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.

An interesting castle to visit. Lots to see inside, and some insights into family life there…read more Interesting architecture - and stunning views of the Sound of Mull and across to Morvern. It's well worth taking the time to view the gardens - not forgetting the many sculptures. But the best part of the Torosay experience for me was getting there - as Mull Little Railway goes from Craignure Pier direct to Torosay. So that makes it easy to visit Torosay Castle on a day trip from Oban. I would say it's worth visiting Torosay but it's not one of these historic buildings that you can visit over and over again - once you've seen it, you've seen it.

Just to let everyone know Torosay Castle was sold in 2012 and is now closed to the public and the…read morebuilding is or will now function as a private residence for a Swiss family. If any change will keep this site informe

It's just one of many viewpoints in the Scottish Highlands that can't be missed when traveling on…read morethe A82. The scenes are more breathtaking in person. It's where red deer stags can be spotted from time to time. If you're lucky. We just happened to stop along a pass in Ballachulish to take in the beautiful views of the mountain & valley. There is another pass nearby that is known as the Skyfall Road (or Glen Etive Road). It's the scene in the movie when James Bond meets M near Buachaille Etive Mòr. Many people take a detour off the A82 onto that road that is just past the Kingshouse Hotel. It's a narrow pass that runs along the River Etive. It's just one of many places to stop along the way for pictures. The scenery is amazing! Just take it all in.

Nice general store that sells a bit of everything. If you're looking for groceries, an ice cream,…read moredrink, news paper they have it.

On our visit to Iona we picked up a couple of sandwiches, fruit, bags of crisps and ginger beer at…read morethis well-stocked convenience store. The sandwiches tasted freshly made and the apple and orange we got were fresh too. We spent about £20 on our lunch. They had a little bit of everything. We found a quiet bench nearby and ate our lunch. It was much more peaceful than going to a restaurant. We would definitely like to return.

This is one of the viewpoints off of the A82 in the Bridge of Orchy that provides beautiful views…read moreof Rannoch Moor & Loch Bà. It's here where you can check out the peat bogs and rocky terrain that makes this valley so rugged. It's also the scene of the Raid on Rannoch during the Jacobite Rising in 1753. Currently, it's an untouched part of wilderness that has even been given a special conservation status. It's now a protected wetland. Although, many movie scenes have been shot here under strict environmental rules so that nature isn't disturbed. But seriously though, it would be difficult to even try to walk through parts of this moor without sinking into it. They do want you to be careful when hiking nearby. It's a must see experience on the way to Glencoe. It takes over about 50 square miles of land. The highway passes right through it, so you just can't help but see it all. Just stop and take it all in as you're stretching your legs after a long car ride. It turned out to be a beautiful day in the Highlands.

On the way to Glen Coe for some walks we stopped here quick. It's a popular viewpoint. But with…read morelots of space, so parking won't be an issue. The views here are indeed worth a stop. Nice Loch views with the surrounding hills and mountains. The scottish Highlands are a magical place. And this spot here gives you a glimpse of it. But it's not as spectacular as the nearby Glen Coe or even other parts of the Highlands. Worth a quick stop for some pics still.

This ended up being one of my FAVE castle ruins I visited in all of Scotland! Dunstaffnage is one…read moreof the oldest castles still standing in Scotland and the ruins are in great shape and very well kept. These ruins are very imposing and dramatic, a giant structure rising up out of a huge black boulder- looming over the Loch Etive and Firth of Lorne (both gorgeous bodies of water)!! The views from the castle wall are incredible! You can pretty much walk all around the ruins, on top along most of the wall, and all through the old dungeons ("donjon") and through the whole 3-story gatehouse! But my fave part was the absolutely lovely chapel ruins deep in the forest surrounding the castle! The ruins are just beautiful and the ambiance is eerie and haunting and perfect for spooky season! The history of this site is extensive - the castle itself was built back in the early 1200s. It has seen much violence and has more than a few ghost stories - even a tragic love story surrounding the chapel involving a murder at a wedding! It's the ancient seat of the Clan MacDougall and was even conquered by Robert the Bruce in the 1300s. The dungeon held a famous prisoner during the Jacobite uprising of the 1700s as well - so much history here! There's a gift shop at the entrance, bathrooms, and even a lovely beach a short walk outside the castle walls through a lovely stone arch. Entrance is £7 but I had an Explorer Pass which ended up being a great investment! The staff were fantastic - welcoming and enthusiastic about their history as all the Scottish folk I encountered had been (just truly lovely people!!!) Getting inside of both castle ruins and the gatehouse does require climbing some fairly narrow stone stairs and there isn't any handicap access that I saw so be aware. So, PRO TIP: Get the Explorer Pass - it was £35 and gets you into every Historic Scotland property including this one (as well as Edinburgh Castle, Iona Abbey, and many many more) and is good for 7 days. Highly recommend if you're visiting numerous sites. And if you want to learn more about this castle's haunted history, I made a YouTube video: https://youtu.be/xd6zzzOCFdo

Just right outside of Oban on the route to Fort William is this castle which seems strangely out of…read moreplace. It's a bit back from water but who am I to judge what looks odd now compared to when they built it. It just rises out of the ground on a mound of rock and you can walk through it. The steps are a bit narrow (guess they had smaller feet back then) but it's worth it to go inside and wander around. I could just see myself pouring boiling oil over the top onto the invaders :) It's 6 pounds for adults to get in and there is a small gift shop with all sorts of fun things to buy like haggis flavored crisps! Also on the grounds is the ruins of a small chapel which is nice to visit too. There are signs throughout the chapel and castle which give you information and history about Dunstaffnage. Very cool!

Fort William town is in Scotland and is situated near to an expanse of water, a truly beautiful…read moreplace to visit. There are some car parking areas around the town. The town of Fort William is full of character and the atmosphere is pleasant, it is on one main stretch and there are little roads and paths leading off it too. The town is attractive, clean, well maintained, friendly and just a nice size to browse. There are some places to sit. There are a good few shops to look around including groceries, clothing shops (lots of mountain wear, hiking, walking, rainproof jackets etc) gift shops, bars and a great selection of places to eat. We stayed for a week in Fort William and the restaraunts where all wonderful, the food was of a high standard and the welcome from the staff was superb. Really friendly people. If you go down to the water front you can have a very pleasant stroll and the views are awesome. Peaceful and relaxing.....bliss. If you are very lucky you may spot the odd seal. Fort William is in a great location to access the surrounding area which includes the awesome Ben Nevis range...you can go up via cable car to part of the range.....views are out of this worldincredible. Also there is the famous Loch Ness not too far away. A car is an advantage to get around this beautiful area. This has to be one of my favourite places to be and I Highly Recommend it.

Despite being a relatively small town, Fort William is a diverse town with loads of things to do…read moreand see. There is of course Ben Nevis, which has many climbing trails and a gondola cable-car. There are many local shops which sell tourist good and cute keep-sakes, as well as this there is a shopping centre which features some high-street stores. The area has a wide variety of places to stay and if you want to venture out, Loch Ness and Loch Lomand are each about 90 minutes away.