I will be in Scotland this July. I am trying to decide on driving routes (we are renting a car) from Stirling/Glasgow to Fort William. We will be in FW for 3 nights, with the second day there already scheduled to take the train to Mallaig in the afternoon (round trip). I am trying to decide should we drive from Stirling through Glencoe to FW, and then back to Edinburgh through the Cairngorms on A9? Or go up along Loch Lomond to FW? Catch Inverary along the way? or come back that way? Also trying to decide what to do on our free day in FW; drive down to Oban? or out to Eilean Donan? Loch Ness and Urquhart? Any suggestions are welcome; I just don't know how far to expect to be able to drive, allowing for stopping at a few sites, traffic, etc. Interested in scenery, castles, wildlife, churches, standing stones, anything we can't see in the US! We will be heading back to Edinburgh after that where we will be for a few days for a conference.
Thanks!
Posted by
Yorkshire
1287 posts
If you are driving from Glasgow to FW, there's no reason why you can't go up the shore of Loch Lomond and get to FW via Glencoe as it is en route! It's also a very scenic drive once you are above the lower reaches of Loch Lomond. Glencoe has a visitor centre at the bottom on the way to FW. It's the mountain scenery which grabs the attention here though.
I wouldn't drive to Oban from FW as unless you plan to do the day trip to Iona (via the ferry and Mull) as I think there are better places, particularly if you head north from FW. Torridon is particularly spectacular, but so is the road to Skye which passes right by Eilean Donan. Skye is also worth a visit even if only as far up as the Sligachan bridge to view the Cuillins.
It is a lot of driving though and will be a big day out for the round trip. A shorter but probably less scenic drive would be up the Great Glen to Inverness via the shores of Loch Ness. Pause at Drumnadrochit for Loch Ness monster exhibitions and touristy monster themed shops! Castle Urquhart also near here.
Scotland is fantastic to look at especially if the weather holds up. That said Glencoe is more atmospheric with a bit of mist and gloom about, although I prefer to see the mountains, so require bright sunshine if available!
Have a great trip!
Ian
Posted by
Glasgow, Scotland
1646 posts
From Glasgow the route would be the M8 out to the Erskine Bridge, then up the A82 along side Loch Lomond, which can be a bit narrow for some tastes but is a spectacular road.
From Stirling up the A84 to Crianlairach where it joins the A82. Both would take you across Rannoch Moor and down through Glencoe.
Posted by
3122 posts
Glasgow to Fort William via the A82 along the western shore of Loch Lomond is a good route. Note that (at least I found) the signage for Erskine Bridge is not self-explanatory. Try to get someone familiar with the roundabouts to clue you in on which town names to follow.
Near the southern end of Loch Lomond (after you pass the big roundabout at the A811 that is the last chance to turn off toward Stirling & Edinburgh) is a hotel & restaurant called Duck Bay with a commanding view of the loch. (They have a prominent sign stating no toilet use by non-customers, BTW.) Further up is the village of Luss, which has a public Pay & Display car park & coin-access toilets as well as a gift shop near the dock. You turn off at Tarbet to go over "Rest and be Thankful" pass to Inveraray. I've stayed in Inveraray twice and highly recommend the castle (inside and out, contrary to what the RS guide says), Brambles for accommodations and lunch, and the George Hotel for dinner. At that point if you've driven straight through you're about 2 hours out of Glasgow.
Heading out of Inveraray, you'll pass the photogenic ruin of Kilchurn Castle and, if you take a left on the A85, the fascinating Ben Cruachan "hollow mountain" power station with an excellent visitor centre and an optional tour into the mountain, and from there over the bridge at Connel. Or you can take a right on the A85 to pick up the A82 through Glencoe.
As a day trip from Ft. William, a drive to Eilean Donan Castle would work. The Dornie Hotel is right nearby, good place for lunch I think. If you had time you could drive across the Kyle of Lochalsh bridge and get a taste of Isle of Skye.
Returning to Edinburgh, yes, I'd go by way of the north shore of Loch Ness to see Urquhart Castle (walking tours several times a day, plenty of interpretive signs) and/or the Loch Ness Centre & Exhibition (fairly scientific and fascinating).
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thanks so much for the suggestions. Perhaps we will make Eilean Donan on our "free" day. I am coming from Florida, and a boat trip in Scotland, while I'm sure it would be beautiful and exciting, might just be a little too chilly for us! I was wanting to see that castle, but wasn't sure it was a reasonable trip to make in one day. If we go up through Inverness, how is the A9 going back to Edinburgh? Any suggestions on places to see along that route?
Thanks again!
Posted by
New York City, NY, USA
5678 posts
Hi Kim, there are lots of ways to get to places in Scotland. But, do play around with google maps or Viamichelin to see the timing. There are no expressways outside the central belt. And, I think that's a good thing. Here is a google maps route that shows the two options for Stirling to Fort Williams. The one that takes you past Balquhidder is the one that I would do--unless you have your heart set on seeing Loch Lomond. Play around with the map apps to see what the timing and what is most important to you.
Personally, I don't think that Oban is worth that much, but there are many on this site who will vigorously disagree. I do think that Stirling Castle is amazing; Glencoe is impressive; Eilean Donan is very scenic; Urquhart Castle offers great history and great views of Loch Ness; there is great music to be heard in Inverness; the Cairngorms need to be viewed off the A9; the standing stones near Culloden are worth a visit; the highland museum in Kingussie is quite good; if you can catch a good show at the Festival Theater in Pitlochry it's worth it; The Taybank in Dunkeld has marvelous music if you can catch a night with sessions. Queens View is worth a stop.
Pam