Glasgow Private Shore Excursion Highlands Lochs Castles & Ferry

Our first stop will be at the ferry terminal at Gourock a 15 minute drive away where we will board the western ferry and take the short 15-minute ferry crossing over the Firth of Clyde giving us great views of the Cruise Ship and entrance to Holy Loch where we will disembark the ferry at Hunters Quay

Leaving Hunters Quay ferry port we are just a short 15-minute drive to Pucks Glen. We have the option to do a 45-minute hike to take in the mystical landscape. The glen is named after Puck, a mischievous spirit who haunts many legends and appears in William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. But perhaps you should look out for the Poca Ban, Argyll’s answer to Puck, a spirit that appears as a rolling ball of wool, tripping people up. The Natural and the Supernatural - James Duncan, laird of Benmore, had the gorge enhanced at considerable expense in the 1870s. He wanted to evoke a wild, mystical realm to charm his visitors The glen’s cool, perpetually damp depths provide the ideal habitat for lush mosses and ferns.

Driving 50 minutes to Inveraray we will now stop at the impressive Inveraray Castle the Clan seat of the Campbells. One of Scotland's most famous Clans your guide will tell you about the Castle and how the Campbells rose from being a relatively small Clan in the 13th century to becoming the most powerful Clan Scotland has seen. The Castle is the residence of the Duke of Argyll a title given to the Chiefs of Clan Campbell by William of Orange in 1701. The Castle's foundation stone was laid in 1745 replacing a previous 15th-century Castle. Take time to explore inside the Castle & its beautiful gardens in an optional self guided tour. Castle admission £16.50 Gardens only ticket £9 Please note Inveraray Castle is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, therefore we are unable to visit the interior of the castle. We will still visit Inveraray town and you will be able to get exterior pictures of the castle.

Either before or after the Castle visit you can spend some time in the delightful little town of Inveraray population 570. It was one of the first towns to be built completely from scratch in 1770. You can spend your time wandering the small Main Street looking inside the local stores for some fine whiskies or local produce or instead of visiting the Castle, you may prefer to visit the Old Inveraray Jail built in 1820. Lunch options can be discussed with your guide this could be in Inveraray or we can leave Inveraray earlier and make a stop at the famous Loch Fyne Oyster Bar. (Booking advised as this can get very busy) Lunch is advised to book before the tour or if you prefer to have a flexible lunch to maximise attraction times please inform the guide in the morning.

Leaving Inveraray we now drive towards Loch Lomond but before we arrive we will make our way down through Glen Croe stopping at the top of the glen for a wonderful photo opportunity at the rest and be thankful viewpoint. (approx 45 minute drive)

We will drive along the 'bonnie bonnie banks" of Loch Lomond on the way to the village of Luss. Your guide will tell you about the local Clans and the Loch which most regard as the most beautiful Loch in the whole of Scotland so much so there are even many songs written about this body of water. (Approx 30 min drive)

Our final stop on the tour will be in the lovely conservation village of Luss, situated on the banks of Loch Lomond. You will have some time to take in the small village and wander down to the Loch and take in some of the best views found in the area. Your guide will tell you about Luss Parish Church built on an ancient cemetery that dates back to the 7th century and even has a Viking Hogback grave stone estimated to be from the 11th century. This will be the last stop of the tour so if you need to stop for any supplies before going back to the ship inform your guide who can find a shop on the way back.

We will make the drive from Luss back to your ship to conclude the tour. This drive is approx 1 hour and we can make any additional stops on the way back time permitting passing through the historic town of Dumbarton where your guide will point out Dumbarton Castle. William Wallace was betrayed in 1305 by Sir John Menteith who imprisoned Wallace at Dumbarton Castle before handing him over to the English.