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Thursday Tour
    Glen Coe and Appin (Thursday)
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After we collect you, we'll head straight for Loch Lomond. We'll follow the River Clyde to Dumbarton Castle, then the River Leven to the town of Balloch, situated on the southern end of the Loch, and the gateway to Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. We'll then journey along the western side of the loch, passing over the highland fault line to take us into the Scottish Highlands. En route to Tarbet, we may take a detour past the quaint village of Luss. Weather permitting, you'll see castles aplenty, pass through the land where Rob Roy McGregor spent most of his colourful life and enjoy some spectacular views of Loch Lomond and Ben Lomond.

From Tarbet, the road twists and turns north along the banks of the loch to the ancient market town of Crianlarich.

After Crianlarich, we'll pass through Tyndrum, and then start the long climb north through Bridge of Orchy, see photo see photo past the Rannoch Moor to Glen Coe, see photo see photo see photo see photo site of the infamous massacre of 1692, when Campbell soldiers slaughtered members of the MacDonald clan.

After Glen Coe, the scenery becomes more gentle, with panoramic views of Loch Leven, the Ballachullish Bridge and Loch Linnhe. see photo

As we turn south again into the area of Appin (derived from the Gaelic for "Abbey Lands"), we'll pass through the beautiful villages of Kentallen and Duror. This area gained notoriety as the scene of the Appin Murder, as described in the novel, "Kidnapped" by Robert Louis Stevenson.

Heading further south, with views of the mountains of Morvern, and the islands of Loch Linnhe, we'll stop for a while on the hill overlooking the 14th century Castle Stalker. see photo Once home to the Stewarts of Appin and the Campbells of Argyll, this beautiful castle has had a chequered history, having been lost in a game of cards, swapped for a war galley, and used as a backdrop in Monty Python's film, "The Holy Grail".

As we continue south, we'll pass into the area of Benderloch, another ancient Campbell stronghold, with its castles and fortified houses, before driving over Loch Etive by way of the Connel bridge, and follow the road back to Tyndrum. On the way, we'll pass the 18th century Iron Works at Bonawe; the Pass of Brander (scene of an early victory in the martial career of William Wallace); Cruachan Power Station; Kilchurn Castle* and the beautiful Glen Lochy. see photo

At Tyndrum, we'll take a short stop, before heading further south, back through Crianlarich towards the northern end of Loch Lomond. We'll stop briefly at the Falls of Falloch, see photo before journeying past the village of Inverarnan, with its famous 17th century Drovers' Inn. We'll then join the western shores of Loch Lomond, back to Tarbet and past Balloch to our starting point.

Along the way, we'll fit in comfort breaks and photo stops, and will try to be as flexible as possible.



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