>>I would hit Glen Etive and Glen Coe on the way to Oban from Luss<<

Or it is very easy to hit Glencoe/Glen Etive on your way back from Skye.

Fortingall is a really lovely place and a bit of a curiosity (Pontius Pilate, Yew tree and all that). The Thatched cottages make you think you're somewhere in southern England. Though on a short trip I might not take a big detour to visit. You do have the two days to 'play' with so it would fit. But taking those two days in the Trossachs would let you visit Glencoe/Glen Etive, Doune Castle, the lovely Inchmahome Priory, waterfalls and lochs with a little shorter drive days (about 2.5 hours less over the two days) . Either option is reasonable

See if this works - My variation:

Nope.

Gardyloo: How do you post a google map -- when I put in my route and copy paste the url it just displays a map of the area without the routing.

Make the map, then on the pull-down menu bar (three parallel lines) scroll down to "Share or embed map" which will give you (hopefully) a shortened url. You "copy link" and paste it.

This works on desktops and laptops, but is a giant PITA to try to do on mobile devices.

It also works on pasting "street view" scenes - three dots for the menu rather than parallel lines, e.g. https://goo.gl/maps/6PYBSnrhCTmqP3bt6

Thanks - I'll give it a try . . . fingers crossed

https://goo.gl/maps/Qp5vezRVmvKCcC3Z9

YAY - those major dots are just waypoints -- not places you'd stay necessarily -- I'll work on perfecting my technique ;)

(I have never noticed that drop down before)

Well done, you. You can also put the cursor anywhere along the route and drag it to a different road; it will amend the map and put a dot where you moved the route.

janisj and Gardyloo I cannot thank the two of you enough. I have accomplished so much already with this daunting task, and it is all due to your advice, links, maps, recommendations. I booked the ferries based on your link, janisj. So now that Kilchurn Castle has been introduced, I do want to see it, and I tried creating a map including Inveraray and Kilchurn and Glen Coe and Glen Evite to finally go to Oban, and I think that is too much driving for Day 2. There is too much to do and too little time. I basically don't need to see inside anymore castles in my lifetime unless they are so darn picturesque and I love castles that are ruins, too. So, if I put Glen Coe and Glen Evite to the latter part heading back, and skip Fortingall, am I going to also feel out of balance where I have seen some pretty fantastic scenery, and maybe need a picturesque village break that has some interesting history and a beautiful glen. janisj, you recommended Aberfoyle on your map which I assume would be a central place for Loch Lomond and the Trossachs. I was hoping that we would be able to stay somewhere central heading back for those two nights and use as a base to sightsee/walk since there is a lot of driving on this holiday. The last night would be in Glasgow and I intend to drop the car off at the airport the day before our flight. Finally, in our previous trip, we did stay in Dunkeld for at least 4 days, and used it as a base to sightsee, and we did go to Stirling Castle.

So is my thinking correct that the drive to Oban with Inveraray, Kilchurn Castle, Glen Coe, Glen Evite is too much? Should I just ditch Glen Coe/Glev Evite? And then there is Kilmartin!

Finally, anyone have recommendations of books to read regarding the history of this part of Scotland? Thanks!

My general plan would have yu visiting Glencoe/Glen Etive on your trip back south from Skye and would ease your drive days quite a bit.

>> janisj, you recommended Aberfoyle on your map which I assume would be a central place for Loch Lomond and the Trossachs<<

That is what I meant by waypoints -- Callander would be my choice over Aberfoyle -- mostly for more accommodations but entering Callander stupid google steered the route to GLA via Stirling and the M. I was running into a limit on the map so I 'outsmarted' it and substitutes Aberfoyle, If you can understand that gibberish :) Aberfoyle would be fine, Callander would be fine - but ANYPLACE in the general area would work.

If they have availability at either of these - I'd jump on it . . .

https://www.lake-hotel.com
Luxury Scottish Hotel and Restaurant, luxury 4 star hotel

My guess is especially the Roman Camp is booked up - they do a lot of weddings.

It sounds like you're sneaking up on analysis paralysis, which is not at all uncommon given the part of the world you're visiting. People are different, but for me it's altogether possible to approach overload on scenery and "over the next hill" mania. You know your own tolerances and when enough is enough, but one of the reasons I originally suggested bypassing Skye (albeit with the original timeline) was that by adding more destinations, and relatively far flung ones at that, it's pretty easy to let the logistics get in the way of enjoyment. Janis and I each have our own preferences which we're not bashful to promote - she the Trossachs and me the far north - but on one thing we agree: you can't see it all. Hell, you can't see even a wee bit of it.

Kilmartin is terrific if you have the time to wander around the floor of the glen and have an interest in bronze age burial cairns or stone circles. But there are standing stones on Mull, too, so are the two hours spent in Kilmartin equal in value to two hours on Mull? On both Mull and (especially) Skye you're going to be in the company of many other visitors. Do you want somewhere to sit by yourselves, or is jumping in the car to see the next wonder of nature worth the logistic headaches, even if you're two of many making your way to visit the Fairy Pools? Unanswerable, but Mies "Less is More" van der Rohe had it right, at least some of the time (shameless architecture reference.)

So pick Kilmartin or more time on Mull, or Kilchurn Castle or Duart Castle on Mull, Inveraray or Tobermory or Portree or Plockton, Aberfeldy, Callendar or Aberfoyle. Do a day trip to Iona, or go to Glasgow and spend a day there seeing fab architecture (old and new) or visiting the superb Kelvingrove Museum (and eat a meal at the nearby Shish Mahal, which will rock your world) or visit the People's Palace or Glasgow's often overlooked superb cathedral. You can't go wrong, but you CAN overdo it. In my view.

For a primer on many things Scottish - history, culture, etc. - I really like the snapshot contents of the "Scotfax" page on Undiscovered Scotland - https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co....fax/index.html . Give it a look-over.

One quick comment -- you don't say (I don't think) what time your flight out is on the 7th. Aberfoyle to GLA is only about a 45-60 minute drive depending on traffic. Callander 10 to 15 minutes longer. Unless your flight is very early AM, you may not need to stay at the airport the night before.

>>Don’t forget that our beloved Cameron House suffered a devastating fire and will not be open until next year at the earliest.<<

Thanks - I remembered that after posting but have been emphasizing Luss since then . . .

And I agree with both British Caicos and Gardyloo that Mull/Iona are wonderful and Skye is a long way to go for an island that's become insanely popular. The difference between 10 years ago and now is really remarkable. I really LOVE Mull. That being said - since you have been able to find a place with availability on Skye (that did surprise me) and have booked the ferries, you can fit in Skye if it is a dream destination for you. In the 1.5 days you'll have there you'll be quite limited what you can see on the island -- I'd skip Dunvegan (a castle is a castle a that point) and concentrate on the Trotternish Peninsula and Neist point and general scenery.

Yes, well I have already booked the rooms on Skye and I am out of money if I cancel, possibly two night's stay if they can't find a lodger. I appreciate the focus for the Trotternish Peninsula and Neist point and avoiding the castle.

I know I can't have it all, and I much prefer slow travel and staying places longer. I wish I had booked another night on Mull, but it's done now so. It is part of the issue with the last minute booking and trying to get accomodations first versus the luxury of planning 6 months ahead. We will have a great time, and we aren't the types to have to see all the touristy things. Unless someone tells me you are totally missing out if you don't go to the Fairy Pools, I hadn't intended to compete with the crowds over that.

I am still vacillating over staying in Callander for 2 nights and using that as a base or heading over to Aberfeldy/Fortingall for 2 nights. That decision will have to be made today.

Our flight is at 1:00 p.m. on the 10th so we could stay a 3rd night and leave early for the airport. Something to think about, but Gardyloo's suggestion of eating at Shish Mahal is pushing me to one night in Glasgow.

So at this point the only flexibility I have is those last 3 evenings since I am booked and ferry ticketed with no ability to cancel and get my money back.

OK -- I am biased (and I love the Aberfeldy/Fortingall area) . . . But you will have seen magnificent scenery on Mull/Skye/Gencoe/Glen Etive.

The Trossachs are equaly lovely but a different sort of scenery -- more gentle hills, lochs, waterfalls, Inchmahome (my very favorite picnic spot in all of Scotland), Doune Castle . . . and the advantage of being less than an hour from GLA (either for catching your flight OR for dropping the car before heading in to Glasgow for the last night)

Since your DH is an architect - you could maybe fit in Hill House - it is a masterpiece. https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/the-hill-house

Not a commercial bldg of course -- but really remarkable.

. . . and their conservation efforts (the Hill House Box) are almost as remarkable as the house itself.

BritishCaicos I just booked Lake of Menteith Hotel for 2 nights. Of all the reservations, this is the only one so far that I can cancel, but 7 days prior. That only leaves me several days of wiggle room. What would you recommend knowing that I am coming from Portree on the 7th heading back to GLA for a flight on the 10th, and looking for 2 nights lodging before staying in Glasgow the last evening?

Thanks!

The Lake Hotel is lovely - Keep that booking! (British Caicos is talking about the town of Callander itself - which isn't really as bad as he claims ;) ). The Lake Hotel is walking distance to the little launch out to Inchmahome (take a picnic if the weather cooperates). Views over to the Island, swans at the bottom of the garden - you get the idea

There is GREAT scenery in the Trossachs.

janisj Thanks! Sounds lovely. Now booking Glasgow and I am done with hotels! Looking at the Dakota. Seems well located, and good bar/restaurant in case we cannot move a muscle.

Bracklinn Falls https://www.trover.com/d/1v4vG-brack...ridge-scotland
Inchmahome https://www.historicenvironment.scot...mahome-priory/
Inversnaid https://www.historicenvironment.scot...mahome-priory/
Killin https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co....art/index.html
Doune Castle https://www.historicenvironment.scot.../doune-castle/
Loch Katrine

Didn't see your post -- The Dakota is fine -- Would be GREAT if the Glasgow School of Art was open :( . Its about half a mile from Queen Street station.