Left Knockderry House and heading to Fort William today. First stop was breakfast at Inveraray at a cute little cafe called Brambles. A walk along the street and visit to the tourist info to get some valuable information and then off to the Inveraray Castle. Inveraray Castle is the ancestral home of the Duke of Argyll, Chief of the Clan Campbell. The Castle and the gardens and surrounding woodlands are stunning. Next we stop at Auchindrain which is a small farming settlement that was established in the 1500s and basically all but abandoned in the 1890s. Unlike most this community has been well preserved and is open to visit to see the living conditions where the family lived under the same roof as the livestock. It was raining and very wet underfoot so we didn't spend too much time at the sites. Since we are fairly wet anyway we decide to walk to the ruins of Carnasserie Castle. It's a steep walk through farmland and the Castle is perfectly placed atop the hill. So now we have explored a still intact Castle and a ruin. Next stop on our drive through picturesque farmland on narrow winding roads is Oban. A large fishing port on Loch Linnhe. When in a fishing town it's only right to have the catch of the day at the 'best' fish and chip shop in Scotland! Onward now to Dunstaffnage Castle and Chapel. Also a Castle in ruin but significant in its place in history as the original Castle was built by Duncan MacDougall in the 1200s, captured by Robert the Bruce in 1309 and Flora Macdonald was imprisoned here after helping Bonnie Prince Charlie escape Scotland. It's strategic location dominated Loch Etive. The Castle is built on a huge rock foundation and preserved enough to get the layout. The Chapel is a short walk through the woodlands. It's raining steadily now so we head towards our accommodation at Fort William via Glencoe, a beautiful valley I'm sure on a less rainy day! We are staying at Factors Inn on the grounds of Inverlochy Castle. It's quiet and Cosy. We drive back to Fort William for a roast dinner at The Crofters. Fort William is a busy place due to it being the start/finish of many walking trails through the Great Glen.
Factors Inn and Cottage Torlundy Fort William 2 nights