Greetings all,
We will be visiting Glasgow in a week and have been trying to figure out how to get to the Castle Lachlan in Strathlachlan, Nr Strachur, Argyll without a car. After LOTS of research on how to do this, we've decided we may have to hire a private tour guide or something like that. Unfortunately, public transport doesn't go near there. Anyone out there have ideas on a solution? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
Posted by
Camano Island, WA, usa
1597 posts
Looks like a car is your best bet. The quickest way is 67 miles and take 1 hr & 22 min. Are you staying at the Castle? Maybe they can make arrangements for you. If other folks are arriving that day and you could share a ride? P.S. We rented a car for the times we were in Scotland and didn't regret it for the freedom this allows. If you don't drive, there are several day tours available.
Posted by
London
1637 posts
Public transport sort of does go quite near there. I knew there would be a bus to Inverary from Glasgow and that's in the general direction.
The 976 bus from Glasgow gets you pretty close. You'd get off the bus at Cairndow and get a taxi (or have the hotel pick you up) from there.
There's also the 926 and 977 that go Glasgow to Arrochar.
Posted by
Lake District, England
9374 posts
Train to Gourock, ferry to Dunoon, taxi from there or buses 484, 486 or 478 to Strachur then pick up- all buses run by West Coast Motors- https://www.westcoastmotors.co.uk/services/dunoon-cowal
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thank you to everyone for your suggestions! We will definitely check out the bus lines and see what we can work out. This is my first trip to Scotland and I'm really looking forward to exploring the countryside.
Posted by
London
1637 posts
It seems that the 8:30am 976 bus from Glasgow has a stop at Cairndow at 10:06am and the 2:30pm service gets to Cairndow at 4:01pm.
https://www.citylink.co.uk/media/dazl4dps/glasgow-oban-apr23.pdf
That's probably how I would do it. I like Stuart's suggestion of the ferry to Dunoon also. That would be a nice trip.
Castle Lachlan looks lovely. Lucky you having some time there! I don't really know that side of the loch, but my mother had a friend in Minard, right across the loch, and we visited there a few times when I was young.
Posted by
Lake District, England
9374 posts
The 926 to Campbeltown also calls at Cairndow 5x a day in each direction.
Posted by
London
1637 posts
Yes! I had thought about Campbelltown too but neglected to look it up.
It's really a great bit of country. I was trying to remind myself where I have been by Loch Fyne on the map, as I felt I have probably been that side of the loch the OP is lodging at.
Loch Fyne, Loch Long and Loch Goil are all cracking bodies of water that are fairly easily accessible by car from Glasgow. I remember Drimsynie being quite heavily advertised when I worked in newspapers in Scotland, and that's in a nice spot at Lochgoilhead. I think it's a good area to go touring in a car from Glasgow, rather than heading straight for Glencoe etc.