Oban, Glencoe and Highland Lochs Day Trip Glasgow

Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park

The day begins with a drive north-west out of Glasgow to Loch Lomond, the largest stretch of fresh water by surface area in Great Britain. Our first stop is a lochside village where you can stretch your legs, look across the water and spot the peak of Ben Lomond. Many travellers ask whether a day trip to Loch Lomond is worth it, and this early stop shows how quickly the Lowlands give way to the Highlands.

Later in the day the tour returns along the western shore of the loch through Inveruglas, so you see Loch Lomond in two different lights. The park around it is full of woodland, islands and hills, and the stops are timed so that you get photographs without feeling hurried. If you want to explore the loch in more depth, we also offer a separate cruise from Balloch.

Rest and Be Thankful and Inveraray on Loch Fyne

Beyond the Arrochar Alps the road climbs through Glen Croe to the Rest and Be Thankful viewpoint, a famous Highland pass with a sweeping view back down the glen. The name comes from a stone set up by soldiers who built the road in the eighteenth century. It is a short, scenic stop and one of the best photo moments of the morning.

Inveraray is a planned Georgian town on the shore of Loch Fyne, with whitewashed buildings, a quiet harbour and Inveraray Castle, the seat of the Duke of Argyll. You have free time to wander the streets and the waterfront. The castle interior is open only from Easter to mid-October, and admission is not included, so check opening hours before you decide to go inside.

Kilchurn Castle on Loch Awe

Kilchurn Castle is a roofless fifteenth-century fortress on a rocky spit at the head of Loch Awe, the longest freshwater loch in Scotland. It was built by the Campbells of Breadalbane and later turned into a barracks before being abandoned. Seen from the road with the mountains behind, it is one of the most photographed ruins in the Highlands.

The tour makes a photo stop here so that you can see the castle in its setting, rather than entering it. Many travellers search for the best castles near Glasgow for a day trip, and this view, together with Inveraray, gives you a taste of Argyll's history without long walks. Bring a camera and a layer for the wind off the loch.

Oban, the Gateway to the Isles

Oban is a busy west-coast harbour town and the main departure point for ferries to the Hebridean islands, which is why it is called the Gateway to the Isles. On a day trip to Oban from Glasgow you have time for lunch of your choice, since lunch is not included, and the town is known for fresh seafood straight from the boats. You can also stroll along the bay or climb to the circular stone tower on the hill for a view over the water.

The tour keeps the schedule relaxed so that you can eat, explore and still reach the evening stops in daylight. In summer the harbour is lively, and in quieter months the town has a calm, local feel. Oban is one of the highlights of the whole Argyll coast.

Glencoe and Rannoch Moor

Heading north from Oban the road passes Castle Stalker, a small tower house on a tidal islet, and then enters Glencoe, one of the most dramatic valleys in Scotland. Steep mountain walls rise on both sides of the road, and your guide tells the story of the 1692 massacre of the MacDonald clan. There is a photo stop so you can take it in. Many visitors say Glencoe is the best part of a Highlands day trip.

From Glencoe the road crosses Rannoch Moor, a vast, empty plateau of bog, pools and distant peaks that feels very remote. The coach then returns to Loch Lomond and Glasgow, usually around seven in the evening. The scenery changes constantly, so sit near a window.