Callander/Clifton/Glencoe area vs. Isle of Skye

Hi, dwrhoades4,

How much time do you have? If you're routing through Stirling, Callander is only a few miles beyond there. It's not a particularly attractive town, but it is convenient for its proximity to Loch Katrine, the Duke's Pass, and the Rob Roy Trail. If you're also taking in Loch Lomond, you could do a circuit starting from Callander, but it would involve a lot of driving. Loch Lomond is not one of the most scenic lochs in Scotland, but it does attract a lot of visitors. I think that the song might have a lot to do with that!

If you decide to head for Skye, you could take the A84/A85/A82 after leaving Stirling (or Callander), and then the A830 out of Fort William to catch the ferry from Mallaig. By taking that route, you'd go through Glencoe.

However, we'd need a little more information on your time constraints before providing you with more recommendations. As you want to be in Aberlour on your return journey, you need to figure out how much time you want to devote to each leg of your journey. It's possible to drive from Aberlour to Edinburgh in a day, but there is so much to see on the way that you would want to give it as much time as you can.

Also, when do you plan to travel? And where is Clifton? It doesn't show up on many maps, but there is a hamlet by that name near Tyndrum.

Hope you can provide more information, so that we can help you with your itinerary.

Best wishes,

Mike (Auchterless)

Thank you for the response Mike, very much appreciate the comments. February is when we are going. So as not to complicate things too much, we’re basically looking at 2 days and nights to fill in the gap between leaving Loch Lomond and heading to the Aberlour area. Initially the thought was to work our way to Isle of Skye for a couple of days and nights, then later we were told of the good scenic drive from Loch Lomond to Callander, then Clifton, then Glencoe. It does appear Isle of Skye would take us further to the NW and be a longer drive, but we just don’t know if it’s worth it compared to another option. In the end it really doesn’t matter because we’re gonna have fun regardless.

Hi again, dwrhoades4,

With only a couple of days in February, I would discourage you from trying to get to Skye. At best, it would be at least a four hour drive from Stirling/Callander to Mallaig for the ferry, or five hours via the bridge. In either case, you would barely have enough time to make it past Broadford before having to turn around and head back. In February, not only is daylight limited, but you'd take a chance on hitting bad weather as you drive farther North and West. I've travelled to Scotland in February and early March several times, and a couple of times I encountered heavy snow in the Aberdeenshire area.

Given your time restraints, I'd recommend travelling from Stirling to Callander, taking the A821 (the Duke's Pass) from Kilmahog to Aberfoyle, then the A81 south to the A811, then the A82 north from Balloch. That would take you up the west bank of Loch Lomond, and through Glencoe. Once you get to Fort William, you'd have the option of heading back northeast toward Aviemore, or straight north to Inverness. Either way, you'd have a comparatively short drive to Aberlour.

You may get lucky, and have clear, sunny days in February. I've driven the Duke's Pass in late February, and there was a stunning view of the Tigh Mor estate across Loch Achray. There is some beautiful scenery in the Trossachs.

I wish that you had more time, but perhaps this will whet your appetite for a longer visit to Scotland next time. And there will be a next time!

All the best,

Mike (Auchterless)

Thank you again Mike, more good information to consider. Just to be clear, we’ll be in Scotland available for sight seeing for 8 complete days. The 2 days I referenced is just a time gap b/w two places we know we’re already going to…if that makes sense. But yes, I definitely get your point on the time needed to drive to Skye and take the ferry, etc.

Och, ma puer auld brain.

I read Mike Auchterless's comments in which he mentioned Loch Katrine. My brain confused that into "Loch Latrine."

Sad to lose one's mind so early in life.

The west in winter can be a hell of a stormy place ,the wind often feels like it blows 24/7 on Skye in summer time ,I would give it a miss and stay over in the east be much better use of your time.