The North western corner of the UK has some of the best scenery possible in the British Isles. Finding the right scenic route and right view points to stop can be a challenge for those that have no idea on what to see in the Scottish highlands. An even bigger challenge is the weather – highly unpredictable. Pray hard for luck to favour you on your visit.. even a few hours of sunshine can make a great impact!

Glasgow is the starting point for our expedition to the north. This area can also be accessed from Edinburgh but it’s a bit further out. Driving up north from Glasgow on the A82 gives you access to some of the stunning vistas in not only Scotland but probably the entire world. As soon as we leave Glasgow we enter Trossachs National Park which has the gigantic Loch Lomond.

Loch Lomond

Loch Lomond is a huge lake and there are a lot of recommended stops along it’s western shore along the A82 or even at Balloch which is easily accessible by a commuter train from Glasgow’s Queen Street Station. There are cruises departing from various parts on the lake and getting on a sunset one would be a great way to see

Falls of Falloch

This is perhaps the falls with the easiest access. Falls of Falloch is located on the north side of Loch Lomond. Let the easy access not deter you from enjoying the beautiful falls in a stunning setting. The falls feeds into the Falloch River which in turn empties itself into Loch Lomond.

Trossachs National Park

This is a very large park stretching all around Loch Lomond with stunning views of the mountains all around. Perhaps what makes this region even more stunning is how light plays with the mountains topped with a sprinkle of snow. There are many pull overs all  along A82 where you’d just feel like stopping and clicking pictures.

Valley and lake viewpoint

This spot unfortunately did not have a name on it. Past Bridge of Orchy and Loch Tulla is  a hill which has a large parking lot right at the top to offer expansive view of the valley and the lake. It is a wonderful sight with rust coloured hills and foliage all around with just a tiny sparkling expanse of water.

The Rannoch Moor

One of the largest expanses of wilderness still left in the UK, this part of the highlands has to be seen to be believed.  A sole road snaking through the rust-y moor.. it is overwhelming. Stretching for miles on either side of A82 dotted with tiny streams and blobs of water there’s absolutely no hint of civilisation. Soon large mountains appear in the horizon breaking the monotony of the landscape

The Three Sisters

One of the many stops around Glencoe offering an opportunity for us, mere humans, to crane our necks to look at the gigantic mountains, standing tall and proud for ages.

The bridge of Ballachulish

Just a little past the town of Glencoe and after the bridge that connects the south  Ballachulish with its northern counterpart, there’s a small lane to turn into that offers extraordinary views onto Loch Linnhe and the mountains beyond. If you manage to catch this spot just as the sun sets, the vista is magical. For a Harry Potter fan this view is reminiscent of the the view from Astronomy Tower!

Loch Linnhe

Another humongous lake is Loch Linnhe.. the eastern shores of which host the A82 all the way to Fort William. There are a few pull offs along here for a quick stop and some lovely photos.

Fort William

One of the biggest cities in this part of the world. It has supermarkets, gas stations, restaurants and umpteen hotels.  A bustling town at the crossroads in the Scottish Highlands.

Glenfinnan

Just under an hour away from Fort William on the A830 is the Glenfinnan viaduct, made more popular by the scene from Harry Potter where the Hogwarts Express chugs on a curved viaduct. Even if you are no Harry Potter fan, this place is a worthy stop for the views out to Glen Shiel.

From here if you want to get to Isle of Skye you can take the road further and reach Mallaig and take a car ferry (frequency and times of sailing are seasonal and may need to be booked in advance) across to Armadale and Isle of Skye. Or come right back to A82 to proceed further up north and take the A87, the road route to Skye or continue on A82 further up north to Inverness.

Loch Ness

Driving further north on A82 takes you to the most popular of the Scotland lakes – Loch Ness only because of its mythical monster. A large expanse of water with a “museum” on its western shore about the Loch Ness monster (called Nessie) it is quite fun to engage in our childish fantasies.

You can driver further north to reach Inverness another lovely town.

Invergarry and the A87

Taking the fork at Invergarry we head on to A87 that would take us to the Isle of Skye.

There are countless pull offs along this route giving stunning views over lakes, mountains, moors, glens and valleys. Some pull offs would need to be cleared to provide better views of the vistas though. The changing and contrasting colours of the vistas are a treat in any season. This is one part of the world where clouds descend from the skies to the earth.

Eilean Donan Castle

A pretty, picturesque castle sitting amidst tall mountains and a lake this has been featured in a lot of movies and is popular spot for stunning pictures. Entry costing around £20 wasn’t recommended much and can be skipped if there’s not much time.

Kyle of Lochalsh

 

Beyond the Eilean Donan castle is the Loch Alsh and the Kyle of Lochalsh after which you’re officially on the Isle of Skye.

Isle of Skye

With famed views across the entire island and some scenery that is only possible in this part of the world, there are lots to see and do for a few days. The isle is the busiest in the summer with bus loads descending from the mainland, overflowing car parks, congested roads and just about people everywhere. Visiting in the off season can be quieter and more gratifying than visiting when everyone else is. However the weather may not be great and many restaurants and hotels may be closed during the off season.

Old Man of Storr

An interesting formation north of Portree, the drive to this spot was fantastic. It requires a steep climb up from the parking lot.

Portree

Perhaps the only major town in Skye, this place has loads of restaurants, shops and hotels. However many are closed in the off-season. There’s paid parking right above the harbour and steps lead down into the harbour front.

Sligachan

A scenic stop on the way back on A87, Sligachan offers fantastic views out to the McCuilin mountains in the Isle of Skye. There’s parking right next to the bridge on A87 and views over the old bridge or from under it are fantastic.

There are other interesting spots in the Isle of Skye like the Fairy pools and the Quairing and many scenic vistas.

And with that ends our trip to the Scottish highlands and the Isle of Skye. There are a lot other interesting activities in this region including hikes, cruises and taking a scenic train. This region would easily require a week at minimum to be able to take it in all. What I’ve covered above are the main highlights.

Bonus

The Glasgow Botanical Gardens with free entry has some interesting glass houses and flora species and also allows a respite from the cold weather and/or rain or when you have some time to kill in Glasgow.

Logistics and Tips

Weather and Season

The whole western side of Scotland offers amazing scenery but the key is time and weather. Fall is an amazing season to visit simply for the stunning contrast rust coloured foliage offers against the blue of the sky and lakes. And there’s the added effect of the mountain tops glittering in a sprinkle of snow.

Stay

Fort William is by far the largest town followed by Inverness and Portree and offers ample choices for stay. There are hostels, B&Bs, Cottages and specialty lodging all over the area but it takes time and patience to find out where they are and if they are available on our travel dates. Some cottages rent out for a whole week only. Some close in October and reopen in April/May depending on weather. Some others have a stipulated minimum stay. Booking.com is a site where you can find many of the popular accommodations listed. You can also use Google Maps to locate hostels and B&Bs and call/email to check availability. Premier Inn in Fort William offers a comfortable stay with restaurants and supermarkets in close proximity.

Food

Most of the small towns have restaurants and vegetarian and vegan food is easy to come by if you can locate a restaurant. Other tourist spots have cafes serving warm food.

Transport

Having your own car is the best way to see this part of the world. Gives you the flexibility to stop where you want to and how much time you need to but there are lots of guided tours available from Glasgow and Edinburg.. some for a single day and some over two days. A guided tour would be better only when you are not comfortable driving in the mountains and if you do not know where to go. Besides it will usually be a very long day too.

Photogrpahy

With good weather a phone camera can bring out the best of the vistas but a wide angle lens with a grad ND filter and/or a CPL filter helps in getting better pictures.