We had a reservation on the 9:45 a.m. ferry back to Kennacraig so we were up and ready to go fairly early. Breakfast in the hotel was okay again.

Yesterday, we decided that we wanted to stop at Inveraray Castle on the way to Loch Lomond since it was right on the route. I purchased tickets online, but had no way to print them out. I asked at the hotel reception desk if they had a business center where I could print the tickets. The clerk offered to let me use her computer to print the tickets. I have never had that allowed before, but perhaps it is easier and less expensive than maintaining a separate computer for the customers to use. I took just a few minutes to pull up my email and print the confirmation email with the tickets, then I was back out of her office and out of her way. The service here has been very good and unexpectedly helpful.

We checked out of the hotel and made it to the ferry terminal in plenty of time, but we weren't first in line this time. We spent the time on the ferry mostly reading and a little bit of watching the scenery go by. There were no unruly children on this ride.

Getting off the ferry at Kennacraig, we retraced some of Wednesday's route up as far as Lockgilphead, then turned northeast and headed for Inveraray. Inverarary is a spectacular traditional-looking castle that is currently in use as the home of the 13th Duke of Argyll of the Clan Campbell. It was used in filming the Downton Abbey episode when the Granthams went to visit their northern cousins. The castle sitting on the banks of Loch Fyne was very busy with tourists. We had lunch in their cafe first then went inside for a self-guided tour. We entered through a door on the north side. The main entrance is not used for the tours. They have a huge display of guns, swords and spears in several of the public rooms, and displays of beautiful furniture, glamorous costumes, household items and children's items in other rooms.

After visiting the castle, we headed for Loch Lomond and the village of Luss for the night. The hotel is right on the highway, and I recognized it since I saw their photo of the entrance online. Our room for the night is in the beach house just across from the main inn. We got there by going through a short tunnel under the highway and parked beside the building. There is no obvious correct place to park, so we just left the car where we think it will not get hit during the night. There should not be very much traffic here. We arrived fairly early and decided to walk the footpath along the banks of the loch. It is just beautiful. When we returned from our walk, we had chocolate-covered strawberries and prosecco delivered to the room as part of the Romantic Getaway package I purchased from the hotel. Dinner is included, too, so we went up for dinner not long after. The restaurant is more like a pub or chippy shop than a true restaurant. We had good food and finally found the deep-fried Mars bars we had heard about on some travel shows back home. Had to order one! It was okay, but after the fried fish and fried potatoes and fried onion rings, it was just too much grease for one meal. But now we know what they are like.

Tomorrow we leave Scotland for the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.