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Kilmartin Glen

Kilmartin Glen: Our most recommended tours and activities

From Edinburgh: Scottish Highlands & Isle of Skye 5-Day Tour

1. From Edinburgh: Scottish Highlands & Isle of Skye 5-Day Tour

Travel across the highlands of Scotland and discover some of the country’s major attractions. On this 5-day excursion you’ll stay in B&B accommodation and travel with an English-speaking guide. Detailed Itinerary Day 1: Through the Trossachs to Oban This wide-ranging tour starts by heading west through the beautiful scenery of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park to Kilmartin Glen. Here you’ll explore Scotland’s ancient past. With over 5,000 years of history laid out before you, you’ll be able to walk in the footsteps of the first Scots at Dunadd Hill Fort and the Temple Wood Stone Circle. Then it’s on to the picturesque seaside town of Oban. Overnight in Oban. Day 2: A Day of high hills and history The second day takes you to the haunting landscape of Glen Coe, which was the scene of the terrible massacre of the MacDonald Clan. You’ll continue on past Ben Nevis, Britain’s tallest peak and stop at Fort William. We will drive part of the route of one of the most fantastic train journeys in the entire world. On departures between May and September, board the Jacobite Train, or "Hogwarts Express" in Fort William for the next section of your journey. Travel across the Glenfinnan Viaduct and enjoy stunning views as you make your way through the west coast town of Mallaig. In April and October you will continue west from Fort William on board your bus, making a stop to view the Glenfinnan Viaduct, made famous by the Harry Potter films and hopefully get a chance to see the steam train cross it. We will also be able to see Glenfinnan Monument - and the gorgeous scenery that surrounds it! Overnight in Skye. Day 3: A whole day to explore Skye You'll have the whole of the third day to explore Skye's mysteries and landscape. Here the mountains and beaches beckon, so lose yourself in the spectacular scenery of the Cuillin Mountains, the slanting hills of Quiraing, and the incredible Trotternish Peninsula. Overnight in Skye. Day 4: Castles, mountains, and on to Loch Ness Once you leave Skye your first stop will be to visit the stunningly beautiful Eilean Donan Castle (this is an optional extra ). You’ll then continue your journey onwards to the fabled shores of Loch Ness. Here you have the option to visit Urquhart Castle and take a cruise on the loch (extra charge), before ending the day in the capital of the Highlands: Inverness. Stay overnight in Inverness. Day 5: Historic battlefields and back to Edinburgh You’ll start your journey south and have the chance to visit the battlefield of Culloden (an optional extra), the site of the defeat of the Jacobite forces. Then you’ll pass the stunning Cairngorm Mountains and have time to explore the picturesque town of Pitlochry, before arriving back in Edinburgh.

Glasgow: Standing Stones & Inveraray Castle Tour with Walks

2. Glasgow: Standing Stones & Inveraray Castle Tour with Walks

Take in the beauty of the Scottish Highlands on a guided day trip to locations steeped in fascinating folklore. Admire the stunning views of the landscape as you visit some historic locations which are deeply linked to Scottish history and heritage. Start your tour from Glasgow and take in the wonderful views looking out over the River Clyde and west towards the Clyde Estuary, where fresh water and saltwater meet. On a clear day, you may even be able to see where the Vikings moored their longboats over 1300 years ago. Pass through Trossachs National Park and all its scenic splendor. From Scotland’s first National Park, travel west towards Argyll for a visit to Inveraray Castle. Admire the collection of antique weaponry, used against the Jacobite soldiers and other historic artifacts. After your first historic Castle visit, travel along the shores of Loch Fyne, the longest saltwater Loch in Scotland. Keep a watchful eye on the water as there’s a good chance you will see some seals and other marine wildlife. Next, stop at Kilmartin Glen, where there are over 350 ancient monuments spread across the valley, making this one of the most historically important locations in the whole of Scotland. Explore a large finding of cup and ring marks, dating from thousands of years back. Continue towards the historical standing stones, stone circles, and burial cairns located within the area. Discover these mysterious ancient formations, believed to be over 5000 years old. Afterward, travel to Kilchurn Castle. Explore the abandoned 15th-century castle located at the head of Loch Awe, which was once home to the large and powerful Campbell Clan of Glenorchy. Leave Kilchurn and make your way further into the Highlands towards the mountainous Trossachs region. Stop along the banks of Loch Lomond to enjoy some of the magnificent Highland scenery, before returning to Glasgow.

Isle of Mull and Iona 3-Day Small-Group Tour from Glasgow

3. Isle of Mull and Iona 3-Day Small-Group Tour from Glasgow

On your first day, saunter around Loch Lomond in the pretty village of Luss. Find the perfect spot to drink a coffee and sing the ‘Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond.’ Journey with your driver through the unforgettable landscapes of Glencoe before a lunch stop at the traditional Clachaig Inn. Hop on a 10-minute ferry to a mountainous peninsula and travel to the port of Lochaline. Board another ferry and make your way to the east coast of Mull. Admire the abundant wild nature in Aros Park, a beautiful area boasting waterfalls and forest footpaths. In the early evening, arrive in Tobermory with time to wander where you will spend the night. The next morning travel past epic mountains to the south of Mull. Take a ferry to two of the most mysterious and dramatic locations in the region, Iona Abbey and Fingal’s Cave. After satisfying your adventurous spirit, head north back to Tobermory where you can perhaps try the seafood before your second overnight stay. On the third day, travel south to Craignure and catch a ferry back to the mainland. When you arrive in Oban, taste the fantastic local seafood and wander around this Victorian harbor town. Venture to Kilmartin Glen, an archaeologist’s dream. Discover around 800 ancient monuments, including burial chambers, rock carvings, standing stones, castles and more within this area. Enjoy learning about the significance of these monuments from your driver-guide. Make a final stop in Inveraray, a gorgeous little town which boasts an impressive view over Loch Fyne. Return to Glasgow in the evening.

From Glasgow: Scottish Highlands & Isle of Skye 5-Day Tour

4. From Glasgow: Scottish Highlands & Isle of Skye 5-Day Tour

Day 1 This wide-ranging tour starts by heading west through the beautiful scenery of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park to Kilmartin Glen. Here you’ll explore Scotland’s ancient past. With over 5,000 years of history laid out before you, you’ll be able to walk in the footsteps of the first Scots at Dunadd Hill Fort and the Temple Wood Stone Circle. Then it’s on to the picturesque seaside town of Oban. Overnight stay in Oban Day 2 Day two takes you through the haunting landscape of Glen Coe (scene of the terrible massacre of the MacDonald Clan) past Ben Nevis (Britain’s tallest peak) and Fort William. Between May and September you will board the Jacobite Train, or "Hogwarts Express" in Fort William for the next section of your journey. Travel across the Glenfinnan Viaduct and enjoy stunning views as you make your way to the west coast town of Mallaig. In April and October, you will continue west from Fort William on board your bus, making a stop to view the Glenfinnan Viaduct, made famous by the Harry Potter films, and hopefully get a chance to see the steam train cross it. We will also be able to see Glenfinnan Monument - and the gorgeous scenery that surrounds it. Overnight stay in Skye Day 3 You'll have the whole of the third day to explore Skye's mysteries and landscape. Here the mountains and beaches beckon, so lose yourself amongst the spectacular scenery of the Cuillin Mountains, the slanting hills of Quiraing, and the incredible Trotternish Peninsula. Overnight stay in Skye Day 4 Once you leave Skye the first stop is a visit to the stunningly beautiful Eilean Donan Castle. You’ll then continue your journey onwards to the fabled shores of Loch Ness. Here you have the option to visit Urquhart Castle and take a cruise on the loch (extra charge), before ending the day in the capital of the Highlands: Inverness. Stay overnight in Inverness. Day 5 You’ll start your journey south and have the chance to visit the battlefield of Culloden (an optional extra), the site of the defeat of the Jacobite forces. Then you’ll pass the stunning Cairngorm Mountains and have time to explore the picturesque town of Pitlochry, before arriving back in Edinburgh & Glasgow.

From Balloch: Standing Stones, Inveraray Castle & Highlands

5. From Balloch: Standing Stones, Inveraray Castle & Highlands

Experience the magic of the standing stones and castles of the Highlands on a true Scottish day trip from Balloch. Drive through Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park and walk in Inveraray Castle. Spot seals in Loch Fyne and see standing stones over 5,000 years old. Meet your friendly guide and group at the visitor's centre and get ready for your adventure into the heart of Scotland. Relax on a beautiful drive along the western shore of Loch Lomond, stopping at viewing points to admire the serene scenery of the Trossachs National Park. Travel onwards towards Argyll and enter the Gothic Inveraray Castle, learning about the Wars of Scottish Independence and seeing rifles used against the Jacobite soldiers. Roam around the castle's 16-acres of wonderful gardens and soak in the aroma of flowers in the air. Leave the castle and keep an eye out for swimming seals as you travel along the shoreline of Loch Fyne, one of the deepest Scottish sea lochs. Get out of the car for a walk to view the largest finding of cup and ring marked rocks in the country. Thought to be ancient prehistoric art, try to unravel the mystery behind the creation of these patterns and learn about Dunadd Fort, the birthplace of Scotland. Pretend you're Claire from Outlander as you discover a collection of monolithic standing stones, stone circles, and burial cairns believed to be over 5,000 years old. You won't find anything as special as this in Scotland. Take time to explore the picturesque ruins of Kilchurn Castle next, a former fortress on the banks of Loch Awe. Watch for signs of thunderous clouds in the sky, as rumour has it that this historic castle was destroyed by lightning. Escape into the grounds for a short walk around the old stone walls. Depart from Kilchurn and venture further into the Highlands towards the mountainous Trossachs region of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. Finish your unforgettable day trip by enjoying the most magnificent landscapes on the banks of Loch Lomond.

Other Sightseeing Options in Kilmartin Glen

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What people are saying about Kilmartin Glen

Overall rating

4.8 / 5

based on 27 reviews

I can’t say enough good things about our experience on this tour - it was the trip of a lifetime! It is a small tour normally, but the other group that was scheduled for the day cancelled, and so we got our own personal guide for the the day. John Stevenson was our guide and he spent the entire day telling us loads of detail about what the areas we were passing through, the locations we stopped in, as well as discussing all kinds of history with my husband. The trip was a real pleasure, I would highly recommend Scotland’s Wild as a tour company and John in particular as a guide!

Magnificent circuit which allowed us to discover sublime places. A huge thank you to our friendly guide Jamy whose historical stories, legends, jokes we appreciated... We were well accommodated at all stages, the breakfasts were quite correct and we had time for lunch midday. A very good knowledge of English is necessary, we were also the only two French speakers out of the 32 people in our very nice group. I strongly recommend this very complete and very well organized circuit!

Better than we ever hoped. No better guide/driver than Jamie. A little sad we will never meet any of those people again. Beautiful country in the Highlands. Wonderful history and ALL the people so friendly and helpful. It would be nothing better than make a return trip. Thanks to everyone.

Jamie was a very knowledgeable guide on all history. It was really interesting with what he was telling us.

We swapped to the Loch Lomond National Park tour with our guide Derek which was brilliant! Highly recommend