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.

Newark Castle is very well preserved and stewards are always very welcoming and helpful. The…read morehistory is told in the upstairs gallery and it is a very interesting history indeed. One of the bedrooms has original wood panelling bed recesses which show grafitti of the time carved into them. It's quite shocking and sad that graffiti of this time can be found daubed on the outside castle walls! Inside the castle scottish music is played in the grand hall which gives a sense of what it was like at the time. The castle is reputed to be haunted - ask at the gift shop and I'm sure the steward will tell you the whole story as well as show you some seriously spooky pictures!

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 think they done well ride my bike from glasgow to gourock without havin not having a track.read more

Probably the place I most enjoy returning to. There are a lot of nostalgic reasons why I love this…read morespot but, those aside, it is a beautiful place to walk - just over a mile long with glorious views across the famous River Clyde to the mountains of Argyll. It's away from the main road so not too busy, just a few cars, and the pavement is very wide, as is the road. The large detached houses on the other side are very fine and there are trees and a few attractive flower beds here and there. It's nice to hear the river lapping against the edge of the wall beside the railings and watch the ships and boats going up and down. Video link: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=wmUWdKTFVP8

Rainbow Bridge is an integral feature of the Art Park. Located within the grounds of House For An…read moreArt Lover, the park was completed in 2008. I dig bridges, and few more so than this one. I've spent many an hour playing on it with my nieces and nephew - the kids love the perspex, multicoloured panels - they rotate and provide a great opportunity to play hide and seek. I'd highly recommend a visit - especially to burn off some of the kids energy!

My mom, sister and I visited Castle Dunans on a trip through Scotland in October. This was my…read moreabsolute favorite place we went. It was raining a little bit but the grounds were absolutely gorgeous. The bridge and river were as lovely to look at the castle. The castle, having been damaged by a fire, is a beautiful ruin at the moment. The owners are working diligently to repair it. Gordon was our wonderful tour guide and he was so knowledgeable about the property and the area. I had a fantastic time and am so looking forward to coming back to stay in the castle once it is restored.

Cooler castle than I was expecting with lots of rooms to explore and a great view at the top. Only…read moreunexpected downside was how much worship of the MacLeans you had to wade through on the inside. The unexpected upsides outweighed that with a very nice tea room (the Victorian sponge cake was genuinely amazing) and a much-better-than-expected coastal walk around the castle with both impressive views of the castle itself and the surrounding area. We came here as a way to entertain the kids during a drive through the mountains parts of Mull for us to take in the amazing Scottish scenery. We had low expectations, but were really pleasantly surprised. The castle tour was both informative and had some really impressive rooms to enjoy. We wish we had more time to read everything, but small kids (4 and 7) give you limited time to stay put and read. My wife did wind up buying books about Mary Queen of Scots to learn more after we left though. The top of the castle had really impressive views, but the walls were high enough that I had tp lift both of the kids up to see. The views from one of the rooms in the castle looking out over the bay were really impressive though without needing to lift anyone up. After exploring the castle, we went to the tea room, where the kids got hot chocolate while we had espresso and Victorian sponge cake. The Victorian sponge cake is among the best desserts we've had on our trip in Scotland and we've been looking for more of it ever since we had it. The we took a long, nice walk down toward the water and around the castle with great views and some pretty cool stretches of walking through weird fern forests that were tall enough to even block my views at times.

Clan MacLean is part of my family tree, and visiting the ancestral castle was a magical experience…read more I was deeply moved by the castle's commitment to preserving and teaching about the clan history, but also by the clear efforts to provide outreach and a central meeting point to the wider MacLean family around the world. Displays throughout the castle and grounds were educational, interesting, and connected historical events to living generations. Meeting Sir Lachlan, the current chief of the castle, was a highlight; he was so generous with his time and so funny! His dedication to creating a meaningful connection to ancestry was evident and moving. We heard from another couple who had been on their way to the castle on foot, and a car had pulled over and offered them a ride, and it was Sir Lachlan on his way back from running an errand in town. If you're part Maclean, and visiting Duart to connect with this part of your heritage--yes, do it, highly encouraged; I also have to recommend staying at the lovely Pennygate Lodge in Craignure when you do. I met a distant relation who was also staying at Pennygate to finally see the family castle, we had a lovely chat, and I felt like part of a century-long goal to create a massive family-reunion had come true! You're also missing out if you don't get a pint at the Craignure Inn, and ask the locals if they have any stories to share about the castle or Sir Lachlan. Hilarious castle stories at the local pub was the perfect way to end a magnificent trip.

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.

I mean in reality, they're just toilets. The sad thing is that the women's side of the toilets was…read moremodernly built circa 1990- very uninspiring, very much like any other loo, but the men's side was where the party was at! There weren't any men around (except my guy) so the attendant told me I could go in to the men's side to have a look. Wow, what a difference compared to the woman's side. Marble everywhere, very decadent. I definitely felt like I'd stepped back in time, and could imagine the type of people who may have frequented these public toilets. A bit of luxury on the island indeed. For 40p, you can use the toilets, which a bit steep, but once you're inside, you can understand where the money goes.

The guys toilet it great but the ladies is something out of 1990's and a real disappointment. 5…read morestars for guys and 3 for girls sadly.