Oban, Western Highlands, Lochs, Castles & Glencoe

Leaving Glasgow your small group tour passes dramatic Dumbarton Rock and its castle perched atop that stands guard over the River Clyde. From one famous body of water to another, Loch Lomond, as we meander its western shores from the comfort of our luxury mini coach. If you look to the right you’ll see Ben Lomond, Scotland’s most southerly Munro (a mountain above 3000 feet) and your first of the tour.

We curve west, skirting the northern tip of Loch Long and then tackle the steep drive up the mountain pass known as the ‘Arrochar Alps’. We pause for photos at the ‘Rest and Be Thankful’, an iconic Scottish viewpoint so named thanks to the words carved in stone by weary soldiers who built the original military road in 1753.

From our rest point it’s a short hop to Inveraray, one of Scotland’s most photographed towns. Established in 1745 by the 3rd Duke of Argyll, chief of the powerful Clan Campbell, Inveraray is a classic example of an 18th century planned town and its white-washed Georgian architecture still stands proud on Loch Fyne.

Here we can explore Inveraray Castle where the Duke of Argyll and his family live today. Breath in the clear Highland air on a stroll around the parkland, woodland and gardens, which are resplendent with rainbows of the azaleas and rhododendrons that flourish in Argyll in summertime.

Alternatively, we’ll despatch you to one of Scotland’s top visitor attractions, the 19th century Inveraray Jail, a living museum where you can experience what it was like to be incarcerated behind its bars.

Don’t worry, we’ll make sure you escape from jail to continue your Discover Scotland tour of Scotland’s lochs, glens and castles. Leaving Loch Fyne behind us, we adventure on to imposing Kilchurn Castle, standing proud at the head of Loch Awe, where we stop for photographs before heading to Oban for lunch.

Originally a small fishing village, Oban is now the ‘Gateway to the Isles’ and renowned as the ‘seafood capital’ of Scotland. Today the port is the main ferry departure point for the Isle of Mull and the Inner and Outer Hebrides. Seafood lovers travel from miles around to savour its fresh, daily catches in the town’s restaurants and you can savour this too, or opt for classic Scots dishes or more international flavours.

Walking around the compact town centre of Oban – Gaelic for ‘little bay’ – you can’t miss the Colosseum-like structure overshadowing the streets. McCaig’s Tower is a stone-built folly that was never completed and is well worth a visit, to enjoy the panoramic sea views over to the misty island of Mull and beyond.

After our visit to Oban our tour of the rugged west coast continues past Loch Creran to Castle Stalker, one of Scotland’s most photographed strongholds which perches on its own tidal islet in Loch Laich. Your driver-guide will point you to the viewpoint to capture photos and then we journey on to haunting Glencoe, also known as the ‘Weeping Glen’.

After the peaceful beauty of Argyll’s stretching sea lochs, Glencoe’s dark mountains will tumble in on you as you’re delivered into a glen of awesome natural beauty. It’s easy to reimagine one of Scotland’s most shameful times, the 1692 Glencoe massacre, when Campbell-led Government soldiers slaughtered the clan MacDonald by night.

As the mountains bid us farewell, moody Rannoch Moor beckons us, with its heathery plateau and innumerable lochans. We stop at the Drovers Inn, a traditional Scottish pub that’s welcomed weary travellers, including infamous outlaw Rob Roy MacGregor, for over 300 years. Step back in time to enjoy early evening Highland hospitality by the log fire, and hear tales of the inn’s ghosts and ghouls before we return to Glasgow.