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Pondering a return trip

So we had originally thought that my two travel partners, my adult kids, and I were going to be headed to Paris next year for our trip together, but now we’re rethinking this will be putting off going to France until 2028. My 40th wedding anniversary is that year and there is a chance (!) that my husband -who is not an international traveler, but is a very big WWII history buff, may be talked into going if I can include a trip to Normandy for him. So, we’re pivoting for next year 2027 :)

We went to Scotland last Sept and really just scratched the surface of experiencing the West Highlands. On our very long Rabbies day trip, we drove up through Glencoe and were blown away. We would love to return to that area and possibly even see a few of the inner Hebrides if possible, even as a day trip. I saw West Coast Tours has a well regarded one from Oban to three of the Isles. From Fort William we could take the Jacobite Steam Train to Malliag. So many options!

Would like to base ourselves in one (or possibly two places) for access to bus and rail because we will not be driving. We would like to walk as much as possible. We love walking in these gorgeous settings. I have been looking at the walkhighlands website this afternoon quite a bit. We would need the ability to get to the start of the walks by bus or possibly taxi, so that’s a big factor on where we base.

I was thinking of settling in at either Fort William or Oban. I also have read many previous posts about people who feel Inverness has a good potential for a base. The restriction we have is time. Excluding arrival day and departure day, probably from Glasgow, we would like to have eight entire days of activities.

I am open to how you all would plan this. I looked at HF Holidays and they have a four night holiday package. That is a possibility. We’re headed to the Cotswolds to do a DIY trip with walks in a couple of months, so I think we could do this ourselves, too.

We were thinking about doing this trip in May, but could also be in the fall. If you can pass on your ideas, or if there are threads relating to a similar question, I would greatly appreciate reading them. I have been doing some research today bc it’s too unbearable to be outside in this heat. Thanks so much everyone!

Posted by
2063 posts

We did a 4 night self-guided walking tour with HF Holidays based at their house in North Ballachulish (Glencoe). I can't say enough about the location, the staff and the food. It was great. Even though we were self-guided the guides were very generous with their time and advice. Because we had a car we were able to do whatever hike we wanted. The information HF Holidays provides to the self-guided is comprehensive and includes direction to trail heads via public transit. Obviously if you do the guided tour you don't have to worry about transportation. By the way, each day the guided tour has three choices: easy, medium and hard. My understanding is that the easy hike is essentially flat.

You could combine your stay with a 3-4 night stay on Arran. Since we had a car on Arran I can't really comment on the bus system there except to say that we ran into one couple a number of times who were using the bus. So it seems doable.

Posted by
12594 posts

I have heard nothing but good things about HF Holidays so that's a decent possibiity.

I also agree that Arran would be a good choice. Of all the islands, Arran probably has the best public transportation, and it's easy to make your way around the island without a car. Also Arran has the Coastal Walk that a lot of people do. You wouldn't have time to walk the entire circular route around the island but you could definitely get some of it in.

When I was there, I met a mother and her daughter who were walking the Coastal Route, and using the buses to get from place to place, and were very happy with how easy it was. It's. a lovely island; frequently called "Scotland in miniature", because it has all the attributes of Scotland such as mountains, beaches, castles, ruins, and so on. I really enjoyed my stay there. Brodick would probably be the best choice of places to stay, as most buses go through there, and it's close to many of the sites, including Brodick Castle.

Plus the island is easy to get to by train and ferry. If you're interested, I would start off at these two sites:
https://www.visitarran.com
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/arran/

Posted by
1032 posts

That’s great information Trotter. I am really liking the prospect of that holiday. I wonder if just going w the guided to help get to the starts seamlessly might be a better option.

We had actually gotten real close to doing a trip to Arran for our last trip. I had accommodations booked and everything, but I messed up my Achilles and was concerned about not being able to get out and walk on paths, etc. We then went to Edinburgh and Glasgow w side trips.

It would be nice to try again! I think I remember Stuart saying that it was a bit crazy to get to Arran with the CalMac ferry terminal situation. Has that been resolved? What are your thoughts about Oban and its surrounds? Maybe doing a day tour to Iona and Staffa with a tour group? Mardee I remember you liked Mull, but that West Coast Tour doesn’t stop there, just drives through.

What would the transfer route be getting to Arran at the end of the walking holiday? I would hate to eat up a whole day traveling there.

Posted by
11989 posts

For WW2 there is quite a bit at Oban- as well as the War and Peace Museum, there is the various material at Ganavan Sands relating to Coastal Command. Also beside Gate 2 in the departure lounge of the ferry terminal there are two plaques- one is a general plaque to those lost from the companies who made up CalMac- the other to Merchant Seamen from the Firth of Lorn (the Oban area) who served in the Convoys during WW2, because Oban was both a Convoy Port but also a flying boat base/maintenance base and an Air Ferry Unit.
If you go out to Mallaig and go there on the service train (or the bus), not the steam train, you can get off at Arisaig where there are a couple of memorials to those of the SOE and Czech Special Forces who trained in the area (there is a 3rd memorial at nearby Beasdale, but I believe it is now inaccessible). I grant you that Arisaig is better known for it's beaches!
Of course near Fort William and easily accessible by bus is the Commando Memorial.

Continuing the WW2 theme, and this is venturing into unknown land for the forum, in the South of Scotland in Dumfries and Galloway there is the small port of Garlieston- where sections of the Mulberry Harbours were built and trialled. There is interpretative material on site.
Train to Dumfries or Stranraer for bus onward.
Stranraer (or rather Cairnryan, where the ferries now leave from to Belfast and Larne) was a major military harbour in WW2, other parts of the Mulberry Harbours were built there and the Atlantic U boat fleet was brought there after surrender (Operation Deadlight) before being scuttled. I can't find it on my files, but am sure there is interpretation material there at the car park between the two modern ports.

If you go to the Isle of Bute, as well as tourist stuff like Mount Stuart House, there are 3 memorials to the men who trained in the Midget Submarines in WW2. Also on Bute there is the remains of the Ballynakilly Decoy Village (Operation Starfish)- you walk there, although it is not the easiest of walks, requiring reasonable fitness. It was meant to draw German attention away from activities in the Firth of Clyde.

At Dunoon, on Cowal, there is a memorial to the men of the US Navy who served at Gareloch, but it's rather hard to describe the location.

If you do go to Arran then in the Heritage Museum at Brodick there is a plaque to the US Air Force. In the ferry terminal at Brodick there is a memorial to the loss of HMS Dasher in 1943. Every year, on 27 March (the anniversary of her loss) a service sailing of the Brodick ferry pauses at the location of her loss to lay wreaths and a moment's silence.

So, in between the vacation activities, there is a fair bit for the WW2 buff to be interested in. I'm only touching on some of the more interesting and accessible stuff.

Posted by
11989 posts

As regards Arran, currently everything is running smoothly, and more new ships (possibly as many as 3) are due into the fleet this winter.

For the first time in many years the fleet even has a strategic spare vessel this summer to stand in if there are problems anywhere in the big ship network.

Currently the port of Ardrossan is expected to close for rebuilding over the winter- to take at least 18 months. So the expectation is that in 2027 (and probably well into 2028) everything will sail from Troon- train to Troon then shuttle bus to the dock.
Like all things to do with the ferries to Arran that is a moving target!

Posted by
4440 posts

That darn Scotland!! :-) I just last night decided instead of 2 weeks in Germany for Sept. 2027, I would rather return to Scotland for the third time.

As of now, I’m thinking of basing in Inverness or Edinburg and taking some multi-day Rabbie’s tours. Edinburgh is such a great base, with much to do in between bus tours, so I might just decide to stay there again. One of my rabbie’s tour guides last year said his favorite tour was the 5-day Orkney & Scotland's Northern Coast tour. So, I have my eye on that one has a possibility.

I’m a huge fan of Rabbie’s. In addition to Scotland, I’ve taken tours in the Lake District and Ireland. I recently signed up for their 5-day Wales tour from London for May 2027.

I have been to Scotland in both May and September. May I found to be less expensive and less crowded. Sept. has the purple heather. I had similar weather both months, maybe slightly warmer in Sept. and barley any rain each trip.

I’ll be reading along to see what ideas you get.

Posted by
1032 posts

Stuart, with so much WWII history there, he should come on this trip, too, but alas, I will be lucky if I can get him on the one with Normandy included! He’s just not a traveler, but our doggo and senior cat are happy to have him with them.

Carrie, I totally agree with you. It’s hard to breakup with this country! lol We’re open to doing more tours, but I need to be conscious of the length with Rabbies. That long day trip we took was wonderful, but it was too long really (our guide even said it should be two days) and we were dragging at the end. I think multi days might be worth a try for us. You’ve got me looking at their site again now! I was thinking with our time constraints, the Outer Hebrides would have to wait for their own separate trip, but maybe with something like that tour, it could work. It’s the deciding what we want to prioritize. Walking or sightseeing? Or can we find a way to balance a bit of both in eight days?