Glasgow - Stirling - Mull in One Day

I'm assuming you're planning to stay on Mull for a few days? If so, it's doable but you will get there late.

First, keep in mind that Google times need to be extended a bit, so if it tells you that the route from Stirling to Oban takes 2 hours and 8 minutes, count on it taking 2 1/2 to 3 hours. And then, of course, you are dependent on the ferry schedule.

After that, the first part of the road to Tobermory from Craignure is a 2 lane road and you will be able to go relatively quickly (considering it's Scotland). But about halfway there (or thereabouts), it turns into a single track road with lots of hills and curvy roads. You will not be wanting to go fast along that route. At least you will have light till about 9 pm or so, but you will still need to be cautious when driving that road. Tobermory is worth it—it's a gorgeous town and Mull is well worth a visit, but just know that this will be an all day drive.

Adding to my post. Yes we are staying in Tobermory for two nights and exploring Mull and Iona.

Don Hamilton
Dublin, Ohio

It is doable, but I'd add a few caveats.

Glasgow Airport is the 'wrong' side of Glasgow for Stirling, you'd be adding a hour or two hours to the day and I would suggest finding somewhere in Glasgow itself to hire from. I think some companies have been mentioned elsewhere in RS.

From Glasgow to Stirling it is almost all motorway, but the direct route from the airport (M8/M80/M9) to Stirling is liable to be more stressful as the M8 runs through the city centre, the M8/M74/M73/M80 route is probably better.

Stirling Castle deserves the time to look around it, which means you could be clock watching from there to Oban. You'd need to get to Oban sufficiently early for the ferry.

It's doable, but not a fully enjoyable trip. Glasgow to Stirling takes around an hour to drive when it is quiet.... however the M8 motorway is a busy motorway, so you will probably get bottlenecked with M77 join, then Kingston Bridge, and townhead interchange. It therefore could take you an hour to get through that before getting onto the M80, especially at rush hour.

Stirling itself is worth visiting for lunch, you'll need to keep your sugar up for the drive to Oban - 3 hours and if you go via Loch Lomond you'll want to stop at least once for photos and of course a coffee stop (or is that just me who likes coffee stops?). If going the A84 route you'll probably need a pee break at Tyndrum.

What time are you picking up your hire car?

MC-Glasgow and Foodie Explorers. Thanks for the input, especially on the traffic concerns in Glasgow. We are currently scheduled to pick up our rental car around 9am (on a Friday morning in August). I will add that we have changed our plans and are only driving to Glencoe after visiting Stirling (going to Tobermory a few days later).

Would you recommend that we pickup our rental a bit later in the morning, presuming the rush hour clears out? Our rental company only has airport and downtown locations.

I really appreciate your suggestions.

Don

Traffic is going to be lower at 9 than at 8, but the M8 can be busy all day. 9 AM is the end of the rush hour, most people will be where they need to be by then. Where is the option in the city centre?

We are using Sixt. Besides their airport location, they also have two downtown locations. 1) 101 Waterloo Street and 2) Central Station. I usually use car rentals at foreign airports to avoid driving in busy unfamiliar large downtown streets. However I'm open for recommendations. Driving on multi-lane highways (we call them freeways in the US) in large towns doesn't bother me. I live in a suburb of a million plus population town, so am used to heavy rush hour freeway traffic. However maybe picking up the car closer to 10am would be a bit better choice.

Don

I live in a suburb of a million plus population town, so am used to heavy rush hour freeway traffic.

I'm assuming you're referring to Columbus (I'm originally from Cincinnati), so I can tell you that driving in Scotland, highway or no, is nothing like driving in Columbus, especially as I'm assuming you are very familiar with I-71 and I-70. It's a lot different, as you will have 2-3 lane roundabouts to deal with periodically, and those can get very confusing. I'm not saying it's impossible but there is a definite learning curve, and driving on an M highway during rush hour is not a good time to learn. :-)

The Waterloo St location is fairly close to the M8 motorway, and you can 'drive' from the location to the motorway on GSV.
Both it and the airport have advantages, but you will be putting an hour or two hours on the day going to the airport to collect the car depending on how you get there, including the drive back towards Glasgow. However in both cases you are on the motorway until Stirling. This time would however eat into any time you can spend in Stirling, as I would really advise getting to the ferry as early as you can.

MC-Glasgow, thanks for your help so far. As clarity, we changed our plans and after visiting Stirling we are only driving up to Glencoe (doing Mull a few days later). In Glasgow we are staying at a B&B a few blocks from Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. Looking at the location of the car rental at 101 Waterloo St, it would be a 15 minute walk or short Uber from our B&B. And yes I see it is close to the M8. Maybe that is a better choice than picking up the rental from the airport. Thus we would be on the M8 but at least for the most part heading out of the downtown area. Probably save a few pounds from the airport car rental charge too.

Let me know if you think our changes would be a good idea.

Thanks for your local information.

Don

Interestingly I was passing there around 2100h last night! The junction is fairly easy, it takes you right onto the M8. But it takes you initially south. This is not a problem. Just keep to the left, follow signs for the M74 as you cross the bridge, and once on the M74, you have to leave the M8 go on a few local streets and get back on the M74, follow it to the M73.

I'd suggest 'driving' that route via Google Street View, at least from Waterloo Street to the M74, but I think it is probably better. It would save you time over going to the airport.

Thanks everyone for your help!!

Don