Scotland holiday, advice?

[namechanged221]

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?

If you like walking a day trip to Kerrera from Oban is fun. Check the cafe is open.

A day trip to Mull from Glencoe will be a very long day. Definitely book the ferry if you're taking the car.

If you want a bit of beach and to swim in the sea I'd head for Tralee Bay in Benderloch. Park in the village then walk to the beach. It's pebbly walking in from there there before you reach the sand. The caravan park there has a van which does the best fish and chips. Check it's open though.

If you’re going to glenfinnan (which I would) then camusdarrach beach is actual heaven and not that much further on that road.

also glen Nevis steal falls is a great walk and another Harry Potter location (the quidditch game where he swallows the snitch).

https://images.app.goo.gl/SfLw94c1f8gmidCs6

"If you’re going to glenfinnan (which I would) then camusdarrach beach is actual heaven and not that much further on that road.

also glen Nevis steal falls is a great walk and another Harry Potter location (the quidditch game where he swallows the snitch)."

This, followed by langoustines or lobster and chips from the hatch in Mallaig. I wouldn't bother going over to Skye, you're only there for a weekend, just look at it while you eat your chips!

If the sun is shining this would be my idea of a perfect day.

That one day when it is summer on the west coast is pretty much perfect.

Some of the places I have enjoyed visiting in Skye -

https://www.isleofskye.com/skye-guide/skye-places/fairy-glen

https://www.isleofskye.com/skye-guide/top-ten-skye-walks/fairy-pools

https://www.isleofskye.com/skye-guide/top-ten-skye-walks/old-man-of-storr

In Staffin you can look for dinosaur footprints at the shore, visit Kilt rock and Mealt Falls and Quirang. Although I’m sure I read that the mealt falls car park is closed just now. Might be worth checking.

Boat trip from Elgol to Loch Coriusk.

I don't get why everyone is saying to travel so far, particularly Skye. 2+ hours sat in a car passing by some of the best places in Scotland? Then sit in a queue home for 3 hours behind more visitors doing the same? Madness...

So:
Glencoe itself: do a mountain day, the Pap of Glencoe is a classic.

Picnic down Glen Etive - find somewhere to park, next to one of the multiple waterfalls. Brilliant in nice weather.

Day out on Lismore - take the wee ferry from Port Appin and either walk or hire a bike (on Lismore) to cycle to the community cafe, the deserted beaches and stunning views south over the Inner Hebrides. You get to see Castle Stalker on the way too.

Dunstaffanage and Ganavan Sands are lovely beaches - and you can combine with some Oban wandering and shopping. The LULU lounge at Perle Oban Hotel has great coffee and cake at less cost that Costa opposite ;-)

Another Island - Kerrera - is a fab day out on foot or bike. Just in the bay from Oban.

Mull - you can take the ferry and bus, and Tobermory is nice, but it is a long way. You will not likely get a car on the ferry, it will be fully booked.

Fort William - lots of shops, but the Nevis Range and cable car is well worth a visit on a good day.

Glenfinnan - just gets silly busy. Go beyond out to Mallaig and find the beaches...amazing.

I have enjoyed wandering around Eriska, and saw otters on both visits.

I also like Glen Creran, just turn after the bridge at Creagan and park where you can for a wander up to the Fairy Bridge.

We did the hidden valley walk(I think it's called this) in Glencoe a couple of years and loved it, also the Clachaig inn is a good pub for food!

My only advice is this...Avon skin so soft spray.

I don't get why everyone is saying to travel so far, particularly Skye. Because OP asked if a trip to Skye was feasible while staying in Glen Coe. And it is.

Maybe, but it is still odd to want to stay in one part of Scotland and visit another one so far away.
It is the same travel time as booking a cottage in North Wales, but going for a day out to the Lakes...
And when the 2+ hour drive takes you past some of the most amazing places, walks, beaches, mountains, shops, islands and cafe's you could imagine...

OP has four nights in Glen Coe, and can see all the other amazing sights as well as doing a daytrip to Skye, returning late at night if necessary, since the bridge is there and she is not constrained by ferry timetables. (Though I still recommend using the Glenelg to Skye ferry because it's an expected in itself!

https://skyeferry.co.uk/

Experience, not expected. 😐

Thanks all, we had a fab time!!! The weather was so hot! Thanks for all the tips.

Steel Falls walk in Glen Nevis, absolutely beautiful, had a picnic then went to Ben Nevis cable car

BBQ on a beach at Loch Linnhe, Cuil Bay

Devil's Staircase walk on the west highland way to Kinlochlevan.

Went to Gannevan Sands, Oban and the castle Stalker on the way. Lunch at the seafood Green Shack at Oban! Really good.

Dinner at the Loch Levan Seafood Cafe, amazing food.

We didn't have time to get to any islands but I'd like to go again to mull or Skye for a week.

Ah, yes we've been having some beautiful weather, it's the nicest I can remember since April of lockdown!
These are some lovely things to do and glad you had a great trip

Brilliant. Sounds like a fantastic trip. I love Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Glencoe to Oban for Mull is a fair drive and last time I looked CalMac were discouraging day trippers.

Due to the well publicised fiasco over the LNG powered ferries they've two vessels fewer than planned and a considerable lift in capacity gone AWOL with them. They've also got a problem with the control system on one vessel, Hebridean Isles and another, Finlaggan, has only just gone for its annual overhaul. As a consequence vessels are being redeployed.

One vessel on the Mull service is a relatively small double ended jobbie with much less lane space than would normally be the case.

Skye is doable. The bridge is a fairly long drive, best part of two hours, from Fort William, but Mallaig is much nearer. Out that way and back via the Glenelg route (or vv) seems do able.

Like somebody else said upthread, Skye is somewhere we belt through on the way for the Western Isles ferry from Uig. Lots of lovely places though.