Wallabies and Castle Aaaargh: My Time in the Scottish Highlands

I went to visit a Canadian friend who is currently living in Glasgow but will very shortly be making the move back home. I have visited her several times over my year here, even calling her warm little flat by the train station home when I first arrived, and each time we discussed doing some type of day trip together but always putting it off til the next time.  Then when she announced she would be leaving the UK, I booked my train tickets to visit her one last time* and this time we were going to make good on our promise.

We booked a day trip bus tour with Rabbie's (named after Robert Burns) and left her warm little apartment at 8am on the Saturday morning bound for our adventure.

Our first stop was Glencroe (not to be confused with the more famous Glencoe). The day had started out sunny if a bit cool in Glasgow, but by the time we headed into the Highlands, the valley's (Glen means valley) were cool and filling with mist and settling clouds. 

About 5 minutes after we arrived at our first stop the clouds moved in completely and you couldn't see  a single sheep below.

This is the 'Rest and be thankful' spot, here I'm doing both.

Single coffee shop at the top of the valley

 We spent much of our day driving along Loch Lomond and the tour guide told us about the area. Did you know there are wild Wallabies in Scotland? In the 1940's the Colquhoun clan brought them to Scotland and today they roam free on an island on Loch Lomond

Castle Inveraray

Our next stop was Inveraray on Loch Fyne. We were told all the buildings in the centre of town look the same because they were all built at the same time. When the Duke moved into the castle he thought the town was too close for his privacy, so he tore it all down and built it all again, just a little further away.

When you see a man in a kilt in Scotland, you have to take a creeper photo. Just have to.

The next stop was a 16th century castle ruin that only had a small little sign hinting to it's splendor. The path was lined with beautifully smelling flowers. I kept stopping and taking a deep breath.

Kilchurne Castle on Loch Awe was once it's own island, but in 1817 the water levels were altered and it now is attached to the mainland. Today when the loch levels rise, access to the castle ruins are restricted.In 1760 the castle was badly damaged in a storm knocking off a turret tower which still rests in the centre of the courtyard.

Then it was time for lunch. We had come prepared with a packed lunch, including snacks, but when we heard we were stopping in Oban--the seafood capital of Scotland--we knew our paper bag lunches were going to be left untouched.

We strolled Oban, checking out restaurants and chippies, finally settling on a seafood shack at the end of the pier. There were delicious smells coming from the tiny kitchen and a massive queue. This was the winner.

We shared a smoked salmon sandwich with fresh garlic scallops. Well worth the wait.

These little guys were still alive, but not for long.

Glencoe was breathtaking. The mountains towered over us on either side of the road and the valleys plunged deep below. The story of the Massacre of Glencoe made the area that much more surreal for me.

The 3 Sisters (only 2 here)

(the 3rd Sister)

This is Castle Stalker, recognize it?

The last stop of the day was on the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond. We had come back to where we had started our tour along the shoreline of this loch. We had such a fun time with Rabbie's and with our fantastic tour guide and bus driver, Nicola. 

Well that was a quick trip through the Highlands. Thanks for reading through this mammoth of a post.


*Hopefully one more trip before they're gone for good!
Fun travels!

I was not compensated for this trip or am connected with Rabbie's in any way. I just enjoyed my bus tour of the Highlands and wanted to share my trip with you.