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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
National
Sean Murphy

The epic driving route designed to rival the NC500 just one hour from Edinburgh

The North Coast 500 may be the best-known driving route in Scotland but in recent years, several others have popped up that rival it for scenery and things to do.

One area of the country that is often overlooked can be central Scotland with those areas away from the capital are more than deserving to be explored.

That's why we love the idea of exploring the Heart 200, which is filled with great food and drink, landmarks and attractions, as well of course, unbelievable scenery.

The Route

Originally launched in 2019, this epic road route lies just one hour from the capital and covers 200 miles around Perth, Stirling, The Trossachs and Highland Perthshire.

Designed to attract more visitors to one of Scotland's most attractive and easily accessible locations, the self-drive trip offers fun for motorists, bikers, cyclists and even walkers.

The Heart 200 route (Heart 200)

Featuring both of Scotland's national parks, the Loch Lomond & the Trossachs and the Cairngorms, there is plenty of spectacular scenery to be found on the route.

How long will it take to do?

Depending on how long you wish to spend at some of the more interesting spots, you can get around the Heart 200 in around 2-3 days, however, we suggest making the most of the trip with a longer duration of 3-4 days to make it even more rewarding.

The Highlights

Castles - Outlander fans will be delighted to see Doune Castle on the route, after it appeared on the hit show, while history lovers can enjoy both Stirling and Blair Castle.

Distilleries - Whisky and gin fans will find a rich vein of distilleries on the 200 including Stirling Gin Distillery and the home of Persie Gin, as well as the Tullibardine, Blair Athol, Aberfeldy and Edradour whisky distilleries

And if you are looking to take some whisky home with you, a trip to the Grail in Doune is always in order.

Activities - There are loads of fun things to do on the route including family fun at Go Ape Aberfoyle, food and drink fun at the Campbell's Bakery and Bake School and thrill-seekers will love the Bungee Jump at Killiecrankie Visitor Centre.

You can find out more about the Heart 200 on the official website.

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