After spending just a few days in the Lake District we drove towards Scotland. We left the Lake District via A591 and drove through A595 / A66 and then M6 North. At A74(M) we reached the Scottish border near Gretna Green, where we saw the ‘Welcome to Scotland’ sign. There was a quiet thrill in the air — that feeling of crossing an invisible line into somewhere new.
After Iceland, Scotland, in my opinion, seemed to be the most ruggedly, hauntingly beautiful place on earth. As we passed the sign, it felt like the landscape itself changed. Leaving the rolling green hills of the Lake District, the road north began to feel wilder and wider. The colours deepened — greener grass, darker hills, and softer light. The stone walls and winding lanes gave way to open stretches of moorland, where the sky seemed to stretch forever.
Driving into Scotland
Soon we followed the M74 towards Glasgow. Near Glasgow, we took the M73 then the M8 westbound, following signs for Erskine Bridge. The Erskine Bridge over the River Clyde marked the gateway to the Highlands. From there, we joined our main thoroughfare for the next few days – the A82 – which led to the main sites of the Scottish Highlands –Loch Lomond, Glencoe, Glenfinnan Viaduct, Fort William, Isle of Skye, Applecross, Inverness , Loch Ness and many more places ! Our first destination in the north was towards Loch Lomond and Balloch.
Day 1 : Loch Lomond and Balloch
Our Scottish adventure began at Loch Lomond. We stayed in the quiet little village of Balloch just next to the lake. Balloch is a charming little village that sits right at the southern tip of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. Often called the ‘Gateway to the Highlands’, Balloch is a village in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, at the foot of Loch Lomond. With its accessible location at the southern end of Loch Lomond and just off the main road from Glasgow to the West Highlands (A82), it is an important centre of tourism, especially from Glasgow. The village has a number of hotels, inns and pubs, and there are cruises from Balloch up Loch Lomond, and other services, including to nearby locations like Luss, another popular village, and the Renfrew Ferry service which links Glasgow to the Highlands.
Balloch
We arrived on a cold ,windy ,gloomy afternoon but spent a peaceful few hours wandering along the shores of the Loch at Balloch. The calm water of Loch Lomond mirrored the surrounding hills, and the gentle ripples of the Loch set the tone for our journey. Maybe because of the weather and because it was the end of the day , we found the loch or lake all to ourselves. Parking in an almost empty parking lot, we walked to the The Balloch Dock and Promenade.
The promenade stretched along the water’s edge, lined with benches, boats, and little kiosks which would sell coffee, ice cream, and souvenirs if they wouldn’t have been closed for the evening. A few families strolled by with dogs, their children riding bikes; a couple was sitting quietly, gazing into the waters of the Loch. The reflections of the water were so clear that the sky and loch blended into one wide sheet of silver-blue.
Just by the pier stood a tiny fort-like structure — a stone lookout tower that felt like something from another time. It wasn’t large as all the magnificent castles of Scotland, but it gave the place a sense of history, as if it once watched over the boats coming and going from the loch. From the top, you get a lovely panoramic view across Balloch Bay, the marina, and the rolling hills beyond.
The shores of Loch Lomond
Further along the dock, boats were moored neatly in the Loch Lomond Shores Marina, where you could join cruises across the loch or rent kayaks and paddleboards. The Loch Lomond Cruises set out from here regularly, gliding north towards Luss and the islands – a perfect way to see the loch from the water. There are said to be more than thirty islands scattered across the loch – some no more than wooded humps rising out of the water, others large enough to hold ruins, cottages, or forests of ancient oak. Behind the promenade, there was the Loch Lomond Shores Complex which again offered a mix of cafes, shops, and a small aquarium . All unfortunately were closed.
We sauntered through a canopied boardwalk darkened by lush green trees overhead, to a secluded beach where the waters of the Loch lapped gently on the shores. All we could see out in the horizon under the bleak, dying sun, were some enthusiastic canoeists smoothly and rhythmically steering the still ,tranquil waters of the lake ,all in sync with each other. Suddenly in front of us ,a ripple spread across the glassy surface. Then, from seemingly nowhere, a swan appeared from a corner of the lake – majestic and aloof, floating on the water . It paused for a fraction of a second ,interrupted by our presence but soon continued its journey, unperturbed, towards the reeds on the other side.
Day 2: Lochs, Glens, and the Harry Potter Viaduct
Next morning, unlike the day before, it was bright and sunny. We had a long drive before us and a lot to cover. Our day’s itinerary was mainly the Glenfinnan Viaduct but also the amazing scenery of the Scottish Highlands on the way and then the long, long drive to Applecross ; so it was daunting !!
Leaving Loch Lomond
We set off early along the A82, one of Scotland’s most breathtaking routes, winding our way north through forests, mountains and lochs.
But mainly lochs.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many lochs in any country in one day. After a while I lost count of how many -perhaps ten, maybe twelve ? They just kept appearing one after another, each more beautiful than the last.
I had seen the greenest land in Minnesota ,USA and our very own Coorg in India ; the bluest lakes and the most snow-capped mountains in Switzerland , even the tallest ones in the Himalayas ; but nothing quite compared to this. Seen separately they might not have meant much but here in the Highlands, the green mountains and valleys , the vast lochs or lakes, the rivers ,streams and waterfalls amidst these vast green mountains and valleys , wrapped in the dark, brooding weather all turned together into a wild, untamed kind of beauty that felt utterly magical !!
Loch Lomond
The first Loch we stopped to see was of course Loch Lomond, but at a different spot. In fact the Loch was so huge and so breathtaking from different angles that we had to stop at least twice to enjoy its beauty. The sunny day helped us to enjoy it more but as soon as we were done with Loch Lomond , within minutes the weather drastically changed from sunny to cloudy .The warmth of the sun gave way to chilling cold and that weather stayed throughout our drive.
After a long stretch leaving Loch Lomond we found the The Green Welly Stop and Londis, surrounded with an abundance of potted flowers of different shades and hues – a cute convenience store where we stopped to have coffee and biscuits. The wild Scotland scenery became wilder from here.
The Glens of Glencoe
After replenishing ourselves we headed into the Glencoe valley – considered one of the most romantic valleys in Scotland, it seemed to define the Scottish Highlands. I guess a little explanation comes in here. A ‘glen’ is simply a narrow valley, typically one that has a river or stream running through it. The word comes from the Scottish Gaelic ‘gleann’, meaning ‘valley’. I’ve also forgotten to mention that the meaning of the word ‘loch’ is nothing but ‘lake’. ‘Valley’ and ‘lake’ are both very common words but surprisingly when they are connotated to words such as ‘glen’ and ‘loch’ they seem to take on a whole new life – sounding more poetic, more mysterious, and somehow more deeply connected to the landscape of Scotland itself.
Glencoe valley
The long stretch of the Glencoe valley seemed to be like heaven on earth. We were greeted by the uniquely shaped triangular mountain -the Pap of Glencoe .Vast expanses of land painted in countless shades of green- the soft green of the moss, the deep emerald of the grass and the dark velvet of distant pines. Towering mountains, cloaked in the same rich hues, rose on either side. Thin silver threads of waterfalls cascaded gracefully from them. Every few minutes, cascade after cascade continued revealing themselves from these mountain slopes at regular intervals. A narrow river -the river Coe– glistened beside us, winding its way through the landscape. Mist clung to the peaks, drifting like slow-moving clouds, and the air felt cool and earthy, filled with the scent of rain and grass.
Loch Tulla
We passed lochs with quaint names like Loch Lochy and Loch Oich but stopped at Loch Tulla. It was a relatively small but peaceful loch tucked away beside the road, just off the A82 near Bridge of Orchy with the hills rising behind. It’s roughly 2–3 miles long, with calm, clear waters that reflected the surrounding hills and moorland. There was a small parking area and a viewpoint right by the road, making it easy to stop for a quick break. After soaking up the scenery and taking N number of photos we continued our drive.
The Three Sisters
Next – situated in the very heart of Glencoe – we reached the legendary Three Sisters Viewpoint. From this easily accessible road-facing viewpoint you can see the distinctive peaks of Aonach Dubh, Beinn Fhada and Gearr Aonach together known as the Three Sisters of Glencoe. This is the most photographed landmark in the Glencoe Valley.
Though parking space was limited and we had to struggle for a spot, the trouble was well worth it. As soon as we left our car we were greeted by the sweet sound of bagpipes. A solitary bagpiper was playing some lonesome Scottish ditty which blended perfectly with the surroundings. Beneath us were blooming wildflowers of various shades.
Loch Achtriochtan
We could see Loch Achtriochtan at a distance, lying beneath steep mountains, close to where the ridge of the Three Sisters were visible and the three steep, majestic Sisters themselves stood in front of us, side by side , like silent sentinels, cloaked in velvety green, echoing the bagpipers soulful melody. Though we were there for only a little while, to truly appreciate the beauty of the region one should participate in the multiple walking trails available.
As soon as we passed the Three Sisters we came into the vast expanse of the dramatic valley of Glen Coe. The Three Sisters are located on the northern ridges of a large mountain massif called Bidean nam Bian. Loch Achtriochtan – an expansion of the River Coe– is located at the foot of these immense mountains. The River Coe flows through the glen and both feeds and drains into Loch Achtriochtan.
What made this vast expanse all the more stunning was the picturesque white cottage – Achnambeithach Cottage – nestled amidst all this beauty. The cottage’s remote, dramatic, and picturesque location makes it a favorite subject for landscape photographers and tourists traveling the A82 road. It is believed to be a private residence, possibly owned or used by the Glencoe Mountain Rescue team or a local estate keeper/shepherd, which would explain the Land Rover Defender often seen outside in older photos.
Movies like Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban , Skyfall and Monty Python and the Holy Grail were shot in this gorgeous valley of the Glencoe region .
Fort William and Ben Nevis
It wasn’t before passing through the village and town of Glencoe and Fort William respectively, did we reach the Glenfinnan Viaduct. After a short break at the tiny ,picturesque village of Glencoe, lying beside the stunning Loch Leven we entered into Fort William facing tortuous traffic which was totally unexpected .The upside was getting gorgeous views of Loch Linnhe situated in the town and clear views of Ben Nevis-the highest peak of the UK and the more impressive Aonach Mor – from just sitting in the car.
