Whether you’re doing business in Glasgow’s bustling city centre or looking for some scenic delights further afield, hiring a car from the airport should be your first port of call.

Glasgow Airport links directly to the M8 motorway, ensuring convenient travel through the Scottish Central Belt towards Edinburgh and East Scotland. While the M8 serves as the main point of entry and exit from the airport, it links up with a number of major roads crossing the length and breadth of Scotland. After following the river Clyde north and west towards Dumbarton, the A82 will take you through to Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, a region possessing sublime views and serene drives.

Further up the stretch, where the A82 crosses the water between North and South Ballachulish, and hugs the banks of Loch Linnhe on the way to Fort William, you’ll catch a memorable view of Ben Nevis – the UK’s highest peak – to the east. There are other ways to reach Inverness via Glasgow but none have quite the visual impact of the A82.

If you’re staying in the city centre, there are convenient exits from the M8 for both the east and west ends of Glasgow, to help you reach your lodgings in good time. Exiting from junction 19 onto Kingston Bridge takes you between Charing Cross and Anderston train stations, where you’ll find many of the city’s hotels.

From junction 25 of the M8 you can also access the centre of Glasgow via the Clyde Tunnel – although this can get congested during peak traffic hours. You’ll find plenty of parking spaces available within Glasgow’s well-signposted multi-storey car parks.

West Scotland combines the cultural buzz of Glasgow with the outstanding views and activities on offer in the southern Highlands. Centuries of centralised trade along the River Clyde gave Glasgow its robust identity, and a great many reasons to visit.

Business and the Merchant City

Glasgow’s numerous satellite business parks are all within easy reach of the airport, while the SECC – Scotland’s largest conference and exhibition centre – is just off the M8 close to the Clyde’s north bank.

In east Glasgow, the Merchant City region caters to the upmarket crowd. The original epicentre of the Glasgow industrial boom, here you’ll find high-end shops and restaurants in which to while away your leisure time. The West End of Glasgow has a more laidback feel, and is where you’ll come across vintage shops and cafes. In the West End you’ll also find the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, whose enterprising use of local Locharbriggs stone houses some of the finest collections of artwork in the whole of the UK.

The city’s two football teams are among the very best and most passionately supported in the country; Celtic and Rangers have huge fanbases all over Scotland, which can be relied upon to fill the respective stadiums of Celtic Park and Ibrox for every home game.

Highlands highlights

If you’re flying in, you can’t help but be tempted to sample the rural delights of the Scottish Highlands, just a short drive away on the A82. With its many mountain ranges, majestic lochs and beautiful woodlands, the Highlands is a truly inspirational region. The landscape is dominated by mountains and hills, along with the legendary lochs. Loch Lomond is Scotland’s biggest inland body of water, and is found in the Trossachs National Park – a beautiful rural getaway with mountains and hills suitable for hiking and climbing.

Drop in on Nessie

Loch Ness is another highlight of the A82 from Glasgow to Inverness, best known as the home of the mythical Loch Ness Monster. Along the shores are tourist-friendly villages offering boat rides, and the stunning Urquhart Castle is located on its banks - its fascinating history is sure to captivate exploring visitors.

A trip to Glasgow and West Scotland is filled with panoramic potential and a wide array of cultural and sporting pursuits. Whether you’re in the area with friends or business associates, hiring a car from Glasgow Airport puts it all at your fingertips.