Day 4 - Inveraray Castle and Glencoe

June 05, 2017

Day 4 - Inveraray Castle and Glencoe

We are doing fair bit of drive and some detour on day 4 as you can see on the Itinerary map below. Glencoe is one of the most famous drive and you will not want to miss it. Glen Etive along Glencoe was one of the places I badly wanted to go. So let me explain why we ended up going on a detour.

The shortest drive to Glencoe is via A82, up to Tyndrum. Based on reviews on blogs and youtube, the drive up to Tyndrum via A82 can be very tough and one of the most difficult roads. A83 was one of the newer route created later on, as an alternative. I found Inveraray Castle (Inverarary PA32 8XE)
along the A83 to visit and as a resting point for lunch (they have a cafe). Don't be confuse with Invergarry Castle as the name is quite close and M (my hubby) got really confused at times.

Through A83, you will still end up at Glencoe and will not miss the greatest scenic drive. However, A83 will take longer than A82. If possible, you can also find book your accommodation near Glencoe Lochan. We are not able to get any accommodation at Glencoe and thus ended up at our castle hotel at Glengarry, which also explains why we drove a lot on Day 4. Glencoe accommodations are few and get filled up really fast.

Anyway, I did not regret going via A83 to Inveraray Castle because it is really one of the nicest castle we went.

Inveraray Castle

Inverarary PA32 8XE

It was drizzling when we reach Inveraray Castle but scenery is still nice though flowers are drooping. You should visit their gardens. The grounds are huge and full of imagination of medieval times or castle and knights. There is a small parking charge but it is worth the visit. In Scotland (even at rural areas), parking is not free unlike in New Zealand.

The entrance

Meadow full of yellow flowers

My kids ahead of me, wearing their hoodie jackets

One of the best photo I have taken

We originally intended to stop for a lunch at their cafe, after we finish shopping at their gift shops (they have really nice gifts and personalize quality tote bags) and it was about 11am. But as I explained earlier, we are on a tight timeline and thus we decided to postpone our lunch first, hoping we catch some cafe along our drive to Glen Etive (next stop).

Glen Etive

The drive to Glen Etive will lead you to drive along the most scenic drive along Glencoe and magnificent mountain views. There is alas no cafe along the drive but we ended up take away our lunch at roadside Fish & Chips. There is no internet connection at the time so I am not certain of the location of this roadside fish & Chips, but it is really nice.

Fish & Chip take away, eaten on our car

When we arrive at Glencoe, the rain was pretty big and the photos didn't turn out well.

There are huge mountains surrounding the roads 360 degrees and people appear to be really insignificant. The drive along glencoe is pretty easy.

Photo from the web - Glencoe roads

Glen Etive is a single track road along River Etive. It is made famous due to the 007 show Skyfall and Braveheart films location. The River Etive has many tributary streams which come together and runs into a sea loch, loch Etive. The route ends near a pier, which leads to "nowhere".

The single track road first leads down the south eastern flank of the ridge of Buachaille Etive Mor. The track road can be narrow at times but our 4WD can go through by driving slowly. The drive took us about 1.5 hours with some stopping and photo taking. We also open our car windows and enjoy the nice breeze since the track is quite lonely. At some spots we do stop for other vehicles to cross at the opposite direction.

One way track along Glen Etive

Due to the bad weather, the photo turn out "misty".

Lake at the end of the track

This is photo from the web, when Glen Etive is taken at good weather

Glencoe Lochan

PH49, 4HT

Ballachulish

Once out of Glen Etive, Glencoe Lochan (PH49, 4HT) is a short drive. There are 3 walks at Glencoe Lochan. We took a circuit around the small lake. Glencoe Lochan is located near to the village of Glencoe and is a easy walk around a beautiful lochan which lies silent nestling in amazing woodlands and mountain scenery. It was raining but we still continue to walk in the rain with our hoods up.

Ducks and her ducklings - my kids love to feed them with bread

I could imagine how nice this place is if it is in good weather, because the photos turn up okay even when it is pouring.

So, this is how it looks in good weather

Photo from the web

Notice how the photos are contrasting when it is in good or bad weather.

Finally, we drove to our castle accommodation. On the way, Glengarry Castle called us and said that Cameron House (our previous hotel) called them to tell us to contact them. I called Cameron House and was told by the concierge that our luggage was delivered to Cameron House after we left in the morning. This was despite that in our note to B.A, it was clearly stated that we will be staying in Glengarry on that day instead of Cameron House. Cameron House told us that they will be returning the luggage back to B.A since we will not be returning to the hotel on the same day. This was despite me telling Cameron House that I will be back to Loch Lomond after a week. Well, our luggage story still continue (read our other post)!

Glengarry Castle Hotel

Invergarry

PH35, 4HW

Glengarry Castle Hotel is a Victorian style mansion. There is a bit history to it as the hotel is about 200 years old. The old castle was destroyed during the war and the ruins are within walking distance to the hotel.

We reached about 6pm in time for a nice 3 course set dinner in the hotel small dining room. The food is tasty and service attentive.