Lochs, Castles & The West Highlands

Name: Glen Coe and Oban Day Trip

Short Description: Kick off your Glen Coe and Oban day trip heading north from Glasgow to Loch Lomond, stopping in Luss to stretch your legs, snap photos, and enjoy the postcard-perfect village views. Next, explore Inveraray, a pretty town on Loch Fyne, with its fairytale-style castle and quirky waterfront shops. Then pause at Kilchurn Castle on Loch Awe for one of Scotland’s most iconic photo opportunities. By lunchtime, arrive in Oban, the “Gateway to the Isles.” Sample fresh seafood at the harbour, relax with a coffee or ice cream by the water, walk up McCaig’s Tower for panoramic views, or browse the local crafts and whisky shops. Back on the road, enter Glen Coe, with towering peaks and wild valleys that have inspired countless films – a must-see Highland landscape. Before returning to Glasgow from our epic Glen Coe and Oban day trip, we stop briefly in Tyndrum for a snack or coffee and a final chance to soak in the mountains – the perfect end to an epic Highland adventure.

Description: Kick off your Glen Coe and Oban day trip heading north from Glasgow to Loch Lomond, stopping in Luss to stretch your legs, snap photos, and enjoy the postcard-perfect village views. Next, explore Inveraray, a pretty town on Loch Fyne, with its fairytale-style castle and quirky waterfront shops. Then pause at Kilchurn Castle on Loch Awe for one of Scotland’s most iconic photo opportunities. By lunchtime, arrive in Oban, the “Gateway to the Isles.” Sample fresh seafood at the harbour, relax with a coffee or ice cream by the water, walk up McCaig’s Tower for panoramic views, or browse the local crafts and whisky shops. Back on the road, enter Glen Coe, with towering peaks and wild valleys that have inspired countless films – a must-see Highland landscape. Before returning to Glasgow from our epic Glen Coe and Oban day trip, we stop briefly in Tyndrum for a snack or coffee and a final chance to soak in the mountains – the perfect end to an epic Highland adventure.

Highlights

• Luss, Loch Lomond(Luss)
• Inveraray(Inveraray)
• Kilchurn Castle(Kilchurn)
• Oban(Oban)
• Glen Coe(GC)

Inclusions

Item 1: Your Legendary Local HAGGiS Guide

Item 2: Scottish Stories & Live Commentary (in English)

Item 3: Foreign Language Audio Guide Available

Item 4: Audio guide links will be provided after booking. Please download over WiFi and bring your own headphones

Item 5: Full Refund if Cancelled More than 24 Hours in Advance

Name: Small But Mighty

NameShort: Small But Mighty

Travelling in a wee group means more banter, more space, and plenty of laughs along the way. Cosy, right? Just a heads-up – while we usually travel in smaller vehicles, sometimes a larger bus might be used due to availability.

Travelling in a wee group means more banter, more space, and plenty of laughs along the way. Cosy, right? Just a heads-up – while we usually travel in smaller vehicles, sometimes a larger bus might be used due to availability.

Image Name: small group tours

Image Alt: small group tours

Name: Oban

NameShort: Oban

Oban is a bustling seaside town on Scotland’s west coast. Whether it’s fresh sea air or local seafood you’re craving, Oban’s got you covered. Watch ferries depart for the Hebrides, look up at Oban’s answer to the Colosseum, and dance the night away in The View Ceilidh House.

Oban is the gateway to Scottish adventures, and you can feel the buzz in the air. The busy port has numerous ferry connections to the islands, while the touristy town itself is a popular pit-stop on west coast road trips. Overlooking the harbour and distant islands is Oban’s most famous landmark, McCaig’s Tower. The structure, which resembles the Colosseum in Rome, was commissioned by a local banker, John McCaig; the purpose was to provide employment for the local stonemasons during the winter, and to build a monument to his family. McCaig died before the work was complete, and today the tower’s pretty gardens and viewing platform is a popular escape from the busy town. The best way to enjoy an evening in Oban is with fresh fish and chips or ice-cream by the harbour, followed by traditional tunes and dancing at The View Ceilidh House.

Image Name: Oban

Image Alt: Oban

Name: Glen Coe

NameShort: Glen Coe

As far as Scottish scenery goes, you don’t get more dramatic than the mighty Glencoe. ‘Glen’ is Gaelic for valley, and this jaw-dropper was deeply carved into the landscape during the Ice Age. From the sprawling peaks to crystal-clear rivers, Glencoe is guaranteed to blow your wee socks off.

Glencoe translates as the ‘weeping glen’, and it certainly lives up to its name. Waterfalls run from misty peaks through the glen’s gorges and creases, and are particularly dramatic after a downpour of “liquid sunshine”. Glencoe’s name also reflects the sad history of the clan who once lived there. In 1692, the government redcoats murdered Clan MacDonald in their beds, as punishment for their Jacobite allegiance. This bloody and brutal betrayal of Highland hospitality is remembered in history as the Massacre of Glencoe. Glencoe is dominated by majestic mountains which completely contrast the vast and flat expanse of its neighbouring Rannoch Moor. Buachaille Etive Mòr, which overlooks the moor, is a bonnie brute of a mountain, and a fond favourite with photographers. We think that Glencoe is the most photogenic when the weather is moody and atmospheric.

Image Name: Glen Coe

Image Alt: Glen Coe

Name: Kilchurn Castle

NameShort: Kilchurn Castle

Kilchurn Castle has got everything a medieval dream is made of - rugged stone walls, epic loch views, and stories to give you goosebumps. It was first constructed in the 15th century and is now guarding the shore of Loch Awe as a ruined structure on a rocky peninsula.

Kilchurn Castle has got everything a medieval dream is made of - rugged stone walls, epic loch views, and stories to give you goosebumps. It was first constructed in the 15th century and is now guarding the shore of Loch Awe as a ruined structure on a rocky peninsula.

Image Name: Kilchurn Castle

Image Alt: Kilchurn Castle

Name: Luss, Loch Lomond

NameShort: Luss, Loch Lomond

Luss is a picturesque wee conservation village on the banks of Loch Lomond. Admire the rows of adorable cottages, stroll along the beach, and walk out onto the pier for epic views across the loch to Ben Lomond and beyond.

Luss is a picturesque wee conservation village on the banks of Loch Lomond. Admire the rows of adorable cottages, stroll along the beach, and walk out onto the pier for epic views across the loch to Ben Lomond and beyond.

Image Name: Luss, Loch Lomond

Image Alt: Picturesque village of Luss, Loch Lomond

Name: Inveraray

NameShort: Inveraray

Inveraray is a wee town with lots of character, from its awesome location on Loch Fyne to the pretty buildings with striking black and white architecture. Grab lunch from a local eatery and soak up the surrounding scenery!

Inveraray is a wee town with lots of character, from its awesome location on Loch Fyne to the pretty buildings with striking black and white architecture. Grab lunch from a local eatery and soak up the surrounding scenery!

Image Name: Inveraray on Loch Fyne, Scotland

Image Alt: Inveraray on Loch Fyne, Scotland