Park and runs alongside Loch Lomond. Keep going north for one of the most scenic drives in Scotland, and eventually you’ll spot Ben Nevis – the UK’s highest mountain.

As in the rest of the UK, you drive on the left side of the road in Scotland. In cities and built-up areas, the speed limit is 48km/h. When you’re driving on single carriageways or on more rural roads it’s 96km/h, while motorways and dual carriageways have a speed limit of 112km/h. Scotland has no toll roads and speed limits are well sign-posted.

From shopping on the Style Mile to savouring hearty local cuisine, it’s time to find out why Glasgow’s growing reputation as a tourist destination is well-deserved. The city is also a great base to head out from in your hire car and explore the breath-taking beauty of the southern Highlands.

A mile of style

Park up the car and treat yourself to a spree along Glasgow’s famous ‘Style Mile’. Covering Argyle Street and Sauciehall (pronounced So-key-hall) Street, you’ll find gorgeous homeware, the latest gadgets, beauty goods and opulent boutiques with both chains and quirkier independent stores.

The eye-catching Princes Square shopping centre on Buchanan Street dates back to 1840. Its sophisticated Victorian styling includes intricate ironwork, a glimmering, glass-domed roof and stunning spiral staircases. With designer clothing, glittering jewellery shops and luxury homeware, you’ll leave laden with new goodies.  

For an eclectic mix of vintage clothing, artisanal food and intriguing arts and crafts, aim for the sprawling Barras Market. You’ll find a busy warren of traditional stalls piled high with goods. Take your time wandering through to savour the atmosphere of this lively market.

Transported to another world

Get your culture fix at The Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in the West End. Set in a Spanish mock baroque building and built from local Locharbriggs sandstone in a distinctive shade of red, the museum’s 22 galleries run the gamut from Ancient Egyptian artefacts to Monet and Picasso paintings. It’s free to enter and one of the most popular tourist attractions in the whole of Scotland.

Families flock to the Riverside Museum located in the city’s pretty harbour. Step back in time to discover all things transport-based in a building with a striking Zaha Hadid exterior. Jump on board vintage trams and even get behind the wheel of a virtual fire engine. Exploring this interactive museum is a great way to spend a morning or afternoon with children.

Head for the highlands

Discover the bucolic Scotland immortalised in paintings and poetry, and head out of the city. Scotland has been voted the world’s most beautiful country for good reason. Go beyond Glasgow to seek out tranquil, sparkling lochs, hike through lush natural parks and see soaring mountains disappearing into the clouds.

Travel north on the A82 to Fort William, the gateway to Ben Nevis. Make your way to the mountain path via the nearby Glen Nevis, wander into the town to enjoy a traditional lunch or stroll alongside the mirror-like water. If you want to get your adrenaline pumping, tackle one of the popular mountain trails. Race over steep hills, weave your way through rocky outcrops and cycle your way to spectacular views of the landscape below.

If you don’t want to go as far as Fort William, then venture east from Glasgow to the Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park. You can access the north of the park via the A78, and the south via the A737. Strap on your hiking boots and ramble through the countryside, or try your hand at sailing at Castle Semple loch, located on the fringe of the park.  

Scotland is a hotbed of history, brimming with idyllic scenery. Give yourself the freedom to explore more and car hire at Glasgow Airport.