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Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

Original poster

Scotland holiday, advice?

43 replies

namechanged221 · 21/05/2023 18:09

I have booked for us to stay in a cabin in Glen Coe during half term, for me, DH and our 14 year old DS
The weather looks good!

Any advice on places to visit or things to do?

I would love to go to an island like Mull or Skye for the day? But may be too far to drive?

We are there 4 nights, Monday to Friday?

Also can you swim in the locks or are they too cold?

OP posts:
HirplesWithHaggis · 21/05/2023 18:13

Skye is definitely doable for a day - there's the bridge and also the fabulous Glenahulish ferry from Glenelg (recommended!). Wouldn't recommend wild swimming unless you are all experienced, that water will be very, very cold.

HirplesWithHaggis · 21/05/2023 18:14

(And they're lochs, not locks!) 😁

lakesummer · 21/05/2023 18:27

Definitely no locks, but lochs are absolutely freezing. They are also often quite dangerous.
Sadly hot weather often leads to deaths in them.

MrsMoastyToasty · 21/05/2023 18:37

Mull is doable from Glencoe if the Calmac ferry is running from Lochaline (mainland)to Fishnish (on Mull). I would recommend getting fuel at Morrisons in Fort William as its rather expensive on the island before heading down to catch the Corran ferry (I think its council operated)
Caledonian Macbrayne (Calmac) do an multi trip ticket called a hopscotch ticket which might be worth investigating.

Cottagecheeseisnotcheese · 21/05/2023 18:42

lochs due to depth are ften colder than the sea,
glenfinnian viaduct 2 steam trains a day each way april to october allow at least 30 minutes to find a parking spot and get to a viewing point, there is loads of hiking,
neptunes' stairway is a flight of 12+ locks on the caledonian canal there is a small mineral museum close by on the road to skye

Cottagecheeseisnotcheese · 21/05/2023 18:43

currently the cheapest fuel is in Glencoe it was 12p a litre cheaper than Inverness last week and cheaper than in Fort william about 144p for diesel

Original poster
namechanged221 · 21/05/2023 18:46

Ooh thanks, great advice!

OP posts:
Billybagpuss · 21/05/2023 18:54

I Love swimming in lochs but I’m weird and swim all year outdoors.
With a 14 year old try the glenfinnan viaduct as in Harry Potter chamber of secrets. You can also go on the train from fort William but do some googling on what to do in malaig first as I remember it being a long wait for the trip back. The cinema in fort William is lovely it had no adverts. Climb Ben Nevis if you like hiking. There is a parking spot half way up glen coe to view a waterfall we swam there it was lovely.
if you like history culloden is a great day. Me and my son in law loved it, DH and dd less so. Urquart castle on Loch Ness is great. The Loch Ness exhibit was closed last time we went but might have reopened since. There are boat trips on loch Linnie including one that chases the hogwarts express.

I love mull it is my favourite place ever if you do get the ferry over from Oban walk out to the lighthouse in Tobermory and the pizzas in machochans are great. You can also do boat trips out to Staffa and the trennish isles.

RancidChicken · 21/05/2023 18:59

Mull from Oban is doable too. Maybe a boat trip from Mull to Staffa or some of the other islands. Mountain biking at the ski resorts. There used to be an ice wall at Kinlochleven but I think it may have closed down. Not sure.

Cottagecheeseisnotcheese · 21/05/2023 18:59

don't try and cram too much in,

Original poster
namechanged221 · 21/05/2023 20:04

Thanks, very good advice!

I just looked and the Corran Ferry is only operating foot passengers only. This might make it hard to go to mull?
Unless there was a bus down to the port or something.

OP posts:
Original poster
namechanged221 · 21/05/2023 20:07

Oh I guess going from Oban would be best

OP posts:
MrsMoastyToasty · 21/05/2023 20:17

What I meant about getting fuel is that its cheaper on the mainland compared with the islands.

grievinggirlneedsadvice · 21/05/2023 20:24

Going from Oban definitely best as the Corran Ferry off for a long time with no foreseeable hope it will come back on anytime soon for cars and it's a very very long round trip.
Also diesel much cheaper in Oban.

Original poster
namechanged221 · 22/05/2023 11:05

Thanks all. So I'm thinking drive early to Oban and catch the ferry over to mull for the day.
Should we go as foot passengers and get the long ferry to Tobermory?

Or take the car? On the shorter one??

Or car to Tobermory?

OP posts:
Billybagpuss · 22/05/2023 12:52

Car and shorter ferry, make more of the day.

SorrowsPrayers · 22/05/2023 13:17

Walk around Glencoe Lochan.
Harry Potter train from Fort William to Malaig, or drive to Genfinnian to see it steam over the viaduct.
There's a cracking boat trip on a Wednesday from Glenfinnan on Loch Shiel...certain to see some White Tailed Eagles and more.
Walk along some of the West Highland Way. Many other walks in area are splendid.
Drive through Glen Etive ( Skyfall filmed there) right to the end and stand and look at the sheer beauty of Loch Etive.
Corral Ferry is broken, so get to Mull from Oban...will be a long day.
The Ice Wall at Kinlochleven has closed.
Wish I was going!

BergamotandLime · 22/05/2023 13:21

I would drive to Mallaig and then get the ferry to Armadale and explore Skye! And please don't swim in lochs as others say. They are vvv cold. Even the sea water is barely warm enough to dip a toe in at the moment.

Original poster
namechanged221 · 22/05/2023 15:50

BergamotandLime · 22/05/2023 13:21

I would drive to Mallaig and then get the ferry to Armadale and explore Skye! And please don't swim in lochs as others say. They are vvv cold. Even the sea water is barely warm enough to dip a toe in at the moment.

I'm quite tempted by this!

What would be your top activities to do on Skye if you went for the day?

The 9.30 ferry gets in at 10 and last one departs 6.30?

OP posts:
BergamotandLime · 22/05/2023 15:57

@namechanged221 to be honest, just the drive itself is stunning. I would drive as far as Portree, have pizza at the Isle of Skye Candle Co but take your time driving about. Stop at Sligachan to take in the views of the Cullins! Loch Coruisk was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen but I can't remember how to get there. We tend to be dashing through Skye to get a ferry elsewhere!

Brightredtulips · 22/05/2023 17:54

If you do get to mull try and visit iona. Its beautiful. The beaches in Fionphort , turn left before ferry and keep going , are stunning.

AntoniaMacaronia · 22/05/2023 18:21

Beware Oban to Mull ferries are a bit chaotic at the moment, Calmac have just got a new booking system. There was already a reduced service due to the ferry fiasco. You'd be safer booking, if you can, but that would tie you down to a particular day. And they might cancel it at the last minute anyway. It's a longer drive to Lochaline but you'd be safer going that way.

Having said all that, Mull is definitely worth going to.

kittiker · 22/05/2023 18:39

Mull & Skye are all wonderful but bigger than you might think - you could easily spend weeks exploring them. Might I suggest a trip to either Easdale or Kerrera from Oban for a more satisfying and off the beaten track island day trip? Less issues with ferries for sure! You can then also have a bit of time in Oban itself - great sunsets if the weather is with you and delicious fish & chips! Check out Walkhighlands website for brilliant walk ideas.

HirplesWithHaggis · 22/05/2023 19:02

namechanged221 · 22/05/2023 15:50

I'm quite tempted by this!

What would be your top activities to do on Skye if you went for the day?

The 9.30 ferry gets in at 10 and last one departs 6.30?

Show quote history

If you're on Skye, you're not constrained by ferry times, as there's a 24 hour, toll-free bridge to the mainland.