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Original poster

To ask for your left side of Scotland recommendations?

57 replies

Farkinell · 01/09/2024 12:28

We're thinking of a 10 day road trip to Scotland next month.

We've never been before and so I'm looking for people's recommendations.

We can get free accommodation in major towns/cities so would prefer day trips out from Glashow or Edinburgh.

Also happy to get a few nights accommodation elsewhere.

We like good food, and beautiful views of nature. Gentle walks, maybe couple of hours circular routes really.

Thoughts so far are
Fort William
Loch Lomond
Isle of Skye
Isle of Mull.

Please can people suggest must sees?

Thank you Flowers

OP posts:
DanceMumTaxi · 01/09/2024 21:47

thefemaleJoshLyman · 01/09/2024 12:36

My geography teacher heart is bleeding at this...left side😭

Mine too 😭

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 01/09/2024 21:44

Helensburgh - Hill House is a Rennie Macintosh masterpiece. Plus the seafront is lovely and its a really nice wee town

NamelessNancy · 01/09/2024 21:39

ClydeBank · 01/09/2024 21:37

The area around Aviemore is beautiful - I love Loch Morlich and the Landmark Centre treetop walk is a lovely experience.

Benmore Botanical Gardens. Take the ferry across.

Achmelvich Beach and the area Northwards

Dumfries and Galloway is v underrated.

Lake of Menteith- have lunch at the hotel and then take the little boat across to the island with its historic ruins.

Don’t miss out Edinburgh. It’s just fabulous. The portrait gallery, Holyrood palace, the Botanics, soooo many things to do ❤️❤️

Puck's Glen is close to Benmore gardens too. Absolutely beautiful.

ClydeBank · 01/09/2024 21:37

The area around Aviemore is beautiful - I love Loch Morlich and the Landmark Centre treetop walk is a lovely experience.

Benmore Botanical Gardens. Take the ferry across.

Achmelvich Beach and the area Northwards

Dumfries and Galloway is v underrated.

Lake of Menteith- have lunch at the hotel and then take the little boat across to the island with its historic ruins.

Don’t miss out Edinburgh. It’s just fabulous. The portrait gallery, Holyrood palace, the Botanics, soooo many things to do ❤️❤️

travelmadmum23 · 01/09/2024 21:19

Hebrides, NC500 (North Scotland), Achmelvich, Ullapool, Isle of Skye, Oban.... So many places but Hebrides (lewis and harris) were beautiful!

hiddeneverythin · 01/09/2024 21:17

Nobody has mentioned Ayrshire yet - best sunsets in the world at Ayr/Prestwick Troon and further down the coast to Maidens, Turnberry and Culzean (national Trust) All day-trippable from Glasgow.

noctilucentcloud · 01/09/2024 21:11

MereDintofPandiculation · 01/09/2024 12:40

I think Scotland may be a little larger than you imagine. I wouldn't fancy a day trip from Glasgow to Skye (10hours round trip) or even Mull (8 hours round trip).
So either take advantage of your free accommodation and forget about the W coast, or do a road trip up the W coast with perhaps 2 or 3 centres.

Yes and look at times not distances, the same distance can be vastly different depending on what type of road you're on and what you're stuck behind.

everywhichway · 01/09/2024 21:10

Plockton

Elsvieta · 01/09/2024 21:04

Achiltibuie. That view to the Summer Isles is staggering. And Skye is spectacular.

Tol85 · 01/09/2024 13:17

Get a flight to the Isle of barra. Its the only flight in the world that lands on the beach.

MrsAvocet · 01/09/2024 12:59

I don't think anyone has mentioned Inverary yet. It's a nice spot and the museum in the jail is great.You could go from Glasgow to Loch Lomond then out to Oban/Mull via Inverary then go up the coast to Fort William, on to Skye then back to Glasgow via Glencoe, Tyndrum, Crianlarich etc. That would make a nice round trip with a few overnight stays along the way.

samedifferent · 01/09/2024 12:51

Auto correct doesn't like the word doon 🤣

Branleuse · 01/09/2024 12:51

I dont understand. Doyou mean port or starboard side of Scotland??

MrsAvocet · 01/09/2024 12:50

I agree you're underestimating the travel times significantly.
We have family in Oban. It's about 2 and a half hours drive from Glasgow in good traffic - longer at peak holiday times. If you want to go to Mull, even if you time your journey perfectly for a ferry it's going to be about 4 hours. Skye will take longer.
There are lovely places that are suitable for a day trip from Glasgow, such as Loch Lomond, but if you want to get out to the West Coast you need to book accomodation really or you'll just be in the car all day and not actually do anything.

samedifferent · 01/09/2024 12:50

I have to agree that day trips to the West coast from Glasgow are not that feasible with the exception of trips to Loch Lomond and a trip "soon the water" to the Isla of Bute or Largs/ Great Cumbrae.
What are really wanting to see OP?

NamelessNancy · 01/09/2024 12:45

Arran, Argyll and Bute all lovely and day trippable from Glasgow

Misthios · 01/09/2024 12:45

Every single tourist on the planet has been on Skye this year, the locals have been overwhelmed. Getting towards the end of the season now but if you are pkaninng on staying, you must book ahead.

Galliano · 01/09/2024 12:43

I like isle of Bute which is 1 hr drive from Glasgow plus 1 hr on (cheap) car ferry

Original poster
Farkinell · 01/09/2024 12:43

MereDintofPandiculation · 01/09/2024 12:40

I think Scotland may be a little larger than you imagine. I wouldn't fancy a day trip from Glasgow to Skye (10hours round trip) or even Mull (8 hours round trip).
So either take advantage of your free accommodation and forget about the W coast, or do a road trip up the W coast with perhaps 2 or 3 centres.

This is what we're aiming for yes thank you

OP posts:
Original poster
Farkinell · 01/09/2024 12:42

midgetastic · 01/09/2024 12:40

Glasgow to fort William is a 3 he drive ? Hardly a day trip
Skye is even further

Do you want a road trip or days out from Edinburgh// Glasgow ?

Do you want west coast or does left mean something else ?

Sorry I'm never clear.

Mostly stay in big towns but happy to get accommodation further out when need to

OP posts:
Calamitousness · 01/09/2024 12:42

lol. I knew instantly what you meant. West. Argyllshire is lovely, drive to Tighnabruich, stay at Portavadie a night or so. Explore around there. It’s glorious.

Alaimo · 01/09/2024 12:42

Mull, Skye are not exactly day trippable, unless you like extremely long days?

Reality is that if you want to see the west of Scotland in day trips, you'll end up driving the same bit of road over and over again.

I'd either commit to a proper roadtrip, or broaden the destinations to include more of Fife, the Pitlochry/aberfeldy area or the Borders so your not just driving the same bit of road every day.

Original poster
Farkinell · 01/09/2024 12:41

Neveragainisaid · 01/09/2024 12:39

Achiltibuie and Ullapool. Heaven

Thank you! On the list

OP posts:
midgetastic · 01/09/2024 12:41

And road trip or day trips?

Original poster
Farkinell · 01/09/2024 12:41

I knew it sounded wrong but couldn't work out why!

WEST YES

OP posts: