Scottish Adventure - West Highlands

Whether you’re driving from Glasgow or Edinburgh, the journey to Loch Lomond offers a blend of scenic beauty and historic landmarks. From Glasgow, a short drive will take you to Clydebank’s Titan Crane, a striking reminder of Scotland's industrial past. Continuing, you can visit the charming village of Balloch, located at the southern tip of Loch Lomond, where you can enjoy a lakeside stroll, explore Balloch Castle and its park, or take a boat tour on the loch. For those seeking outdoor adventures, Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park offers hiking, cycling, and stunning views of the loch and surrounding mountains. If you're coming from Edinburgh, you can make a slight detour to Stirling Castle, a historic gem that offers fantastic views over the countryside. You can also stop by the Falkirk Wheel, an impressive rotating boat lift, before heading towards Loch Lomond.

Overnight - Loch Lomond area B&B

This morning you have the option of visiting Inveraray Jail, a living museum and top visitor attraction where real people portray life in a 19th century prison. Or visit Inveraray Castle where you can have time to explore the castle and gardens. The castle is the home of the Duke and Duchess of Argyll and their young family. It is the Ancestral home of Clan Campbell. Continue onto Oban, the “Gateway to the Western Isles,” a location which has been a major port to the islands for centuries. Explore some of the other sights in/around Oban:  For Hillwalkers the area around Oban is home to several hills which provide stunning views over the islands. Ben Lora, just a few miles north of Oban, overlooks Ardmucknish Bay giving great views over to Mull and can be walked up and down in around 2 hours.
Dunollie Museum, Castle and Grounds is home of the renowned Hope MacDougall Collection. With over 5,000
objects gathered the collection forms a diverse, fascinating record of the region’s social history. The photographs, letters and mementos provide an intimate insight into the ordinary lives of local people.
Or take a trip and explore McCaig’s Tower which has never been completed. John Stuart McCaig died before he could finish the construction and his descendants had other ideas for using the money he had dedicated for its completion. The tower has a viewing platform, seats and a well-kept garden. The local council developed the grounds around it, making it one of the most popular attractions in the area.


Overnight - Oban area B&B

Today spend the day exploring Mull and Iona. From Oban, take the ferry to Craignure on Mull, where you can begin your adventure by driving through the island's picturesque landscapes, filled with rugged coastlines, rolling hills, and charming villages. A must-see on Mull is Duart Castle, a historic fortress offering panoramic views of the sea and surrounding islands. Continue your drive to Tobermory, known for its colorful harbor and quaint streets, perfect for a relaxing stroll or a meal by the water. Mull is also a haven for wildlife, so be on the lookout for seals, otters, and eagles as you drive through its scenic routes. From Mull, take a short ferry ride to Iona, a serene island with a rich spiritual heritage. Here, you can visit the 6th-century Iona Abbey, founded by St. Columba, and explore the island’s peaceful beaches and ancient sites.
(It is highly recommended to pre-book ferries in advance to avoid disappointment)


Overnight - Oban area B&B

Leaving Oban, you can visit Dunstaffnage Castle, located just outside of Oban. Built before 1275 on a huge rock overlooking the Firth of Lorn, Dunstaffnage was the mighty stronghold of the MacDougalls. The castle, with its huge curtain wall, was captured by Robert the Bruce in 1309 and remained in royal possession for some years. Dunstaffnage became the temporary prison of Flora MacDonald in 1746. You will see Ben Nevis, the tallest mountain in the UK, towering at a colossal 1334m. Take the Nevis Range Mountain Experience which takes you on Britain’s only mountain gondola. You will be transported 650m meandering along the mountain trails to the panoramic viewpoints, where you can relax in the restaurant and bar with breathtaking views. Journeying towards Mallaig, you will see the Glenfinnan Monument, the statue of a Highland Chieftain, which looks towards the Hills erected on the site where Bonnie Prince Charlie rallied the Highland Clans in preparation for the disastrous rebellion of 1745 fought at Culloden. View the ruins of Old Inverlochy Castle or perhaps get a glimpse of the Jacobite Train, best known in the Harry Potter films as the Hogwarts Express.

Overnight - Isle of Skye B&B

Enjoy a full day on the Isle of Skye. Head south towards the Cuillin Hills, the island's best-known feature. Though their tops are places only for experienced climbers, there are many viewpoints and island locations where excellent panoramas can be enjoyed. Head back to your accommodation via Glenbrittle and the famous Fairy Pools - beautifully crystal-clear blue pools on the River Brittle, these make for some fabulous photos. Or you may travel north Skye to the Trotternish Ridge and beyond. Visit the stunning Quiraing mountain pass and enjoy a spectacular walk through Skye's extraordinary geological scenery. You can also visit Kilt Rock and see its waterfall cascading over the cliffs and down into the sea below. If time permits, visit Neist Point for a walk out to the lighthouse at the most westerly point on Skye. Or you may like to visit Dunvegan Castle, ancient ancestral seat of the Clan McLeod.


Overnight - Isle of Skye B&B

This morning, journey south to Kyleakin where you will cross over the Skye Bridge to the mainland enjoying a brief photo-stop at Eilean Donan Castle, the magnificent setting of the film “Highlander.” Before heading south, visit Glenelg Brochs: two broch towers, standing more than 10 metres high, with well preserved structural features set in the most beautiful surroundings. They are among the four best preserved brochs in Scotland, along with in Shetland and in Lewis. But whereas Mousa and Dun Carloway stand in splendid isolation, Dun Telve and Dun Troddan stand barely 500m apart. No one today knows why. Travel to Fort Augustus for a cruise of Loch Ness. Loch Ness is the largest body of fresh water by volume in Britain, it holds more water than all the lakes and reservoirs in England and Wales put together. Loch Ness is best known for sightings of the Loch Ness Monster, affectionately known as ‘Nessie,’ the Loch’s water visibility is exceptionally low due to a high peat content in the surrounding soil, making the mystery of Nessie even more intriguing. Afterwards, make your way back to Fort William where you can visit the West Highland Museum in the heart of Fort William. Their most renowned and unusual collection relates to Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobite cause. But there is also a wealth of curious and fascinating collections relating to less well-known aspects of the lives of the people of the West Highlands, from the effects of political warfare to the economic impact of tourism in the region, and the coming of the industrial and modern age.


Overnight - Fort William area B&B

Today you will travel through Glencoe, Scotland’s most famous and most scenic Highland glen. Visitors from all over the world flock here year after year, inspired by the sheer scale and grandeur of its surrounding mountains and fascinated by the intrigue of its turbulent past. You will have the remainder of the day in Stirling. Visit Stirling Castle, which has played such an important role in much of Scotland’s vibrant history. The Visitor Centre has a very good audio-visual exhibition explaining much of the history. Don’t miss Argyll’s Lodging, a superb mansion built around an earlier core in about 1630 and further extended by the Earl of Argyll in the 1670’s. It is the most impressive town house of its period in Scotland. The principal rooms are now restored to their former glory.

Overnight - Stirling area B&B

Unfortunately it is now time to leave Scotland. Return your rental car and join your flight home.