The UK ‘best’ road trip is a 300-mile drive through beautiful views of Scotland but is often overshadowed by its more famous neighbour, the North Coast 500 road trip. While the North Coast 500 offers a 516-mile scenic route around the north coast of Scotland, the country’s ‘forgotten south-west corner’ has its own version of the route.

The Southwest Coastal 300 winds through the hill country of the Southern Uplands and rocky coast of the Solway Firth. This road trip offers a quieter and ‘hidden gem’ alternative to the NC500 and features dramatic coastlines, sandy beaches, castles, and rolling hills. Scottish tour guide websites recommend leaving three to five days for the journey.

The road trip offers access to a range of sites on the way. Wanlockhead, Scotland’s highest village at 1,531 feet above sea level, is also home to Scotland’s highest pub, Wanlockhead Inn. The route also takes visitors via Scotland’s most southerly point, to the Mull of Galloway.

While it’s possible to start anywhere on the circular route, most visitors will access the SWC300 from major routes, including the M74 and M77.

The underrated road trip features Galloway Forest Park at the heart of its route. The World Heritage Site is also a certified Dark Sky Park, officially the first and one of the best parks to observe the night sky in the UK.

On a clear night, tourism websites predict more than 7,000 visible stars. The park also features beautiful forest trails and incredible wildlife.

For more active tourists, the route offers a variety of sports activities on the way. Visitors can take part in windsurfing, cycling, kayaking and fishing. The route also takes drivers via several castles including Caerlaverock Castle, Culzean Castle and Dunure Castle.

Key towns and villages to stop by include Portpatrick, Castle Douglas, Newton Stewart, Kirkcudbright, Annan and Dumfries, the largest town in the region.

Portpatrick offers charming coastal walks and historic sites like Dunskey Castle ruins. Visitors also have access to beautiful beaches like Portpatrick Harbour Beach and attractions like Logan Botanic Garden. Castle Douglas also offers stunning local art, which tourists can buy. By contrast, Newton Stewart offers canyoning adventures – a family-friendly activity.

Kirkcudbright is an artsy town featuring restaurants, pubs and various shops. Visitors can stop by the town’s Tolbooth Art Centre or Harbour Cottage Gallery. Annan features the war museum, Devil’s Porridge Museum, and the famous Annandale Distillery. Tourists can also catch a fil, at the Lonsdale Cinema, for an indoor activity. Dumfries offers several trails for mountain biking, gravel and road biking.

The scenic driving route also directly covers the UNESCO Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere. Though it is a year-round driving route, guides advise tourists to drive anytime from spring to autumn for better weather and fully accessible attractions.

One TripAdvisor reviewer said, “The Southwest 300 route has so much to offer and far more than the NC500 route. It is sadly bypassed by many tourists and is a very underrated place.”

Another visitor said, “It has something to offer for everyone.”

They acknowledged that the SWC300 may not have dramatic scenery of the NC500 route but praised its “picturesque scenery and quiet little towns”.