August 2017 Trip to Scotland

[Jock Scot]

Crikey where do I start? In seventy something years, I still have not seen all that Scotland has to offer! You have had good suggestions already.

At Port Appin the Pierhouse Hotel is well worth a visit for a first rate meal, it will not be cheap!

At Ballachulish you could take a minor diversion to see Glencoe and then perhaps a slightly longer diversion to see the splendid scenery across Rannoch moor(about 20 miles),then about turn and head to Fort William(FW).

At Fort William, there is the Jacobite steam train trip to Mallaig and back(stunning scenery). Also, in the centre of town is the small but extremely interesting West Highland Museum.

If you want a fairly energetic 7/8 hour(there and back) stroll, there is a reasonable path up the UK's highest mountain, Ben Nevis. Please take sensible clothing and footwear as the weather can change at a blink of an eye to harsh conditions---even in August.

Some 12 miles out of FW, heading for Mallaig, is Glenfinnan. On the way out/back you will pass over the Caledonian Canal with a masterful example of water engineering of a series of locks called Neptune's Staircase and well worth a look

On the road (A82) out of FW, heading towards Inverness is the Commando Monument at Spean Bridge.Well worth spending half an hour there for the view alone.

Of course you (anyone else too) could give Jock Scot a shout too!

On the way up the Great Glen, Nessie might be sighted( don't blink or you will miss it!) A boat trip on Loch Ness is a thought, as is a stop at the ruins of Urquhart Castle .

At Inverness, you are spoilt for choice, but you have Culloden, Clava Cairns, Fort George(a must see in my opinion) a superb museum is within and the dolphins are usually to be seen from the ramparts, and Cawdor Castle are all within a twenty mile radius of each other.

Should you wish to head back to Edinburgh from Inverness down the A9, then look out for the ruins of Ruthven Barracks at Newtonmore, on down the road the Dalwhinnie Distillery, a few miles on is Blair Athholl(a must see) and a very nice shop just before it, the House of Bruar, that might on its own, take you all day to get round. They do a nice lunch too. Be Warned, that shop could cause the credit card to melt!

I think I had better stop there!