Scotland Off the Beaten Track

Argyll & Bute | Oban | Distillery | ★★★

Half past nine on a July morning, the doors open and tourists pour in! With a central location in one of the Highlands' most popular towns, Oban Distillery is always going to have a captive audience. Founded in 1794, this is one of Scotland's oldest and smallest distilleries - in fact even older than Oban itself, with the town growing up around the distillery. Why small? Production buildings have always been hemmed in by cliffs and adjacent houses, preventing expansion. Instead - so they say - Oban Distillery focuses on quality rather than quantity, producing a rich, mostly lightly-peated malt which falls somewhere between the typical Highland and Island flavours. Tours of the production areas are a bit brief but deal with the crowds quite well. Numbers are limited so you still get a good chance to see what's going on, and regular slots continue late into the evening during summer to squeeze in as many people as possible. No phot…

Various locations | Tour company | ★★★★★

When travelling around Scotland exploring new places, we can't help but notice the popularity of guided tour companies. For many visitors this is the obvious way to see the country, be it for one day or several. But I was sceptical. Could it be fun being stuck on a bus full of strangers, shepherded around roadside viewpoints with fellow passengers getting in the way of your photos?

The answer is an unequivocal yes. Having spent a day with Rabbie's - one of the giants of the Scotland tour company scene - I can confirm that this is an excellent way to see the sights. A fixed, guided itinerary takes the stress out of holiday planning and lets you tick off must-see attractions without needing to hire a car. Read on for a trip report; all photos on this page were taken on the tour.


The west end of George Square was bathed in morning sunshine as I arrived bright and early in Glasgow city centre. It was sunny and already over 20°C (68°F) at 8 …

Argyll & Bute | Dalmally | Castle | ★★★

It's ruined, romantic and surrounded by stunning Highland scenery: Kilchurn Castle is your quintessential Scottish stronghold. Set on a pocket of land jutting out into the country's longest freshwater loch, Kilchurn's dramatic waterside setting rivals that of much more popular (and expensive) Urquhart Castle, although with no facilities. The castle was built in the 15th century as a residence for the mighty Campbell family, converted into a garrison after the 1689 Jacobite uprising. Substantial parts of the walls and towers remain, and it's well worth exploring all sides (and the steep steps to the top of the main tower) thoroughly to do this castle justice. There's also an excellent viewpoint accessed from the A819 to the south - see below for access.


📌 Kilchurn Castle★★★
Off the A85 2 miles west of Dalmally, G.R.: NN 133276 ///mixes.weekends.hero
Open daily, April to September; southern viewpoint always accessible | Free

…