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.

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.

There is no shortage of wonderful places to visit in Scotland. The Fairy Pools are a great option…read morefor those who would like to do some moderate hiking while on the Isle of Skye. The Fairy Pools are on the far side of the valley from the parking area (which is also where you will find bathrooms) necessitating that visitors hike down into the valley and then up on the far side to get to the first waterfall that marks the beginning of the pools. The trail is 2.4 kilometers / 1.5 miles. The steepest portion of the hike is from the parking area to the "bottom" of the valley. This is not a difficult hike for most people, but can be taxing for those who don't get out as much as they might like, and may pose issues for folks with mobility concerns. The valley (Glen Brittle) is at the foot of the Black Cuillin mountains making even the view from the parking area stunning. Things to know: * As you work your way up past the first of the pools, take a moment to look to the other side of the path now and again. If the faeries favor you, sunlight and mist coming off the falls and the mountains may create an ongoing rainbow for your enjoyment. * The toilet facilities have limited hours so plan accordingly. * There is little in the area of the pools, part of what makes them a spectacular visit but means you will want to bring along anything that you might think you need on your outing. * The Isle of Skye is extremely popular during the tourist season, and the Fairy Pools are a big part of that. Plan to spend a lot of time dealing with traffic if visiting during that time. Our visit was early November - cool, typical Scottish seasonal weather, and while a good number of people where there, it was not crowded.

We drove on a single-track road to get here. We came in the late afternoon and parked in the lot-…read more£8. It's 2.4km to get to the first main waterfall, which is the highest fall and deepest pool. You can walk further down where the crowd thins to see more pools. The water was nice and clear.

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.

So not one for a rainy day, so we decided to go yep on a rainy day, however, it did have its…read moreupsides. Once again we traveled on the long and winding single track road to get here but the castle which is now a b&b (we didn't go inside) has a lot more too it that you think. We had a little trip to see the standing stones, about a 1 mile walk through fields and uneven paths take you to this very old stones, however we didn't get too close as they were being guarded by the highland cows, we then headed up to the castle it's self which stood high up overlooking the land with some stunning views. Once we had done the castle we headed over to the coffee shop and gift shop, we were recommended the soup to which we had and now I must say it was one of the BEST tasting soups I have ever had and the chocolate based dessert was delicious too, well worth a trip especially if it's raining. There is a selection of local produce to buy as well as some gift based items as well. Defo worth a visit for the whole family but best done on a sunny day.

Booked the castle for a March 2020 visit, however COVID closed down UK, so we could not visit. Had…read moreto cancel the visit, but got an email that said "I confirm I have cancelled your reservation, we are offering to carry deposits forward to a booking in the future." Tried to book a stay using my deposit, but got "I am afraid I cannot carry forward your deposit as too long has lapsed now." Well, guess I will not be visiting. Seems shortsighted to not credit me for money I spent, since I would have spent a good deal more, but I guess business is good so no need to honor what you say.

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!

We thoroughly enjoyed our tour of the castle and wandering the gardens next to it. We spent at…read moreleast an hour going up and down stairs to see the bedrooms, living quarters, art, and modernized kitchen. The audio tour, available in other languages, was especially helpful. At the end of the tour, when we handed back our audio device, we got our picture next to a Scotsman. He was a little stiff, but that's probably why he let us pose with him!

We toured the gardens first. They're quite beautiful even tho the maze was closed and no longer…read moreaccessible to the public. Then we did the audio tour of the castle. There were many interesting rooms but the most interesting one for me was the dungeon. The areas I visited did not have a lived in feel altho much of the castle is off limits to the public. The gardens are really much better than the interior simply for their stunning masses of color and quirky objects around the corner and down the lanes. We had lunch in the small cafe. There's also a gift shop at the end of the audio tour. It's worth a visit if you're in the area.

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.

After driving past the entrance to the physical feature named the Old Man of Storr and seeing how…read morebacked up traffic was, I opted for a different approach to observing the landmark. On the night of Sunday 14 July 2019, I decided to go for a drive and see the sunset (which was about 10:08 p.m.) and see the moon rise. I watched the sun set from the upper West area on the Isle of Skye, then approached the landmark southbound at about 10:48 p.m. The rocks were visible from up the coast, so I pulled my rental car over to the side of the road so see if I could take a few landscape pictures with the protruding rocks visible. Upon exiting my car to find a good angle, I encountered a male urinator in my way. Passing the person, I was able to get the from-afar pictures I was hoping for. The landmark is marvelous up close as well as from afar. Subtracting out the vertical urinator, it was a good experience and lovely physical feature in the moonlight.

A must see if you are on isle of skye. There's a parking lot with plenty of spots. It does have a…read morecost , but you get six hours for a few dollars. The hike itself is a couple of miles and does have quite a bit of vertical gain, so just be prepared for that. There's an alternative route for the first part, which has an easier grade and just takes a little bit longer. Everything about the hike is picturesque, and it is worth taking the time to make it to the end of the hike to the viewpoint. Bring a rain jacket because the weather can be unpredictable. Overall, highly recommend this hike.