Road trip in Scotland #2: Edinburgh to Fort William.
After discovering Edinburgh on our first day, it is time to actually start our road trip through the Highlands.
That morning, we get up early: off we go Fort William, With the desire to leave the capital and finally discover the great Scottish landscapes that we had come to seek.
Our goal is simple: to reach Fort William before nightfall.
But we are in no hurry.
On the contrary, we decided to take our time, to stop when we feel like it and to enjoy the small villages and the landscapes that pass by us.
And this day is quickly becoming one of my favorites of the trip.
Our road trip in Scotland
This day corresponds to the second stage of our itinerary.
If you want to start the journey from the beginning:
Road trip in Scotland: Edinburgh
Then, the rest of our journey:
Road trip in Scotland #3: Fort William to the Isle of Skye
Road trip in Scotland #4: the Isle of Skye
Road trip in Scotland #5: St Andrews, the legend of golf
And to relive the whole journey:
Road trip in Scotland: memories of an unforgettable adventure
First step: Linlithgow
After about 45 minutes of driving, we decide to make our first stop at Linlithgow.
The village immediately attracts our attention and we set off to explore its castle.
The Linlithgow Palace It is one of the great historical sites in the region. Its construction began in the 15th century under James I, and the palace is particularly known for being the birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots. (visitscotland.com)
At the time, we were particularly impressed by its architecture and its location above the village.
Just next to it is also St Michael’s Church, which also dominates the landscape.
We take the time to stroll and enjoy this first stage before continuing on our way.
Linlithgow: a nice stop on the road
What I particularly liked about Linlithgow was the feeling of having already left Edinburgh.
In less than an hour, we went from the excitement of the capital to a much quieter environment.
That’s exactly what I love about a road trip: being able to spontaneously decide to take a break when we’re pleased with a place.
If you take this route today, Linlithgow still constitutes an interesting stop between Edinburgh and the Highlands.
On the road to the Highlands
We are back on the road.
And gradually, the landscapes change.
Cities are becoming rarer, spaces are opening up, and we are really starting to feel this sense of being in the Scotland we had imagined.
We pass through small villages, countryside landscapes and vast green expanses.
And then, on the edge of the road, we begin to see those who will become one of the great photographic stars of our journey...
🐮 The famous Highland cows
It’s impossible to do a road trip in the Highlands without passing by the famous Highland Cows.
With their long hair and their large horns, they are absolutely recognizable.
At the time, we had been fascinated by these animals that gave us the almost impression of seeing small Scottish yak herds.
We came across several of them along the road, especially in the landscapes of the sector of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs.
And of course, whenever we noticed them, we wanted to stop to photograph them.
If you come across one on the side of the road, however, be careful and keep a reasonable distance: these are beautiful animals, but they are not domestic animals!
Loch Lomond & The Trossachs
We are gradually entering the landscapes of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park.
The park is one of Scotland’s great natural spaces and brings together mountains, lochs, forests and villages.
It’s here that the road trip really begins to take on a different dimension.
The landscapes become much more wild and we have the impression that we can stop every five kilometers to take a photo.
And again: Don't be in too much of a hurry.
Lunch at Mhor 84
Shortly after the village of Callander, on the A84, we decided to stop for lunch.
Then we discover the Mhor 84, an address located in a traditional Scottish house.
And a big heart-to-heart for the decoration.
We loved the very warm atmosphere with its large wooden tables, its recycled furniture and objects, its old chairs, its school coats and this very British tableware.
And then there were the cakes…
Presented under glass bells, they were frankly difficult to look at without wanting to order everything!
The atmosphere was very cozy and we immediately felt comfortable there.
At the time, we particularly appreciated the value for money and the selection offered.
It was exactly the kind of place we like to find on the road: an address with character, where you want to stay a little longer than planned.
Continue towards the west coast
After lunch, we continue on our way.
The landscapes continue to change and we are gradually approaching the west coast of Scotland.
After about two hours of driving, we arrive at Oban.
And again, we decide to take a break.
Oban: our discovery of the west coast
Oban is a small, particularly pleasant port town.
Located on the west coast of Scotland, it is particularly known for its port and its whisky distillery.
We stroll along the harbor and simply enjoy the atmosphere.
After the countryside and the roads of the Highlands, it’s good to be back on the sea.
At the time, we also took the time to ask the VisitScotland tourism office for information about the possibilities for visits and activities in the region.
Today, Oban remains an interesting stop to discover the west coast and Argyll.
🥃 Oban and Scottish whisky
The city is also known for its distillery.
If you’re a whisky aficionado, this is an experience that can easily find its place in a route.
And if you like distilleries, you’ll also find another visit further down our journey that we really enjoyed:
Last part of the route to Fort William
Unfortunately, we have to leave already.
Fort William awaits us.
We pick up the road again and gradually follow it along. Loch Linnhe.
The landscapes are magnificent and we really feel like we have entered the Highlands.
A little over an hour later, we finally arrive at our destination.
Fort William.
Welcome to Fort William
Fort William is located in Lochaber, in the heart of the Highlands.
Today, the city is often presented as the «British capital of outdoor activities» and constitutes a particularly convenient base for discovering the region. (visitscotland.com)
It is also located at the foot of Ben Nevis, the highest peak in the United Kingdom, which reaches 1,345 meters in height. (visitscotland.com)
At the time, we had mainly chosen Fort William as a stopover before continuing our journey towards the Isle of Skye.
And it is indeed an excellent starting point for exploring the surroundings.
What to do in Fort William?
If you stay longer than us in Fort William, you can, among other things, plan to:
- the Ben Nevis for hiking enthusiasts; ;
- Glen Nevis and its landscapes; ;
- Steall Falls ;
- the Nevis Range Mountain Gondola ;
- the West Highland Museum ;
- a boat trip on Loch Linnhe; ;
- the famous Jacobite Steam Train ;
- a visit to the Ben Nevis Distillery.
VisitScotland currently lists these various opportunities in the Fort William and Lochaber region. (visitscotland.com)
👉 See the activities and excursions in Fort William on GetYourGuide
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🚗 Always BSP Auto for our road trips
For this adventure in Scotland, the car was obviously essential.
Today, for on our road trips, we always stop by BSP Auto.
This is a partner I have been using for more than 8 years and I regularly recommend on Travel Me Happy for car rentals. (travel-me-happy.com)
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Our route from Edinburgh to Fort William
To sum up this day:
Edinburgh → Linlithgow → Loch Lomond & The Trossachs → Callander → lunch → Oban → Loch Linnhe → Fort William
It was a beautiful day of driving, with several stops and especially a lot of beautiful scenery.
And that’s exactly what I love about a road trip: not just going from point A to point B, but enjoying everything that is in between.
Where to sleep in Fort William?
If you are preparing your trip today, you can compare the hotels, B&Bs and apartments available in Fort William.
The next part of our road trip: Fort William on the Isle of Skye
After this night in Fort William, we continue our journey towards the island of Skye.
And this day is going to bring us a nice surprise, because we are going to... We missed our ferry in Mallaig!
In retrospect, it was probably one of the best things that could have happened to us.
👉 Road trip in Scotland #3: from Fort William to the Isle of Skye
Then we will continue our discovery with:
👉 Road trip in Scotland #4: the Isle of Skye
And our visit to the famous distillery:
Comments
Ooh, but this little restaurant looks so cute 🙂 🙂 What a beautiful place it is, anyway!
Too bad for the hotel 🙁 But it’s true that it’s part of the game!Great, I’ll take note of the brunch/tea address. It looks very nice. The castle at Linlithgow looks sublime. I’ve seen quite a few cows from the Highlands, red, black and white ones, they’re gorgeous. Too bad about the hotel in Fort William, but as you say, when you’re traveling, there are always surprises!
Thanks for all these beautiful photos that make you want to visit the country! Another trip to plan during the year, when it doesn’t rain too much 🙂
What a pleasure to discover your road trip through your beautiful photos…
Hmm… The kind of trip that will be even more incredible coming from Asia! It’s gorgeous…
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14 October 2014
Really nice dossier on Scotland! I went there a few years ago too. I had the opportunity to visit Loch Ness Lake. With my friends we took a boat trip on the lake of Nessie. It left a mark on me! Of course we were on alert every time a wave came, the myth surrounding this lake made this trip very mysterious. A must stop was the shop of the lake to buy a plush toy of the little monster and watch a video that tells its story. You can even have your photo taken with the monster (a huge sculpture located next to the shop). I also loved shopping in Edinburgh. I had to buy a striped scarf and some Edinburgh biscuits that I can’t remember the name of!
Thanks for this beautiful article!