Glencoe, Fort William and Argyll

The west Highlands are the Scotland most people picture: steep mountains, sea lochs and a railway viaduct on a curve. The area runs from Glencoe and Fort William south through Oban to Kintyre and the islands of Argyll.

Last checked 11 November 2026. Timetables, prices and opening dates change: check the operator before you travel.

Glencoe

Glencoe is a deep glen between high mountains, about 2 hours 15 minutes from Glasgow on the A82 across Rannoch Moor. Driving through it takes 20 minutes; give it at least half a day.

• Buachaille Etive Mòr, the pyramid-shaped mountain at the head of the glen, is best seen from the A82 near the Kingshouse Hotel.
• The Three Sisters are three steep ridges on the south side of the glen. The main viewpoint car park fills by mid-morning in summer.
• The Glencoe Visitor Centre (NTS) explains the 1692 massacre and the geology, and has easy woodland paths.
• Glen Etive is a single-track dead-end road running 12 miles to the sea loch. It is narrow and busy in summer; do not park in passing places.
• Walks: the Lost Valley (Coire Gabhail) is a rough but popular half-day walk. Higher routes, including the Aonach Eagach ridge, are serious mountaineering.

Fort William and Ben Nevis

Fort William is a practical town rather than a pretty one, but it is the base for Ben Nevis, Glen Nevis and the Road to the Isles. It is on the West Highland Line, about 3 hours 45 minutes from Glasgow by train.

• Ben Nevis, at 1,345 metres, is the highest mountain in Britain. The main Mountain Track takes most walkers seven to nine hours up and down. Snow can lie at the summit into early summer, and the top is in cloud much of the time. Navigation in poor visibility is genuinely dangerous; go prepared or do not go.
• Glen Nevis and the walk through the gorge to Steall Falls (around two hours return) give a taste of the mountain without the climb.
• Nevis Range at Torlundy runs a mountain gondola to about 650 metres on Aonach Mòr. It closes for maintenance at times; check before you go.

Glenfinnan and the Road to the Isles

The A830 runs about 45 miles west from Fort William to Mallaig, the ferry port for Skye and the Small Isles.

• Glenfinnan (30 minutes from Fort William) has the Glenfinnan Monument on Loch Shiel and the curved railway viaduct. The NTS visitor centre car park is paid and full by late morning in summer. The Jacobite steam train crosses the viaduct at set times in its season, which usually runs from spring to autumn; check the operator's timetable if you want to see it, and arrive early.
• Arisaig and Morar have white sand beaches with views to Eigg and Rum.
• Mallaig is a working fishing port with the ferry to Armadale on Skye.
• Ardnamurchan Point, the most westerly point of the British mainland, is a long single-track drive west from the Corran Ferry, which crosses Loch Linnhe south of Fort William in a few minutes.

Oban

Oban calls itself the gateway to the isles. It is the main CalMac port for Mull, Lismore, Coll, Tiree, Colonsay and Barra, and about 1 hour 15 minutes south of Fort William or 2 hours 30 minutes from Glasgow. Walk up to McCaig's Tower for the view, visit the small Oban distillery (book ahead) and eat seafood at the harbour. Accommodation is limited and fills in summer.

Castle Stalker, on its islet in Loch Laich, is about 30 minutes north of Oban on the A828. It is privately owned; view it from the roadside lay-by or the café.

Mid-Argyll, Kintyre and the southern islands

• Inveraray on Loch Fyne has the Duke of Argyll's castle (seasonal) and an old jail turned into a museum.
• Kilmartin Glen holds one of Scotland's densest concentrations of prehistoric monuments, including standing stones, cairns and the hill fort of Dunadd.
• Islay is famous for peated whisky, with around ten distilleries. Ferries run from Kennacraig on Kintyre to Port Ellen and Port Askaig, taking about 2 hours to 2 hours 20 minutes. Book car space well ahead in summer, especially during the Fèis Ìle festival in late May.
• Jura, reached by a small ferry from Port Askaig, is one of the emptiest islands in Scotland.

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