Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park
A Day’s drive from Edinburgh.
Our one day drive took us 2–3 hours each way (with photo pit stops) from Edinburgh to Inveraray Castle. Inveraray Castle is the home of the Campbell Clan of Scotland. It is open seasonally, so be careful not to go during the winter or early spring. Loch Lomond and the surrounding areas are open all the time and have many different tourist attractions in the area.
The Drive
Our main goal was to get the castle. We took the less direct route to get there so we could avoid the motorways and take the more scenic A and B roads. I would recommend this, but past a certain point, you will be taking A roads anyway and the views are really in the mandatory part of the drive anyway. So you won’t be missing much if you just follow the navigation’s shortest route.
While the castle is beautiful, the real attraction is the drive. The roads wind through, up, down, and around the mountains of the national park and the views are incredible. I would recommend pulling over and talking short walks off the roads if you spot something in the distance. We found some of the best views and hidden things like the waterfall pictured above as well as some wildlife just off the beaten path. Bring your hiking boots though, the ground is often wet and squishy. A change of socks and potentially shoes too is needed if you stray too far.
The town Inveraray is small with a few cafes, pubs, and bed and breakfasts to go with a small residential area and the castle itself. The location right on the water of one of the many lochs in that region makes for outstanding views of water, mountains, and forests.
Inveraray Castle
I mentioned in the opening paragraph that the castle is seasonal. We found that out the hard way even though it is not listed as such on the website. Luckily, we could still walk all around the castle and explore the area. We got a few good photos, but unfortunately could not go inside.
If you go get to the castle when it is closed, be sure to keep walking all the way around the castle. There are closed gates, but you can walk around and get up close to the castle if you keep walking. There are also nice views of a few bridges and a nice walk around the castle grounds.
More In Scotland
We took some other day trips around to some national parks, historic towns, and major cities too. Check those out before planning your trip as well. Let us know your favorite spots in the comment section.
