Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Scotland

Not really sure where to post this so I will try here first.
We are planning a trip to Scotland early September after many failed attempts over previous years. Work, family, non commitment always seemed to stifle our plans. Anyway I have booked two nights in a hotel in Falkirk with arrival Sept 6th, l have booked a further night on Sept 20th. In between we are free as a bird if the weather plays ball so having trailered our Plus 8 up the A1 we will leave the car and trailer at the hotel and tour the south west highlands.
There seems to be plenty of advice on the internet about where to go and what to see but sometimes this can be plublished by local tourist sights trying to encourage visitors and doesn't always take you the to most worthy sights via the best drives.
I am asking if any of the collective have done such an escapade what their route was, do you take in any islands and was accoddodation easy to find. I am not trying to cover all of the west coast, I want to do realistic justice to an area with the time we have available.
I am sure I'm not the first to ask this question and you may be able to guide me to previous posts.
Thank you in advance.

I am jealous of your trip. Scotland is great! I loved the Isle of Skye (as you asked about inluding Islands).

First suggestion if in Falkirk for two nights visit the Kelpies and the Falkirk Wheel.

+1

If you do want to visit Skye then book accommodation now, it's very busy as are the roads.
Mull is less so but with the recent ferry breakdown crossing from Oban needs to be booked in advance. You can always cross from Kilchoan or the Corran and Fishnish without booking. Tobermory is well worth a visit and you can also do a boat trip to Staffa, basking shark spotting and there's a good chance of spotting a golden eagle if that interests you.

We do an annual trip to the Highlands and can recommend the following:

General Wade's Military road from Fort Augustus towards Inverness
The Applecross Peninsular Drive
The Road to the Isles taking in the seafront from Arisaig to Mallaig
The Isle of Mull and Tobermoray
Any of the Speyside Distilleries and Elgin Motor Museum
Day boat trip from Oban to Mull to Iona and Staffa
Jacobite Express steam hauled train from Fort William to Malling and return
The Hill House in Hellensborough (Charles Rennie MacKintosh)
If going to John O' Groats do a such at Castle of Mey
The Gear Glen and Caledonian canal (the lock flights at Fort William and Fort Augustus

There is so much to see that even with your length of stay you will have to prioritise

And the turntable ferry from Glenelg across to Skye.

I enjoyed a run through the Trossachs yesterday and as a Morgan driving roads they would seem hard to beat IF you enjoy twists and turns on a tree lined route that occasionally opens out to present scenes Lochs hills and Glens. That being the case might be worth searching out "The Dukes Pass" which is my favoured and somewhat testing local(ish) road. Perhaps best to watch out for ...err..tourists not paying attention to the road ....

There is also a boat trip while along the length of Loch Katrine that may be of interest.
https://www.qwant.com/?client=mobile-app&q=steam+powered+sir+walter+scott+loch+katrine&t=web
all of which is not too far from Falkirk. You will find plenty of info both here and on the WWW much of which may not be accurate in these Covid times. I suspect those who live here may be best to provide day to day info, as so much may have changed in so many areas with so many folk forced to holiday at home...?

https://www.visitscotland.com/see-do/landscapes-nature/national-parks-gardens/loch-lomond-trossachs/

Yesterday was a local big city Monday holiday and yet the Trossachs roads were not crowded which made for an enjoyable drive, lochside parking spots were busy, but I was out for driving pleasure and not for spending time sitting lochside looking at the view and taking in the sun.

The WEATHER can control your day to day enjoyment more than much else and in the West of Scotland to be prepared for anything would seem key.

Also Some have visited and never seen a midge, but perhaps best to be prepared..?

https://www.calltoadventure.uk/post/midges-in-scotland

Hope you have a great trip though too much planning can create it`s own pressures by setting deadlines to be here, there or wherever, perhaps picking some different areas to explore from a central point might work out moving that central point every few days or so...

Whatever you decide, I hope you enjoy your stay.

If you're stopping near Falkirk for the Kelpies and the Falkirk Wheel, I can thoroughly recommend staying at the Arden Country House 5-star B&B near Linlithgow. An immaculate house where you'll have the best breakfasts you have ever seen. https://www.ardenhouse-scotland.co.uk I know you have already sorted your accommodation, but just in case....
I agree 100% with recommendations for the Applecross peninsular, the turntable ferry across to Skye and, if you have time on your way through the borders, the Jim Clark Museum in Duns is well worth a detour, only small but perfectly formed!