February 08, 2021
The West Scotland Road Trip To Skye and Back
The West Scotland Road Trip To Skye and Back
Distance: 850 km
Recommended Days: 8+
Trip type: Adventure, Culture
The road trip starts in Glasgow which is the largest city of Scotland and is noted for its illustrious past and medieval buildings & heritage. The next stop on the way is the village of Glencoe which is located in the north-west direction from Glasgow. In Glencoe, there are a lot of things to see & do like hiking the nearby mountains, or visiting the town’s Folk Museum to know more about Glencoe’s local history. On the last leg, you will visit the beautiful Island of Skye, Aviemore and the nearby Cairngorms National Park.
Glasgow
Recommended days: 2
What to see & do?
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
Drygate Brewery
Craft beer bars
Boating
Parking
Kelvinbridge SPT Park and Ride
Start your Scottish trip in Glasgow, the beautiful metropolis, also a port city, which is located on the banks of River Clyde in Scotland's western Lowlands amidst mesmerizing mountains and natural beauty.
Glasgow is popular for its numerous craft beer bars, & its Victorian and art nouveau architecture. Its architecture is the living proof of the city’s prosperity that grew by leaps and bounds during the 18th -20th Century when trade and shipbuilding were at their peak in Glasgow.
Glasgow is a cultural hub where you will get the chance to experience the best of art, music & culture through attractions like Scottish Opera, Scottish Ballet, National Theatre of Scotland & numerous museums like the GoMA or Kelvingrove Art Gallery. History buffs would love Riverside Museum and the Horseshoe Bar which has the longest bar in Europe! Surrounded by snow-capped mountains and exceptional beauty, a tour of Glasgow’s countryside & villages is also one of the many things visitors look forward to, especially when it comes to tasting some homemade haggis.
If you feel like, take a riverboat ride and explore the city from a different angle.
Glencoe
Recommended Days: 2
What to see?
Loch Leven
Lake, islands, castle.
Glencoe Lochan
Forested area, hiking trails, Scottish Highlands.
Parking
Park Ave
After Glasgow, next stop is the tiny & mesmerizing village called Glencoe. Located around 80 miles from Glasgow, you will be able to make the drive in 2 to 2.5 hours. There is an unclassified road somewhere between Glencoe village and the Clachaig Inn which leads to one of the most loved Scottish valleys - Glencoe mountain and the Pap of Glen Coe.
Full of photo ops, you would love climbing the mountain while soaking in its breathtaking views. This valley is of great historic importance; it is a product of volcanic activity & is said to have come in existence centuries ago. The valley is very popular with hiking enthusiasts; from 2 km to 20 km trails, you will have enough options for your hiking goals. Do not forget to see Glen Etive, Loch Leven, and Lairig Gartain.
Isle of Skye
Recommended Days: 3
Visit
Fairy Pools
Cascading waterfalls, natural attraction.
Dunvegan Castle and Gardens
Stately home, loch setting, incredible views.
From the village of Glencoe, make the drive of around 2 hrs 30 minutes to reach the well known Isle of Skye. It gets its name from Norse Sky-a which literally means “cloud island’.
Known for its awesome medieval castles & fishing gardens, the rugged island of Skye is best explored through hiking; hikes along the coastline are really famous. Other activities worth exploring here are boating on the local loch or just relaxing while observing birds especially eagles.
Exploring the Isle of Skye in a rental car can be a real joy for no matter where you go, you will be welcomed by picture perfect vistas. No wonder, many people compare it to the beautiful mountain ranges in New Zealand! The Isle also has many waterfalls at the Fairy Pools which you would love exploring. If you would like to taste the region's famous whisky do visit Talisker Whiskey Distillery.
Aviemore
On the last leg of the West Scotland road trip, it's time to visit Aviemore for which you will have to head back towards Edinburgh. On the way, make sure you visit the Cairngorms National Park before stopping at Aviemore. The National Park was established in 2002 and is a great place to enjoy activities like Bungee jumping, kayaking, safaris and biking.
After having a great time at Cairngorms National Park, you will be glad to find that even the little town of Aviemore is big on outdoor activities. Owing to its location (surrounded by mountains, rivers, lakes and valleys), you will be able to fill your time with a lot of activities like horse riding, snow sports atop Cairngorm Mountain, biking, swimming & wildlife watching. Aviemore has two cycle shops where you will be able to rent bikes for biking. River Spey is the best spot for swimming and river tubing. The circular mountain walk is a great way to spend some peaceful time amidst nature & observe wildlife especially the golden eagles.
Recommended Days: 2
Visit
Rothiemurchus
Woodland estate.
G2 Outdoor LTD
Parking
Street Parking
0 comments