Hiking was one of our main objectives for the Islands and Highlands. Ben Nevis is quite a mountain, as are many other peaks, not very high but quite impressive, trails often start almost at sea level
We also enjoyed smaller walks and hikes, here walking down from Dun I to NW beaches of Iona, often along the coast or near lochs, on trails with few hikers and plenty of open space around
Like many other tourists we visited Edinburgh Castle to check on stories we were told a while ago at school. Edinburgh and Glasgow do not feel like big cities, both very pleasant to walk around
Ben Nevis Summit, at 1345 m the highest peak in UK
Balloch Castle…
…and Country Park
Luss…
…19th century cottages
Loch Lomond in Luss
Luss Parish Church and…
…Hogback Stone at the graveyard
Loch Lomond north of Luss
Slanj Bar & Restaurant in Tarbet…
…first taste of Scottish food…
…to the sound of folk songs
Inveraray Castle…
…and park
Inveraray, view from the castle grounds
From the castle, over the old bridge…
…to the watch tower hill (Dun Na Cuaiche)…
…for great views of Inveraray and Loch Fyne
Inveraray
Rest and Be Thankful Commemorative Stone site…
…rest stop with view of Loch Restil
Nether Largie standing stones…
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…Temple Wood stone circles…
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…near Kilmartin
Medieval Kilmartin crosses…
…and tombstones at Kilmartin Church graveyard
Oban from Oban-Craignure Ferry…
…on the way to Isle of Mull…
…on the ferry
Driving on Mull single-lane roads…
…with spectacular viewes
Bunessan
Garden Caravan in Ardtun
Sunset on Mull (night Sun at 11 pm)
Rock formations on Staffa…
…polygonal basalt (lava) prisms (columns)…
…near Fingal’s Cave sandwiched between other geological layers…
and puffins…
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Iona Abbey…
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Iona Abbey, view from Dun I…
…and view towards North end of the island
Walking down the pastures on slopes of Dun I
Beaches on Iona NW shore…
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Carsaig
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Trail along the coast
Nun’s Cave
Waterfall
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First Arch
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Returning to Carsaig
Carsaig beach at low tide
Loch Scridain (road 8035)
Kilfinichen Bay beach, Loch Scridain…
…giant jellyfish
Trailhead, but no Ben More in sight
Tobermory…
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Church in Carvaig
Driving on B8073…
…along Loch Tuath near Ballygown…
…no sea otters in sight
Ruins of old mill in Ardtun
Ben More acros Loch Scridan in Phenyghael…
…and from further East down road A849
Duart Castle…
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…view North from castle tower
Fishnish-Lochaline Ferry
Approaching Loch Sunart on road A884 near Liddesdale
Signal Rock trails…
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It all looks nice and easy, looking up at Ben Nevis massif…
…and down towards Torlundy and Loch Eil…
…as we gain altitude…
…and more to reach Carn Mor Dearg
Carn Mor Dearg is behind us…
…we have nice panoramic views…
…and the Big Mountain got a bit smaller but we have to cross-over…
…walking on the ridge (Carn Mor Dearg Arete)
Ready…
…go!
The last stretch of the trail is paved with stones and we go straight up
The Summit…
…is completely flat
We have great views…
…in perfect weather
We are walking down on the main trail (Mountain Path) to Lochan Meall an t’Suidhe…
…but then back and down to the valley behind Ben Nevis…
…finding a shortcut to save time
We look back at Ben Nevis massif in evening light…
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…walking back to our car
Glen Coe, Three Sisters trailhead…
…heading up to Lost Valley…
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…Lost Valley…
…view from the upper end
We are walking back…
… on different (rim) trail
Short drive in Glen Etive
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Evening view of Glen Coe, Loch Achtriochtan
Loch Loyne (from road A87)
Eilean Donan Castle…
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Loch Alsh, Skye Bridge
Lunch break in Kyle of Lochalsh (good seafood)
Fairy Pools trail was wet and muddy…
…we decided to walk on forest road…
…above Glen Brittle…
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…through Glen Brittle Forest
Everybody is heading home
Uig
Kilvaxter Iron-Age Farmstead and Souterrain
Skye Museum of Island Life, Kilmuir…
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Kilmuir Graveyard, Flora MacDonald monument…
…and Angus Martin tombstone
Quiraing trail…
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…The Prison…
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…The Needle…
Mealt Waterfall
The Old Man of Storr
Fish and chips…
…in Portee…
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Red Cuillin, view from Sligacha
Talisker Distillery…
…fermentation…
…distillation…
…aging…
…tasting
Loch Glen Brittle beach
Lochan Coire Lagan trail…
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Lochan Coire Lagan…
…trail around the lake…
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Loch an Fhir-bhallaich
Eas Mor ( Glen Brittle)
Fairy Pools (Glen Brittle)
Portnalong pier
Black Cuillin and Loch Slapin near Torrin
Elgol
Camasunary trail out of Elgol…
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…great views of Loch Scavaig…
…and Black Cuillin…
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…wet and muddy on the way back
Loch Cill Chriosd
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Nursery Cottages…
…components for Scottisch breakfast…
…and packing for last drive…
…on the wrong side of the road
Dewar’s Aberfeldy Distillery…
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Aberfeldy…
…The Watermill
Balquhidder Church…
…Rob Roy (MacGregors) grave
Loch Voil view from Creag an Tuirc
Auchtubh
Doune Castle
Stirling Castle…
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…Holy Rude
Blackie Street Finniestone/Glasgow
Balmoral Hotel above the roof of Waverley train station
Edinburgh Castle above Prince Street Gardens
Edinburgh Castle, the Gatehouse…
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…view from the upper castle towards One O’Clock Gun…
…The Royal Palace…
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…Scottish National War Memorial…
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High Street…
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…St Giles’ Cathedral
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Candelmaker Row
Greyfriars Bobby
Greyfriars Kirkyard…
…view towards the Castle…
…and George Heriot’s School
Victoria Street
Scottish Parliament…
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Palace of Holyroodhouse, Qeen’s Gallery
Palace of Holyroodhouse…
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Holyrood Abbey…
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…old abbey foundations, Arthur’s Seat on the horizon…
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Palace of Holyroodhouse…
…and gardens..
Holyrood Park, view towards the Palace…
…main trail up to…
…Arthur’s Seat
The People’s Story Museum, view from Canongate Kirkyard
Museum of Edinburgh
Cockburn Street
Scott Monument
View towards Arthur’s Seat (above the roof of Waverley Mall)
…Museum on the Mound…
View towards the Castle (above the roof of Waverley train station)
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum…
…and University Of Glasgow Business School (on the right)
University of Glasgow
University Chapel
Hillhead Street
University of Glasgow
Mackintosh House and University of Glasgow Library
