Things to see and do CENTRE ET CÔTE OUEST

Founded in the ^13th century on an island in the Lake of Menteith, Inchmahome Priory is accessible by a small ferry from the village of Port of Menteith. The crossing is included in the ticket, which allows you to visit this historic site that saw the passage of King Robert the Bruce and Mary Queen of Scots. Now partially in ruins, it still retains a certain charm, thanks to its location and its stones carved in the chapter house. This haven of peace is worth taking the time to walk around and discover its secrets.

Few buildings are as central to Scottish history as this one. The earliest written records date back to the ^12th century, when King Alexander ^I had a chapel built here. It would appear that he made it the seat of his power, as it was here that he died before his successor, David ^I, consecrated the town as a royal burgh . By the time Alexander III died in 1286, it was a major administrative and strategic center. When Edward ^I of England invaded the country in 1296, he found the fortress abandoned and placed a garrison there, which was dislodged the following year by Andrew Moray and William Wallace. The following summer, the English victory at Falkirk forced the Independents to abandon the city, before taking it back in 1299. However, they lost it again in 1304, when the English deployed 17 siege engines. Their new monarch, Edward II, was unable to protect Stirling, which came under the authority of Robert, since crowned King of Scots, after the battle of Bannockburn in 1314. The city was English from 1236 to 1242, before falling into the hands of the future Robert II, guaranteeing its Scottish future. The country being finally pacified, the Stuarts built a real palace there and multiplied the works during the Renaissance. Mary Queen of Scots was crowned queen there before her departure for the French court. She made a habit of visiting it regularly and had her newborn son, James, the future sovereign of Scotland and England, baptized there and spent his childhood there. Following the Union of the two crowns in 1603, Stirling's role declined sharply and the castle became primarily a defensive place during the religious troubles. Today, a visit to the castle takes you back to this rich and eventful past.

To see: We discover the historic chapel, the impressive Great Hall, but also the royal palace. The apartments of the queen and the king are of great beauty. Do not miss the kitchens, the tapestry exhibition and the Regimental Museum of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders. All brought to life by a costumed staff, as well as free guided tours every hour between 10am and 5pm.

Will you see the ghosts of the castle? It is said that ghosts would live here... One would be dressed as a Highlander, in a kilt, and that he could approach visitors to talk to them and would disappear immediately. In other versions, visitors would think of a guide, would approach him and he would vanish into thin air. One also speaks about a green lady..

Here, we boast about taking its time in the manufacture of malt. Between Glasgow and Loch Lomond there are several types of visits, the shortest of which lasts 45 minutes and ends with a Glengoyne dram 12 years old. This distillery opened its doors in 1833 and has the particularity of producing a Highland whisky, which matured in the Lowlands, its production site being horse between the two regions.

Home of the Dukes of Argyll, this romantic neo-gothic castle is the fruit of the genius of William Adam and Roger Morris. Built between 1745 and 1790, it stands on 6.5 hectares of gardens in the centre of a 24,000 hectare estate. Its great beauty earned it the right to serve as the setting for an episode of the Downtown Abbey series. In addition to its finely furnished and ornamented rooms, it contains more than 1,300 weapons. You will admire the rich State Dining Room and the Tapestry Drawing Room. Stroll through the beautiful gardens and enjoy a snack in the elegant, traditional tearoom.

Founded in 1794, this distillery is one of the only ones you will find in the city centre of a very touristic destination, which makes it a must-see during a visit to Oban. Its production site has never really expanded for lack of space and the techniques are faithful to the principles of this fascinating industry. The £12 tour is particularly complete and informative and includes a first tasting of the whisky, directly from the cask, and a second one, once the product is bottled. You will discover the 14 year old, which goes remarkably well with ginger and dark chocolate. This single malt no longer has any followers in the world, thanks to an identity between sea and land, which is found in its iodized, fruity and slightly smoky flavours. Two other visits are proposed to the most passionate: the "Exclusive Distillery Tour" of 2 hours, with discovery of the warehouses and tastings, and the "Distillery Manager's Tour & Tasting" with the site manager.

The site is also very pleasant to visit even without a guided tour, with a shop where you can bottle an exclusive whisky yourself, and engrave your bottle to make it unique. Upstairs, the bar area offers an exhibition on the history of Oban and its distillery, and plunges you into the atmosphere of an old rigging. Here you can taste the Oban whisky of your choice or try the cocktails. Why not the old fashioned Oban: Oban 14, syrup, bitter and ice cubes? Or the Oban Hot Toddy: Oban 14, honey, spices, hot orange juice?

Four hours at least are necessary to reach the top of this mountain which offers a spectacular view on the loch. The route is well marked and the gradient, a little steep at the beginning, evolves then more gently, until the 974 m of the summit. The hike is accessible and very popular, and among the classics to climb for Munros collectors. However, caution is advised: the summit can be very windy and rainy, and therefore slippery and dangerous. Only attempt the climb with good equipment and in good physical condition!

For information on the national park.

A member of the Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh, this garden is home to rare and magnificent species, just like its southern neighbours: Logan and Dawyck gardens. On its 121 hectares of protected land, you can admire some 300 species of rhododendrons, gigantic giant redwoods and some trees that are more than 150 years old. Bhutan, Chile and Tasmania have real small enclaves of their flora here, and there is also a coffee shop on site.

To visit Dunollie is to visit 3 sites. First, Dunollie Castle: its ruins, with a last renovation completed in 2019, offer a superb panoramic view on the Oban bay. Then the house-museum: a house from 1745 where each room has been renovated and fitted out to display old objects (^19th century) testifying to the daily life of its occupants. From the kitchen to the children's rooms, we discover everything about the life of a family in the 1800s. The museum also tells the story of the MacDougall clan and, through their epic story, traces the history of Scotland. Then, the park: its course invites to better understand the various invasions which marked the history of Scotland. It is also an opportunity to learn more about the civilization and mythology of the Vikings.

Regularly during the school vacations, the site offers practical and manual workshops of 1 hour for children (£5), which can be an excellent idea to familiarize them with English. There is also the possibility to follow a guided tour at no extra cost or to organize specific visits: adapted to children, focusing on the discovery of the gardens, taking a closer look at the old textiles..

You can have lunch, a picnic or a snack on the spot, thanks to The Kettle café and its menu, made of home-made products, very tasty and at mini prices.

Sitting in the shadow of Goat Fell, Brodick Castle is a must-see when visiting Arran. The fortification of the site dates back to the^5th century, when the Gaels extended their kingdom there from the Irish region of Antrim. In the ^10th century, it was the turn of the Norwegians to take over the place, before the island became part of the Kingdom of Mann & the Isles in the middle of the ^13th century. At the beginning of the ^14th century, it had been attached to the Scottish crown and had already experienced the wars of independence. The Earls of Arran began to build the building we see today in 1510. The War of the Three Kingdoms did not spare it and it passed from family to family according to conflicts and allegiances.

Castle. The interiors are the epitome of Victorian splendor and contain rooms and decorative elements of great value. The grand entrance hall with its hunting trophies is a reminder of the activities of the aristocracy of the time, while the bedrooms and the dining room are extremely elegant. An interactive visit of the castle, with actors in costume, sound and lighting effects is now in place, for a more playful discovery.

Park. The gardens are also worth a visit and are particularly pleasant in good weather. French gardens, they offer a peaceful escape between waterfalls, ponds and wooded paths.

Activities for children. They will love the Isle Be Wild playground and the Fairies & Legends Trail.

Mount Stuart is a remarkable Victorian neo-Gothic palace built between 1879 and 1900. Intended for the Marquis de Bute, it succeeded a 1719 building that went up in smoke during a fire in 1877. It owes its great beauty to the architect Robert Rowand Anderson, who sought to reflect the good taste of its sponsor, a descendant of King Robert the Bruce. The interiors, as mysterious as they are refined, are in keeping with his passion for art, astrology, mythology and religion. However, he did not have time to settle there, his death having occurred just before the house was completed. With the guided tours (mid season) and the free visit (high season: July and August), visitors can enjoy its great architectural and stylistic value. It is difficult not to succumb to the elegance of the chapel, the marble staircase, the drawing room and the intriguing horoscope room. The palace is also an artistic place with contemporary art exhibitions renewed every year.

In addition to the palace, the gardens also have a high artistic value. Made to be explored, they offer many treasures in the form of arboreal and horticultural collections of world importance, with a surprising touch of tropical essences. It must be said that the Bute family was passionate about plants, and you can feel it: landscape art at its best, arboretum and pinetum (800 conifers!).

And if you fancy a snack, the Courtyard Cafe & shop will be perfect with its fresh local produce.

Erected in 1869, this superb 67m tower is dedicated to none other than the famous national hero of the 13th century: Sir William Wallace. It was made possible thanks to a fund-raising campaign in the midst of the resurgence of Scottish identity. Its elaborate Victorian Gothic style contrasts with the very modern University of Stirling, at the bottom of the hill from which it dominates the surroundings. It is said to have been here that the fierce warrior watched Edward I's army set off before the Battle of Stirling Bridge on 11 September 1297. Climbing the 246 steps to the top offers a magnificent view of the surrounding area. The visit also allows you to see the weapons used in the battle against the English, some busts of great Scottish names and the sword of Wallace himself.

Good to know : Access to the monument (outside) is entirely free. A free parking is available at the bottom of the site and you can go up by following a path that goes through the woods or the small road, only used by the site shuttle. The site alone offers magnificent panoramas.

Guided tours with actors: In high season, guided tours are offered by actors in costume. All year round, conferences and animations are programmed.

Legends Coffee House: To refresh yourself and regain your strength after walking to the monument, let yourself be tempted by the Legends Coffee House. It's cosy and everything is local.

This 358 m mountain is accessible from the village park. Some 2 hours walk to climb and enjoy a splendid view of this part of Loch Lomond punctuated by many small Wooded islands. A good alternative for who would be intimidated by the climb of Ben Lomond!

The church, in itself, is quite simple and uncluttered. In the cemetery of this church there are beautifully carved stelae and Celtic crosses. It is moreover the cemetery that attracts visitors, who admire the engraved stones, some of which are particularly old: 15th or 16th century. Some have been restored and are displayed in the church, others in a dedicated space within the cemetery and others still remain on the ground.

Raised in the 13th century, this medieval building is one of the oldest stone castles in the country. Placed at the mouth of Loch Linnhe, it was the work of the Earls McDougall, before passing into the hands of the Campbell clan in the 15th century. Besieged by Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Independence, it is a witness to the history of the country. Very well preserved, it offers to see imposing walls, the remains of its great hall and the residences of the new house, as well as a chapel. Climb the ramparts to embrace a superb view!

Despite its military activity during the Wars of Independence and the War of the Three Kingdoms, Doune Castle has remained almost intact and has been used in several film shoots, such as the Holy Grail of Monty Python or, more recently, theGame of Thrones series, in which it was sometimes used as a set at Winterfell, as well as the Outlander series. It was the home of Robert Stuart, Duke of Albany. Son of King Robert II and brother of King Robert III, he was regent of the country during his father's illness and held the reins of power during his brother's reign.

Perched on an island in the middle of Loch Laich, a cove in Loch Linnhe, this fortress was built in the 14th century by the McDougall clan and was used for the filming of a scene from the Monthy Python film, Sacred Grail (1975). Tours last about two hours, including the boat trip, and are led by the Stewart Allward family, the current owner of the site. You can also enjoy the superb view of the castle from the Castle Stalker View café, which offers a breathtaking view of the building, or by walking a few metres towards the shore.

More than 35 birds of all sizes live on the shores of Loch Lomond at the Bird of Prey Centre. Owls, eagles, falcons, hawks, buzzards and kestrels can be seen up close and personal in their daily lives. Several species are quite rare and some activities can be reserved in advance. A must for all lovers of our winged friends. Be careful, the openings can depend on the weather conditions.

On 81 hectares of wooded nature, this park offers very pleasant walks on the edge and overhanging Loch Lomond and around the castle of Balloch (non-visitable). Three trails - 1.5 km, 2 km and 3 km - are laid out and detailed in the brochure, available on site in season and at the tourist office all year round. The Chinese garden, the French garden and the enclosed garden are all pleasant discoveries, and you can also come into contact with a charming flora and fauna.

What better to discover the Loch Lomond than a cruise? At the beginning of Balloch, Sweeney's Cruises lift anchors for several times on the waves of varied durations, as well as the Balloch-Luss and Luss-Balmaha shuttles. The 1 h Experience Cruise is the only one that works every day of the year, while others are sometimes reduced to weekends and off-season holidays. Check out the online planners.