These spectacular Italianate buildings (splendid both inside and out) were finished in 1886 and the…read morebeautiful Victoria Tower (75m in height) can be seen dominating the skyline from many parts of the town. Unfortunately, the Municipal Buildings remain uncompleted to this day as a local man, Robert Cowan, refused to sell his business in front of the tower. As a result, the shop was inserted into one corner but was destroyed during a bombing raid in 1941, leaving the unusual effect still seen today. The bricks are different to the rest and this area has become known as 'Cowan's Corner'. These days the Municipal Buildings include the Town Hall and various Council offices. There are a few parking spaces nearby but it's very difficult to find a space. However, there is a large public car park only about 5 minutes walk away.

I agree with the previous reviewer wholeheartedly. Ross Priory is one of the most overlooked…read morebuildings in Scotland. It is absolutely incredible. A must for visitors to Glasgow. Even the drink prices at the bar are reasonable. The only problem is, the priory is not anywhere near a train station. So you bring your car or get a train to Balloch then a taxi.

Beautiful architecture, a perfect setting, and several guest rooms make this a sublime wedding…read morevenue on Loch Lomond.

I've been here quite a few times throughout the years of visiting Oban. Honestly there's not much…read moreto it but a nice place to see. Something you should at least do once whenever you're in Oban. You could actually walk up, a little trek but nice. It's not far from the harbor. The walk takes you through the cute little neighborhood before reaching the top. Or, you could drive. Whatever is easiest. Once your you're reach it, there's a small parking lot with some home surrounding. It's a small amphitheater that has one of the best views of the harbor. I'm not quite sure if any events are held here like weddings and sort. But checking it out and seeing what's it's all about is quite nice. The large lookout is quite cool for pictures. There's a grassy knoll inside with a path and some benches. But if you walk through some of archway, you have the million dollar view of the town, harbor and island. We didn't spend much time as it was freezing and the wind sure didn't help....lol... They do have lights that shine out to enhance the tower which is quite nice. A nice stroll or a little break is always nice and to have a view like that, it's beautiful. Just taking the scenery in was spectacular. You don't need to spend a lot of time here but it's worth checking out. The views alone, totally worth it.

Worth the visit for the stunning views of Oban Bay! You can…read morewalk up from town or drive up the narrow roads where there is a parking lot just below McCaigs Tower with steps leading up. Built in 1897 by John Stuart McCaig, it immediately resembles the Roman Coliseum to most as it can also be seen when you look up from the town. It has a beautiful garden space in the center that is well maintained.

For historians, even those whose knowledge of Scottish "history" (used loosely) stems from multiple…read moreviewings of Braveheart (yeah, you know who you are!), there are several sites in Stirling that are must visits. The Old Stirling Bridge is one of them; the Wallace Monument and Stirling Castle being at least two others. Fortunately, Stirling isn't all that big, and you can easily walk between the three without too much effort, and you'll be rewarded with gorgeous river views, and a bit of actual historical education along the way, for your trouble. Just make sure you end up on the Old Stirling Bridge, and not the adjacent A9 overpass. It may look similar, but you wouldn't want to get run over by a lorry while daydreaming about Mel Gibson in a kilt and wielding a claymore. That would just be weird.

I thought I would have been able to walk to this while at Stirling castle but it looked quite a…read morewalk away so I optedW to snatch some quick photos while driving past on the coach which was just as thrilling for me as actually being on it and it is a stunning bridge as bridges go due to its history. Hopefully one day I might get the chance to actually stand on it, touch it, feel it but for now I'm happy to have this stunning photo.

Did a bit of a sightseeing drive that day and decided to stop by this Church. We've been in the…read morearea a few times before, but never visited this place. It's beautifully located at the Loch, right beside the A85. It was a busy day, but we managed to get a parking spot right by the church. There's street parking as well, but with the traffic going on it's good to have a chance to park on the offical (small) lot. It was built in 1881-6; and substantially extended from 1906 to 1914. Designed by the architect Walter Douglas Campbell. There are three chapels inside. One for me was especially interesting: The Bruce Chapel contains a carved wood and alabaster effigy of Robert the Bruce. We did spend more time than we've actually planned. It was just a very stunning place to take in. The architecture with all its detail, the couryard, the park, the views. It's a really amazing and impressive church. Even though well visited, I was still baffled that it isn't even more famous. Not that I did mind...overflowing with visitors it might be less impressive. But I just mean it does deserve a bit more spotlight. Donations are welcome, since there's no entrance fee. Dogs on leash are welcome outside on the grounds. There's also a little Café right next to - with toilets. Surely a beautiful place to visit when in the area.

This beautiful church is open to the public for no charge. Toss them a donation on the way out if…read moreyou like.

I'd normally start by telling you a little about the history. There's just way too much to…read moresummarize here. Just know that the castle was once in ruin like the others in the area. We can thank George Stuart (14th Earl of Moray) for repairing it by adding a new roof in the 1880s. That makes it very worth the £10 admission fee for an inside tour of the castle. It's worth a stop even if you don't plan on taking the tour. Have you ever seen the British comedy, Monty Python and the Holy Grail? It's the castle that you see in the funniest part of the movie when the French soldier is taunting King Arthur. There were other movie scenes filmed in and around the castle as well. What's cool is that there's a free transcript of the audio guide on their website that tells you where all the scenes took place. It was fun just to retrace the steps of the Trojan Rabbit on the pathway in front of the entrance. So funny! It's definitely a dry & satirical form of humor that I didn't quite understand the first time I saw it, but now I do. Duone Castle was also seen in Game of Thrones (the pilot episode) and Outlander. It's just a great filming location since it's out of the way, and along the River Teith. There are walking trails that will take you to the site of where a Roman fort used to be. The village is also nearby if you want to get a bite to eat. It was a nice stop on our way to Glencoe.

We were staying in the area for a few days. Didn't have much time though, got lots of plans. But…read morestill made some time to check out the famous Doune Castle. And since we are members of Historic Environment Scotland the entrance was free of charge. The carpark was full though - so we parked on the public lot behind the Co-op in town. An easy 10 minute walk away. The Castle is famous - many will know it from Game of Thrones or Outlander. But for me - and many many others - it will always be connected to Monty Python and the Holy Grail! The Audio-guide is even narrated by Terry Jones! The way the castle looks today is largely down to 'Scotland's uncrowned king'. Doune was the seat of Robert Stewart, the 1st Duke of Albany and Governor of Scotland. He acquired the castle in 1361. What we see today is probably only half a castle. Whether Doune was completed, and what might have been lost, is unclear. But even what remains today is very impressive and in great shape. If you do not feel like paying the entrance, you still can enjoy the outside views and even walk around it or enjoy the grounds outside. But going in (we took turns - since we were travelling with our Bulldog) is well worth the price and time. Monty Python used the exterior for shots as well as the interior. The courtyard inside is where the wedding party was taking place with John Cleese (as Lancelot) going berserk. But there's a lot more to see inside. Besides all the big halls inside, there are lots of small corners and hideaways to be discovered. As well as a lot of history to read (or listen to). A really good visit and not to be missed for fans or history buffs! Staff was wonderful, really friendly and welcoming. Surely a highlight on this years Road Trip through the UK. Highly recommended.

This castle tour takes about 2 hours and is filled with information about the long and colorful…read morehistory of it's life. It is privately owned and the owner has a tremendous knowledge of the history of the castle. It was a ruin that was rebuilt by his family.

The pretty village of Fort Augustus lies at the southern end of Loch Ness and is one of the most…read morepopular visitor destinations on the Loch. The village straddles the Caledonian Canal, the 19th-century engineering project that connects Inverness on the east coast to Fort William on the west coast. Fort Augustus is famous for being the other end of the Caledonian Canal, after the five locks that complete the journey, allowing boats to enter Loch Ness, and travel to Inverness and the sea Stretching for 60 miles, the Caledonian Canal connects Scotland's east and west coasts, running between Inverness and Fort William using a combination of lochs and man-made canals. It was built in by Scottish engineer Thomas Telford and opened in 1822. The canal was first mooted in 1773 but was not completed until 1822. It was 22 miles long and had 29 locks. The canal took 12 years to build and cost a staggering £910,000. It was never a commercial success, though it proved useful during WWI when the German navy threatened shipping off Scotland's north coast. It is now mainly used by leisure visitors. Watching boats pass through the canal on their way to and from Loch Ness is always a popular pastime and you can often find the canal locks lined with visitors. I was lucky enough to see another group of boats go through, both the locks and the swing bridge into Loch Ness

Most people come here to see the flight of 5 locks along the Caledonian Canal. It's a staircase…read morelock system that lifts the vessel up and out of the canal to a higher elevation of a nearby tributary. It works the same way by lowering them into the canal on the way back. We did catch a view of the locks as we passed over on the A82. It wasn't part of our tour due to the season. It's not operational in parts of autumn and all through December. Keep that in mind if you have your heart set on seeing how it all works. We were in Fort Augustus strictly to see the view of Loch Ness that is up the road from this attraction. The viewing point is just off of Oich Road, and it's a beauty. It sits at the mouth of the lake and directly in between the River Oich and the Caledonian Canal. It's where Nessie has been spotted, although she's obviously been all over the lake. Our guide even encountered a huge splash of water in this area during one of his tours that made him a true believer. It's quite possible given how deep the lochs are here. We didn't see her, but we enjoyed a fantastic view from this vantage point. It's so peaceful, yet I can see how it would be a little eerie at night. The sun was just starting to set. It brought a nice illumination on the lake. We hit it at a great time. There weren't as many tourists around. Only a few (including us). The town is quite small with a population under 1000. It's very walkable. There is a woollen mill and a few war memorials. There's also a place called the Clansman Centre that may be a seasonal attraction. Honestly, I think the scenery alone was worth the trip. The view of Loch Ness coupled with the Commando Memorial along the way back to Edinburgh was the perfect ending to an amazing day in the Highlands. Highly recommended!

The views in and around the monument are breathtaking, built on a beach on the shores of loch…read moreshiel, the monument leans ever so slightly. The monument commemorated those who died fighting the Jacobite cause and gave their lives to support Bonnie Prince Charlie in the Jacobite uprising in 1745 and it is around 18m high. I loved climbing the monument and standing beside the lone highlander and looking out across the loch as well as looking over to see the spectacular Glenfinnan Viaduct! The climb to the top of the monument is not that strenuous but it's narrow and the steps are steep and there's a heavy steel hatch door that you open (think it was supposed to be open already) and you climb up and enjoy the view which is definitely worth the effort and very rewarding! Think it was one of my favourite things to do in Glenfinnan!

The Glenfinnan Monument is located 3h from Edinburgh and 25 min from Fort William and marks a place…read moreof historical importance for the Scottish Highland Nation. I always planned to visit this monument, because of its historic meaning. Bonny Prince Charlie (Charles Stuart) raised his army around this monument at Loch Shiel. There he raised his banner. Originally he only arrived with about 8 comrades, but clans from all over the Highlands started joining his ambition to win back the throne of Scotland. Another Jacobite Rising was initiated from this place in time. It is a shame that it all ended with the battle of Culloden. It is a wonderful and peaceful place. You can oversee Loch Shiel, admire the nature surrounding the Loch and even enjoy watching the Harry Potter Train crossing the Glenfinnan Viaduct. The monument is part of the National Trust of Scotland. There is a visitor centre where you can enjoy some nibbles and drinks and browse the gift shop for souvenirs. It is a nice place to stop, admire and rest.