How hard will it be to drive across Scotland in a manual transmission car?

Driving on the left side of the road is an awkward feeling initially. The question is how long of a time is that going to be?

I had been driving for several months on the left side here (Ascension Island - an English territory where I've been working off and on for a year), and I thought that I would do fine in Ireland a few months ago. I did, until I came up on a very busy 4-lane intersection with turning lanes in both directions. They're red light/traffic lights confused me. I almost screwed up big time.

I drove a large panel van (left hand manual) from Galway to Dingle, around the peninsula and back over 3+ days. Roads are small all over the UK. I only had the driver's side mirror get pushed in once by some vines that were literally hanging over the road. I also spent a week in Scotland on the same trip, but did not drive. Roads are small there too.

I would not want my first time to drive on the left with left hand manual to be in and around any cities. Even here, something I still have to concentrate on is when coming up on a T, looking left and right, I still want to look in the wrong lane for approaching traffic.

You have to keep 100% focus on the road, traffic, etc. and, perhaps most importantly, keep telling yourself "stay on the left, stay on the left". Yes, I thought this for weeks and for a few days when I first returned here (AI).

Funny thing, the first time I came back to LA and got in my truck, I started to turn into the left lane.

Had to do this once on the only overseas trip we’ve taken so far. Hadn’t driven a manual in years and had to jump right into a tiny arse go cart sized economy car, stick on the left hand, steering wheel on the right. Felt utterly fricked up at first but ended up just fine. Just make sure you start off with a little practice in a parking lot or something to get the feel of it, especially the clutch, then stay very focused and pay attention. You can do it but you can’t take it for granted like you would driving normally. You’ll have the hang of it fully within a day or two.

Spent a week in Ireland last year. Opted for the automatic.
I know how to drive a standard but with all of the confusion with driving on the left I sure wasn’t going to add shifting with my left hand into the mix.

Its hard to find them, but you can find automatics.

I personally would not want to drive at all in UK places, let alone a manual.

Sounds dangerous.

One thing I would recommend is that if you know you are going to be spending time in the highlands or rural areas then see if you can take a bus or train up and then rent the car there where the roads are less crowded. Trying to navigate through Edinburgh or Glasgow sounds like a nightmare. Windy country roads, not as much.

Spring for the automatic, I've got thousands of miles driving on the left side in the UK, Ireland, & the Caribbean and I would NOT try to drive a manual transmission car there.

Many of the roads there are tighter dimensions than here and a very unforgiving (high kerbs, stone fences, narrow lanes, etc.)

Navigating is also tough there. You certainly don't know where you're going.

Your natural driving instincts are messed up and then you want to add one more unnatural variable into the equation?

All I know is that you don’t have a hair on your arse of you don’t try.

It’s not that bad. The driver’s seat is on the right-hand side of the car, subliminally that’s a pretty good cue for me.

I draw the line at driving in Japan though. In addition to it being on the “wrong” side of what we are used to, the signage is all in a script I can’t read.

And it’s a Type A country that doesn’t do well making allowances for foreigner who can’t/won’t strictly follow their rules (like they do).

Plus the taxis, trains, and other public transportation are clean, fast, and efficient there.

Thanks everyone for the comments. Good info and feedback

I drove a manual all around Ireland. It was no issue at all. But I own and drive a manual vehicle every day.

The hardest part is the city driving on the wrong side of the road. Just have to slow down and think before you act.