Hello am a new Member of this site..International Student From Pakistan Living In Manchester.
I was planning for snowdonia,Then dumped it for lake district but after watching Some Car driving videos in Glencoe area I was astounded How beautiful the area Is..So I now me and my Friends plan to go to glencoe and its Surroundings in a week for 4/5 days....I had some questions:
1.Would Hiring a car be a nice option compared to bus?I really liked the road scenery Going into glencoe(from you tube)...So Hire a car or bus?
2.we would be spending 4/5 days in glencoe..What are some decent day trips to surrounding areas?Would Isle Of Skye and fort william be possible?
3.Should we spend all 4/5 days in glencoe or 2 days in glencoe and 2 In some other place?
Thanks in advance for all the responses..
4/5 Days In Glencoe Area What Places To See?
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Glencoe is good as a base for climbing or as an overnight stop, but not much else. If you decide to use it as a base(?) you can get to Oban, Glenfinnan and Mallaig for day trips but Skye is a bit of a stretch, though doable if you want to sit in a car/bus all day.
Fort William is IMHO not worth a stop.
If scenery is your goal, stop at Glencoe overnight, then go to Skye, head for the Old Man of Storr, stay on Skye for a few nights then head South.
Buses have a better view than cars.
The first thing to realise is that there won't be much open or to do at this time of the year. It certainly is not tourist season. The weather up there can be snow/rain/sun/hail, usually all in the same afternoon. The scenery is subdued as the heather hues on the hillsides don't show in November/December time.
Ideally it's a great place to hire a car and drive up the M6 from Manchester, but I'd do it in April. (Even then you could get all that weather).
With the Christmas Markets on in Manchester now, there's a lot more to do here than in Glencoe!
How about 2 nights in glencoe exploring Mallaig,Glenfinnan,oban for day trips and the rest 3 days Exploring Skye?
Thought Would Avoid the tourist season that Way!!
If you decide to go, would suggest from Glencoe you drive north on A82. Then 10 miles north of Ft. William on A82 to see the Commando Memorial. Skye would be a must in my opinion. You can continue on 82 to Invergarry and take A87, driving to Skye. passing Eileen Donan Castle (much photographed) and the Kyle of Lochalsh. After touring Skye you can take an alternate route back to the 82, by taking the Mallaig ferry to the A830. Hope the weather holds well for you. Suggest you drive, giving you and friends much more independence than bus. Have a great time.
stu
Buses are very sparse on Skye. Agree you'll want a car. Whichever way you take it, the road between Fort William and Mallaig is famous, the Road to the Isles: www.road-to-the-isles.org.uk. Be sure to stop at Glenfinnan.
Just north of Kyle of Lochalsh is the pretty little town of Plockton, where flowers (in season) and palm trees line the seafront. A benefit of the Gulf Stream and amazing to see so far north.
IMO it is not a winter destination (not technically winter yet but close enough)
It is a GORGEOUS part of the country. But you may not see much/any of it w/ cloud cover/rain/wind/fog/etc.
I personally wouldn't go to Skye either. I've stayed there in the winter -but only because I had friends who took a house for all of Dec and I visited them for a week. It was more a house party than any sort of 'sight seeing' or outdoor pursuits trip. We did do some walking - but only 2 days were at all decent weather-wise.
Glencoe should not be trifled w/ in bad weather.
Save your trip (and yes, renting a car is the way to go) until the chance of OK weather is better and the days are longer.