The Scotchstorm
Rally
* * * The 2027 Scotchstorm rally will be taking place between Saturday 30th January and Monday 08th February 2027, and is now open to entries - feel free to get in touch if you wish to reserve a place on the trip * * *
It seems those who enjoy our trips are rather more adventurous than we realised.
In 2025, we launched the Snowstorm Rally, and if we're honest, we didn't expect too many people to take it up. Because really, it's one hell of an out-there adventure. But clearly we underestimated you fine, adventurous people, because the inaugural trip to the Arctic Winter was pretty much full to capacity. So, we decided to put together a Scottish equivalent, which we've imaginatively named 'Scotchstorm'.
Following its successful launch in 2026, the next Scotchstorm Rally will be hitting the road over the first week of February 2027, and much of it will be taking place on a route you may well know already in summer - the NC500. But you've never seen it like this. In winter, the landscape changes to one dripping in drama. The weather can range from sunshine to snow, while the landscapes can change from alpine perfection, to maelstrom malevolence. It's Scotland at its most elemental; all the epicness of the summer drive, turned up to twelve. And with way less campervans and other traffic too, which is always a bonus.
We experienced all this first-hand over the inaugural Scotchstorm Rally in 2026, when our eager adventurers experienced everything a wintery Scotland had to offer. Gale-force winds on the summit of Belach na Ba. Sun-dappled mountains in Glencoe. Wind-swept snow in the Cairngorms and downpours at John o Groats. Winter brought the landscape alive in a way which made our previous summer trips north a distant memory. And on our return from the first ever Scotchstorm, the decision was made - we just had to make it a permanent feature in the Pub2Pub calendar.
Naturally, a drive in the Scottish winter makes for a rather different prospect to our usual tours, and so you probably won’t be wanting to bring your TVR, though we certainly wouldn't stop you from doing so. This means that car-wise, you have several choices. Firstly, you can bring your daily driver – we’re cool with that. Plenty of people have taken this approach on Scotchstorm's Scandinavian cousin and had a great time, and the same holds true in the Highlands. Alternatively, feel free to use the trip as an excuse to buy something cheap, that you've always fancied, or use Scotchstorm as a shakedown event for your Snowstorm car. Then there's the possibility of thinking outside the box, and getting whatever you fancy – an old Impreza maybe, or an Audi S4. Or even a Fiat 126, if you’re a glutton for punishment. One thing to give some thought to though - whatever vehicle you opt for, it would be a sensible idea to fit winter tyres for the trip. While this isn't a legal requirement in Scotland, it will certainly improve your roadholding and safety margins if the weather does decide to imitate Greenland.
So, , what can you expect from the Scotchstorm Rally? Quite an adventure, that’s what.
Scotchstorm starts on the afternoon of Saturday 30th January near Dumfries, before heading North on the Sunday morning, up through the Loch Lomond National Park to the wilds of Glencoe. From there, it continues on to the incomparable Isle of Skye, where we'll be staying for two nights, giving you the opportunity to explore this gorgeous corner of the UK. From Skye, we'll be joining the NC500 route, following the coast north to the top of Scotland, before returning south via the Cairngorms, and some nice roads in the Scottish borders, with the trip finishing near the Pennines on Monday 08th February. So, you should consider it to be a not-too-rushed lap of the north of this fine country, covering around 1,000 miles to the north of the border, and taking on whatever the elements throw at us in the process.
Now, here’s a quick Q&A on the rally, which will hopefully answer some of the questions which are now running around your head:
What are the dates?
The trip starts in Dumfries on the evening of Saturday 30th January, and spends the following nine days looping up to the far north of Scotland and back, arriving at the final hotel of the trip in the Scottish borders area on Sunday 07th February. After check-out on the following morning (Monday 08th), you'll be free to head back south via whichever awesome roads you fancy. The 2027 event is one day longer than the one we ran in 2026, to allow for another night on the Isle of Skye.
How many miles will be driven?
Depending on the route options you choose, expect to cover around 1000 miles north of the Scottish border, in just over a week on the road.
What accommodation can I expect?
As with all Pub2Pub trips, you can expect at least 3* hotel accommodation every night, with plenty of fine Scottish hospitality thrown in for good measure.
What cars are eligible?
As mentioned above, all cars are welcome. So, undertake the trip in your daily driver, your hardy classic, or a specially bought adventure machine, the choice is yours. We expect a similar vibe to the inaugural Scotchstorm Rally in this respect, and the entry roster for that fine trip included Land Rovers, classic Volvos, a Subaru Impreza and an MX5, a Toyota GR Yaris, a standard hatchback Yaris and an Audi S4. Oh, and an utterly heroic Citroen 2CV, too. So in short, the only real limit here is your imagination.
What modifications are required?
Beyond ensuring your car is ready for the trip, the only recommended modification is the fitment of winter tyres. While this isn't a legal requirement in Scotland, and you could undertake the drive on your usual summer rubber, winters will add a handy margin of safety which we would recommend. That said, if you want to go all in, buy an old Impreza and build a winter rally weapon, we certainly won't stop you - when it comes to modifications, the choice is yours, and the sky's the limit.
How much is the entry fee?
The entry fee for a car and either one or two people is £1,650, covering all the hotels, a full itinerary, on-the-road support from our trusty Volvo, loan of a two way radio, a rally sticker pack, and breakfast on every morning of the trip. This is a little higher than the 2026 entry fee, as for 2027 we've added in a second night in a nice hotel on the Isle of Skye , to make the trip a day longer, and even more unforgettable.
If you'd like to reserve a space on Scotchstorm 2027, a £200 deposit will secure your place on the trip. This is fully refundable should your circumstances change, up to when the balance of the entry fee is due, three months before we hit the road.
And if you have any further questions, or if you’d like to reserve a place on the trip, get in touch via ben@pub2pubadventures.com , and hopefully, we'll be seeing you up in the highlands this winter.
