theatrelover

We will be picking up a car at Glasgow airport. I do not know how early in the day we will be getting on the road since we have to check out of our hotel, get to the airport and then pick up the car. Also, it will be my husband's first attempt at driving on the left hand side. We are heading to the Isle of Eriska hotel north of Oban but want to see sights along the way. My initial plan was to go by A82 to Tarbet and then A83 to Lochgilphead and then A816 up to Oban. Is that too much to attempt? Is there enough lovely scenery, etc to make it worth going all around or should we turn off at A819? I planned to do a day trip to the Trossachs the next day. Would that work well? It's so hard to tell what would be too long a trip. Thanks so much for any help.

janisj

I'd take the exact route you suggested. The main thing you'd miss would be Kilchurn Castle - but you can visit it on your way to or from the Trossachs the next day.

As long as get started before lunch time the route through Inveraray, Lochgilphead, Kilmartin and up to Oban would be a doable day trip.

I won't even guesstimate your drive time since there is soooooo much to stop[ and see along the way. Just plan on taking it easy and using most of the day to get to Oban.

When is the trip - if it is in teh Spring be sure to stop at Crarae Gardens (1/2 way between Inveraray and Lochgilphead). AMAZING woodland garden w/ 20+ foot tall Rhododendrons, azaleas etc.

hopingtotravel

Do plan to see Kilchurn Castle--one way or the other. It's quintessential (is there such a word?) romantic Scotland scenery. I blew up a picture for my wall.

theatrelover

Thank you so much. We are leaving 5/11 so we'll check what is in bloom at the gardens. I've added Kilchurn Castle to our itinerary. It sounds wonderful. I don't know how I missed it in all my research.

sheila

That's a wonderful route. If I was doing it in a hurry it would take about 2 hours. You should take the whole day. There are masses of lovely things to see.

Stop at the Rest and Be Thankful; stop and wander round the woodland garden at Arkinglas. Have lunch at the Loch Fyne Oyster Bar, and have a good look at Inverary. See the castle if you want.

The road from Lochgilphead to Oban is one of my favourites in the world. If you stop nowhere else along it, go to Dunadd, and walk to the top.

Have a great trip

Craigellachie

You could spend a week on your suggested route, there's so much to see. I'm with Shiela on Dunadd, we should all be ashamed that so few of our people know the part it played in creating our nation.
Oban is a long way from the Trossachs for a day trip, about 70 miles each way plus maybe another 30 if you do the usual tour from Callendar to Aberfoyle, and all on roads where you'll be lucky to average 50 miles an hour without stops. I love the Trossachs but I wouldn't travel from Oban to see them. The area earned its fame because it was so accessible from Glasgow and Edinburgh. Starting from Oban there are plenty of places much nearer and just as scenic.

theatrelover

Would it be better to drive through the Trossachs on the way to Oban and our hotel and do the drive I outlined above as a day trip the next day? What around Oban would you suggest as a day trip instead of the Trossachs? Thank you so much for the information.

janisj

Actually - I'd leave things as you planned. Yes it is a bit of a drive - but a tour of the Trossachs is certainly doable from Oban. Not ideal, but not hard at all.

If you got an early start you'd have a lot of time to wander. I often stay in the Trossachs for a week at a time and have done day trips the other way (to Oban/Kilmartin etc.) several times. Most sites in the Trossachs are "sites" and not "properties" where you have to worry about opening times. Only the boat trip on Loch Katrine (which I might skip w/ just a day) and Inchmahome Priory have hours - otherewise all the views, waterfalls, walks and so on are open all the time.

sheila

Day trips round Oban?

Kilmartin

Iona (and Mull if you must)

Glencoe

Easdale

Ardnamurchan

What do you like?

theatrelover

We love beautiful scenery. My husband loves to take pictures. That is why I thought a day trip to the Trossachs area would be perfect. We plan to visit Glencoe after we leave Oban and head toward Invergarry. I hope we'll see Kilmartin on the way to Oban. I'll put your other suggestions in my notes. Thanks so much for your help.

sheila

If you wanted to go wild (and the weather was fine), you could take a boat trip out to the Treshnish islands and Staffa.

Or a ferry trip to Tiree and Coll- you wouldn't have time to spend time there, although you could get off on Colla nd get back on when the ferry comes back. It IS a beautiful journey.

I'm not really up for suggesting much inland- Loch Awe's fine, but not THAT fine.

Frankly I wouldn't dream of daytripping the Trossachs from Oban. Not given where you'll be and where you're going

daschie

Would appreciate suggestions for traveling from Glasgow to Iona. We have 4 days between reservations to get to Iona. We are thinking of renting a car and leaving it in Oban and take the ferry across to Mull then a bus/ferry to Iona were we are staying 2 nights. We are trying to decide on the best route (scenic) and things to do Castles, distillery, churches etc.
Thanks in advance for any ideas.

janisj

<B>daschie:</B> This thread is more than 6 years old. You will do better to start a new thread of your own w/ your own specific questions. (You do have a thread from several months ago that has some response - to find your old posts, click on your name)

In the mean time until you start the new thread. . . No reason to leave the car in Oban. Take it on the ferry - you 100% will want to have the car on Mull. Mull is not the sort of place one can bop around on the bus. There are buses, but they are very few and very far between.